A Special Dinner

Our two Cooks, Mean and Stacie. We often join these lovely ladies for dinner and or drinks out. They had a nice surprise for Ernie and I. Said they wanted to cook us dinner. How cool is that folks. Don't they look adorable in aprons doing the dinner prep? Notice the 2 bottle of wine...they know me well.


Stacie cutting fresh strawberries to add to a yummy spinach salad.


Megan grating some fresh parmesian cheese to add to her stuff shells. The shells were awesome. Look out Giada!


While dinner was in the oven, we enjoyed wine, marinated mushrooms and Bruschetta . Conversation was lively, the food excellent, the company wonderful, AND they cleaned up. My kind of a nice evening.

Thank You, we really enjoyed ourselves!

Ta DAH, a Mitered Square for Finished Object Friday

Ok, so this probably doesn't look like much of a TA DAH. Something being knitting in the round? Not really, it's a square. Sure it is, said my hubby when he saw it. It's December's cotton cloth for DD for my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. Well, yeah...I see Christmas colors...but?

Making progress, if fact you might have seen this picture a few days ago for work in progress Wed. This is a mitered square. When I started the pattern, it didn't really make alot of since to me. But, I liked the look when I saw the picture on the pattern and decided to give it a try. I've seen these types of squares and thought they were neat, but looked complicated. At first glance I thought you make a square and knitted or crocheted around 2 sides only to get this effect. You don't. You knit 2 sides at the same time. Look above in picture 1, the green is the cast on. Here I cast on 61 ( you always want an odd number in your cast on). You're knitting one side, making a point which is actually where you decrease, then you knit the 2nd side. Each row get's smaller and smaller on the two sides, bringing the center area closer and closer together.

TA DAH. Visually, the colors in the last picture aren't are as true as it is in real life. And the square is truly square, which in this picture looks a bit off...believe it's a visual because of the color combination and the big to little look of it all. I need to finish tucking in the yarn changes. Normally I do that as I go, but since this was a first for me doing a mitered square...left them...in case I had to frog it. There is 1 mistake, but I didn't frog it.

So even though this is just a little cotton washcloth for my DD, it is a TA DAH for me, because I learned to do something new. After you cast on you knit x amount of stitches, you do a decrease by slipping off 1 stitch, then knit 2 together, the pass the slip stitch over (sl 1, k2tog, psso), then knit the same x amount of stitches. The next row is straight knit.

So....Decease a row
Knit a row
Decrease a row
Knit a row. The trick is to remember, or write down (I use a counter and have it written to see where I am) in order to know how many stitches you're knitting.

Example my first row was a knit 29 on each side of the decrease, my next decrease row was knit 28.
Cast on 61
knit 29, do the decrease, knit 29
knit a row
knit 28, do the decrease, knit 28
knit a row

keep going until you have 3 stitches left and do your bind off.
*determine how many rows you want to do before changing colors and have fun. I liked doing the mitered square, liked the way it ended up and plan to do it again.

Oh, I should add this is Cotton Cloth #9, only 3 to go to finish my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge, with the months of Jan, Feb, and March being the last 3 to do.

Memories help a Heavy Heart

Floating in the swimmers cove at Alum "Ocean" with a beer in hand. (Jerry & Kyle)
One of many fall hikes, perhaps this was at Alum, or Hocking Hills Region, but I think maybe it was Highbanks Metro Park. We took so many of these hikes (with wine in a bota and beer in hand), unsure where this particular spot was. (Kyle, Jerry, Ernie and I)
At weeks end at The Beach, one of many. This was Smyrna Beach in Florida. (Ernie and Jerry in back, yours truly, Kyle, and Chelsea in front)
Same trip as above, but with the kids. (Lauren, Chrissy, and Lesley)
A night sail on Alum "Ocean". There were so many. (Kyle & Jerry)

Last night about 5:30 I lost a very dear friend, Kyle. These pictures are but a few of the many memories, the many good times. Think wine think Kyle, think cross stitch think Kyle, think skiing think Kyle, think sailing think Kyle, think camping think Kyle, think fire side chat think Kyle, think hiking think Kyle, think cooking together think Kyle, think sailing think Kyle, think racquet ball think Kyle..........you get the picture. I have memories that connect to so many things in my life both past and present. Memories of 30 years can't be put into one blog post, nor are there enough pictures to share for those 30 years of friendship.

I miss you Dear Friend, rest in peace.

It's never easy to lose someone, even when you know it's best; but remembering the good times, the fun times.........keeps them alive forever in your heart.

