Many hats this week

My afternoon Chicks had the day off today so I used the time to finish a few things. My Helix Hat was a good use of small amounts of stash yarn. Just one of these skeins might not have been enough to make a large enough adult size hat, but combining 3 colors was a perfect plan. I might even have leftovers for another.

 I finished the Mistake Stitch Scarf last week just after our anniversary dinner. I'm going to put scarf knitting on hold for a while since they take what seems like such a long time to knit.

 This hat called Rusty Barn Hat used almost all of a 110 yard skein of Knit Picks yarn. It's a 3x1 ribbed hat and the pattern gives multiple sizes to fit a variety of heads.

 Maureen finished another Squarshy hat with a nice burgundy superwash wool.

And Carole also finished a Squarshy hat.  

 Margaret added a nice warm hat. It has a double knitted edging which will keep the wind out of the wearer's ears.

 Beth brought her completed wrap. The yarn is so soft that it feels like a cloud.

Carole worked on a new cowl tonight. Do you think I can remember the name of the pattern?

 Beth has this beautiful tonal orange yarn to make the Apple Pie hat. It is all cables and really beautiful. Can't wait to see it finished.

 Maureen's Last Minute Cowl is knitting up quickly. The pattern is one of those mindless tv knits we all enjoy.

 Margaret started another hat with stranded pattern work. The color is more of an oatmeal than it looks here. It will be a good neutral accessory.

 And last but not least, Dorah's hat is almost finished. She should be approaching the decrease portion soon.

I can't believe it's almost September already! You know what that means?! We will soon be wearing our hand knits and attending fiber festivals. I can't wait! This summer of 90 degrees and high humidity is not my cup of tea. I'm looking forward to unpacking my woolens and greeting the cold weather. Until then, keep those needles clicking!

Another year for the books

This evening we Chicks celebrated 13 years together! When this group was just an idea in my mind so many years ago I was looking to make it to 5 years. Then we became an active fellowship of knitters and made it all the way to 10 years. Now I'm looking ahead to stretching it out to 15 years! 

We ate a selection of finger foods tonight.

  The afternoon knitters had the chance to schmooze with the evening knitters and we all ate well.

 Not everyone could join us for the photograph but here are:

front row left to right: Maureen, me, Debbie

back row left to right: Barbara, Dorah, Carole, Elaine, Cinzia, Elena

Thank you ladies for another wonderful, productive year! I'm looking forward to many more with you.

Delivery accomplished, time to start new cycle

Debbie, Liz, and I made our delivery to the Veterans and Housing Coalition in Ballston Spa today. We were warmly welcomed by Tonya and then we treated ourselves to a tasty lunch at the Whistling Kettle on Front Street in the heart of town. We got back home just in time for our afternoon knitting session.

Barbara started the day with her finished Country Rows shawl. The merino yarn is soft and warm and the colors so cheerful.

 Cinzia is nearing the last border rows of her vest and vowed never to knit it again. I told her she has my permission to burn the pattern when she's done. LOL! We think it was written by someone whose first language is not English. The strangely written directions are very difficult to follow and after reading Ravelry notes from other knitters who made it, we don't feel so bad about our lack of comprehension regarding the construction of this vest. I'm sure it will be beautiful when Cinzia finishes it.

 Liz had to stop working on her super bulky cowl because she ran out of yarn and the other skein was at home. With this super sized yarn and fat knitting needles this will be finished in no time.

 Barbara started a scarf and a few rows after this, she frogged the whole thing in favor of a totally different pattern. This one was a lace pattern that was giving her fits and my motto is, "If it's not fun, don't do it!" I can't wait to see what she knits instead.

 Debbie made lots of progress on the hat she started last week with the pretty red tweed yarn.

 And Dorah's 2X2 ribbed hat has grown a lot too. The ribbing is so elastic that this hat can fit any size from child to adult.

 Last week I sent a link to a video tutorial on how to weave in ends of yarn as you knit because Margaret was kvetching over having to weave in so many ends when she had finished her striped hat. This week she thanked me because she has mastered the technique and she enjoys knitting stripes now.

 Carole is amused by the pattern which is emerging from the short color bursts in the yarn she's using. She thinks it was a skein of Malabrigo. I love the purple and green combo.

 Maureen is making another Squarshy hat. It sure is a popular pattern with my Chicks!

 We have a finished scarf and...

 another Squarshy hat to add to the inventory.

I didn't take any photos of my knitting because it's a scarf so it still looks the same as it did last week. Maybe by next week it will be finished and I can start something new. I feel a bit of startitis coming on. Watch out!

Wrapping up another donation

The afternoon knitters labeled and the evening knitters inventoried our donations to ready them for delivery. We counted 24 hats, 24 cowls, 6 scarves, 3 pairs of socks, 1 headband, and 1 lap robe. I have to thank Elaine's granddaughter, Alex, for helping too. She was very patient, for a 9 year old, and agreed to hang around long enough to add labels to our knits. These will be going to the homeless women veterans some time next week.

 After our labeling duties were completed Barbara got to work on her shawl, which is almost finished. Liz added stitches to her cowl and...

 Debbie worked on her hat.

 This evening Beth needed a model to try on the wrap she was making to see if it was long enough to begin the decreases toward the end. Carole was kind enough to "volunteer" her services. ;)

 Margaret performed that hated chore of weaving in the ends on her completed hat and Dorah continued on her 2X2 ribbed hat. I found a video tutorial that shows how to weave the ends in as you knit so Margaret doesn't have to toil over all those wretched ends again.

 My Mistake Stitch tweed scarf seems to be taking forever. In the grand scheme of things, I know it's not really but it feels like it is.

 Margaret showed us her next project and...

 has already cast on for the double thick brim.

 Carole brought a finished hat for our next project which is the Capt. John McKenna IV Military Courtesy Room at the Albany International Airport. It is a place of comfort and rest for traveling military personnel and their families. We will stock their inventory with items for warmth and caring.

 And here is Margaret's hat after all those crazy ends have been woven in.

 The grands visited last week so my oldest could take his annual golf lessons. Since we can't travel to their home in time for the younger one's 7th birthday, we got him a football cake to celebrate. He was thrilled and ...

 we all enjoyed the delicious chocolate-chocolate chip cake with cream cheese icing.

Now it's back to my salads and lean chicken!

Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!