OddBall Baby Blankets

6 Knitters each on these Baby Blankets for the western group in RAV Oddball Baby Blankets. I love seeing the different stitches people use, and how they interpret the theme. Someone starts the ghan based on the theme and then it makes it way around with each person doing a section and mailing it on. I was the border patrol for both of these blankets. The blanket on the left is titled Pumpkin Patch and the one on the right is called Sweet Pea. I expected Sweet Pea to be lots of shades of green...my interpretation...however right from the start it seems everyone else thought of the flowers Sweat Pea's which are all different colors and thus the blanket begins to take shape.
Here's a close up of the 2 tone orange boarder. I did several rows of single crochet to try and give the blanket a bit of shape...even it up. As you can see in the first picture, there's quite an hour glass shape due to the differences in stitches and yarn used. Then with the darker orange did a simple scallop/shell. That darker orange to me is true orange.
Did some tugging to again even it out, and am hopeful when the blanket is laundered and blocked it will maintain the square shape. I also thought this blanket though appropriate for male or female looked a bit more boyish, and thus didn't want a real frilly border.
A close up Sweat Pea's boarder here. It's all in one color, made with single crochet, chains, triples, and V stitch. I like this boarder for adding a few inches to a smaller blanket. And with the name Sweat Pea, seems more girly to me. Plus the pastels so went with a more frilly boarder here. Considered doing a green border since it started and ended with green...and because green is the first color I thought of for Sweat Pea before seeing the blanket. But, since blue was the middle section on the blanket I choice that to pull it all together.
These blankets are done for charity. All given to hospitals around the country for babies and families in need.

Blue Granny Squares Project

I joined my first ever CAL awhile back. Blogged about here. Was initially grabbing whatever yarn was laying around and making squares different colors with no real plan of what to do with them, other then they would go into one of the many ghans I'm working on Bridge and Beyond as a result of Give a Square.

Then decided to make 2nd's of some of the squares from the CAL in blue, my nephew's wife is expecting next month and will need a baby blanket. So, above is the start. She's the one I made the Buckeye Baby Sweater Set for. I still need to post a finished picture....Hope I remembered to take a picture, must look through my files.

Happy Valentine's Day to one and all tomorrow.

Improving one stitch at a time

I keep trying, ever so slowly to improve my knitting skills. This is a close up of my portion of "Mossy Delights" Oddball Baby Blanket. The darker green, top of the photo is my section. I used a stitch called pique triangles. I like the stitch because it has lots of texture, and is completely 2 sided which is nice for a blanket. It's only a 4 row repeat which also nice...for me. Perhaps as I improve a bit more, I can expand on that.
Here's a picture of the whole blanket before I sent it on for boarder patrol so you can see how everyone does a strip, different stitches and colors (or in this case shades of the same color). The blankets each have a theme, a name and we're to do our bit based on our interpretation of that name/theme. The blankets are donated to babies in need at various hospitals around the country.

I think I'd like to do that stitch again, wouldn't it make an awesome scarf? Perhaps best knitted lengthwise vs widthwise? Would the pattern show up less is the scarf were done in the more traditional method of knitting it widthwise?

Lots of WIP (works in progress for my non crafting friends), but chipping away. Hope you're all staying warm. Sorry I've gotten behind in visiting your blogs, but hope to chip away at that today and tomorrow too.

**Adding this per hakucho's post, so you can see this blanket when it was finished. Here's Nancy Blog.

Becoming a Buckeye Baby

To be a Buckeye Baby one needs to be born in The Buckeye State, and have appropriate Buckeye Attire. Regulations can be altered at an older age when one chooses to become a Buckeye as long as appropriate clothing is worn. lol

Seriously folks my youngest nephew and wife are expecting and as my nephew is a HUGE Buckeye Fan, I thought I would forgo the traditional baby blue colors. Took this photo just after finishing the booties. As you can see the sweater needs to be sewn together, trimmed and the hats needs finished. Intended to post this a few days ago and didn't get that far. I did finish the hat last night, and the sweater is sewn, though trim edge and finish touches still remain. I need to finish this today; as the baby shower is tomorrow........yikes. It's doable though. I'll post a finished picture later.

Hope you're all staying warm and safe with all the lousy weather everyone's had.

I've been busy working on several afghans for Bridge and Beyond, a baby blanket for above baby later, finished a scarf for Bridge and Beyond, and need to do a border on an Oddball Baby Blanket, and have a ghan in the works for a friend. Whew.. Hooks, needles and yarn flying like crazy around here.

Five thousand three hundred stitches!

Nothing fancy for sure, basic beige in basic double crochet stitches. One pound of Caron and a I hook, chain 100 stitches get's your 53 rows, which is 5,300 stitches. Funny, I've never actually thought about how many stitches there was in something I made. Have you? This measures about 33.5 inches square and will be a center panel on a ghan. It's not as big as I would have hoped, but needed to see how big the one pounder would make. Long ago I started this ghan, had issues with it, then determine the original design I came up with wasn't going to work and had to frog it. Terrible how long this has been a wip. The stitches were so tight it really bothered my arthritis, carpal tunnel, and ulnar nerve...so I keep pushing it aside. Finally got tired of pushing it aside and put it in the basement even with my yarn stash. My friend asked me to make it, she doesn't like anything with holes....so smaller hook, makes it tighter etc.

