Knitting binge

 

My knitting binge continues! Right now I'm focusing on very simple wrist warmers/fingerless gloves for some of the high school girls. We've had some banter going on for over a year about the color pink. I have never been a big fan of pink, but I've been told it's a good color for me. So, I wear pink once in a while.

Last year a couple of the girls told me I should be wearing pink on Wednesday. I had no idea why until about a month ago. It's from the movie Mean Girls, which I had never seen. I watched the movie about a month ago, and then I understood why pink should be worn on Wednesday.

I have made a point of wearing pink every Wednesday this school year, and the girls and I get a laugh out of it. With the weather turning cooler, the girls have been complaining about how cold they are. I decided they needed pink wrist warmers/fingerless gloves. I played around with stitch count and finishing last week, and I now have something that will work for me. The girls liked my prototypes, so the serious knitting has begun. Quite a few girls have show interest in the project, so I may have created a monster!

I'm using worsted weight wool with size 4 needles. I've cast on 32 stitches, and knit in garter stitch for 6". I then slip stitch the sides together using a crochet hook, and hide the ends. I did have to buy pink yarn for this project. I did start knitting a pink sweater for myself about 20 years ago. I ended up throwing it out. The size was wrong, and I just couldn't take the pink any longer! Somehow, smaller projects in pink don't bother me.

My brother and sister came down to visit this weekend, and Mom wanted a picture of the three of us wearing our Orenberg warm shawls. Mom and I wore ours folded in half as a rectangle. Janet folded hers into a triangle. Mom did a beautiful job on all three. It took her about a year each to knit hers and mine, mainly because we were both distracted by other projects. She knit Janet's in about three months. Mom's is out of a lace weight acrylic. Janet's and mine are out of a silk/merino blend. All three of us will stay warm this winter!

Mom's masterpiece

 

Mom finished the Orenburg Warm Shawl that she's been working on for me. This has been her main project for the past year. It's a luxurious 50/50 blend of merino and silk called JaggerSpun Zephyr. The color is Suede, and I love it!

While the pattern is somewhat fresh in her mind, Mom started another shawl for my sister Janet. She's using the same yarn, this time in White. The white has a tighter twist than the Suede, so the stitches are more defined, and Mom said that she seems to be having less trouble with split stitches. It will be fun to watch this shawl grow!

Yesterday was a busy day around here. My brother David came down to visit in the morning. Daughter Carol came over to help with yard work. Mom was knitting and visiting, and I had the most important job of all... supervising!

I did manage to spend some time knitting on my Summer Sky shawl. This is my first time working the Open Star Stitch. It's very pretty, but I'm having trouble knitting the k3pso. I'm using Knitter's Pride Dreamz needles, and I think the tips are too blunt. I've ordered some Addi Turbo Lace needles that should arrive today. I will soon know if it's the needles or the knitter that need adjustment!

Tollway Tatters

It's hard to believe that this is the last Saturday in April. I wasn't even thinking about it until Sue posted a reminder!

I worked on Renulek's Spring 2021 doily. I tatted until my wrist got too tired, and then I quit for the day. I'd be close to finishing this round if I hadn't had to un-tat several mistakes!

We had a very nice virtual visit, and I think it's safe to say that we are looking forward to our next Zoom meeting!

My newest shuttles from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design arrived the other day. Aren't the colors wonderful?

I needed to work on something different after nearly three hours of tatting this morning, so this afternoon I picked up my knitting. Mom has started her second Orenburg warm shawl. I'm still working on the second of four borders from my first shawl. Still, I've been inspired by Mom, and I think it will do me good to switch between tatting and knitting so that I'm working different muscles.

My friend Ines recommended The Salt Path by Raynor Winn. I started reading after dinner. Now, will I spend the evening knitting or reading? I haven't decided yet!

Out on the town

Mom finished her Orenburg warm shawl, and she loves it! She loves it so much, she's getting ready to start another. We headed to Hobby Lobby for a skein of Sinfonia, which she will use to hold stitches on the new shawl.

After shopping at Hobby Lobby, we went to our favorite restaurant, Cozumel, and a light lunch. Our next stop was the doctor's office for a quick check-up. It's great to know that Mom is in good health!

