Labeling Day!

Today was the day we all say, "Wow! I forgot I made that!" or "Who made that one? Oh! I did!"

We take a trip down Memory Lane as we sort through all the FO's and label them for delivery to the Romero Oncology Office.

Barbara put the finishing touches on her Present Cowl so it could go into the inventory for this round of delivery. She finished just in time to label and count it. She used a yarn from Spud and Chloe.

Elaine admired the hat Debbie made. You know, the one I showed you last week which was just at the beginning? It's a nice soft cotton blend yarn.

Cinzia started the cute baby sweater last week and is already at the bottom edge. She was consulting with us all about how many more stripes she should knit. My rule of thumb is, if you're thinking about how many more to knit, it's probably enough. 

I finished another pair of  Align Mitts using a vibrant sock yarn from a mystery yarn with no label.

So this afternoon everything was labeled and sorted. There were 32 hats.

18 scarves,

19 cowls,

and 4 pairs of fingerless mitts.

With 3 last minute additions our grand total was 82 items. I used to count pairs of mittens or socks as one item but I've decided you still have to knit TWO items so I count them individually now.

My evening Chicks were a little disappointed that they didn't get to participate in the labeling so next time I'll save that duty for them.

Carole showed us a hat she is making for herself called Rectangly. She feels the cold and this hat is double knitted so it's a good pattern for warmth. The inside and outside are mirror images of the pattern with two layers being knitted at the same time. It's going to take a while for me to wrap my brain around that one but someday I might try one.

Her Chicks project is a hat called Rambled. The pattern contains multiple sizes and it's free!

Margaret worked on a headband and was deep into it when she realized we were talking so much she forgot to increase to make a taper in the width. We all think it's fine the way it is. We'll find out next week if she agreed.

We must have been chatting on a bit because Dorah too "redesigned" a 3X2 ribbed hat before she realized it. So now it's a 2X2 ribbed hat! Hey! I always say, it's not a mistake, it's a design element!

A hat pattern called Czapka showed up on my Youtube feed which looked interesting. Unfortunately, the whole video and written pattern were in Polish! I must have watched the video a dozen times so I could count the stitches as the instructor cast on and knitted and purled her way to this lovely pattern. I'm using Berroco Ultra Alpaca which is an alpaca and Peruvian wool blend yarn. It's a bit scratchy for alpaca but it's on a head full of hair so I don't think it will matter much.

Last week when Joules was visiting I surreptitiously caught a picture of her joining us for the afternoon. I looked all through my camera and phone knowing I had taken it but couldn't for the life of me find it. The next morning I was texting my son and there it was. I had taken it to show him in a text and forgotten where it was. 

Well, that's all. I just wanted to show you how sweet the kitty is. She's a real "people person" and loves to hang out with the crowd. Enjoy your week and keep those needles clicking!

It's been a while!

We Chicks finally got together today! It's been about 3 weeks since we last knitted together. I was away, trying to get some much needed sunshine and then I got sick while away and didn't want to share whatever I had with my Chicks. And then last week we had a whopper of a snow storm that landed anywhere from 18 to 22 inches of snow, depending on which part of town you checked.  But we made up for lost time.

 Oh and Joules came to visit too. We tried to teach her how to knit but you can tell by the expression on her face, she wasn't interested.

 While we were away I finished a pair of Align Mitts, pattern by Courtney Spainhower. It's a free pattern which I found at verypink.com along with a video tutorial on how to knit them. The yarn is Wink from Periwinkle Sheep. I didn't have a label so I can't tell you the color but it's a pretty purple with a bit of stellina for sparkle.

 Cinzia finished a lacy triangular shawl in a Berroco Yarn.

 Debbie made an acrylic and cotton blend 2X2 ribbed hat for a man. We were very proud of her since this was her first try at a hat on double pointed needles. She did a great job!

 Barbara brought in a Mistake Stitch scarf. This fabric makes a warm thermal layer against the cold.

 Another cowl for the inventory.

 And now Barbara has started the Present Cowl with a Spud & Chloe yarn in periwinkle blue.

 Debbie started a woman's version of the hat using the same acrylic and cotton blend yarn.

 And Cinzia decided to get a jump on our upcoming project so she started a cute baby pullover sweater. Those top down projects are the best!

 I've been working on a Zilver Shawl for myself with yarn from Karin of Periwinkle Sheep. The color is The Other Magic Forest, a deep tonal forest green with flecks of bluish undertones. Really pretty.

 Dorah's fingerless mitt was finished by the evening's end. She'll have the other one done by next week. And there might even be enough yarn left for a headband.

 Margaret started fingerless mitts too. I didn't catch the name of the pattern though.

 Carole is zipping along on her Soldier's Hat. The whole hat is 2X2 rib and knits up very quickly.

 I started another pair of Align Mitts. I'm using the Magic Loop method so I can knit them both at once and make modifications at the same time to both of them. If I have to depend on my memory to remember what I did to the first when I knit the second, well, let's just say I'd be up the creek without a paddle!

 I can't remember who made these nice cozy mitts. Sorry! I think it was one of the afternoon Chicks.

 Margaret made the lavender Bankhead cap

 and Elsa's hat, a pattern from her knitting book.

 Our last finished hat jumped off Carole's needles. It's called Jen's New Sweetie Pie from Purl Soho. It has a simple two stitch cable pattern that compliments the stockinette body.

It was so good to see my Chicks again. I really miss them when we can't knit together. It's nice to have partners who enable each other! LOL!

Good night Dorah.

Storm of the Century!

 I was looking forward to knitting with my Chicks today after an extended break due to vacation and illness but it looks like it will be another week before I get to see them. The storm started overnight and the worst of it is yet to strike. I got my "milk and bread" yesterday so I'm all set to hunker down and get in some quality knitting time. I hope you're warm and dry wherever you are and that you have a full inventory of yarn stash from which to choose a project on this snowy day.