I never intended to have it go this long and am rather embarrassed by it. After I put it in the basement, I didn't even think about it anymore. Believe my new design will allow me to make fewer squares which is the part that bothered me the most.

Here's the first go round that was completely frogged.

Just for Fun

Long long ago, in a planet far far away. Me on the left with my dirty sandal shoes. You know I still love plaids. Butterball in the middle, is my younger brother Mike. Isn't he adorable. My older brother Chuck looking quite handsome and right at the camera like you're suppose to. He was always a good kid, almost....always did what he was told. lol

Just for fun....thought I'd share.

My First Ever CAL (Crochet along)

I've never joined a CAL before, never thought I would enjoy it actually. I like to make what I like to make, and or am directed by what charity I'm stitching for. But, I received a person invitation to join this one, and thought I'd give it a go. The pattern book we're using is 101 Crochet Squares by Jean Leinhauser. I've used some of her patterns before, but so far I'm not overly impresses with her ability to write patterns in a user friendly way. I have a border book of her's I've been using and it seems much better written then this book. I've only done 2 squares so far, but in both cases I had to add and delete stitches to come up with the number of stitches she indicated should be there. Maybe I'll do better with the third one. No one else has yet mentioned having that trouble.

Then again, not many people have yet started as getting the book presents some problems. This book varies in price from 16.95 (which is what I paid) to around $300.00 on line. None of us can figure out why such a huge price swing on this book. But, it's been priced in about 10 different places and is over priced in the majority of the on line listings we saw. The group is a RAV group and so far there's just a couple dozen of us that have joined. Check it out, if you're interested.

Above is the first week's square. I liked how it turned out, and believe this is a square I would do again, #44. I did alter the order of colors so that I started and ended with the same color which is not how the pattern is written. The pattern indicates it's about a 6 inch square, mine was 7 using knitted worsted weight yarn and size I hook. I had trouble with my stitch count on rounds 4 and 5; but got it worked out and am pleased with the end result.
The Teddy Bear was a real BEAR to do. I really worked on this as the counts would not work as she had written them for me. I did and redid a couple of times until I finally just added stitches where I needed them etc. This is suppose to be a 5 inch square and since I don't like squares that small changed this pattern also. The last row is just beyond the bear where the darker color is and was to be a sc row. I did DC instead, and then added yet another row of sc and if I do this again would probably do 2 rows of dc's instead to make it larger. I also used left over Caron Simply Soft yarn which I hate using and that probably made it smaller also since it never meets gauge properly for a ww yarn. But, I had the yarn at my finger tips and decided to experiment with it. I don't know if I'll do this again, though it turned out ok it was not fun to make and too far too long for one little square.

Will keep you posted how things go with The CAL. Have you ever done one? Did you enjoy it?

The last of the garage sale hats, completed!

These 4 hats are the last from the partial hats needing completion from The Garage Sale. I've mentioned this before. (HERE) and (here) Am happy to have those all finished and on heads of those in need through Bridge and Beyond.

I started this fun multi-colored scarf also for Bridge and Beyond the other day at hair dressers. Needed something I could do without my glasses on while I was getting rid of the gray. That process seems to take alot longer then it used too...hum, must be because the gray is more gray and there's more of it. GROAN! This is called kaleidoscope and is probably the softest Red Heart Knitted Worsted Yarn I've ever used. Wonder why it varies so much from color to color?
The picture makes it look more orange then it is. I might have enough for a matching hat too since this is for a child. We'll see as it progresses.

We've been busy redoing our bedroom which has been a pretty major project. In a small house, it's hard to have places to move furniture in order to paint...AND before you paint you have to repair places (Spackle and stuff like that). These projects always take more time and become more involved then one thinks it will before starting. Always! New bed will be delivered in a couple of days so we need to get the painting finished before delivery. We moved our bed into the other room, but had to move the bed from their to the basement. See what I mean...always more work then you think it's going to be. But, am anxious for it to arrive. We both feel like we'll sleep better going to more space, a King. Sometime down the road, we'll need to do some changing around in the room we moved the bed too...cause it's over crowded now. But, one thing at a time.

As always busy busy, how bout you all?

Started before Christmas...still a Work in Progress

Buckeye Colors, Scarlet and Gray. This was going to be part of a Christmas gift, but as you can see....it didn't get finished in time. It's basic garter stitch and is striped but at an angle which I like called Chevron. Now that it's sat awhile, I'm not sure I can figure out where I am in the pattern. Errrrrrrrrr, why didn't I leave myself a note. I don't want to frog it since it's striped would have all those separate pieces. tsk tsk...must think on this. This is where my knitting isn't up to my crochet skills. With crochet, I can count figure out where I am and or determine what the stitch is etc. I find that harder with knitting. I keep at it, hoping I'll improve my skills. I do enjoy knitting; but...I can't do it as easily when someone's talking etc.