Working on Royalty

Half the squares have been edged, and about 1/3 of the squares have been joined. These squares were donated on Bridge and Beyond and when I'm done assembling them will be donated as a house warming gift through Project Welcome Home. Love these colors together. They do look royal to me. Making good headway this wip.

Working on both Dec and Jan cotton washcloths for DD. Here's December's in the works.
Liberty scarf is still in works, though I've not worked on it in a couple of weeks. Awesome Green Scarf (for DD) is coming along; but no progress from last post.

Hope you're all doing well this Wednesday, look forward to seeing all your WIP. See links and badges in sidebar.

Did you see the previous post? Please scroll down, I'm very excited that my charity blog, Bridge and Beyond was featured in the winter issue of Crochet Magazine!!

Monday Monday

Having an ugly and very very dark dreary wet day here in Central Ohio. This however, brought a smile to my face. This is page 17 of Crochet Magazine. I say it's the December issue, but it actually says Winter 2011. Bendy Carter contacted me about a year ago and asked if she could highlight my blog, Bridge and Beyond.

They work well ahead. She wrote a pattern, and an article and has highlighted the charity that helps homeless. I'm thrilled and hope this helps spread the news and obtain more helping hands for the cause. It looks like an awesome pattern too folks. Check it out.

Happy Monday, one and all.

Chipping away at My List of Projects, it's Sunday

Naming this Royalty. I think the purple and gold make it look royal. I think these colors work for men or women and will make a nice family ghan when completed. This is another of the many ghans for Project Welcome Home through Bridge and Beyond. All these squares were donated, I'm edging them in a very dark green and will join them in the same dark green and add a border. Once laundered and blocked it will be donated.
YOP Dec 4-10th

Here's the 8th of 12 cotton cloths for my cotton cloth calendar challenge for my Darling Daughter. This is November's cloth for my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. I've already cast on December's, might have enough to show you a picture in a few days. Those left to do are: January, February, and March. Would be nice if I got them all done and could give them to her when I see her over Christmas....but I doubt that's going to happen. Too many other things going on.

Please folks, save time and eye strain, get rid of your captcha. The blogger filter works very well. I just checked my spam folder and deleted 52 comments that did not make it through to the blog. You do not need the captcha. You really don't need it plus moderating comments. Save frustration, save time, save eyestrain. Change your settings. Skeptical...try it a week and you'll see what I mean. Meme's are fun, but visiting everyone is hampered by everyone using captcha's, it really slows down the process.

Things now DONE:
1. Wedding Ghan pictured HERE
2. Oddball blanket (which turned into 2 where I was the border patrol person, Cinco de Mayo and Mardi Gras). Done and Mailed Pictured HERE
then turned into 3 when I started Baby Pink Petuna, HERE...then turned into 4 counting Fruit Salad which is in the works as we speak.
3. Red Scarf No More DONE (donated to Bridge and Beyond) Pictured HERE
4. Pink Poddle Ghan DONE, and donated also to Bridge and Beyond for Project Welcome Home.
5. Jewels Ghan Done, one of an undermined list for Bridge and Beyond, made from donated squares, pictured HERE. Pink Petuna Afghan also DONE (picture Friday for FOF HERE). Donated to Bridge and Beyond. Rainbow Bright DONE pictured HERE. Currently working on Royalty, pictured above.

WIP:
1. Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (8 of 12 cloths done, November Cloth pictured above.
3. Awesome Blue Scarf gave up trying to determine what pattern I had been using, and FROGGED! ........ARGH. Officially DELETING this from the list, and replaced it with the green scarf I'm working on for DD pictured HERE.
4. Buckeye Diagonal Scarf, have found the directions to help me determine where I left off, fingers cross this works. Have been in a holding pattern as I couldn't determine where I left off. Thanks to a blogger's good directions of how to determine, am hopeful! ??45% done
5. Candy Corn Ghan (my longest running work in progress ever 60% done) STILL haven't touched it in months.......sigh
6. Working on Liberty Lace for myself (put way way on the back burner), last pictured HERE

Goals:
Learning to knit cables (watched a video awhile back which is helping me feel more confidant and willing to give it a try)---think I've found an easy one to start with and might use it for January's cloth in the calendar challenge...might be a nice way to ease into making a cable!
Learning to knit socks

**I have HAP ghans to pick up and assemble....sometime.**

A Friday and another Finished Project!

I'm very pleased with the way this project finished up. This is Pink Petuna, started with donated squares from a class mate and left over yarn, thanks to Bridge and Beyond.
The squares had the 1 row of pink after the circles with the exception of maybe a handful. I added purple and or green to the squares based on the opposite of the center circle color, then did 2 more rows of pink, joined 5 doing every other color wise. Each strip was then edged with one row of single crochets before joining the strips together. The whole ghan was then edged with a sc row of pink, a sc row of the bright aqua, and finally a row of pink again for the little scalloped edge. It's donated as a house warming gift through Project "Welcome Home".

