Field Trip!

This past Saturday Debbie, Dorah, and I went on a field trip to our favorite place, WEBS in Northampton, Massachusetts. We arrived in time for lunch so we could have the whole afternoon to shop without interruption.

 The Chicks have plenty of natural fiber yarn in the inventory but we were lacking in a good machine wash and dry yarn for the baby clothes which we are currently knitting. So we stocked up on Plymouth Encore, a 75% acrylic/25% wool blend which is a pleasure to knit and blocks nicely too. Keeping watch is Rachel Raccoon whom you'll get to see up close later on the page.

 The afternoon Chicks worked busily on our projects so we could dive into the lovely Encore yarn soon.

 Debbie hasn't too much more to knit on her baby sweater for which she used Lion Brand Ice Cream.

 And Elaine worked on her baby blanket until she discovered four stitches which were purled instead of knitted. Luckily, she could drop those stitches down and correct them with a crochet hook so she didn't have to rip out a whole whack of stitches!

 Last week Barbara K. wasn't sure she liked the yarn she chose for a hat but now that she's further into the knitting she is content with her choice.

 Cinzia worked on a cotton blanket with a big block stitch. This will be a perfect blankie for some cutie pie to cuddle up.

 Dorah took one of those new skeins of Encore and started a baby hat.

 Carole's Cuddle Bug Baby blanket is settling nicely into stripes.

 And here is Rachel Raccoon up close and personal. I used the Pretty Izzy Dolls pattern for the shoes, hair, and dress. The directions said to make curly hair, wrap yarn around a skinny bamboo needle, soak it with hot water, and then bake for 30 minutes at 200 degrees while still on the needle. I found a size 1 metal DP and instead of putting it in the oven I used my flat iron a few times up and down the length of the wrapped yarn and left it to dry overnight. The curls were perfect in the morning!

 This afternoon I finished the Dexter vest for which I used Berroco Comfort yarn. There was just a bit of yarn left out of the 210 yard skein when I was done.

 Barbara B. made a set of preemie hat and booties with a soft baby acrylic.

 And had enough yarn left to make a darling cardigan with bright green buttons.

It's been a productive week and I look forward to seeing what else the Chicks come up with. Until then, keep those needles clicking.