Did you get all your planned projects done in time for gift giving?

Oh Baby

CandyLand is the theme for this OddBall Baby Blanket.
I had issues with this blanket. Firstly didn't realize it wasn't a knitting worsted weight blanket. Was trying to follow suit and used Caron Simply Soft (which I had on hand, and hate using), but it was purple and to close in color to the section already here. I didn't want to buy more yarn, even though baby yarn or sport was suggested. Found some fingering weight yarn in my stash still nice and clean in it's original closed plastic bag. Fingering is too thin, so I used 2 strands. Since I had quite a bit done and had to frog, I went with your basic garter here to get this on it's way. I had held the group a bit and felt badly about that. The yellow next to the purple looked nice.
Barely started here in this picture, though since photographing have made some good headway with this one. This one is titled Mossy Delights. I'll be the last knitter on this OddBall. I'm using Pique Triangles which is a nice two sided stitch. It's best not to have a right and wrong side with blankets, though that can't always be accomplished. I love all the greens.
This is a close up of Confetti, where I was on Border Patrol. I crocheted this edge and used up some green confetti looking yarn so was able to stay in theme with my border. I found this border (and the one I used for finishing up my daughter's ghan for Bridge and Beyond), in a nice leisure Arts book by Jean leinhauser titled 50 More Crocheted Afghan Borders. #4531 I like the book, it seems to have a nice mix of borders to use for different types of ghans.
And here's the completed Oddball Baby Blanket, Confetti. The Oddball group is on Rav if you're interested. There's a group for baby sized blankets, full size ghans, and even pet ghans. Everyone does their bit and the blankets do a bit of traveling before they're donated. The baby blankets are all donated to children's hospital's around the country for those in need.

This is some of what I've been busy doing. Still many projects in the works, but a bit here, a bit there and slowly they get done. Though it seems for every completed project I start 2 or 3 more. lol How bout you? What are you up to? Remember busy hands are happy hands. Even if they're not hands that are knitting or crocheting.

Busy finishing Hats, and designing afghans

Here's 2 more hats I completed from the partials garage sell donation group. Believe I've got about 4 more to do, so stay tuned. The pink rows don't match, but I think it's ok given the fun trim I ended with. I'm finding it's possible to use up some real odds and ends when completing these hats. You might remember reference to this garage sell donation for Bridge and Beyond HERE. There were 9 hat starts and I've been chipping away fixing and completing them.

A fun girly set with scarf here, had more of the fun pink, black, white, gray so didn't have to add pink to this first one.

Two more doctored up here.

Also been busy designing, photographing, and bagging up afghans. Got several ready to be worked on from squares I had here mixed with those being donated through Give a Square. All the afghans made thus far have been donated to Faith Mission for those women and children in temporary housing. Some of these people have been homeless and some abused. Having fun doing the designing. The method of photographing them is working out well. Once I do that, I don't have to leave the squares laid out and can bag and label them. Then as soon as I'm done with one ghan I can reach for another bag, select the joining yarn keep the process moving ahead full speed.

What are you working on now that the holidays are over?

Waiting to be?

Waiting to be, no doubt a scarf as 2 skeins is the right amount. Though it could be a hat? It's my favorite Taos, 100% wool yarn. I love to knit with this and have often. My question here is....is this female or male yarn? I've changed my mind about 3 times since purchasing it; but I've been itching to start something using it. I really should probably know it's intended for male or female though before starting. Need some help, what do you think? I might like to start this as my first small on the go type project for the new year....sooo. What say you? And, has anyone crocheted with it? I've only knitted with it to date.

I don't plan to watch football for New Years, do you? I'm hoping to take a walk, my first walk of the new year.

Scarf or hat, Male or Female? hum.... Knit or Crochet?

Some End of the Year Thoughts

Time is so fleeting and there never seems to be enough of it; here it is almost the end of the year 2010. As I think back over the year some thoughts come to mind. I think hubby and I need to plan to visit our daughter more in the coming year and not just wait til she comes home on the holidays. We enjoy our time together so much; and a few times a year just isn't enough.

I got stuck on the letter R as I typed up memories of Mom. I really want and need to finish the alphabet. Hoping to think of an R memory soon. When I have the alphabet finished, I may print for the rest of the family.

I've been really busy with things on Bridge and Beyond in the last couple of months. Did quite a bit of P.R. which seems to have paid off, in that we're getting more frequent donations, and more donations from new pairs of helping hands which is always exciting. The more donations we receive means we can help more people in need. My hope for the coming year is that continues to be the case. If you've not been to the blog lately, please do. Even if you're too busy to knit or crochet something at the moment; spending time on the blog is helpful...as is leaving comments. Both help the page rank with regard to search engines, and placing well on search engines helps us be more visible to possible knitters and crocheters who can help.