Got lots of projects still going, no doubt you all do too. Making my rounds for the linky for FOF, adding another plea here for you all to please, please stop using the captcha. The filter on blogger is very good. I check my spam folder weekly and it catches them all. Our linky's grow weekly and visiting, reading, and posting comments takes time. The captcha's make it more time then necessary. Please try it for a week, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how well it works. Go to your settings area from your dashboard and nix the captcha. Thank you for at least trying it. I want to visit you all.

Knitting the End of the Month

Colors in this Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge photo aren't exact. The orange is brighter, as is the green in real life, I think. Hoping to have this done by days end and should be able to manage that. This is November's cloth for DD in my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge, it's the last day of month...so time to move to the next cloth...........but will finish this one first. She loves using cotton washcloths and I meant to have this one finished to give her when she was home for Thanksgiving; but was working really hard on finishing Pink Petuna which you'll see on Friday, for Finished Object Friday. Please check back. Need to make Dec, Jan, Feb, and March for this challenge (and item on my YOP list) will be complete. 8 down and 4 to go.
Barely a start, but a start. The blue represents Blueberries on this Oddball Baby Blanket called "Fruit Salad". They come up with cute and fun names and each knitter in turn interpets the theme and knits their section. I lost track how many I had committed to and so initially only had 1 on my list of to do's. Boy was I off, this is #4. When DD was home for Thanksgiving she wanted to work a bit on something and so started this so I'll continue and finish it up SOON.

Still working on The awesome Green Scarf for DD, and by the time you read this scheduled post will probably be working on another afghan from donated squares through Bridge and Beyond's Project Welcome Home and Give a Square.

Hope you're all doing well and enjoyed Thanksgiving. You can find all Work in Progress Wednesday's Badges and Links in the left sidebar.

Sunday...really, too close to the end of Year (YOP)

YOP Nov 27-Dec 3, 2011

Pink Petuna (not the same as one titled that below for The Oddballs Group). This ghan was started from squares donated by a former classmate through Bridge and Beyond. It will be donated for Project Welcome Home. Making great headway here so hope to have this done soon. This was not officially listed on my YOP list, as there's not a definitive list for the ghans I assemble for Bridge and Beyond....I just make one after another and hope for lots.
This scarf was started a while back and has been put on the back burner. It's a scarf I started for myself. I frogged it twice as I didn't like the pattern I had chosen. I do like this, a bit lacy, but since this is 100% wool (Liberty wool), it will still be warm. Interesting? mix of colors. Not what I had thought it would be when I purchased the yarn. The remainder of this first ball is pretty much what I saw when I purchased it. Therefore, I expected it to be mostly reddish and gray, shades there off. It's far from that as you can see. Not colors I would have put together, bit disappointing, but eventually...........I'll get back to it. I do need a new scarf. This was barely started when posted for a wipw HERE.
LOVE this green scarf started for DD. Not on the list, but saw the green yarn and it called out to me. Same stitch as the above scarf I'm making for myself. Look how different though it looks. I assume that's because of the shading and the fact that this yarn is a heavier gauge. I LOVE the feel of this yarn also. It's Cascade Lana Bamboo 79% wool and 21% Bamboo and comes in a 196 yard skein. I have 2 skeins, and am using a size 8 needle. The pattern, multiple of 3 Knit 1, YO K2tog. To give it a bit more stability I'm doing 5-6 rows of straight garter stitch every 16 or so rows.
This is Fruit Salad....another OddBall Blanket. I really thought I had finished all the ones I had signed up for, apparently I forgot how many I committed too. Though this is, I think the last for this year. I thought I had just the 2 when I made my YOP list Cinco deMayo and Mardi Gras; then added starting one...Baby Pink Petuna, and now a section here on fruit salad. I'm to be blueberries, so need to look for some blue yarn in my stash to fill the bill.

Please folks, save time and eye strain, get rid of your captcha. The blogger filter works very well. I just checked my spam folder and deleted 52 comments that did not make it through to the blog. You do not need the captcha. You really don't need it plus moderating comments. Save frustration, save time, save eyestrain. Change your settings. Skeptical...try it a week and you'll see what I mean. Meme's are fun, but visiting everyone is hampered by everyone using captcha's, it really slows down the process.

