Mommy Knitting...

Wingspan

Fibranaura Heaven

US 6/4mm 24" Circs

I thought I knew what I was making for my mother.   She is moving back up North just before Christmas and I thought a nice warm cowl (Gaptastic? Pretty Thing?) would be just the thing. Then while perusing an LYS closeout sale, I found a few balls of  Fibranatura Heaven in the Autumn Leaves color way.    My mother is all about earth tones and these colors are just perfectly her.   I quickly grabbed the six remaining balls and started searching for the perfect pattern.  

After much hemming and hawing, I finally decided on the Wingspan scarf/shawl.  It is fast easy and is really shows off variegated yarns beautifully.  I cast on the Sunday before last (while watching "Captain Phillips", an excellent movie) and finished this past Tuesday.   Including the time it took me to cast on and knit the first two wedges twice (once with a US 7/4.5mm needles, and then again with US 6/4mm needles), it took 9 days to finish.  I worked on it everywhere, home, church, the movies, and even, as you can see,  Medieval Times (where we celebrated T1's 21st birthday).

This means that my two most important Christmas presents (Sis and Mom) are done, done, done and it is only just mid-November.    This is me feeling very accomplished.

Come knit with me...

Have you tried my Simple Comforts Wrap?   Why not?   The pattern is simple (hence the name), but not boring.   With a one row, four stitch repeat, you will have the pattern memorized in no time.   If you can cast-on, knit and yarn over, you can do this.  The resulting wrap can be dressed up or down and is too cozy for words (all evidence to the contrary).   Best of all, the pattern is free (can't beat that) on Ravelry.

You can see a photo of the original Simple Comforts Shawl in my sidebar but, sadly, that one went up in smoke when my house did (more about that here).   This one is a sample in progress (Will I finish it before this Saturday?  Come on by and find out.)   This time I am using Skacel's SimpliWorsted (available at S&Q).   This is the first time I have used it and I really like it.   It was reasonably priced, is mostly natural fibers, is suitably soft and snuggly, and the drape is perfect for a comfort shawl.

If you live in NE Florida, have just realized that Christmas is only 85 days, 13 hours, and 11 minutes (as of this writing) away, and that a cozy shawl would be just the thing for Aunt Bess, please join me at the Sew and Quilt Shop, in Bunnel, FL, this Saturday (and another two weeks hence), for a Simple Comforts Wrap workshop.    I can help you pick the perfect yarn, the appropriate needles, and get you started on your way to cozy comfort.

Care to join us?   Here is all the information you need:

Simple Comforts Wrap Workshop
Location: Sew & Quilt Shop (directions here)
                 4601 E. Moody Blvd. #B-6,
                 Bunnell, FL 32110
                 386-586-5409
                 sewandquiltshop@bellsouth.net
Dates: Saturday, October 5th & 9th
Time: 10am to 12:30pm
Price: $15 per session
Supplies - Simple Comforts Wrap pattern (download here)
               - 800 - 1000 yards of worsted weight yarn (I can help you pick the perfect thing)
               - knitting needles that match your yarn (12" straights or 24" circulars)
               - 1 stitch marker
               - scissors/snips
               - yarn needle (for weaving ends)
Need to know - Cast-on
                        - knit stitch
                        - yarn over (increase)
                        - Bind-off

Please do call/email ahead and let us know that you are coming.

Note:   This Saturday, October 5th is also Sew & Quilts' monthly Knitting/Crochet group, described thusly:

"Creative Critters: Crocheter + Knitter = Critter - Seasoned beginner, almost professional, or wanna be crocheter or knitter join us for a few laughs and a bunch of tangled fun! Sit & Stitch...Don't miss Saturday, October 5th 2pm - 4pm or Monday, October 7th 10am - Noon!!"

Feel free to stay on for that (there are lots of great places to grab lunch in the area).   I am planning to.

               

And the dust settles...

There once was a Christmas post that was brilliant in it's form and elocution right up until the Google deities ate it.  Now it is all gone.  I will give this another try but, be warned, I am not in nearly so good as mood as I was while typing it the first time.

