Deck knitting day!

We had a small group of knitters today. But the weather was perfect for sitting on the deck, having a lively discussion about current events, good places for hiking with family, and all things knitting.

Barbara B made delicious sourdough chocolate chip cookies. She uses the best tasting chips in her recipes too!

 

Maureen finished her Close to You Shawl with the pretty little picot bind off. It's a simple touch that adds so much to the overall design.

She decided to make a reversible striped scarf called Magic Stripe Hot Pad or Scarf. It's one of those patterns that boggles the mind because the stripes are vertical on one side and horizontal on the other. It is achieved by knitting one row twice, first with one color and then the other, slipping stitches and sliding the work to the end of the needle before you turn the work. It sounds complicated but really isn't. Just make sure you aren't distracted while knitting.

Barbara is working on the diagonal baby blanket for her former neighbor's grandbaby. 

The colors are so cheerful!

I am working on the Frost Ridge Beanie by Benjamin Matthews. I am supposed to knit 42 rounds before I begin decreasing to close the crown but I'm at 31 rounds now and it looks like if I knit to 42 the hat would fit the jolly green giant. As it turns out, I am using a size 7 needle and the pattern called for a size 6. Oops! No biggy! I'll just start the decrease section now and it will be fine. Next time I'll double check the pattern a few times before I start.

Tina just started the Dexter Vest, a cute V-neck pullover vest that starts at the lower front hem and is knitted up and over the shoulders to the bottom back hem. Then it's folded at what would be the shoulder seams and the sides are hand sewn. It's a quick and easy project with nice results.

Next Tuesday we Chicks will be celebrating 20 years sharing our passion for knitting and serving  our community. I am in awe of these ladies  and their dedication to helping others. I'm so proud that we have been able to keep my dream going for all this time. Check back next week to see all the good food we'll be sharing. And keep those needles clicking!

Ooopsie!

Every now and then my brain goes on vacation without me. That happened this Tuesday when I met with the afternoon Chicks but the evening Chicks who had planned on joining me had last minute conflicts which forced them to cancel late in the day. My husband had plans to meet his golfing buddies for dinner and review of the 2019 golf rules (yeah, that's a thing they like to do) so I decided to take myself out to dinner and veg out for the evening. Unfortunately, that meant I also forgot to post this week's episode of the Chicks' progress. So here we are on Friday, when I should be preparing for my afternoon stitchers at the Albany Public Library, writing the blog post a few days late. Better than never, right?

Cinzia finished her lovely cowl which was inspired by the Zickzack scarf by grafting the provisionally cast on edge with the bind off edge. It turned out beautifully and was a good way to use the yarn which wasn't in enough quantity to make a long scarf. The solid purple yarn is Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worseted and the variegated is Noro Silk Garden. It's just beautiful!

 Elaine's baby hats were a welcome addition to our inventory. They were knitted with an easily washable acrylic.

 A few weeks ago I knitted myself a beret which turned out nicely but didn't look nice on me. Rather than waste yarn on a hat I would never wear, I frogged the hat and made a different style with a double knit band for extra warmth. The Merino dk and Wolke yarns are both from Periwinkle Sheep and the fur pompom was purchased online. Now there's a hat I will wear!

 On the needles now is a Throwback Pixie hood in a generic beige so it will be appropriate for either gender.

 And Elaine cast on for another baby hat.

Let's hope next week I get my act together sooner than Friday. ;)

Before we take a break

Janna and Carole finished their cowls this week. This lovely green Chevron Cowl is Janna's creation.

 And Carole finished her Swimming with Salmon cowl. The coral colored yarn even looks like salmon.

 Janna wanted to start a new scarf this week and bless her heart, she knitted a gauge swatch first! 

 The cuff of Elaine's hat is a few inches longer this week.

 As is my Chevron Cowl. The yarn is from the talented Karin Maag-Tanchak of Periwinkle Sheep fame.

 Cinzia grasped the concept of brioche stitch and was off and running with her two tone cowl.

 Dorah's Railroad Tracks hat is working up nicely. The deep cuff has a distinct ribbing created by knitting into the back loop to give the stitch a twist.

Carole's brioche cowl has grown since last week and she is finding her rhythm with the stitches.

Barbara is getting the hang of her brioche cowl too. 

Last Friday my son texted me the photo below of a sticker and asked if I could knit a "cat size" version.

So when faced with a challenge, I step up and give it a try. And sure enough, I knitted a pretty close duplicate for Joules. She was VERY patient with my son and me while we tried to get her photo. About 60 seconds into the photo shoot, she let us know she had had enough and tossed the hat aside.