Things now DONE:
1. Wedding Ghan pictured HERE
2. Oddball blanket (which turned into 2 where I was the border patrol person, Cinco de Mayo and Mardi Gras). Done and Mailed Pictured HERE
then turned into 3 when I started Baby Pink Petuna, HERE...then turned into 4 counting above Fruit Salad.
3. Red Scarf No More DONE (donated to Bridge and Beyond) Pictured HERE
4. Pink Poddle Ghan DONE, since my last post and donated also to Bridge and Beyond for Project Welcome Home.
5. Jewels Ghan Done, one of an undermined list for Bridge and Beyond, made from donated squares, pictured HERE.

WIP:
1. Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (7 of 12 cloths done, and picked out the pattern for November and have started it....barely, so about 68% done).
3. Awesome Blue Scarf gave up trying to determine what pattern I had been using, and FROGGED! Will once again find a pattern I want to use, leave it with the awesome blue and start again, which will be about the 4th time........ARGH. Officially DELETING this from the list, and will replace it with the above green scarf for DD....that seems appropriate.
4. Buckeye Diagonal Scarf, have found the directions to help me determine where I left off, fingers cross this works. Have been in a holding pattern as I couldn't determine where I left off. Thanks to a blogger's good directions of how to determine, am hopeful! ??45% done
5. Candy Corn Ghan (my longest running work in progress ever 60% done)
6. Afghans to be assembled for Bridge and Beyond from donated squares (have several designed and ready to edge, shifting to this as primary goal now that Pink Poodle is complete. Edged and assembled RainBow Bright, pictured HERE for FOF. Jewels done above, and currently working on Pink Petuna, above.

Goals:
Learning to knit cables (watched a video awhile back which is helping me feel more confidant and willing to give it a try)
Learning to knit socks

**I have HAP ghans to pick up and assemble....sometime.**

Jewels is finished

You may have seen this previously when it was posted on Bridge and Beyond; but ...not everyone that visits here visits there; so thought I'd post it. The squares were donated, I edge and joined and did a scalloped border. This ghan, named Jewels was donated to The Homeless Families Foundation through Project Welcome Home on my charity blog, Bridge and Beyond.

Brief post today, and only 1 item to show you....hope to see you come Sunday on YOP with hopefully more to chat about.

I've not been very active lately with WIPW, FOF or YOP Sunday's.......working to catch up with you all and look forward to visiting your blogs to see all your projects.

Finished Object Friday link in sidebar....join us, it's fun!

Traveling with Works in Progress

This was suppose to be last Wednesday's post, but I was traveling and hubby's computer was self imploding, so very limited computer time was available which meant no blogging. Above crocheted squares were donated from a high school friend over on Bridge and Beyond. The one pink row after the circles makes the squares about 6 inches. She had started this for her daughter years ago and found it while cleaning out a closet. I've added a row of purple and or green as you can see with 2 additional rows of pink to extend the squares. Those with purple centers have no green so they get the green row, and those with pink centers have no purple so they get the purple row. These squares went traveling with me. Once joined they will be donated for Project "Welcome Home", through my other blog, Bridge and Beyond to The Homeless Families Foundation. Hopefully this will put on smile on some girls face, as well as warm her up. Some of you may know, some may not; this month focuses on another classmate of mine from school who sadly died homeless. It's Jack Otis Memorial Month. How fitting that my friend Connie also a classmate of Jack's made this donation. I'm naming this ghan, Pink Petuna.
Barely a start here, but this is/will be a knitted cotton cloth for DD. A continuation of The Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge, this is November's cloth. Had plan to work on this on the recent trip as well, but didn't make it that far. Need to push to get this done so I can pass it along to her over The Thanksgiving Holiday. Looking forward to coming home for a couple of days to visit. Don't remember what the pattern is called, or if has a name? When I jotted it down on the note card I didn't make a note...........dang it. I know I found the pattern/stitch some time back, as the note card was bent so has been around awhile.
This counts as less then barely a start. But, I wanted to at least cast on this yummy Liberty wool. It feels wonderful. I'm in need of a new scarf.........the last 2 I made for myself ended up being passed along to someone else. LOL, I do that often and know many of you do too, from reading your blogs. This though, looks to be funky colors and many of those I pass things along to aren't into the funky as much as I am, soooooooooooo it may indeed end up being mine. I selected a limited straight forward lace stitch for this, knit 1, yo, k2tog across. I'm hoping it will still be warm since this is 100% wool, and won't be too open given the DK weight of the yarn.

Hoping to get back to more regular blogging and blog visiting, Happy Work in Progress Wednesday to you all. All badges and links in the side bar.

It's Sunday, Already!

