Telephone Poles for Knitting Needles!

This afternoon Kathleen brought another pair of mittens for the inventory. We talked about how we can use the exact same pattern and same size needles and no two pair come out the same size. I think with me, it has to do with my mood when I'm knitting. If I am stressed I must knit tightly. One time I made a pair of baby socks and had to knit a third one to get the same size and believe it or not, none of them matched in size! And I knitted them all in the same day! I guess I relaxed with each one I knitted. 

 Barbara started a pair of fingerless mitts. By 3PM the first one was almost finished.

 I finished the Wingspan shawl/scarf. I used Jojoland Melody superwashed yarn. I love how the colors blend into each other.

 Over the weekend I found a cowl pattern I liked and had some baby alpaca yarn that was just enough yardage to make this Elis neck warmer. It uses the Indian Cross Stitch. I enjoyed learning this new-to-me stitch which looks terrible until it's blocked. 

 The long threads are created by wrapping each stitch three times and then on the next row the stitch is pulled to the entire length, making the open work. This is a six stitch pattern so you cross three stitches over three in one direction and then after two rows of stockinette you do it again in the opposite direction. I know it sounds like gibberish but it's really easy to do.

 I started this cowl tonight but once I completed the ribbing I found out it's a pattern that requires my full attention so I couldn't talk with my Chicks. On to something else for the evening.

 Maureen's Wingspan is coming along nicely. The colors look great and matched her sweater.

Carole worked on another hat. 

 Beth finished her scarf with the keyhole end.

 And Dorah is plugging away on her never-ending scarf. She vowed to make something small next time.

 We all joked with Beth about the "telephone-pole-sized" double pointed needles she was using to make a cute cloche style hat. Well, by the end of the evening she laughed last because....

 she had a completed hat! Not bad for telephone poles! 

I'm sure she'll have another by next week. 

For now I am going to work on that cowl which needs all the stitches counted.