Check out what made us LOL!

We started our afternoon with new projects. Kathleen started a new shawl in a warm, rich, russet almost berry color.

 The details of the stitch are very pretty. Plus Kathleen said it's a four row pattern and only one of the rows is different from the other three easy rows. That's my kind of pattern! Looks good but is really easy!

 Kathleen added another pair of warm mittens and...

 a nice warm hat. She was a bit unhappy with the results of the yarn as it didn't have the elasticity of a natural fiber and ended up being way too big around her head. But with a little genius, Kathleen inserted a bit of elastic thread in the brim and VOILA'! It fits!

 Liz's new scarf is taking shape nicely.

 And Barbara started a cowl from a free pattern.

 She is using a bulky weight baby alpaca yarn that is as soft as a cloud! The halo of the yarn makes a beautiful fabric and adds to the softness and warmth. And the color! OH! It's the most gorgeous coral you ever saw!

 I finished my Baby Surprise Jacket after making some last minute design changes. I was going to make it using all variegated yarn but thought it might be too busy. After searching the stash, I found the perfect blue wool to add to the mix. 

 I finished it off with an I-cord edge and now I just have to find the right buttons for it.

 We started off the evening knitting group with a good laugh. Maureen picked a pattern for a man's hat and noticed that the photographer must not have looked at the background after taking the picture. Take a look at the next pic and you'll see what I mean.

 That is just sad!!!

 But the photo faux pas doesn't take away from Maureen's knitting.

 Beth's photo book filled with memories of her recent trip to France helped to nicely break up some of the knitting time. Thanks for sharing your trip with us Beth. The photos were beautiful! Good job Ed!

Last up is a striped scarf I started yesterday. I struggle to find patterns that have a more masculine style since girly things are so much fun to knit. But my old standby is the Jared Flood version of what he calls the Noro Striped Scarf. 

I'm using fingering weight yarn so this will take me a few weeks to finish. I might get bored before then so don't be surprised if I start something else before this is finished.

What we knitted on Paul McCartney's birthday

My daughter will appreciate the nod to Sir Paul this week!

We have many finished items this week. Kathleen brought in her usual multiple FO's (that's finished objects for you non-knitters). These slippers were made with a super bulky yarn that knits up quickly.

To the slippers, Kathleen added two pairs of mittens and a hat. She had me wind six more skeins of yarn for her yesterday so I'm sure Kathleen will be arriving with a boat load more of finished knitting next week.

 Barbara chose this pattern to make a very soft cowl with a Malabrigo yarn in a light orchid.

 Liz brought the hat, cowl and scarf to add to our inventory.

 And Barbara finished the hat and scarf set I showed you before.

 I finished the hat, scarf, and mittens which will join the others to go to the Capital City Rescue Mission in a couple of months.

 Over the weekend I finished this cowl too. I started out with about 200 yards or so of Periwinkle Sheep sock weight in orchid. I knew I wanted a triangular cowl but couldn't decide how I wanted to finish it off. After a few stops and starts I settled on K2tog, YO until the center spine and then SSK, YO after the center spine. I finished it off with a few rows in garter stitch so it wouldn't curl.

 Beth is taking a class in this darling monkey blanket. It is knitted in the round so you don't have to purl any stitches, sort of like a Fair Isle sweater. It will look like a tube of monkeys. Then she will sew the length of the blanket on either side of a designated area which will reinforce the sides and then...THEN! BETH WILL CUT IT OPEN!!! Yes cut the stitches apart. I get a lump in my throat when I say "cut the knitting". This will enable the blanket to lay flat and give a four sided blanket. Stitches will be picked up all around and a decorative edging will be knitted on. I can't wait to see it finished.

 Carole is better than halfway done with her scarf and thinking about a shawl she wants to knit for herself.

 This is the scarf I showed you last week that Beth is working on with the slipped stitches. Lots of progress showing there.

 And Maureen is gaining length on her baby sweater. Pretty soon she'll be working on sleeves.

There isn't much progress to show on my personal knitting this week. I spent more hours frogging and tinking than I did knitting. That's what I get for having the TV on in the background! I wasn't watching it though...Honest! 