I'm hoping to finish the border on a ghan I'm currently working on and get it laundered and blocked in the next couple of days, and finish a ghan my daughter started for the same cause while she was here in town.

I don't make resolutions, though I do sorta make goals for myself for the year. Do you? Belated Merry Christmas to you, and Happy New Year. If you're traveling; travel safe.

The photo was from a 2nd start of the Oddball blanket I mentioned not being happy with previously. I used 2 strands of fingering weight yarn to accomplish the right thickness and since I had the blanket longer then is normal, didn't do anything fancy in terms of stitches. Just did your basic garter. It made a nice contrast both in color and texture to the previous strip. This is only the start; forgot to get a photo of the completed section before I mailed it off. Darn it. I'm expecting another oddball blanket shortly to work on titled confetti. The one pictured was titled Candy Land.

Hat Doctor

These 2 hats were part of a rather large garage sale donation for Bridge and Beyond. Where the color changes is what was sent. A sweet little elderly lady (who's no longer with us) had crocheted these. Perhaps she didn't realize they weren't finished, long enough to stay on someone's head, or snug enough to stay on. I'm not one to let things go un-used and so...doctored them a bit and sent them on their way to warm the head of someone in need. When forming your initial ring (when crocheting a hat), you do not want a hole. Snug up your draw string. These both had a 1/4 inch hole in the top that needed attention. I've seen this problem listed as one of the most common mistakes when someone makes their first hat. Several methods will work to snug it up. You can stitch it together if your drawstring won't get tight enough and add something to the top. You can also go around it twice with your draw string using every other stitch to get it tighter.

In the green hat, I decreased when adding the brown to make it more beanie in style. The yellow one was pretty wide so I decreased much slower and it gives it more of a tam/slouchy style. A third one I forgot to take a picture of was solid green. I happened to have the same color of green...can you believe it and made it like the two tone green and brown.

Hope you're all staying warm, staying safe if you're traveling, and getting all your projects done if you're stitching for Christmas. I finished a scarf for my older brother before heading to his retirement dinner the other night; also forgot to take a picture of it. I loved the yarn and will have to see if I can get a picture to share with you. Was nice tans, browns, gray...very manly wool. Taos, a favorite of mine to knit with.

Sometimes Ugly Changes

Using up odds and ends from basket beside the chair (my knitting and crochet station), I made this hat of whatever for my friend who asked for an ugly hat for a gift exchange. One of those white elephant things. Some of the yarn is knitted worsted weight, some is bulkier (Light n Lofty), and some was fingering weight (though I mixed it--the green with another light weight blue). As you can, no rhyme or rhythm for the colors either.
To add to the ugly, tacky, weird, funky............whatever, I added bows that don't match. I used purple and tangerine bows, there is no purple or tangerine in the hat. I used black curly things as well. After all, I had a pile of them needing to throw out, so why not throw them in for contrast. LOL

My friend actually ended up thinking it was cute, vs ugly. But, it will serve the purpose anyway. Talk about fun to make! What's the ugliest thing you've knitted or crocheted?

Not sure this is going to work

This isn't the best of pictures, so hope you can see this well enough to see what I'm talking about. This is a scarf in the works, made from very small crocheted granny squares. These granny squares were part of the garage sell donation from Krystinne. I didn't want to use these in a ghan due to their size and thought I'd try a scarf. Was in the mood to try something different and so didn't line them up as squares to join, but as diamonds. Joined and edged...well the edging is still in the works. What I'm not sure about, now that I'm this far is if it will be thick enough between diamonds to not curl too much. I don't necessarily need it to be rigid....but will this work as a scarf?

My plan is to donate this through Bridge and Beyond.

Seems it would be appropriate for a teen through one of the 2 free clinics we donate to.

Thoughts? Have you done before? I've seen zig zag type scarves and thought this would be similar.

Hope you are all getting things done for holidays, staying warm, and being safe.

A Frogging we will Go

I'm round 2 on this Odd Ball Blanket, it's theme is Candy Land. I didn't realize until I got it that they used sport weight yarn..........something I never buy or use. Or at least haven't in YEARS. I have so much yarn in my stash I didn't wish to buy more. Searched for Caron Simply Soft, another yarn I don't like to use; though I think it's slightly better knitted vs crocheted. The yarn isn't wrapped well and always splits and irritates me. Not liking the 2 purples together at all. It's in que to be frogged, which seems perfectly in line with me. I was frogging voice wise for a few days and totally without a voice for a few more. This time of year, constant changing weather, play not nice with my allergies.
Started what was going to be a light weight scarf with this soft and thin sock yarn. Though not really red and gray, I thought it looked close to being ok for a Buckeye (Ohio State's Colors). Not liking the way this was shaping up so tossed it aside and worked on something else. My plan was to have made this when the weather was still ok...cool, but not nasty. That plan didn't work so well, so this too is in que to be frogged.

