Ode to Robert Goulet

My family and I love the Robert Goulet songs and still listen to original albums. (In fact, my hubby just bought one of his Christmas albums on Saturday at our local library's book sale for a quarter!).

So, we mourn the loss of this great American icon.

God Bless, Mr. Goulet.

One Sad Sock

Oh, you poor, poor sock.

All by yourself.

Waiting.

Wondering when your companion will show.

But, alas, there will be no such companion.

It will always be you.

One sad sock.

But, be happy,

A Christmas Stocking you shall be.

Pattern: Eesti Hiking Sock, from Favorite Socks

Yarn: stash yarn (I think it was Encore (green), Wool Ease (oatmeal and red)

Why only one: mutual agreement of hubby and I

Raverly

Okay. I've been looking around on Raverly! At first I was like, oh, okay, not really too overly enthusiastic. But...I will say that I've changed my mind. It's really, really cool. Now I know what you early birds were talking about!
My user name is, of course, Cactusneedles.
If you're on there, leave me a comment with your name and I'll add you to my list!

I've got to go back and see who already left me their Raverly names, but, if you think about it, let me know!

Have a great night!!!

My Hat (and some new yarn)...

My hat, based on the Father/Daughter pattern. I did a 4 x 4 ribbing for about 5 inches (I like a hat to cover my ears).

Yarn: Patons SWS (soy and wool) in geranium. 1 skein (just barely).

Needles: #7 circular and dpn.

And then I had to go back to the LYS. I like this store (as I've been back twice in two weeks, I guess so!). The lady who helped me loved the hubby's hat I took to show them and wrote down where I got the pattern! I like when that happens!

For another Hubby Hat (he wants a second one)! Cascade 22o wool, heathers, in color sapphire, it's almost more of a denim blue. (My poor basil plant!)

And for me-- the bottom skein is a Cascade , Ecological Wool, in chocolate (it's darker in person). The top skein is a Cascade 220 wool in a dark brown (I'm not sure of the color the label says "vandky", possibly Vandyke brown? I used to watch way too much Bob Ross.)

I'm going to felt a tote bag. The lady at the LYS said she hadn't felted with this yarn yet so she wasn't sure how it was going to felt. Has anyone out there in blog land felted with this yet? I've got a couple of patterns in mind, the Ecological Wool has 478 yards on it, plenty for a bag with the darker for the bottom, I think.

Still working on my Embossed Leaves socks, oh, did I not tell you guys? Oh, well, those are going great! I love that pattern, it just flows nicely!

Oh, and I got my invite to Raverly. I've got to take some time next week and figure that all out!

Anyway, have a great Thursday (check out the Dogs on Thursday blog). Ella says "hi" to all her doggy friends out there!

The Hubby's Hat

Pattern: Father/Daughter Hat from Dropped a Stitch.
Yarn: Cascade 220, wool, in 'turtle' (only took about 1/4 of the skein).
Modifications: Made the ribbing 4 inches.
Model: The Hubby!

I also made myself a version of this with this yarn (in geranium) and a 4x4 rib instead of a 2x2. (I'll post a picture later this week.)

At Last, We Have Pictures!!!

Here are the picts from the previous posting:

The Cascade 220 wool. "Turtle" on the left (with partial hat -- which is done, but I need a model for it, tune in tomorrow); "celery" on the right (still deciding what to do with it!)

The sideways garter stitch glove before seaming.

Partially seamed.

Yesterday's project -- finishing the Brea bag I had knit ages and ages ago (it might even have been last year, BB {before blogging}) Done in, I believe, a Cascade 220 super wash, doubled, in an orange/rust color. This picture doesn't do it justice.

The lining. Let me tell you, it was a bear to do. This was my second attempt. I still have to decide on the handle (I made the one above) and the closure.
Happy knitting! I'm on to the next project...my pink socks I think.

Imagine the Pictures...

Okay...I'm trying to upload some picts of my recent WIP's, but Blogger seems to be having a problem with doing this function.
So, when it lets me, I'll show you, because I do have pictures.

In the meantime, I've decided to gift my fetching fingerless gloves to my great-aunt. She's visiting my parents and me from northern Maine and she had mentioned how she would like some fingerless gloves to wear when she drives. (And yes, she's 80 and still drives!)