Busy Fingers

Let's start this week's review with our evening group's progress. Dorah picked out a colorful yarn last week and cast on for a scarf. She knitted this much last night and is well on the way to making a cheerful scarf. This will certainly brighten a dreary winter day! 

 Carole's scarf with the magic pleats has gained some length. She is using a fingering or sock weight yarn so it has nice drape-ability. I love to make up my own words! LOL!

 Beth started a scarf using a soft cotton yarn. Those holes are not mistakes. They are meant to be there because when she finishes the scarf, those stitches will be unraveled the whole length of the scarf leaving a lacy open weave look. It's an easy technique for a complicated look.

 Maureen made us laugh when she declared that she is knitting a top-down sweater after all. She didn't think that when she started it. She uses interchangeable needles which make it convenient when there are stitches to be held for later knitting. The sleeve stitches are being held on extra needle cables with end caps in place to prevent those stitches from falling off.

 Kathleen finished her little green cardigan and even added some nice detailing with the yellow stripe.

 She must have a magic button box because she always finds the perfect button for her projects!

 This is one of the mittens she is working on now. By next week she will most likely have a whole set! She is just that fast a knitter!

 Liz's blue scarf has grown quite a bit in length too.

 And Barbara's 2X2 ribbed hat grew quickly during our knitting session. It matches....

 The Mistake Stitch Scarf she started a couple of weeks ago.

I finished a top-down man's hat to go with....

a pair of man's mittens which will match....

the Mistake Stitch scarf I started a couple of weeks ago. I'm almost finished. But I set it aside for a bit to work on my second Catkin.

This was my first Catkin that I made with Periwinkle Sheep Yarn in Audrey Hepburn red and Malabrigo black. They are both fingering weight yarns. I know I made all sorts of negative comments about knitting this but after all was said and done I decided I needed another one.

My new Catkin will be made using all of Periwinkle Sheep's yarn. The deep warm brown is called Murphy's Favorite Pint and the lighter yarn is Aqua. I love the combination of turquoise and brown as it reminds me of the Southwest gemstones with matrix running through it.

As of June 15th, 2013 you will be able to purchase Periwinkle Sheep yarns at Hook A Frog Fiber and Fun. Take a run over there and have a peek after June 15th. I guarantee you'll find Karin's yarns irresistible!

More yarn?!!!

This week with the Chicks started off with a stash hunt. Our "Fairy Godmother" gifted us with nine shopping bags of yarn through which we excitedly hunted. Many thanks go to her for her generosity! Liz and Kathleen chose a few skeins to take with them and here they are thinking about what they will make.

I blocked my newest Wingspan yesterday and I'm very pleased with the finished results.

It never ceases to amaze me how much of a difference a thorough blocking will make in a finished garment.

I know I will get many opportunities to use this scarf. I can think of three different tops I wear that have either coral, pink, or purple so I know this will become a favorite.

Kathleen finished the matched set I showed you last week and added a blue hat too. The scarf is called "The Mistake Stitch". It's a very easy pattern that works into a nice plump almost thermal fabric. Cast on a multiple of 4 stitches plus 1. Then K2, P2 across the row to the last stitch, K1. That's it! You can make it any length and any weight as long as you use a needle of appropriate size to your yarn. It's a great go-to pattern for no-thinking knitting.

Liz was showing us the suggested bind off method for a shawl she is knitting but she wasn't crazy about the loopy edging which had to be crocheted.

As it turned out, she wouldn't have had enough yarn to do the fancy bind off anyway so she opted for a traditional straight bound off edge. Looks good Liz!

Kathleen started a cardigan sweater with the prettiest bright green wool, not quite the color you see here. One of these days I'm going to figure out how to get my colors more accurate!

Carole finished her cowl on which she worked last Tuesday. She looks great in cowls. So good in fact....

we all voted that she model Dorah's finished Gaptastic cowl too!

The evening Chicks dove through the stash too and Dorah started winding a new skein right away for a colorful scarf. Maureen is still working on her baby sweater and Beth was at the home stretch of a cabled hat.

She did finish it in time for me to get a photo before the knitting session ended.

Carole started a self-pleating scarf. It's a trick using stockinette and reverse stockinette that gets it to pleat by itself. Amazing! I'm going to have to try this sometime.

But for now I must finish the 5 projects that are on needles right now! How many projects do you have going at once?