Storms won't stop the Chicks

There was a full house this afternoon as the Chicks got right to work. I had planned on knitting outside but right before the Chicks arrived we had a torrential downpour and the temperature dropped dramatically, so we opted to stay inside.

Cinzia's Mitered Baby Jacket is almost finished. She knitted on the applied I-cord.

At the neck edge she made a little loop for a buttonhole. I can't wait to see what she chooses for a button.

Debbie put her baby sack aside to make the sleeves for a baby sweater. She was having a tough time trying to embroider the eyes on the sack so it went into time out for a break.

Elaine is down to the wire on her blanket and she STILL has enough yarn for at least two more blankets!

Liz knitted a few more inches of hat and then switched out for a scarf. I'm glad to see I'm not the only "polygamous knitter". I never knit just one project at a time from start to finish.

Sofia joined us again and showed us her progress on the second sleeve of her baby sweater.

The evening group had a full house too.

I borrowed the slipped stitch portion of the Copenhagen Calling Cowl to make a hat with some yarn scraps. I love this pattern and it's so easy to knit.

Carole finished her slouchy hat called High Woods. It has a highly textured section which adds interest without difficulty.

Beth brought us her finished Berruti hat, another highly textured design.

Beth finished a smaller hat which will fit a young child. We talked about how much we enjoy making clothes to donate because we don't have to worry about size. Our motto is, "It's going to fit somebody!"

Maureen made a lot of progress on her Zoe hat. The design is showing up nicely.

Carole just passed the midpoint on her Chinook scarf. It's knitted from end to end and the edging is worked along with the scarf. It's great when you don't have to pick up stitches!

Beth had enough yarn left from the hat to make another only with opposite stripe colors.

Dorah's Sweetie Pie hat is almost to the decreasing crown section. Those baby cables are so cute.

And Margaret's Barley Hat has great stitch definition. She brought it to work to knit in her free time and then couldn't find it when she got home. It turns out it was left on her desk at the office. Whew!

This past weekend hubby and I went to Pennsylvania to watch our daughter perform in her local theater production of "Beauty and the Beast". She is the blonde (not naturally) on the far right and she designed and made these three costumes for "The Silly Girls" who swoon over Gaston.

The show was so much fun and the people are so talented. We had a great time and enjoyed it all the more knowing it was our daughter on the stage!

Tranquility knitting outside

The weather cooperated this week and we had both afternoon and evening knitting groups convene on the deck. And luckily, after last Thursday's thunderstorms (which caused a huge tree to fall across our property) the noisy chain saws, wood chippers, and blowers were finished before we knitted. 

This hat was an experiment in beating to the finish before I ran out of yarn. Most hats start at the cuff edge but since I didn't know if there would be enough yarn, I started at the top center of it and knit until there was just enough to bind off. It looks like I made it by the skin of my teeth! It's a simple 2X2 ribbed hat that started with 8 stitches and grew from there.

This cowl started out as a hat but after a few squares I decided to turn it into a cowl. The squares are knitted from the outside in to the center. After the first square is completed, stitches for one side of the second square are picked up along one edge of the first square, then the remaining stitches are cast on and connected in the round and knit to the center. You continue to make squares in this manner until just before you knit the last square because the first side and the third side stitches are picked up from the edges of the first  square and last square to connect it into a circle. 

 Then I picked up stitches all along the edge in black yarn and knitted the top and bottom edges. I like how it sets off the colors of the squares.

 Debbie made a cute little newborn sack using an acrylic and wool blend yarn that is incredibly soft. All that is left to do is embroider eyes on the owls. Surprising what a few cables can create!

Now she is concentrating on finishing up a pair of fingerless mitts.

Cinzia finished a sweet little sweater vest.

The only task left was to sew the buttons. These bright green ones are perfect.

And she finished a cute little sweater for a boy too.

Liz continued working on her scarf. She mentioned how important it is to keep count of your rows or it might change the side on which the stockinette portion shows. I can't tell you how many times I've goofed because I was engrossed in conversation. That's why you should always have a project that is strictly for knitting in the company of friends who also knit.

Margaret's Easy Knit Slouchy Beanie is almost finished. The green yarn is a good choice for either gender to wear too.

Carole finished a "Last Minute Cowl" with no missteps this time. Last week we spoke about how easy it is to mess up this SO simple pattern. Again, when gabbing and knitting it can sometimes be difficult to count to 3! But she did a great job!

Beth added a pair of baby socks to the inventory. Aren't they adorable ?!?!

Maureen's Cool Slips #22 hat is looking good. The colors are a nice combo. It can work for either gender.

Beth was commenting on how long it seems to be taking to make these worsted weight socks. Imagine how much longer it would feel is she were using fingering weight! They are going to be warm!

Carole started another hat called High Woods Hat. Can't wait to see the pattern!

After knitting the gray hat I needed a little color to perk things up so I started a baby sweater that starts like those amoeba shapes and miraculously turns into a sweater with a few folds.

It was noted that most of my projects are fine yarn on teeny tiny needles. I don't know why that is! Any ideas? Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!