Please folks, save time and eye strain, get rid of your captcha. The blogger filter works very well. I just checked my spam folder and deleted 45 comments that did not make it through to the blog. You do not need the captcha. You really don't need it plus moderating comments. Save frustration, save time, save eyestrain. Change your settings. Skeptical...try it a week and you'll see what I mean. Meme's are fun, but visiting everyone is hampered by everyone using captcha's.

*****see notations on #6 in Work in Progress are for above picture*****
YOP Oct 23-29th (link in sidebar)
Have missed several YOP post, trying to catch up and hoping things get back to normal, whatever that is.

Things now DONE:
1. Wedding Ghan pictured HERE
2. Oddball blanket (which turned into 2 where I was the border patrol person, Cinco de Mayo and Mardi Gras). Done and Mailed Pictured HERE
3. Red Scarf No More DONE (donated to Bridge and Beyond) Pictured HERE
4. Pink Poddle Ghan DONE, since my last post and donated also to Bridge and Beyond for Project Welcome Home.

WIP:
1. Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (7 of 12 cloths done, and picked out the pattern for November, so about 68% done). October Cloth pictured HERE.
3. Awesome Blue Scarf gave up trying to determine what pattern I had been using, and FROGGED! Will once again find a pattern I want to use, leave it with the awesome blue and start again, which will be about the 4th time........ARGH
4. Buckeye Diagonal Scarf, have found the directions to help me determine where I left off, fingers cross this works. Have been in a holding pattern as I couldn't determine where I left off. Thanks to a blogger's good directions of how to determine, am hopeful! ??45% done
5. Candy Corn Ghan (my longest running work in progress ever 60% done)
6. Afghans to be assembled for Bridge and Beyond from donated squares (have several designed and ready to edge, shifting to this as primary goal now that Pink Poodle is complete. Edged and assembled RainBow Bright, pictured HERE for FOF, and am working on Jewels, previously named Pastel Jewels pictured previously on WIPW HERE.

Goals:
Learning to knit cables (watched a video awhile back which is helping me feel more confidant and willing to give it a try)
Learning to knit socks

Extra's:
(Things that weren't on the list)
1. Pink Petuna (the start of another Oddball Baby Blanket, my section DONE. Pink Petuna will be traveled to the next knitter.
2. Christmas Ghan (I always make at least 1 for Christmas for our family throw in present), hadn't even rememeber about that til a few days ago. Just now sure this is going to happen this year.
3. Janet Ghan (wanting to make a ghan for my niece in NY. She's from warm Texas and is not used to cold winters...but I need time. Want to do this, but....it's looking iffy at the moment.
4. Forgot I committed to assembling 5-6 ghans for HAP, probably will have to chip away on those in between all these above items.
5. Started and frogged 2 scarves this week that were projects for self. Story of my life, I start them for me, put them aside in some fashion deciding I need to focus on others.

Green Grass of Home, Rainbow Bright and October Cloth

Pretty excited I have so much to share with you this Friday for Finished Object Friday. Firstly cause I've not been able to blog as much of late with many things going on in the family. Many of you know my Dad was in the hospital, and his sister, my elderly aunt (91) had been moved from to a nursing home here in town from assisted living and hospital stays in Urbana and Springfield. Life's been busy. So, I've missed some FOF, WIPW, and YOP Sunday. Above is a finished object, this bright colored ghan is titled, "Rainbow Bright". It's made from donated crocheted squares through Bridge and Beyond, (thank you Cheryl S), for Project "Welcome Home". I crocheted 2 rows around each of the squares, joined them, crocheted another row around each strip, joined them and crocheted several more rows around the whole ghan before adding the decorative border.


Thank you all for the good wishes for my Dad. I'm happy to say, he's back home and doing well. My Aunt settled in nicely at the nursing home and things were going well for awhile. Sadly, that didn't last and she ended up back in the hospital (at least it was here in town this time). After a weeks stay in the hospital, I can say she's no longer in pain; she is now at peace and for that........we are very Thankful. Am hopeful life will slow down a bit, and get back to "normal".

Above photo shows close up of the border.


Finished knitting this October cloth on a recent road trip to St. Louis to visit with DD., and therefore was able to give it to her. This is cloth 7 in the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. Next up, need to work on November's cloth. **Editing to add name of pattern, and link for the October Cloth. Easy Squidge by Sasha. Click HERE

The Green Green Grass of home. You may remember seeing this scarf in the works. It's a scarf I started while spending time at the hospital with my Dad. It was donated to Bridge and Beyond.

