Finally! A deck day!

Even though it was 80 degrees, I put up the drapes to keep out the bright sunlight and hopefully tamp down some of the heat so we could sit outside. It's been weeks since we enjoyed the deck what with rain and heat and humidity. I had two fans blowing on us so it was bearable. 

But there are signs showing up in the neighborhood that we are nearing the change of seasons! My favorite tree across the way in the neighbors' yard is the first one to show a red leaf. Can cold weather be far behind? I can't wait!!!😁

We have some FOs to add to the inventory.

Maureen finished her Celtic Feathers Hat from NichKnits designer Shelby Nichols. Really nice cables and stitch definiton Maureen!

And Carole finished the Loop Hat. It is a soft sage green but the outside lighting affects the color in a photo. If you want to see the true color, check last week's blog post.

Cinzia wasn't expected today as she had knee repair done on Friday. But she was so bored staying home and she was told she needs to walk so today was her first venture out into the world. She brought her Jariq which is knitted with a silvery sparkle yarn.

Jan finished her ZickZack Scarf. She used two strands of yarn held together and it is so soft and squishy! It's sure to keep someone warm and happy!

Dorah finished her Helix Hat and it turned out beautifully! She questioned whether the colors would compliment each other and I'd say they're perfect!

She's already started another Helix Hat with these three colors 

which in my humble opinion, will look fabulous!

Remember when I said I was going to knit a long infinity scarf? Umm...yeah, no! I'm already feeling like I poked a sharp stick in the eye😂 I don't know why I get bored so easily with a long term project! Anyway, this will be a closer to the neck style cowl and the short edges will be grafted with a kitchener stitch. I do love the yarn and stripe pattern though! Pattern is adapted from the ZickZack Scarf.

Barbara K started the Dart and Dash Beanie from Benjamin Matthews.

You can see the beginning of the dart and dash pattern showing up already.

Tina started the Wavy Ribbed Scarf from a YouTube video from Susen Mehralieva. I watched the video and wrote up a pattern and Tina is test knitting it for me. 

She already found a typo! Thanks for catching it Tina!

Carole is knitting a baby hat. It is for the first grandson of a friend of hers 

so she chose a cheery, colorful yarn for it.

Margaret is knitting the Leaded Light Cowl, just like Nancy's last week. Margaret has chosen a contrasting yarn that changes color so the lights in the window will change color as the knitting progresses.

I didn't catch the name of Jan's pattern but the yarn is gorgeous! It's going to be a narrow scarf.

Maureen made a sawtooth edged little scarf accessory but she can't remember the pattern. The yarn is very soft and has a halo so I'm thinking it might have some baby alpaca in it.

Currently on her needles is Maureen's next project, the start of a Helix Hat. 

Nancy started another one of Benjamin Matthews' patterns. Such a pretty color too!

This was recently released as a free pattern for a limited time and we were lucky enough to get in on the initial offering. The Laguna Drift Beanie is next on my list of projects too.

Fozzie watched the Chicks leave at 3 o'clock and that's his signal that he should start begging for food. Well, actually, just about anything is a signal to him for food!😉 I've learned to ignore most of them, much to his dismay. I mean, look at that cat! He doesn't look like he's starving! I know it's a bad camera angle but he's not suffering.

And on that note I will wish you a great week ahead and remind you to keep those needles clicking!

Just 3 of us

Cinzia and Dorah joined me this afternoon for a quiet session of knitting. Well, not too quiet because we like to laugh but it was a relaxing time spent together.

Cinzia tested out which size needle to use for the Ripples shawlette, a sweet little scarf with a gentle ruffled edge. The yarn label said it was a DK weight yarn and suggested using a size 9 needle which we all agreed sounded like too much needle for such a light weight yarn. But after trying a size 7 needle, the fabric seemed too rigid. I think she might have gone with a size 8 for her choice.

Dorah is a good sport for continuing to knit with yarn she is not exactly in love with. Ok, let's face it, she hates it! LOL! I have to admit that after trying to frog it for her, I wouldn't choose it for a project EVER! But she is a dedicated Chick who will finish it. I did tell her not to swear while knitting because we don't want to infuse that kind of energy into our knitting. ROFL! 

Cinzia added a basketweave pattern hat to the inventory which just by chance happens to match the color of...

The Jariq scarf I'm knitting. I just reached the halfway mark and have started the downhill race to the finish. It gets easier now that I'm on the decreasing end of the scarf. It's an exact match to the blue in the hat so we're going to package them together.

It's that time of the year when I get startitis so I'm happy to be almost finished with this project so I can search for something new to make. I think I'll go stash diving to see what inspires me. In the meantime, keep those needles clicking!

Raw and rainy outside, warm and friendly inside

With news of a new more virulent variant virus (say that 3 times) circulating in the area, we thought it wouldn't hurt to wear masks again. It doesn't interfere with our knitting so where's the harm?!

Barbara B. started the Quynn hat, a darling ear flap hat for a child. The little peak at the top makes your cherub look like a cuddly elf.

Barbara K. found another adorable child size hat pattern in one of the series the One Skein Wonders book.

Her yarn choice will make a delightfully cheerful hat.

Janna chose to start a Helix Hat using these lovely purple and pink yarns. It reminds me of a flower garden. Can't wait to see it finished!

Margaret has the second of a pair of fingerless mitts to match the Orchid Mantis hat she made last week.

Dorah's Easy Scarf is back on track after a rocky start. The pattern has you change directions of knitting at the halfway point and everyone I know, including me, has flubbed it at the turn. Unfortunately, this yarn being fuzzy, was a bear to frog but it's going in the correct direction now. 

It should be a lovely, soft scarf soon.

I'm working on a Jariq shawl with two skeins of sock weight yarn. I will soon be approaching the halfway mark when the increased stitches turn to decreased stitches to complete the other half of the triangle.

Way back in June of 2022 I started the Study Hall Shawl with yarn I bought at a trunk show for LolaBean Yarn. I dragged my feet on completing this because, if you didn't know before, I HATE CHARTS! And the mosaic portion of this shawl is charted only to make those little checkered squares. But once I got into the knitting it was a very entertaining project. It had just enough repetition to keep it easy enough to watch tv and follow the chart at the same time. This one is a keeper for me.

But I would gladly make another to donate if I find two yarns in my stash that look nice together. Oy! Just what I needed! Another to-do to add to the long list of patterns waiting to be knitted! LOL!

Well, I had better move my butt and finish what's waiting on the needles. 

Enjoy your week and keep those needles clicking!