Now I'm actually less congested, head hurts a bit less, but now running a low grade temp....to bad I can't make myself quickly better...like I can these two projects by frogging and starting over.

Getting Things Done?

A busy time of the year has once again come upon us. Are you getting things done? I made my usual homemade egg noddles for Thanksgiving with the help of my DD. We spent the better part of Wed, the day before Thanksgiving working on them and made 3 large batches. A little over a batch is needed for the meal, the rest always gets divided between my Dad and 2 SIL's. This year we had a problem. I thought I'd done the noddles in the crock pot before, though DD says no. Anyway....it didn't work. I don't know if the crock pot simply doesn't get hot enough, or I didn't allow the brother to get hot enough before adding the noddles. We had a gooey mess. So, I got the egg noddles done....sorta? My Dad had since enjoyed several meals from the uncooked he went home with. My brother is on a gluten free diet so the one SIL didn't take noddles this year. I still have some here.

I managed to finish the above purple and green wool scarf for DD. Had hoped to have it done by the time she arrived on Tuesday evening; didn't quite make that deadline. Managed to finish it the next day after we'd made the ill fated noddles. I love this yarn, it's Taos, light, soft and very warm. Green and purple are her favorite colors. So, I got it done, just not quite when I had hoped. At any rate, she was able to pack and take back with her...which was the plan even though I thought I'd give it to her at Christmas. Heck, between now and then is a whole month of cold.

Been working on the scarf (from the previous post), which will be for my young niece for Christmas. Finished 3 ghans (for Bridge and Beyond) and all need to be laundered and blocked....maybe I'll get that done tomorrow?

Managed to start another scarf, and do some trim on a couple of pair of mittens for The Bridge as well.

Spent today with Dad in Urbana, my elderly aunt had cataract surgery. That went real well, I'm pleased to say.

So, how bout you...are you getting things done with the end of year fast approaching?

Young, Youthful or not?

When I bought this yarn I wasn't sure if it would be a scarf for a gift, or a scarf for me. I liked the colors but, just wasn't sure who it was appropriate for. I started it just before leaving for Mexico, as I thought it would be a good small, light weight item to pack and work on during my travels. I'm using a lacy stitch pattern. Not sure how much you see the lace in this picture as I'm holding it up to get snap the picture with my other hand. Believe it moved a bit. (I think you might see the lace pattern better in the first picture I took when it was started, click on I bought this yarn).

So, my question is...is it youthful looking or not? If it's youthful looking it may end up being part of a Christmas gift for my niece who's 14, I think. I'm terrible at birthdays and remember ages; but believe she just started middle school this year. If it's not youthful, it may go to a charity for battered women that likes lacy and pretty scarves. This scarf though lacy, is also warm as it's 100% wool, made with one of my favorite yarns to work with, Taos. Then again, it might find it's way around my neck because it is a warm scarf. Generally, I make light weight scarves for those battered women; not knowing what climate they're in. Light weight works for all as an indoor scarf for decor and comfort. A wool scarf would only be welcomed by those living in cold climates part of the year, so is less usable.

Open to you thoughts and ideas. What do you, Young Youthful, or Not?

Continuing to work on a scarf for DD, which I should be able to finish by tomorrow when she arrives. Finished the corner to corner ghan for Bridge and Beyond 2 days ago, worked some yesterday on tucking in the ends; just a few left to do today. On last section of the blue and burgundy squares also for Bridge and Beyond; should finish it today. Hoping to get both those ghans in wash so I can block them. Have some fun colorful yarn sitting here starting at me, calling my name. I might have to give in and start something with it.

If you're traveling for Thanksgiving, travel safe and enjoy.

Art, wearable Art

This is the jacket I bought at this years art festival. I really liked it when I got it in the summer; but now that's it's cool and jacket season....I don't know. Put it on to go to dinner the other night and it just didn't seem right. I loved the big buttons and the way the collar folds down like a big cowl; but the rounded scooped cut of the jacket made me feel like it should be on someone smaller, or at the very least someone without a stomach. Love the fun colors, the circles and squares; but....wondering if this would fit my niece. Looks good I think with snazzy jeans with the blues.

Purchased it from the same lady I had purchased from before and her sewing is so nice, am disappointed that it just doesn't seem right to me now.

Chipping away at a scarf for DD, a scarf for my niece, two ghans for Faith Mission through Bridge and Beyond. Looking forward to DD arriving for Thanksgiving. Hubby and I tried to purchased a new washer and dryer today; but looks like it will be on sale on Black Friday. Groan....I usually avoid all shopping on that day; but...it's a good price break. So, think that's our current plan.

Hope you all have a good week end.

Busting Blue Stash

Busting my blue stash now. This is the 3rd color. Process continues the same. Dump bag, sort, separate, roll, and yank out small balls to add to the corner to corner ghan. It's been fun organizing my yarn, reminding me what I actually have, and fun to see how the ghan is taking shape, in hues of the same color done in batches.
Will work until the blue's gone, or until I feel like busting another color. This ghan will be for Bridge and Beyond.