Pastel Jewels Afghan

Afghan in the works. I'm having trouble coming up with a name for this one. Love some ideas. Some squares are pastels, others are jewel tones. Pastel Jewels seems a bit lame. Anyone have any ideas? Some squares are knitted, most are crocheted. There's a bit of size difference, but I believe with edging and a good blocking once done it will work out fine. I'm working with donated squares from Bridge and Beyond. The finished ghan will be donated for Project, "Welcome Home."
A start with some of the squares edged. Little note card shows my color arrangement so I don't have to rely on memory when I get ready to join. Though generally I look at my picture, this gives me the ability to join some away from home.

I'm also working on November Cloth, but haven't taken a photo.

Happy Work in Progress Wednesday to you all.

TA DAH, Pink Poodle Progressed to DONE

The Green Green Grass of Home

Not sure why that title popped into my head this am...was posting this picture and thinking green and that song title came to mind. Funny thing is, I really don't even know the song...lol

Life's been crazy here lately and I've missed playing with you all for our WIPW lately because of it. My Dad was admitted through the ER a week ago and ultimately ended up in ICU. Things were very dicey for several days. I really wasn't ready to go there again (for those of you who remember when my Mother spent 7 long weeks--most of it in The ICU before she past). I'm happy to say after things stabilized, he was transferred to a regular unit and made it home this past wkend. What a relief.

So this simple green scarf is what I worked on in the hospital, sitting with him. It helps to pass the time, and lessen the worry by keeping ones hands busy. I needed something I didn't have to concentrate on, didn't have to count...a simple scarf, crocheted with double crochet. It's nice and thick and large. Chained 29 stitches which measures 8 and 3/4 inches wide. This will be donated to Bridge and Beyond.

I like to make my scarves nice and wide and long for men folk. I'm using an I hook so the stitches are smaller, also making it warmer. When you live outdoors in the cold elements, you need warmth and basic, nothing fancy. Dark colors, and solid colors are also helpful for the homeless, as they don't like to call attention to themselves.

Happy Wed and Happy Work in Progress to you all (links are in the sidebars)

Pink Poodle Progress

YOP Sept 25-Oct 1 (link in sidebar)
Pink Poodle is progressing, slower than I would like as this yarn seems to make it go slow. I've added 4 sections from where it was last week. Had hoped to be done with this in order to show it 2 days ago for Finished Object Friday. That didn't happen. I didn't have anything to show you then. Works been busier then normal, and so has my life so.......am settling for making some pregress...........even though slower than I would like. New goal is to have this finished to show you on this coming Friday, for FOF.

The last official day of summer came and went, always hate that. Got lots of follow up done with my 90+ year old aunt who's now here in town in a rehab center. Next up I fear will be getting her placed in a long term care facility. Sad to see someone deteriorate. Whomever called old age the golden years, clearly didn't know what they were talking about.

Hoping to finish some mulching today, when it dries out and would like to get lots of knitting done. Happy Sunday all.

When finished this ghan will be donated to Bridge and Beyond for the "Operation Welcome Home". Believe it will be a nice size for a young girl and or adult female as a lap wrap.

Things now DONE:
1. Wedding Ghan pictured HERE2. Oddball blanket (which turned into 2 where I was the border patrol person, Cinco de Mayo and Mardi Gras). Done and Mailed Pictured HERE3. Red Scarf No More DONE (still deciding where this should go) Pictured HERE
WIP:
1. Pink Poodle Ghan (75% done) Managed to do 4 more sections
2. Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (6 of 12 cloths done, and most of cloth 7 done, so 65% done)
3. Awesome Blue Scarf gave up trying to determine what pattern I had been using, and FROGGED! Will once again find a pattern I want to use, leave it with the awesome blue and start again, which will be about the 4th time........ARGH
4. Buckeye Diagonal Scarf, have found the directions to help me determine where I left off, fingers cross this works. Have been in a holding pattern as I couldn't determine where I left off. Thanks to a blogger's good directions of how to determine, am hopeful! ??45% done
5. Candy Corn Ghan (my longest running work in progress ever 60% done)
6. Afghans to be assembled for Bridge and Beyond from donated squares (have several designed and ready to edge, shifting gears to make this a focus as soon as Pink Poodle is done)

Goals:
Learning to knit cables (watched a video awhile back which is helping me feel more confidant and willing to give it a try)
Learning to knit socks

Extra's:
(Things that weren't on the list)
Pink Petuna (the start of another Oddball Baby Blanket, my section DONE. Pink Petuna will be traveling to the next knitter as soon as sign up's are done. SHE'S STILL WAITING FOR TRAVEL PAPERS!
Christmas Ghan (I always make at least 1 for Christmas for our family throw in present), hadn't even rememeber about that til a few days ago.
Janet Ghan (wanting to make a ghan for my niece in NY. She's from warm Texas and is not used to cold winters...but I need time

Sandy's Sunday Year of Projects, fast week

Sept 18-24th YOP
Candy Corn Ghan, my longest WIP project, EVER...must pull it out of the bag and get working on it again, after all tis the right season....AGAIN
Pink Petuna, bags packed waiting to travel, she's just not sure where she'll be traveling yet.
Pink Poodle Ghan


Another Sunday rolls around and finds me once again reviewing my list for Year of Projects.

