Harry the hedgehog

I forgot to show you the new little toy I knitted for my grandkitty Joules. He is a free crochet pattern (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diddy-hedgehog) on Ravelry and I made him in one afternoon with leftover scraps of Cascade 220.

I think Joules likes him even though I’ve seen her play with him only once. The reason I know this is when I wake up in the morning Harry is always in a different place. They must have a big party at night when everyone is sleeping.

First, FO's, next, a welcome

We start this week with some FO's or finished objects in knitting lingo. A Cascade 220 worsted weight hat in a nice green went into the inventory.

 I finished the Chevron Cowl with Periwinkle Sheep DK weight merino in the colorway Memories of Summer. This pattern is a 19 stitch repeat which is very easy to memorize.

 I also finished the Gentle Diversion scarf with Periwinkle Sheep gradient yarn. This however, will go into my personal inventory for a gift in the future.

 Barbara's baby alpaca gray 2 x 2 ribbed hat is softer than a cloud!

 And Debbie finished her very first pair of mittens! Great job Debbie!!!

 Cinzia's purple hat was added to inventory too. Nice color!

 We welcomed a new Chick to our flock today. That's Janna Pfluger-Boucher right in the center of the photo. We gave her a warm welcome and hope she enjoys meeting with us each week. 

 We've got a full house which I find exciting. I'll have to get extra chairs when Liz returns from her winter sabbatical.

 Janna (pronounced John-uh) started off with a warm garter stitch scarf using Lion Brand Homespun. This yarn looks best with a simple stitch to show off its lovely texture so 25 stitches and knit every row will produce a nice garter stitch scarf.

 Elaine has reached the decreasing portion of her 2 x 2 ribbed hat. She's in the home stretch now.

 Barbara's sparkle scarf has grown many inches since we last met.

 Cinzia's hat has lovely fall colors. She took the unconventional route by starting at the top of the hat and is working her way down to the cuff.

 Debbie's cabled cowl is lovely. The yarn is showing off the stitch definition beautifully.

 I'm only a few inches in on another Chevron Cowl with more Periwinkle Sheep yarn. This one is DK in the colorway Elderberry. I love how tonal yarns highlight the pattern without detracting from it but still add a little interest.

Don't forget to change your clocks this weekend. Some of us will be gaining an hour of sleep. I'll be gaining an hour of Youtube tutorial time when I wake up at 2AM!

Have a great week and I'll see you next time.

Farewell and best of luck Beth

Our evening group is losing one of our members to North Carolina. Beth was a snowbird the last few years but since both of her children and their families live down south now, there is nothing to keep her here, away from her grandchildren.

 She had one more project to finish before she left and managed to bind off all the stitches on her 

Last Minute Cowl.

 Now she doesn't have to mail it!

 We wish you all the best Beth! Hugs and kisses to the little one. And the new little one when he arrives!

Variety is the spice of life!

Barbara added her version of a Palindrome Hat to our inventory today. She used the basic cable pattern from the scarf to make the hat thinking the cables would show on the right side only but Surprise! It's reversible!

 She found these lovely bamboo circular needles for $2.00 at the job lots store in Albany. She was going to buy them in every size but the had only size 8. Oh well, she still got a bargain. She started a Mistake Stitch Scarf with the prettiest copper sparkly yarn.

 Cinzia was all in purple to match her hat in progress.

 Beth came armed with some FO's. A baby blanket was finished using Plymouth Encore in baby pastel colors.

 Then there was the black and red cowl and...

 a felted purse which she made to learn how to felt a project and then never used it. Someone will be grateful for a lovely purse.

 Margaret finished the ribbing on her hat and added the new color for the next section.

 Maureen worked on her hat ribbing and will be starting the stockinette and reverse stockinette sections next.

 Dorah was on such a roll with her baby hat that she knitted a deeper ribbed portion than the pattern called for so it will have a nice folded edge for warmth around the ears.

 She showed us her personal project for herself. This Minty Bricks scarf will change colors as she progresses through the ball of yarn. Can't wait to see the next color!

 Carole has 18 more rows to knit on the ear band of her 1898 hat and then she'll graft the ends together, pick up stitches, and knit the crown of the hat. This is a quick and fun project to knit.

 Beth's Last Minute Cowl looks lovely in this bright orange yarn. The yarn is also showing off the stitch definition very nicely.

 I started a Watchman's Cap today and hope to have it finished this week. This is another quick knit and easy to memorize.

 Here is Maureen's finished Last Minute Cowl ready to go into inventory.

It is finally sweater weather here in the Northeast and I'm loving it! My closet has been changed over to the fall and winter wardrobe and I'm ready. Bring on the lower temps!

This was almost written by a cat

This week's episode of the Chicks' blog was almost written by Joules the cat. Just as I prepared the photos, she decided to join in and brainstorm the layout. We didn't get too far though. Furry paws kept getting in the way. I guess the work was too strenuous as she is now napping...again!

 Three days ago I cast on for the Chevron Cowl using Periwinkle Sheep Merino DK in the colorway Memories of Summer. This is such a fun knit! The pattern is easy to memorize and easy to follow all the stitch cues. I placed markers between pattern repeats so if I get carried away or distracted and make a mistake, I'll see it almost immediately and won't have to frog a whole row.

 As I knitted the cowl I began to see a crown developing and got the bright idea that if I knitted a ribbing on the last rows of the chevron pattern and bound them off, I could then pick up stitches on the inside and knit a top to make a baby hat that looks like a queen's crown. The stitches are on the needle but I haven't knitted enough yet for it to show. I hope my vision turns out the way I'm picturing it.

 Liz put the finishing touches on her ribbed cowl this afternoon and added it too...

 another finished cowl and a sweet little baby hat. Today was her farewell visit as she heads off to her winter quarters soon.

 Elaine took a break from moving to join us so she could give Liz a send-off hug.

 Barbara started a hat to match her Palindrome Scarf (which Liz is holding in the background). The hat should knit up quickly since she doesn't have to make the cables reversible for a hat.

 Margaret finished her Ombre Hat and has enough yarn left to make...

 this hat. She just had to pick out a third color for the contrast section.

 Margaret is a fast knitter so this should be done in the blink of an eye.

 Maureen's Last Minute Cowl is coming down to the wire. The yarn she is using has great stitch definition which shows off the diagonal ribbing nicely.

 Believe it or not, this is not a bustier for a doll! LOL! Carole started the 1898 hat and this is the first earflap. I know, it doesn't look at all like a hat.

I understand we'll have one more summer like day and then the temps are to plummet to more seasonal numbers. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to wear my sweaters and shawls.

Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!