Starts for the trip

I generally like to start a few small projects in preparation for packing for a trip. I like to start it before leaving home to see if I'm going to like my idea rather than do that actually on the trip.

Here's my little start. A lacy scarf with 100% wool from one of my favorites Taos. This is I think a discontinued colorway. Why, I don't know because I really like it. Got it in the sale bin at my LYS (local yarn shop). Still not cheap, but more reasonably priced then it typical is. Taos is never cheap yarn to my way of thinking.
Holding it up here so you can see the lace pattern a bit. It's the old fashioned faggot stitch. Colorway is Tucson. When I originally purchase the yarn I thought I'd probably make myself a new scarf with it; but am now thinking maybe it will be a Christmas gift for youngest niece? Not sure yet. When I get further along I'll decide if it's youthful looking. This was one of the projects I started and put in my carry on bag for the trip to Mexico.

My plan for this past week to work on 10 rows for the corner to corner ghan for the homeless for The Bridge, and 10 rows for the scarf I'm working on my DD for Christmas fell a bit short. I did manage my 10 rows a day for the corner to corner ghan; but only managed 18 of 60 rows for the scarf assuming 10 x 6 through yesterday. I also planned to visit 5 people daily from my blog log and didn't manage that successfully daily--though yesterday hit a good number and just finished the remainder today. Seems lots of folks on my blog log aren't blogging as much as they used too, and for some reason Knitting by the Ocean--Joansie, is now a closed blog? Am receiving a message saying it seems you've not been invited to read this blog. What's up with that, anyone know? Joansie and I've been visiting and commenting on each other's blog a long time, so am puzzled and wonder if we've got a blogspot snafu of some sort.

Hope you all have a good rest of the weekend. I'm hoping to get 10 more rows on corner to corner, and see about catching up and or finishing DD scarf.

Everyone Loves Purple and Green

Started this scarf for my DD on the plane to Mexico last week. It's purple and green of course. Her colors, but apparently not just her's. Several folks on the plane and in the lines mentioned how popular green and purple are right now. One young gal they're really "IN". lol I'd be using them even if they weren't. Knitting this from 100% wool, Crystal Palace which is one of my favorite yarns for scarves. Light weight, pretty, soft, but still warm. No fancy stitching to detract from the pretty yarn are necessary. Using a real favorite, The Condo Stitch with size 15 and 8 knitting needles. One of the nice things about using your interchangeable knitting needles is the ability to use 2 different sizes at the same time.

The plan of 10 rows mentioned in my previous post isn't going quite as well as I had hoped. Currently doing 10 rows a day on this scarf I should be at 40 by the end of today, and am only on 19. AND following the same plan for the corner to corner ghan I'm knitting for Bridge and Beyond, I should also be at 40 by days end and am at 25. The day's not over yet, so there's hope but as I finish this post, I'm heading to work soooooooooooooo.....beyond doing a little during my dinner break, I don't know if I'll make it or not.

My other plan of visiting 5 blog mates a day has fallen way short. Too short to report, but I will keep trying.

Hope you're all having a wonderful day. Pretty fall day here, hope it is for you as well.

Sandy's Sunday Thoughts

There really is never enough hours in the day.

People really can really surprise you with their big hearts.

Immigration and airport security are stressful, long, involved and I wonder....do they really serve a purpose?

Yes, I really do need more time in each and everyday. I am soooooooo behind at blogging on this blog and in visiting all my blog friends. I plan to visit at least 5 of you everyday this week in an effort to catch up. And I need to get a couple of posts written, scheduled and get back in the swing of things...show you what I've been working on, what I've been doing, and find out the same from you.

Been gone for a week, and was thrilled thrilled thrilled to see so many wonderful donations for Bridge and Beyond.

Get in this line, show this paper, move over here. Put your papers away, take your papers back out. Leave your shoes on. Get them tied again, now take your shoes off. Good Grief. How much do you have to declare, what did you buy? Why don't they ask for receipts if they really care? Where did you go, how long did you stay, what happens if you don't tell the truth? How would they know? I'm not sure they would. But...I sure spent lots of time in line..........Geessssssssss Lots of details, pictures, and information to follow on my travel blog, Traveling Suitcase

Daily plan for the week:
Knit 10 rows on scarf I started for DD for Christmas (picture tomorrow)
Knit 10 rows on corner to corner (ghan for homeless, keep checking Bridge and Beyond for progress, in a blue phase now
Crochet 10 rows or stitch together sections for blue burgundy ghan for homeless, keep checking Bridge and Beyond for progress

Goals for the week:
Streamline new tab areas on Bridge and Beyond to include slipper patterns, consolidate mitten patterns
Make exciting announcement about who won the mitten challenge on The Bridge (and tally final total of mittens received for challenge made my member Beth
Make exciting announcement regarding magazine article.............drum roll please.

