Too Hot!

As you can see, we are inside today because when the "feels like" temp is 89 and 65% humidity, there is no way we want to sit on the deck and handle wool! We caught up on grandchildren news and who is going where on vacation. Somehow we got on the subject of donating blood and how the snacks they give out now are crappy healthy stuff. Dorah said bring on the Oreos and Lorna Doones like the old days! We compared notes on the size of our veins and how I was asked not to come back because it was too stressful on the staff to find a vein in my arm. LOL! Think about how I feel!!!😟

We had a ton of FOs to add to the inventory. Carole started looking through her bag of completed items and found things she meant to bring ages ago but couldn't remember where they were! I think we all have gremlins that like to stir things up when we sleep.😉 So here goes! Grab something good to eat cuz we're gonna be here a while!

First up are Carole's FOs. She made up this pattern for a two color cowl so we don't have a pattern or name for it. I'm going to study it to see if I can write one up. If I am successful, I'll post a link...someday.

She brought in her Squarshy Slouch Hat which is great for someone with a lot of hair.

She couldn't remember the name of this pattern...

and she made up this cowl as she went along.

This is the One Row Handspun Scarf from Stephanie Pearl McPhee.

And we both thought this might be a Benjamin Matthews pattern, but don't hold us to it.

This cowl is a Carina Spencer design called Zuzu's Petals. It was very popular when the pattern was first published in 2012. I think we all made at least two of them.

Next up are Jan's FOs. A pretty autumn colors scarf and...

a cheerful mixed veggies colors scarf made using the pattern Simple Little Scarf.

I didn't get the name of this cowl or...

this hat.

Or this one. Now I'm thinking maybe Margaret made this and...

this. Hmmm...I thought I wrote it down. I guess not. 😐 

Jan had some yarn that needed winding so we broke out the swift and winder so she can start a new project.

She is currently working on the Skinny Scarf and was quick to tell us she is knitting it from a chart! I'm so proud of her! I personally avoid charts like the plague because, for me, it takes all the fun out of knitting. But that's just my personal opinion. Don't let me ruin it for you.

Barbara B finished her Workday Scarf. It looks beautiful. Photos don't do it justice.

 Now she's working on A String of Lights Socks. She hasn't decided to whom they will be given though.

Dorah's Workday Scarf is at the halfway mark so she'll be decreasing to the opposite end now.

She's using this Knit Picks yarn and the colors are lovely.

My son and his partner just returned from a cruise through the fjords of Norway and brought back a birthday gift for me. He said he went into a cute little yarn store in one of the many villages and the lady asked if he needed help. He told her "My mom is sort of a yarn snob so she likes only natural fibers." The lady laughed and said she TOTALLY understood and sent him to the yarn store down the block where he could find exactly what he wants. SHOCKING! She actually sent him to a competitor!!! But she was right! These are beautiful yarns and I can't wait for them to tell me what they want to be. Anybody have a good idea?

I'm still working on the Zick Zack Scarf turned infinity scarf. With a size 2 needle and sock weight yarn, this baby isn't going to be done soon!😉

Maureen is relieved to be done with her Reversible Stripes Scarf! It looks great!

Now she has started Through the Forest Hat. This is the same one Barbara B made a few weeks ago.

Cinzia arrived just minutes after "The Photographer" left to bring his car in for an oil change.

She is on the decreasing side of her Cassidy Rose Scarf with the reversible cable edge.

Dorah was sifting through her stash and found a bunch of Cloudborn skeins to share with the Chicks. Most of them had 220 yards so it's enough to make an adult hat. The only one with 130 yards will be saved for a child's hat. Thank you ladies for taking this all!

Margaret is 1/3 of the way through a Bewind Hat with its traveling lines slanting up the crown.

Carole started another One Row Handspun Scarf making a new colorway by...

holding two different colors together. It's a good way to use up yarn quickly and makes all new colorways.

Nancy is nearing the end of her Workday Scarf.

And she picked up some more yarn from Dorah to possibly make a hat. This is a Noro yarn, known for its pretty colors. However, we all have opinions about the texture and softness of this brand. 😉

Barbara K's scarf is looking lovely and warm with its gently changing gradient of color.