I did get in a little tatting time today. I'm little over half way around on round 13. Yes, I am behind, but I keep telling myself it's not a race.

I also managed to bake a loaf of triple cheddar and black pepper bread for daughter Carol. I'll deliver it to her tomorrow.

It was kind of fun to be out on the town today!

Tatting and reading

 

Today was a good tatting day! I was very happy to complete five button ornaments.

Mom has been busy, too. She's getting close to finishing her Orenburg warm shawl. Isn't it gorgeous?

I didn't do much tatting over the weekend. I worked on Renulek's Spring 2021 doily, but I spent most of my time reading The Castilians by V.E.H. Masters. The book was okay, but I felt like there was so much more that could be done with it. I would have liked to know more about the siege, and I would have liked to see the characters more fully developed. Still, the book did inspire me to do some research on my own. I guess that's a good thing!

Keepin' busy

 

I really managed to pack a lot into today! First I added a motif to my doily that may become a curtain. It will take me a while to decide if I really will tat curtains.

I used up the ball of white thread I was using for my December button ornament challenge. I just happened to have this pretty Lizbeth Seagreen Lt in the basket by my chair, and this little button was in the button box on my table. The button isn't quite 1/2". The rings look a little squished, but I still like it.

Of course an Ice Drop was on my must tat list today!

It's been a while since I've worked on my Orenburg warm shawl. It felt good to be knitting again!

My big project of the day was to cut out drama club t-shirts. The plan is to make curtains for daughter Carol's classroom. I was on a roll, so I also fused interfacing to the blocks. The next step will be to measure the windows so that I can determine what size the blocks need to be. After Carol chooses the layout, I'll get busy sewing. I can hardly wait to see how the project turns out!

Keepin' busy

We had a very busy weekend! On Saturday Mom and I went shopping for Christmas fabric with daughter Carol. While we were out having fun, Dave took advantage of the warm weather and started putting up outdoor Christmas decorations. The lights won't go on until after Thanksgiving, but it's nice to get a head start before the weather turns cold!

My brother came to visit on Sunday morning. After he left, Mom and I got busy knitting. My second border is coming along nicely. Mom is almost finished with her third panel. Mom was right... the second time around is much easier!

I now have another cross bookmark ready for Christmas gift giving. This is "Camilla" from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. This one was a challenge for me. I think it's beautiful!

One done!

I finished the first border of my Orenburg warm shawl today! Mom is making great progress with her third border. I guess I have a bit of catching up to do!

Mom suggested we have a Christmas fashion show. Mom may be able to wear her shawl at Christmas, but I don't picture myself being able to get that much done, especially since I've been working on the first border since August. I'll give it my best try!

One more to go

I have one more pattern repeat to go before I start decreasing this first border of my Orenburg warm shawl. 

I'm happy to be building my stash of Ice Drops again. I want to be prepared for Christmas gift giving!

I now have another Coronavirus Button Cross also ready for Christmas. I love sharing my tatting during the holiday season!

A bit sore

I've been a bit sore today, but I guess that's to be expected the day after surgery. Luckily, I had plenty to keep me busy.

I finished another pattern repeat on my Orenburg warm shawl. I now have 9 of 11 repeats finished. Mom finished the 11th repeat of her second border today. I'm sure she will finish the decrease section tomorrow.

Another Doodle Ice Drop is ready for Christmas gift giving.

I also tatted another Coronavirus Button Cross. I think I had a pretty productive day!

High hopes

I had high hopes of accomplishing a lot today. I didn't quite meet my goals, but I had fun!

While supervising the kids at school, I finished tatting another Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton. I had a little bit of thread left on my shuttle, so I decided to see how much I could tat of Mary Konior's Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns. I thought I'd only get one pattern repeat, so I was pleased to get two. The shuttle is one of my favorites, a present from my cousin Trish. The shuttle was made and decorated by Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design.

I now have eight pattern repeats finished on the first border of my Orenburg warm shawl.

Mom is zipping along with her second border. She's well into her eighth pattern repeat. I'm pretty sure she will finish her second border before I finish my first!