Christmas here at Chez Serenity was simply wonderful.   It started Friday night when we had my brother & SIL over for a full eat until you burst holiday dinner.    It was one of those evenings when everything goes just right.   My back has been bothering me again, so I took a supervisory roll in the guest prep (i.e. cleaning & cooking).   I have to say that hubby and the boys really stepped up.   The house looked great and dinner was scrumptious.    I am impressed, pleased, & proud of my guys.

Christmas Day was a lovely, comfy, cozy, day.   We got up early to open presents (I got the boys up at 6am!  How is that for role reversal?).   We spent the day, playing with our new toys (Hubby & the boys got Kindles.  I got a new camera), watching Dr. Who, eating leftovers, and hanging out in our PJ’s.  

The ritual opening of presents was a blast.   Hubby & sons were thrilled to receive Kindles (I got mine last year).   My favorite part was watching my boys open their presents.   T1, who since he was little, shakes & smells his presents before announcing that they must be Legos, was stunned and pleased when he realized that for the first time in a long time, his Santa present actually was Legos (In my family only those who believe receive.  Consequently, we never admit to not believing).   Then, when T2 began crowing in delight at his new Kindle, T1 dropped what he was opening to search for the right size box, so that he could confirm that he got one too.   It was just too sweet watching my big guys momentarily revisit to their little guy days.   Actually the most fun item was sent to T1 by the ex.   It was a flying monkey (ala Wizard of Oz).   You shoot it from your fingers like a sling shot while it screams monkey noises.   What a hoot!   I think I played with it more than the boys did.

Hubby is somewhat less effusive than the boys and I (he is, after all, Scottish and a bit reserved) but he assures me that he loved his presents and enjoyed watching me “shriek” with delight at mine.

I can not remember when I have gotten so many perfect presents on a single holiday.   Nothing I received will be returned/exchanged.   Hubby got me a DKNY handbag & wallet that I had petted while we were Xmas shopping.   He went back one night after work so I never saw it coming and was thrilled with my surprise.   I was also shocked to get the Cannon PowerShot that was on my Xmas list.   That and a new sewing machine were my hoped for bit ticket items.   There were no sewing machine size boxes under the tree and T2 had said something that made me think I was not going to get the camera.   Imagine my delighted surprise when I unwrapped it after all.   I spent the rest of the day taking pictures of our tree, hubby and the boys.   Also, under the tree were earrings and a pendent from the Southern Christmas show (turns out there was not really a like for the men’s room), and the cutest goofy sheep from a local artist (“That’s okay honey.  I will wait for the man to wrap your mom’s gift.   You go chat with Jamie”), a lovely dolphin painting (created just for me by a family friend), and the sweetest angel tote bag courtesy of friend, Robin.    Again, I say, I LOVED every last one of my Christmas presents.

May all of your holidays bring you peace, love, & joy.

Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas!

Not soon enough...

Spring '09

My backyard

Lots of crafty stuff going on here at Chez Serenity. I love to knit, but I have to say, that nothing beats an embroidery machine for whipping up nice, fast, Xmas gifts. I have taken photos but can't show them until after the holidays.

Thanksgiving weekend was not the restful refuge I was hoping for. Dinner at my brothers ended when his step-daughter fell to the ground in her first ever seizure. Very scary for all (not the least, her). The doctors let her leave the hospital last night. They have some ideas but, ultimately, are just not certain what caused it. Friday, I spent some time visiting at the hospital. Got lost coming and going. I swear downtown Jax confuses the heck out of me. Saturday..xmas shopping. Sunday...car repair, xmas shopping, & a movie. I'm pooped.

I am still over-thinking my next project. For now, I have woken up a napping F&F scarf just to keep my hands busy. Thanks to the Yarn Harlot, I have added JoJoLand's Swirl Shawl to my "I want it now" list.

Maybe I could pick up the pattern tomorrow and knit it out of stash (Koigu?) thereby staying firmly on the "no yarn for a year" wagon. The thing is, that I have not been in a yarn store in all of this time. I have a feeling that it will be a lot harder to avoid buying yarn when I am in a yarn store. I will let you know how it works out for me.

(((hugs)))