Adding Green to the Ghan

Dumped out, sorted, rolled, organized Green. Wow...look at all the shades of green. We've got lime green, Christmas Green, several shades of olive green, Forest Green, minty greens, almost black greens. Some almost look blue depending on what you place it next too. I followed the pink procedure and pulled out the small balls of green and have continued.

The pictures a bit blurry, sorry bout that. Still have more green to add; but making good progress. Depending on how much green there is, the decrease might start after the green. Kinda fun using up the small balls of yarn this way and seeing the way the colors show up next to each other. This will go to Faith Mission for Bridge and Beyond.

Making it Pink

Because it's October and we all think about Pink I pulled out my pink stash. Did some untangling, some sorting, some rolling balls. Decided I would pull out all the small balls things about 1-2 inches and use them up.
Here's the start. After the pink section I'm currently working on, I have one more small ball of pink....so then will yank out the green stash and do the same thing. This is helpful, it's reminding me what I have. Giving me a chance to organize a bit too, since some of the hanks etc have been in the bags of stash awhile and they do get a little messy. So far I've managed to actually end at the end of the rows, though ...when you're knitting a corner to corner the first rows are much shorter so that's easier to do. I probably won't as time goes on, and I think that's ok. Changing mid row, might add some character to this ghan. I also don't think I'll make an effort to always end on the right or wrong side. After all I want to use up the balls. I've become a real fan of the corner to corner ghans. They're easy and work up fairly fast with just doing garter stitch. They're a good way to use up yarn, they look decorative I think with the edge made from the yarn overs. This one will probably go Bridge and Beyond for Faith Mission. Those women and children are truly in need.

Apologies, it's been 2 weeks since I've posted. Wow, I never let it go that long. I've been working more hours, and have put lots of time and energy into working on the blog for Bridge and Beyond. Adding tabs, doing more frequent posts to help it's placement in the search engines, and doing lots of posting and promotions on other blogs, and forums to obtain more helping hands.

Would love you all to take time to visit The Bridge, maybe you could print a flier or two which you'll find in the tabs across the top of the blog to help spread the word. Could I also ask you to visit and comment on 2 or 3 different posts? That's helpful as well with the whole search engine thing.

I hope to get around to visiting you all again, please know you're not forgotten.

Thinking, Planning, Designing Orange Fall

Felt like throwing squares and rectangles on the floor to get those creative juices going. I remembered I had a fair number of orange-ish squares in my mish mosh bags. Drug those out and added some recent rectangles with that same fall orange flare to them. Lots of sizes here as you can see. Some pieces are knitted, some are crocheted, some are sampler type squares/rectangles and others granny style made in the round. Several of these large knitted squares are from my Darling Daughter, some have been donated through Bridge and Beyond by Alexis, RoseMarie, and some are left overs from previous defunct groups. Some I've had a while; but a squares doesn't get old you know. It's like wine, I use no square before it's time. lol
It's time. I like to photograph what I think the lay out should be, to get idea how much I need to change the squares/rectangles to make them fit. Once I pick them up and start that work, I often have to look at the picture. I really can't remember how I put them together size wise. Sometimes though the give and go of squares with different yarns and stitches changes and they do get moved from the original template.

However, this is step 1 for me. Next is step 2, what color to edge and join with. Debating with myself now between black and brown. I'll have to check the amount I have of each in my stash and go from there. It's a work in progress and will be donated to Faith Mission, the latest beneficiary I've added to our The Mission of Bridge and Beyond.

I also like to take pictures from the both the length and width views, as it helps with sizing issues.

Troubled Blanket on it's way, FINALLY

Gees, what started out as an easy project really took a turn to taking too much time and I had to solve a problem. The pink yarn was given to me and and I thought it was such a soft pink would make a nice small blanket. I started was to be a plain pink blanket, and when I was at what I thought was the 1/4 th point by counting the stitches on the needle I weighted the yarn I had left and thought I was good to go. No clue how I was sooooooo off. I don't know if I didn't weigh the yarn correctly, forgot what I came up with, or changed the count I was going for on the blanket. But, clearly I was way off. The pink yarn was old, wasn't a brand I'd ever heard of before and so I knew it wasn't possible to try and match. Two choice, rip out back to the half way point and do a 2 tone blanket or keep going until I ran out and then switch. I hate, hate, hate to rip out and had so many projects going and deadline looming that I choice to keep going and add a new color when the time came. My thought was then to make a hoody type blanket so whatever color I added for the 2nd color on one corner would be matched with a hood of the same color on the opposite corner.
The 2nd color ended up being about 1/3rd of the blanket which measures 32 x 32 inches. Susie snuggled up in the traditional wrap method showing the hood which has a small ruffle. I didn't want it to lay totally flat against the blanket feeling it might be too tight.

This is on it's way to Angela for her Blankets for All Babies request on Crochetville. She's been busy making baby items for her local pregnancy center where your mothers with low income are much in need. Give a baby a head-start and make something warm. I have a couple of hats and green pair of booties going with this donation as well, but forgot to take pictures.