I don't know if I showed you this project in progress but I realized that Joules was the only family member who didn't have a Christmas stocking so I had to remedy the situation. And yes, I know it's huge! It has to be to fit her treats!

                                       

Well, the Chicks and I will be taking a two week break for the holidays. We all send our best wishes for the season and a happy and healthy new year. Keep those needles clicking and we'll see you back here on January 8, 2019.

Let's try this again

This has been a crazy summer...first I hurt my back and then I had a doozy of a head cold that put me totally out of commission. I am praying it's all over and I can get back on track with my Chicks.

We start this week with show and tell of many nice items finished for our new recipient, The Military Courtesy Room at the Albany International Airport. We will be knitting items to stock the room for military personnel and their families who are traveling through Albany. Our first hat is from the needles of Elaine. A warm woolly hat will be needed during the winters around here.

Next up is the Polish cap I made with Cascade 220 yarn. This was a free pattern which was written in Polish with a Youtube video tutorial link. I watched the video multiple times until I could write down the details so I could make the hat. I offered the designer my English translation but she thanked me and never followed up. Oh well... I have it if anyone wants it.

Liz added a bright blue cowl to the collection, also a warm wool fabric.

Beth's daughter had some finished pieces which were in storage and she no longer had a use for them so she donated to our cause. The lovely round lap robe is crocheted and the two pairs of socks are knitted.

Also in the group of giveaways was this bright pink cowl. This will be a fashionable addition to someone's wardrobe.

Another Squarshy hat....

and another. Can you tell the Chicks really like this pattern? LOL!

Here is another from Beth's daughter. I'll bet this didn't take long to knit with this bulky weight yarn.

We had a full house this afternoon. Cinzia is back from all her summer travels. She would have finished this vest before she went away, however, the instructions were about as clear as mud! I did a little investigating on the page notes of other Ravelry knitters who also made this vest and discovered that the pattern was written in such a manner that many knitters were confused. So it wasn't just us! One of the knitters contacted the designer and put the correction and clarification in her notes which helped Cinzia continue with the project. Thank goodness for Ravelry!!!

Elaine is making another hat with this nice neutral color.

Liz was knitting a top down baby cardigan and put it down for just enough time to forget how to continue with it. So between the six of us, we figured it out and got her back on track.

Barbara continues to knit on her Country Rows shawl. Those bright colors are sure to bring cheer.

Debbie picked out some pretty red tweed yarn to make a hat and had to search through Ravelry for a pattern so she could get started.

I found a video on Youtube about Helix knitting and decided to give it a go. I took three colors that wouldn't necessarily go together but it's turning out quite nice. My imagination sees a stocking cap with a long point, ending with a small red pompom. Time will tell.

Joules kept the seat warm for the evening knitters. Yes, she is still here but I got a text from her Daddy last night which said her vacation with us might soon be ending as the home renovations are almost complete. She and I had a good long cry after reading that.

Margaret just cast on for a hat. And Dorah was about to make...

this lovely hat but she chose a self striping yarn which might interfere with the knitted design so...

Plan B will be a 2X2 ribbed hat, quick and easy.

Beth is completing a shawl which her daughter started and put into time out then decided to donate to the Chicks. The yarn is a deep charcoal color with a silver thread. It would make a nice wrap for a fancy affair or if you just feel like dressing up!

It feels good to be back and I hope I stay in the swing of things. Enjoy your week and

keep those needles clicking!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

Miss Joules the kitty is still presiding over our knitting sessions. It was a lovely, breezy, cool day on the deck this week, so she spent all her time outside where she can nap or watch the local critters from the safety behind the screen.

Elaine started a hat last week and this week it has stripes. The cream and grey combination is very attractive.

Debbie continued to work on her never-ending scarf. It takes real dedication to knit a scarf. Maybe that's why I have 8 projects going at once. I can't be faithful to one project for that long a period of time.

More of Barbara's Country Rows shawlette is showing off the eyelet pattern.

I started a 2X2 ribbed hat from a free pattern on Ravelry. The yarn is Cascade 220 in a heather greyish blue. 

It was so pleasant outside today that no one wanted to leave.

Even hubby joined in on the relaxing atmosphere.

The evening ladies had a nice relaxing time too. Margaret finished her 1898 hat and...

so did Carole. Weaving in those last few ends makes a professional finish to the project.

Margaret immediately cast on a Squarshy hat in a bulky, purple Knit Picks wool.

Dorah cast on stitches for this hat. Sorry I didn't get the name of it!

But it will be nice in that lovely green.

Enjoy the cool air while we can. It's supposed to get into the 90's by the end of the week. Looks like it will be good weather for staying in the AC and knitting. ;) So keep those needles clicking!