FO & UFO First Friday

My first FO of the new year! It was supposed to be a neck warmer/gaiter for My Hubby, made with leftover yarn from his hat, but sadly, I miscalculated and it was way too small! I can barely get it over my head (what was I thinking?), so now I have a headband/ear warmer/sort of Calorimetry, but without the shaping!

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers; light green, partial skein (I still have leftovers).

Pattern: co 76 sts, join and 2x2 rib for 6 inches, bind off (very, very loosely!).

Needles: #7 16" circular.

Now...isn't this such a pretty color?

Yes, just another shot to show you how pretty the purple is. (My poinsettia is still hanging in there, I moved it outside today, it was getting droopy and seemed like it needed some sun.)

It's the first Friday of 2008 for the new year and I had planned on showing a new sock to everyone (or at least part of a sock), but sadly it was frogged just this morning. I have some Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn in a lovely hand-dyed purple (which was purchased over a year ago, maybe two years, way before I started knitting socks, the color got me, as you can see) and was happily knitting along (my own made-up pattern), got to the heel flap and then tried the sock on...you guessed it, too small. So, I put it down, worked a few more heel flap rows (why? I don't know) and then went to bed with that sock on my mind.

This morning, I looked at that sock again, and decided something wasn't right and I didn't like what I saw. So, for some inspiration, I jumped on Ravelry read some reviews of the said yarn, thought about it as I undecorated the Christmas tree and then took two minutes to frog the sock! And you know what, I wasn't sad, depressed or upset, I knew in the long run I wouldn't be happy, or I'd run out of yarn. )The yardage on the label reads 267 m, but when you convert that, it's only about 320 yards.) So, now I'm back to square one with the yarn, which has been sitting in my closet for such a long time waiting for the perfect pattern for the yarn. More than likely, the perfect pattern is the one included on the ball band! But...we'll see...

Happy knitting!

New Year's Thanks...

I hope everyone had a great start to the New Year! Let me tell you, I can't believe it's 2008 already! Time certainly has flown by! And in looking back, I can't believe all that I've knit this year! Wow! I amazed myself at all that I've accomplished in my knitting. I feel as though I've come a long way in such a short period of time. So, in saying this, I want to thank all those knitters whom I've met via this blog! I still think it's amazing that I can watch the knitting progress of Carrie at ...and another thing in Washington, Dipsy in Austria, and NH KnittingMama in New Hampshire and get some great hat patterns from Dropped a Stitch! (Plus the many others I read -- see the sidebar.) All of you that I read are such an inspiration! Whenever I'm stuck in my progress, I just start reading the blogs and before I know it, I'm inspired and invigorated to pick up my needles once again!

So, I just want to wish everyone a great start to this new year and keep on knitting!

Wrapping up the Year (part one)

My Hubby and I went to a New Year's/Christmas party over the weekend, and I just couldn't help myself. I thought this napkin (circa 1995) says it all!

I finally finished them! My Embossed Leaves socks!

Pattern: Embossed Leaves, from Favorite Socks.

Yarn: Regia, sock yarn in pink.

Changes: none!

And my two-tone Fetching! I ran out of the blue, and when I went back to the LYS to buy another one, they were out of the blue! So, I used the brown! I like the way they came out.

Pattern: Fetching, knitty.com

Yarn: Brown Sheep, Lamb's Pride Bulky, blue flannel and sable.

Changes: Made four cable repeats at wrist (to make them longer) and used #7's to make a tight knit fabric (these are very, very warm!). They also match my blue flannel Utopia hat!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas Day and your Christmas Season is going great! A New Year is coming fast upon us and if I don't get back to you all by Tuesday, I hope everyone has a great New Year's Eve!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

My Favorite Cookies

Yesterday was cooking day, today was baking day. Some of these very cookies got made in the Cactus house today! Enjoy!

Raspberry Kisses (this one my aunt gave me, very, very tasty! If anyone wants the recipe, let me know and I'll post it!)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Butter Cookies (this is the same recipe my Hubby has been using in his family since he was a kid!)

Chocolate Crinkles (here or here) (I use the one my mom had, but it's very similar to these.)

biscotti (look here for a bunch!) (Any kind, as long as it's not too weird!)

Chocolate Brownie (any recipie will do, the chocolaty the better!) (Are brownies really a cookie though? Hmmm, don't think it matters in this case!)

Cream Cheese Fold overs (the fold over recipe is the only one on this list that's just like the ones my Hubby's grandmother used to make -- I use apricot jam or raspberry jam (seedless).)

peanut butter cookies (especially the ones with the Hershey's Kisses in them!

Happy Baking!

My Favorite Foods

Today is cooking day in the Cactus household. It's raining, so it's a perfect day to start the Christmas lasagna, made with homemade sausage (one of our friends makes their own sausage! very, very good!), homemade tomato sauce and lots and lots of ricotta cheese! So, in honor of all that, here are some of my favorite foods. (Again in no particular order.)

1. lasagna
2. pizza (of course!, no anchovies)
3. spaghetti
4. a Ruben sandwich
5. roast pork tenderloin
6. turkey with all the trimmings!
7. a good hamburger
8. Shepard's pie
9. steak and baked potato
10. green beans (I love, love green beans.)

What are some of your favorite foods? Let me know!

On the knitting side, not much is being completed around here (see above cooking). I'm still working on Stella's Hat from Knitting School Dropout and my embossed leaves socks (why they're taking sooooooo long I don't know). And the Fetching, I ran out of the yarn that matches the dark blue Utopia hat, so I'm trying to figure out something...I'll let you know soon (I hope).

And the kids are home on their first day of Christmas vacation today, so...well, you know how it goes!

My Favorite Socks (and Scarves?)

These are a few of my favorite sock patterns.



Monkey Socks (who doesn't love this pattern!?)

Embossed Leaves (from Interweave Knits, Favorite Socks)

Uptown Boot Socks (from Interweave Knits, Favorite Socks)

Brigit (from the Socktopia people!) (but for some reason, the link is no longer there, but check here (thank you Misfit Knits for posting this great picture so we can see what they look like!) (I do have a copy that I printed out of this if anyone wants it, let me know!)

Twinkletoes (that Knitty.com, gotta' love it!)

Jaywalker (Grumperina has some cool socks.)

Pedicure Socks

Earl Gray (oh, you Harlots will love this one!)

Nine-to-Fives



Let me know some of your favorites! (I've got a lot of sock yarn that needs to be knitted up before I can buy any more!)

(Oh, and there probably won't be a favorite scarves -- I don't really knit scarves! I mean, I know I should, and I own the Vogue Knitting, Scarves (from the "On the Go!" series), and there are several in there that I like, but I've never, ever even attempted (and I've had that book for quite some time, I might add.) So...if there are some of your favorite scarf patterns out there, let me know. Who knows? I may even attempt one! (Oh, and before you ask, I do own four scarves, my favorite being a woven wool turquoise extra wide wrap/shawl/scarf that I bought at Old Navy last year on clearance.)