Killer humidity today

We Chicks opted to knit indoors today because of the high humidity on the deck. We are between rain storms and I don't know about the others, but I'm beginning to go moldy! LOL!

Liz brought a sack filled with the items she knitted over the winter while she was away. There is a cute baby sweater and matching hat, two more baby hats, two Mistake Stitch scarves, a neck gaiter, and two cowls, one of which she added a pin in case the recipient would like to cinch it tighter.

Here is the Mistake Stitch hat she started last week which looks like it could be paired 

with the neck gaiter.

Barbara B. is as addicted to the Beloved bonnet as I am. She finished a toddler sized one and....

has already made progress on another. It's as I said last week, they are like Lay's Potato Chips, you can't make just one.

I'm hooked too! I think this is my fifth or sixth one so far. Once you figure out the pattern, which isn't at all difficult, you can make them any size you like. This one will fit a large child or small adult.

Carol continued to work on her Honey Cowl. Love that deep red color!

And Debbie moved on to the second color in her hat.

Maureen is getting tired of the Sightseer Cowl which must mean it's long enough and time to add the ribbing to finish it off. When I make scarves or cowls I know I'm almost done when I'm bored 

making it.

Margaret still has a bit to go before she can bind off her Sightseer Cowl. It's looking good!

Take a good look at Dorah's ZickZack scarf because she already frogged it due to an error she couldn't fix easily and will make a second go at it. This was one I started and just couldn't stand the torture of continuing it. But Dorah loved knitting this pattern and offered to take it off my hands. 

I hope she doesn't regret that decision!

 That's everything we have to show you this week. Until next Tuesday, keep those needles clicking!

And the rains came down!

Last night we had a DOOZIE of a thunderstorm with lightning that hung in the sky for a few seconds making everything outside look like daylight. This 20 pound behemoth was terrified of all the noise and flashing lights so he stayed close by my side or my husband's side. But I think Fozzie is getting used to the knitting ladies visiting every Tuesday. Today he worked up the courage to walk through the kitchen where we knit around the table, with his belly hung low, hoping not to be noticed.

My current project gained a few inches since last week. It's the 2x2 ribbed hat which is so easy I actually memorized the pattern.

But after a while the beige color gets pretty boring so I spiced up the work with rainbow socks. It's a plain vanilla pattern from my head. I haven't decided whether to do an afterthought heel or a short row heel but there's still time to decide. In any case, the heels and cuffs will be in the solid green yarn.

I forgot to ask Liz if she decided this is a hat or a cowl. She's put quite a few inches into it since last week.

This cowl is a popular one. 

Margaret liked Maureen's so much she decided to cast on one also.

Maureen is at the point where she feels like her Sightseer Cowl is taking forever. I see the 

progress though.

Barbara K.'s Palindrome Scarf is showing off those beautiful cables. She has such nice tension to her knitting which adds to the beauty of the work.

Carole's Honey cowl is wider this week too. It's a good tv knitting project.

 The wind is still pretty forceful out there and it's still very overcast but I think the worst of the rain is passed. So the next few sunny days I'll be keeping those needles clicking! Will you?

Nice day on the deck

It's so nice to have such a full group again. My deck was filled with laughter and good conversation! I think even those of us who are introverted, and you'd be surprised at how many of us are, are thankful to once again be in each other's company.

Carole is making the Honey Cowl, a free pattern on Ravelry. To make the lovely pattern, a simple slip stitch creates the thick, warm fabric.

Debbie is working on the Favehat. I didn't catch where she found the pattern, but I'll bet it's on Ravelry too.

Jan has chosen the Irma Hat to use some pretty coral yarn. You can see the beginning of the pattern slowly emerging from the stockinette base.

Dorah chose to knit a hat too. Neither of us could remember the pattern name.

Janna's scarf is in the final rows.

And here it is completed! She will block it to open up the lace stitches and have a nice long scarf to wrap a few times.

Margaret is making a bulky weight cowl to match a hat she made. 

We call her Queen of the Bulky Knits! LOL!

Liz can't decide if her work will be a hat or a cowl. It's still early enough for her to make up her mind.

Maureen's Sightseer Cowl is coming along beautifully. The slip stitch pattern is very easy to knit and looks great with high contrast colors.

Barbara K. is just starting her favorite oldie but goodie, the Palindrome Scarf. It's a good pattern when you don't know if a man or woman will receive it.

For a 2x2 ribbed hat, I casted on a few more stitches than the original pattern called for because I'm using a slightly lighter weight yarn than worsted and smaller needles than the pattern recommends.

 I gave myself permission to start something new because I finished this scarf last night. It's a variation on Martina Behm's free pattern called "22.5 Degrees". I knew I wouldn't have enough yarn in the only skein I had so I did a different bind off. The original pattern calls for a scalloped edge bind off which take tons of yarn. Instead, I made a picot bind off for the first half of the scarf and a standard bind off for the other half. 

Now it can be worn with either edge facing out, depending on your mood!

I'm feeling in a sushi kind of mood and my husband, who is NOT a fan of sushi, won't be having dinner home tonight so this is my chance! Have a great week and check back to see our progress next Tuesday. And as always, keep those needles clicking!

Making Progress

There were just three of us Chicks this afternoon. A few of them flew the coop for warmer weather. Jan and Janna joined me today. Jan finished her hat and the matching cowl is coming along nicely. 

 Janna's Palindrome Scarf is getting there. She will be able to knit a reversible cable in her sleep by the time she finishes this scarf.

 Margaret laughed about her hat looking the same every week but the colors are in different order each week. The hat is called the Julia Roberts hat because she wore it in the movie, "Stepmom".

 I had a hard time trying to get the true color of Carole's Irma hat. It is deep burgundy, rich and luscious! She decided to try it again with Cascade 220 which has just enough cuticle in the yarn to hold the stitches nicely.

 She inspired Dorah to try one too. She is also using Cascade 220 in a charcoal gray.

 Maureen's Honey Cowl is a bit further along. Since she has a new baby granddaughter she's finding it harder to squeeze in knitting time. I think the baby should take priority anyway. They don't stay tiny for long.

 Sunday I wove a pink and purple scarf and wet finished it yesterday. My edges are still a bit wobbly where I have to change colors but I'm happy with the end product.

 And I just LOVE this cowl I wove using the waffle stitch. Now that it's wet finished, the fabric is soft and drapey.

 I had enough yarn to make a hat and there might even be enough for a pair of fingerless mitts to round out a nice ensemble.

 This weaving gig is the bomb! Another scarf literally flew off the loom!

 And there will be fingerless mitts to go with the hat from last week that matches the scarf.

 Weaving will never replace knitting for me but it's right up there alongside it as one of my favorite things to do.