Whew! That was a LOT today! I hope you were able to stick with me. And I do hope I gave credit to the right knitters on the lovely FOs we collected today. Now I'm going to sit in front of the AC vent and chill. Have a great week and keep those needles clicking! 

I almost forgot to show you today's treat from Barbara B!!! She'll make sure I know it too.😉 We had a delicious zucchini bread. And I have a slice for later. YUM!

Now I can say, keep those needles clicking!

Can you believe I didn't knit from Friday afternoon to Monday?!?!

But I had a legitimate reason! My babies were visiting!!! Well, I guess since they're both towering over me I can't call them babies anymore. They finished their first year of college and high school and are looking forward to summer jobs. I wish they didn't live so far away. Three days isn't long enough to spend with them. We had a great time though. Leo (the younger one) made a delicious chicken and dumpling dinner from scratch on Saturday for all of us. He loves his culinary arts class this semester and I love having him show me what he's learned! Poppop took them for a golf lesson and then a quick 9 holes before it rained on Saturday. So it was a full weekend of fun, hugs, and kisses. 

Now, on to the knitting news this week.

It was almost a full deck today. Cinzia and Carole had conflicts but everyone else was here.

 Margaret just started the Bewind Hat. It is a freebie on Ravelry and has a nice raised diagonal stitch design on a stockinette background for an easy project.

Jan worked on her Simple Little Scarf and by the time she left...

it was finished and just the ends needed weaving in. This is also a freebie pattern on Ravelry.

Dorah is working hard at making her One Row Handspun Scarf longer (another freebie). She is using a baby alpaca yarn for the softest fabric!

And Nancy confessed she hasn't worked at all on her Workday Scarf. But she had a real good reason. She was touring the island of Kauai!!! She had a lovely time and is back to her knitting projects.

Barbara B is about at the middle of her Mill City Shawl (another free pattern) for which she is using a pretty variegated fingering weight yarn.

Maureen finished her 1898 Hat and has start a ribbed cuff for another pattern of which I didn't get the name.

Barbara K didn't have a label for this pretty yarn but...

she is using the same One Row Handspun Scarf pattern that Dorah is knitting. The long slow color changes will make a pretty effect to the overall look of the fabric.

The cuff is growing on my Rock Ridge Beanie, a Benjamin Matthews hat pattern. I think this is  a Cascade 220 superwash wool yarn. Somewhere along the way I lost the label.

Tina is on the decreasing side of her French Twist scarf. It looks just like the sample in the pattern!

And don't let me forget to describe Barbara B's sourdough apple donut cake! It was moist and tender and not so sweet that you could feel the decay forming in your teeth!!! LOL! Deeeelicious!!!

Well, I need to make up for the missed knitting hours this weekend so I better wrap this up. Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!

We're back to deck knitting

 Even though wintery cold, sunny days are my absolute favorite, I have to admit that springtime fills me with joy when I walk through my neighborhood and see colors popping everywhere.

And I have to take advantage of walking while it's still cool enough. The temps hit 80 degrees this afternoon so these lovely blossoms will drop soon to be replaced by other pretty flowers.

There were just five of us this afternoon to enjoy the random breezes that wafted through the deck, occasionally ringing the windchimes.

Margaret started a Helix Hat with some pretty teal colored yarn.

It didn't take her long to finish the cuff and add the purple stripes. Such a pretty color combo!

Maureen's Reversible Stripes Scarf was sent to the time out corner for a while but it's back in circulation and ready to be completed.

Jan's Simple Little Scarf is in the early stages. She made some modifications to the original pattern which had a 3 stitch I-cord edges but she didn't like the bulk it created. She went up in needle size and made the edge with knit 1 stitch at the beginning of the row and slip the last stitch purlwise with the yarn in front. This creates a neat chain look edge.

Tina is using the Navajo Ply technique on her Petal Showers Hat which sports a pretty little flower like motif in the design.

I'm working on a cable/braided headband which I found on YouTube and wrote the instructions for my personal library. It's a pretty easy pattern but just gets fiddly when you reach the middle where you have to make a one row cable. Then it's smooth sailing the rest of the way.

I'm still sitting on the deck but between the pollen and neighborhood lawnmowers, I've decided it's time to get back to the AC where my throat won't tickle anymore. Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!