Just like the good old days!!!

This afternoon felt a little closer to normal for all of us Chicks. 

Janna, Debbie, Barbara B., and Cinzia joined me on the deck for a breezy knitting session.

Janna continued to work on her lace scarf as we talked about the importance of blocking a finished item to open up the lace stitches.

Cinzia found out last time she met with us that the yarn she was planning on using to knit a pair of socks, while the correct weight, was not spun tightly enough to make a sturdy sock yarn. So Plan B was put into effect and she's making a shawl instead. It's a lovely gradient yarn from Mini Mochi.

Barbara frogged those troublesome socks from last week and turned them into this darling pattern for another shortie sock from a tried and true pattern. Those vertical stripes are a corrugated ribbing made by using one color yarn for a knit stitch and the second color yarn for a purl stitch, creating this effect.

Debbie's cabled hat is looking great! That stitch definition really brings out the beauty of the cables.

And my shawl is from a pattern my daughter designed. She and I worked on it way back in 2018 and I misplaced the project bag it was in. When I found it recently I couldn't remember the pattern and neither could she. I thought I would have to frog the whole thing and knit some other pattern. But after a thorough search, I found I had actually written the instructions in a small notebook and so the day was saved! Or should I say "shawl was saved"?

Fozzie continues to grow more bossy comfortable in our home. After seeing my first hummingbird in over 30 years in our yard, I purchased a feeder to put right in front of this window so he can have "Cat TV" entertainment.

I suspect the weather will be on the upswing now so you will see many more deck knitting sessions in the coming weeks. One of these days Fozzie might even feel comfortable enough to join us. Until then, keep those needles clicking!

 

Sounds like a Bill Withers song

Just the two of us...Barbara B. and I had a lovely afternoon of knitting and weaving on my screened porch while cool breezes kept us comfortable. Barbara started working on a shortie sock, the pattern for which she got for free on Ravelry. Unfortunately, the directions for the short row beginning for the cuff were about as clear as mud. Between the two of us, we couldn't figure out what to do so Plan B went into effect and she worked on a hat instead.

Yesterday was the first time I tried warping my rigid heddle loom since we welcomed a new pet into the Mason household. By 11AM today it was all set up and ready to weave. It takes about an hour to warp and by the time that's done my back is screaming for me to sit back and rest so I have to work in stages. I found the yarn at a garage sale last year and made quite the killing. Two skeins of superwash merino/cashmere/nylon fingering weight for about $15! With about 5 hours worth of work I'll have a completed scarf.

Fozzie is still very cautious of strangers so Barbara wasn't able to pet him but he did show up for a cameo appearance just before she left. I sure hope he gets used to people because all the Chicks would love to cuddle him. And at 20 pounds, there's a lot of Fozzie to cuddle!

A great big thank you to my son, Andrew, who gave me his old/new laptop so I can write this blog with more ease. He spent so much time setting it up for me and now I am in business! I love when things work out! So until next time, keep those needles clicking!

 

Crochet a flat seam

Check out this new technique for crocheting two pieces of stockinette for a beautiful, flat seam!

 https://youtu.be/V9MkWJ6aveA

Learn a new edge stitch

Here is a video tutorial which shows how to make a neat sturdy edge on your knitting. Enjoy!

 https://youtu.be/EP1hS1QkMRM

Sunny day but chilly

Cinzia and Janna joined me on my front lawn, or at least what's left of it, for an afternoon of knitting. Cinzia found some pretty gradient yarn in her stash so she cast on for a lace cowl. There isn't enough knitted yet to show you but I can show you...

The parts to a lace, bolero length sweater she made. It needs blocking and assembling but it's going to be a knockout!

Janna's scarf looks so pretty with the gentle changing of colors in her feather and fan style lace scarf.

I finished two hats in two weeks. The pattern is called Ephemeris and is an addictive knit. Since I belong to two charity knitting groups, I have to decide which hat will go to which group.

These were both lots of fun to make and took only about four days to complete, once I figured out how to knit the pattern. It required some concentration but not so much that I couldn't memorize the pattern.

This afternoon I worked on a personal project, my Northeasterly blanket. It is composed of all fingering weight yarns and knitted with a size 3 needle. This will be for me, if I ever finish it!

And I have an announcement...There's a new member to the Mason family. Meet Fozzie! He's a three and a half year old domestic short hair kitty that's as sweet as my son's kitty, Joules. He even looks a little like her. All during this pandemic I would surf the humane society page just to look at cute animals. But one day this adorable face looked into my eyes and I was a goner. We have a bit of work to do with him because his previous owner allowed him to grow to twenty-five pounds! But we have three staircases and lots of toys for him to play with and he's already trimmed off five pounds since he moved in almost four weeks ago.

He understands that he is not allowed to touch my yarn or knitting and so far, so good. It's also my responsibility to remember to keep the door to my knitting room closed when I'm not in there. So I might not have as much time to devote to knitting as before but I'll certainly have fun with my new furry companion. Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!

 

It’s been more than a year

 

Technique Tip

 Here is an alternative technique to knit two together for a neater right leaning decrease.

https://youtu.be/kOft9oe74x8