The blanket is knitted in straight garter stitch on size 6 needles (yarn was lighter weight so smaller needles were necessary which made the process slower than I like, even without the added problem of running out of pink), using the traditionally dishcloth pattern. The hood is made the same. I just knitted what looked like a new start until the corner seemed large enough, edge it, as I had the blanket; and crocheted the two together.

Angela's charity is in NE, Ohio.

Ticker Tape for Women

Moda Dea Ticker Tape, 100% nylon a fun yarn to work with. Very soft and light weight and is like working with ribbon. I think this might make a nice chemo cap due to the feel. It's also quite stretchy. I'm using 2 different sized needles 13 and 17. Have gotten so for quick projects, I really like the different texture using 2 sizes of needles gives when just knitting straight (garter stitch). When you use this method is called Condo Stitch. It's amazing how different it looks based on the sizes you choose to use. How close the needles sizes are or aren't makes a big difference. This is a little open and airy. Think if I were to do this again I would go for a bigger difference in needle sizes to open it up a bit more. This will be sent to NC and is, I think a nice weight for year round wear in that southern state. It's intended more as a decorative scarf and could be used to ward off cool air conditioning on the neck in the warmer months and then again for warmth later as it cools down.

The colorway is called Monet and while I'm not one to use lots of pastels it's really quite pretty. I''ve had these 2 skeins in my stash for quite a while and had forgotten I had it. It's classified as a bulky weight yarn and suggests size 13 as the optimal needle size. Generally when I'm using 2 different sized needles I use the suggested size as the smallest of the two, or go one smaller. There's only 67 yards in a skein, so will probably use about half the 2nd skein to complete this project. Since it's more of a decorative scarf I don't want it to be doubled up and will go for about 5.5 to 6 ft in length. As I was looking up the information this morning about the yarn I was surprised to see on RAV, that's it's since been discontinued. That's a shame. I saw hats, scarves, walker totes, ponchos, sweaters, and summer tops all made beautifully from this yarn. Not sure when it got discontinued; but if it wasn't too long ago you might get some really good buys from the stores that still have it in stock. Always nice to look for a bargain.

When finished (and by the time you read this it should be, as this is a scheduled post), it's heading to Jackie someone I meant on The Hive as a give away for Mother's and More Raleigh Durham Chapter 331 convention. This is a non-profit 20 year charity focused on promoting women and their needs.

Homemade Applesauce, Tis the Season

A Granny Smith Apple here. I make homemade applesauce quite a bit for dinner; but usually in small amounts and so just peel and cut the apples. Needed to make a huge batch the other day for a large gathering and luckily hubby remember I had a peeler-slicer-corer from the days when I canned.
Center the apple as best you can on the prongs on the right (see above), turn the crank and you slice, core, and peel all at one time. It's fabulous. I did a bag of Granny Smith's, bag of Macintosh, bag of Gala's, and several large Braeburns. I like my applesauce to be a mix. I also like it chunky, so I start it cooking while I'm still working on some of the apples; that way they all don't cook at the same rate. Some will be soft and mushy, while some of it will have pieces of apple which is my preference. I use lots of Cinnamon, little bit of water, and some sugar. I don't measure so I can't tell you how much of anything. I do things by site and smell. I can tell you I use one of the shakers for sugar and only go through 1 maybe 2 a year---so you see it's not sweet sweet.
Apple slices in the pan. Some I left this size, others I broke up; again so the cooking would be different. I made a huge amount and everyone loved it. Had enough to give Daddy a container to take home after the family gathering, plus left some for my younger brother and his wife who always enjoy it.

While I'm still not happy about summer going bye bye, fall is a good time for good applesauce.

Remodel with Tile

Tiles are used in so many different ways in the house and out. Think about all the projects and possible remodeling you could do with the use of pretty subway tiles. Think about mosaic and decorative tiles you could around the fireplace in the living room. They're easy to clean and add lots of personal detail to your room. Or perhaps you need tiles for around your pool.

Think about the amount of time one spends in the kitchen, either cooking the family meal, eating it, cleaning up afterwards; or just hanging out. Kitchens get lots of use by every family member. Make your kitchen attractive with the use of tiles in the backsplash. The tiles are not only attractive but very useful in protecting your walls from food splaters behind the stove, to water splatters around the sink areas.

You could do a whole bathroom remodel with bathroom tiles. Tiles for flooring, the shower area, even the wall. The skies the limit truly with color and design. Durable scratch resistent tile in imagination shape, size, and color.

Would you like to shop with the ease of clicking your mouse? Would you like to take advantage of free shipping, sign up for email allerts for specials, use coupons, and be guaranteed the best price as well as returns and exchanges? Get free help over the phone, order a sample to determine what style or color tile you want for your project? Then click HERE and order tile that's been featured on HGTV, tile used by Bob Villa from the ease of your computer chair on a secure website. The website is easy to navigate with searches capable by color, room/project and or collection. AND that's not all, the supplies and tools you need to complete the project are also available; along with what you need for maintenance of your new remodel.