Yesterday, my hubby and I went to the local Sam's Club, you know, picked up some pillows, some crackers, bagels, laundry detergent and on the way back, he stopped at the new LYS that opened near us! Isn't he sweet? This store was very nice. The people were friendly, the yarn was displayed and labeled in white shelves. They had a vast selection of sock yarn, wool yarn, cotton and the novelty yarn. (The pictures I want to show you all is the yarn my hubby picked out for himself.) I'm going to make him this hat. Don't you just love Knitting Pattern Central? So, he picked out a Cascade 220 wool, heather, in color 2452 (which on the label they have "turt", short for turtle perhaps?) If you scroll down on the linked page, you'll see the color. I also picked up color 9407 ("cele", celery perhaps?). I was going to knit the fetching gloves for my great-aunt in this, but decided to gift my brown ones instead. (I can make more!)

I also had a picture of the sideways garter stitch gloves I made. (This is not the pattern from the winter '02 issue of Spin-Off. My other aunt gave it to me when I was visiting and it has a different source.) I was making them for me, but when I started to seam them, the fingers are too short. So, I'm gifting them to the LittleOne who will probably need them in the next few weeks when we walk to school.

So there is the descriptions for the pictures I have waiting in the wings (once Blogger cooperates). If you close your eyes, you might be able to visualize...

Have a great day!!!

Ella's Sweater

Here is the lovely Ella modeling her warm new sweater.

"I like it Mom! Thanks!" (now when is it going to get cold enough to wear it?)

Ella's Sweater: Lion Brand Wool-Ease in forest green heather (2 balls); #7, 8, 9 needles.

Pattern: My own. (If anyone wants it, let me know and I'll write it up, but it is sized for Ella specifically.) Calling it Ella's Cable Neck Sweater.

Now, to the finish the hubby's socks...

More Yarn...

Okay. I know I wasn't going to buy any more yarn, but yesterday the kiddos, the hubby and I all went on a field trip day. Since the kids are off this week for fall break (which is feeling more like summer), we took them on a field trip. We went on a museum tour at the local college campus, one of which they wouldn't let us in -- my purse was too big and I might "bump into the artwork." That is a direct quote from the security guard! Can you believe it! She wouldn't let us in because I wouldn't leave my purse at her desk! There's just no way! I had all the stuff you would normally carry in a purse in there and there was no way I was leaving it with her!

Anyway, on a brighter note, I did get to go to one of the LYS's that I hadn't been to before because it's all the way across town. It was a nice store, small, but she had a good selection. And she told me that another LYS opened up closer to me, that's my next week's trip (when they're back at school!). All I walked out with though was this:

... Regia, sock yarn in like a pink, but not hot pink color.

I think I'm going to either do the Uptown Boot socks or the Embossed Leaves, from Favorite Socks. I think both would look great with this color. But before I can begin, I need to finish the hubby's socks (and Ella's sweater). Tune in tomorrow for DoT (dogs on Thurs.) and I might be ready to unveil Ella's sweater.

Dogs and WIP Thursday

Sad, sad puppy...waiting for Mom to finish her sweater...

The start of Ella's sweater.

(I like how my geranium is blooming right now.)

I know it doesn't look like much right now, and you're asking yourself, how is that little strip of cable going to cover Ella and keep her warm on those cold, dark, bleak winter days? But you'll have to wait, 'cause I've got a plan (at least I think I do).
So, right now, Ella's sweater is one of the three WIP-- dare I tell you the others that are still hanging out in the basket? Okay, you twisted my arm, still working on the hubby's second Eesti sock. I did cast on for it, but all the stitches are still sitting on the one dpn, very lonely and waiting to be worked on (no picture as it's very, very sad).
Also still working on the yoga mat bag, haven't gotten very far with that one (again no picture as it's, again, very, very sad). (You could go here to see the sock who's waiting for a companion, and here to see the yoga mat--it's that dejected little strip of maroon at the top of the picture.)
Hmm...is there anything else WIP? (I'm asking myself here at this point because I'm too lazy to go upstairs to look.) No, I don't think so. But I am planning on starting a hat soon...

October Already!

Wow! I can't believe it's October. It seems like just yesterday we were going on vacation, coming home and school started. Time sure does fly when you're busy!
Since I finished the Fetching gloves, I decided it's time Ella had a sweater. When I get a little further into it, I'll take a picture and show you, but I am using up some stash yarn (but I only had one ball, so I'm going to have to compliment it with a trip to the yarn store).
Now, if you've seen the pictures of Ella, she has a rather long coat, but she still gets cold. She does like to snuggle up on the couch or bed in the blankets. So maybe if she has her own sweater, she won't lie on my fresh from the dryer towels that I fold and put on the couch...nah, she still will.

Hope all have a great day! Happy knitting and happy fall!