Monday, Monday

Mom and I had a busy day. We started off with a little housework and some crafting. I sorted through one of my jars of buttons, deciding which ones I realistically might use and baggings up the rest to give away. 

My main reason for sorting through buttons was so that I'd have easy access to the size needed for tatting these crosses. I do like this pattern, Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton. It takes me about two hours to tat one of these crosses, which is pretty good time.

It's been a while since I've tatted an Ice Drop. It felt good to get back into the Ice Drop groove!

I finished my sixth pattern repeat today. Mom is quickly catching up to me, the difference being that she's on her second border and I'm still on my first. I am enjoying knitting this Orenburg warm shawl!

Relaxing

We had a very relaxing day today. Dave worked on some outdoor projects, while Mom and I enjoyed indoor activities. 

Mom and I both worked on our Orenburg warm shawls today. I finished another pattern repeat, and Mom is zipping along with her second border panel. After making mistakes on three rows, I decided it was time to take a break from knitting.

It's been a long time since I've worked with doodads aka jewelry findings, and I decided today was as good a day as any to get to work. I didn't find the ones I was looking for, but I did find these acrylic flower findings that I had completely forgotten about.

After playing with the flower design, I decided to try the acrylic flower as the center for Laura Blanton's Coronavirus Button Cross. It worked pretty well!

Mom and I finished watching the seven seasons of Endeavour that are available and decided to watch Inspector Morse. I had watched the series a long time ago, so long ago that I really can't remember the plot lines. I've been working on my Granny Stripe afghan while watching the show. The pattern is so simple, I can follow the show and not mess up my project. Tonight I was able to crochet four rows while watching an episode. 

Today was far more productive than I could have imagined!

Four!

I just finished the fourth pattern repeat of my first border! I only have seven repeats to go before I start decreasing.

Mom has finished her first border. It measures 55" on the outside edge. She has already made a good start on the second border, and she's talking about a second shawl! I have a feeling she will finish her second shawl right around the time I finish my first one!

Another!

I finished another pattern repeat! I'm very excited to have gotten this far with no major mistakes. Mom is on the decrease portion of the pattern. I know I won't catch up to her, but I will keep on going!

Fumble fingers

For some reason, I had fumble fingers yesterday. First, I pulled the knitting needle out of the beginning of a row. Luckily, it was only about ten stitches and I was able to recover them with no problem. Then, I almost lost one of my points when I didn't really knit the last stitch in a row. I decided to quit while I was ahead!

Moving on to crochet, I thought I'd do better. For a while, I did do better, but then I kept dropping my hook. I did manage to finish almost three rows before giving up for the night.

My new take-along project for school is a scarf. The ribbing pattern is simple to remember, and I can easily put this project down without worrying about losing my place in the pattern. 

The girls who loved seeing what I was knitting or crocheting have all graduated. I miss sharing my progress with them. I keep hoping that someone will show interest in what I'm making. I would love to share some more of my stash with future knitters or crocheters!

Impatient

Blogger has been very slow uploading my pictures for the past couple of days. I've grown impatient and closed the program to try again later. I have better things to do than watch a spinning wheel! 

I've finished the second pattern repeat of my Orenburg warm shawl! I love this pattern! Mom is almost ready to start decreasing. I think that once we each have the first border section finished, the rest will move along fairly quickly.

I've been taking knitting to school with me. The room I'm in is pretty chilly, and I find that my hands prefer the warmth of yarn. Once the heat kicks in, I'm sure I'll feel like tatting again! This is a cowl that I started last spring. The color looks olive, but it's really more of a forest green. I'll have to get another easy to remember pattern to carry with me. My yarn stash is not going down as quickly as I had hoped!

Mistakes happen

Sometimes they happen over and over and over again, and that's what happened today! After successfully completing the first pattern repeat, I made a mistake on the first row of the second repeat. I know I un-knit and re-knit that row at least four times before getting it right. Just think, I could have been halfway through the second pattern repeat if I hadn't kept making mistakes!

One done!

Mom is really going to town with her Orenburg warm shawl!

I'm pretty pleased with my progress as well! I've finished the first pattern repeat, and I'm feeling pretty good about my knitting!