Things now DONE:
1. Wedding Ghan pictured HERE2. Oddball blanket (which turned into 2 where I was the border patrol person, Cinco de Mayo and Mardi Gras). Done and Mailed Pictured HERE3. Red Scarf No More DONE (still deciding where this should go) Pictured HERE
WIP:
1. Pink Poodle Ghan (60% done) Managed to do about 10 rows yesterday, so almost another section done
2. Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (6 of 12 cloths done, and most of cloth 7 done, so 65% done)
3. Awesome Blue Scarf gave up trying to determine what pattern I had been using, and FROGGED! Will once again find a pattern I want to use, leave it with the awesome blue and start again, which will be about the 4th time........ARGH
4. Buckeye Diagonal Scarf, have found the directions to help me determine where I left off, fingers cross this works. Have been in a holding pattern as I couldn't determine where I left off. Thanks to a blogger's good directions of how to determine, am hopeful! ??45% done
5. Candy Corn Ghan (my longest running work in progress ever 60% done)
6. Afghans to be assembled for Bridge and Beyond from donated squares (have several designed and ready to edge, shifting gears to make this a focus as soon as Pink Poodle is done)

Goals:
Learning to knit cables (watched a video awhile back which is helping me feel more confidant and willing to give it a try)
Learning to knit socks

Extra's:
(Things that weren't on the list)
Pink Petuna (the start of another Oddball Baby Blanket, my section DONE. Pink Petuna will be traveling to the next knitter as soon as sign up's are done
Christmas Ghan (I always make at least 1 for Christmas for our family throw in present), hadn't even rememeber about that til a few days ago.
Janet Ghan (wanting to make a ghan for my niece in NY. She's from warm Texas and is not used to cold winters...but I need time

Cinco de Mayo, Mardi Gras Baby Blankets for Charity

Finished Object Friday post (link in sidebar)

Cinco de Mayo on the left, and Mardi Gras on the right. These are Oddball Baby Blankets. I've blogged about them as a wipw post, and on the yop post. Here they are done. Actually there's still pinned here as they were being blocked. I'm pleased to say the heavy duty blocking did take care of evening out the sides. If you want to see the before and after Click here. My portion on both these blankets was Border Patrol.

Had hoped to have another Cotton Cloth done for the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge to show you today; but have been rather busy dealing with an elderly aunt and getting her admitted to a nursing home. My last couple of days off have been short of knitting time.

The weather is turning here in Central Ohio. I'm actually sitting here inside drinking hot coffee, have a fleece on even. It's only 43 degrees this am, which is only 11 degrees above freezing! That causes me to think about switching gears on my projects, as items for the homeless are so needed when the weather turns. Bridge and Beyond will get my knitting and crocheting attention.

Pink Petuna

It's Wednesday and time for another WIP post. Above is the start of Pink Petuna. Pink Petuna is an OddBall Baby Blanket. I've often worked with this charity group who sends blankets around the country, every knitter doing a section based on a theme. The last 2 I did were Mardi Gras, and Cinco de Mayo where I was the border patrol person (the person who crochets the border). Final pictures after blocking for those 2 blankets will be Friday's Finished Object Post. They've already been mailed off. Pink Petuna is worsted weight yarn...and the bright pink caused me to name it, Pink Petuna. I cast on 120, rather than the traditional 100, feeling the last couple of blankets were a bit too small. Babies now days seem to be getting larger and larger. I'm using the the needles that traveled with Cinco de Mayo (size 8), and a stitch called Little Blocks from the 200 Knitted Blocks by Jan Eaton. I used this stitch on the wedding ghan I recently finished and liked it's texture so thought I'd use it again. Will do a few more inches, and when assignments are complete I'll mail off to the next person in line and Pink Petuna will start her travels. I'm also working on Pink Poddle Ghan which will be donated for Bridge and Beyond for a new program, where afghans are given as house warming gifts when a previously homeless family transitions from temporary housing into their permanent housing.

OddBall Baby Blankets and October Cotton Cloth (YOP)

YOP #6 FO Friday Post HERE

Wow, here it is, another Sunday and time for another update of YOP (year of projects). Have highlighted in red with links to posts of the finished objects to date. Had plan this week to focus on above cotton wash cloth, part of the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (this is #7), and Pink Poodle. Instead I focused on the 2nd OddBall Baby Blanket that arrive, Cinco de Mayo. And the start of the new OddBall Baby Blanket which will be cast on today, now that I've selected the yarn and name of the blanket. It will be titled Pretty in Pink.

Will be heading to the post office to get both Oddballs in the mail, and The wedding ghan in the mail, hopefully tomorrow before work.
YOP list:
Wedding Ghan DONE
Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge Working on The October Cloth for DD, so am slightly over 60% done with Nov Dec Jan Feb and April left.
Cotton Cloths for Bridge and Beyond (haven't started)
Candy Corn Ghan (no headway)
Buckeye Scarf (no headway)
Learn to knit socks (no attempt)
Learn to knit cable stitches (no attempt, but....have found a pseudo stitch I may try on a cotton cloth to get me started)
Awesome wool (blue) scarf no headwayPoodle Ghan no additional headway
Oddball DONE (both Mardi Gras and Cinco de Mayo finished, in the laundry and needing blocked as we speak) Starting new blanket which will be titled "Pretty in Pink" and will start it's journey to other knitters.
Bridge Ghans (no additional headway) Will begin edging squares since wedding ghan is done
Red Scarf Project Scarf, DONE

Happy Sunday all

Red Scarf No More and TA DAH!!

FO Post (link in sidebar)
gThis knitted scarf started out to be a red scarf for The Red Scarf Project; but I ran out of yarn. Had this yarn for ages and ages and knew it was pointless to even try and match it. I was burned out frogging things so decided not to frog it back and do some striping....everyone's first way to solve not enough yarn problem. I also liked how wide it was (could have frogged it and made it thinner). It's 7.5 inches wide, made of washable wool (Plymouth's Encore). Lovely yarn to work with. So.......I made it half and half. Knitted with red until I ran out joined the purple and matched the length....It's done, aside from tucking in the ending purple tail. It's no longer suitable for The Red Scarf Project, so....I'm trying to decide whether to add to the donations for Bridge and Beyond, or gift it to someone.

And my big TA DAH, I finished the wedding ghan. You might have seen it listed on Sunday's YOP post, with a picture before it was laundered, final tails tucked, and blocked. Here it is in all it's glory. If you saw it before, sorry if these feel like a duplicate...I'm just truly please it's done, and pleased with it...so wanted to share. It's Plymouth Encore Chunky washable wool.......lol, seem to have a thing going here with Plymouth Encore Washable Wool.

Challenges with OddBall Blankets

WIPW (links in sidebar)
Oddball Blankets is a group on line on Ravelry. Each person knits their section based on a theme. Rules say no ribbing or cable stitches should be used as they draw in and make things uneven, count your stitches before and after your section to be sure you have 100, adjust the number of garter stitches for the edge to prevent curling, use the same type of yarn (sport, baby, knitted worsted etc.) mail onto the next person on the needles after knitting your 4 inches. The above theme is Mardi Gras. My spot is called border patrol. Crochet a border on this knitted blanket......pull it together and finish it off, mail it onto the organizer to be donated to local hospitals. Stitches selected should be reversible and have no right or wrong side. I've found over time, there's lots of leeway with the stitch selection, the yarn selection and sometimes it's quite a challenge to finish them off doing the border patrol. The yellow and purple sections do pull in, quite a bit. Hoping when I add border stitches that unevenness is less noticeable, and or when laundered and blocked it will be even.

I select 2 bright colors and do several rows of border. It does, I think pull it together...color and theme wise; but it doesn't even it up as much as I had hoped. The yellow section though not cables or ribbing definitely pulls the blanket inward. It's a lovely stitch too, so it's a shame. Click to enlarge, I don't know what the stitch is. Probably not a good choice for a group project, but would make an awesome scarf, and or blanket on it's own.

Close up of the border, and the pretty yellow section. Fingers crossed when blocked I can even it up more.
WOW, this one Cinco de Mayo really has issues with being very uneven. The black in the center is infact ribbing. I love this blanket, I love it's bright colors and variety of stitches; but am concern about the challenge of evening this one out.
It's a beginning. Yarn selected and stitches to use for the border patrol pattern have also been selected as this point. But, as you can see after one round of single crochets how far off it still is.
A close up shows a good 3 1/2 inches variance is the width of this blanket. I don't know if even heavy duty blocking will get the job done here. Pondering my choice of stitches again on this. As I continue to work on it, am constantly pulling, stretching it...in hopes of improving the rather large gap.