Peaceful Palms Update

Very close to the true color!
I need to finish 2 tipless fingers on my second glove and weave in all the ends. I've decided that I don't like weaving in the ends and have proof. My two tone slipper socks that I made last year are still sitting around with the yarn ends sticking out. I am very impressed with my knitting speed when using 2 circulars instead of DPNs.

On Saturday night, I worked some more on the OSW. I think I finally have it large enough to fit over my muscular flabby arms. Next time, I think I'll cast on more at the beginning for the armholes. I won't be starting the OSW ribbing until I complete my Weekend Knitting tipless gloves for the Knit Along.

Peaceful Palms Update-Glove #2

I wasted about 2 hours on Friday night trying to cast on and knit with the Magic Loop method. Finally, I came to my senses and using the techniques from nonaknit's two circular tutorial, I cast on and knit about 7 rows. This method was so much faster than the DPN and the stitches look much more uniform with less ladders in the garter stitched cuff. I do have a seam like appearance where I joined the yarns and there is a ladder on the other side but it is better than 4 areas like that on my other glove's cuff.



On Saturday night, I finished the cuff and started working towards the thumb gusset. I'm using a Denise Interchangeable needle and a Boyles (from the set I purchased last weekend). I'm glad this one is going smoother and of course much faster than the last. I will try to knit some more on it this evening to see if I can complete the palm.


No signs of winter.

Cat Sampler Afghan?

I posted this link last week. It is a sampler afghan by Little Purl of the Orient. I think that I really would like to do this but use some type of motifs of my cat as a remembrance. I still miss her very much. Although I know she is not in pain, I can't get to place where I feel comfort from it. When it is quiet around here, I try to think what to put on the squares. Some trees would work because she loved to run up and sharpen her claws on the trunks. Maybe some outlines of cats running, sitting, and sleeping. I'm not sure if I can come up with enough knittable ideas for an entire afghan. I'll probably want a small version, maybe twin or full size? Just thinking out loud here but may be the lighter squares can be images of her and the darker squares be cables, decorative stitches, etc. Also, there is the large bag in the Stitch n Bitch Nation book that tells you how to make a pattern for a person's profile. I would really like this and it could be used year round. I'm not sure if I can convert one of her pictures (and make it look like her). I don't want it to look like any cat, I want it to have her distinct look since it will be a remembrance.

Sometime this weekend, I'll start on my 2nd tipless glove and I'll have lots of time to think about what to make as a remembrance. If any one has made remembrances for a loved one (human or pet), I would love to see a picture!

UPDATE! I found this link about cat longevity. If you are a cat lover, you may want to check it out. By the vet records, we decided my cat was actually 21 which would put her in the 92-100 year range. We had been told that the average lived to 14-16. There is mention of an unverified 31 year old cat that looked 10. No one ever believed me when I said how old my kitty was because her coat was so soft and well groomed. Maybe if they had seen the hairballs then they would have believed it. Anyway, I wanted to post the length so I could refer back to it.

Sweet Booger 1985ish-11/15/2005

I had to say goodbye to my sweet kitty of 20 years yesterday. She use to love to smell the yarns, especially the wools, and get scratched with a knitting needle. I don't feel like knitting or doing much of anything right now. There are so many 'what ifs' and 'remember when' thoughts racing through my head. She showed up at our house and chose us as her home. It was hard doing homework with her around because she loved paper wadded up and tossed her way. Not to mention plopping down on my accounting books so I could not turn the pages! As she and I got older, she was a great listener and her soft purring would always reassure me that everything would be okay. She was such a huge part of my life and I'm happy for the time we had together. I just wish she did not have to go. I will always love you, kitty Booger.

One Weekend Knitting Glove Done!

I am plagued by holey finger joints. Hopefully my next glove, which I have not cast on for, will be hole free. Otherwise, it will be a long time before I make another pair of these....unless the next one is less holey then I may call my first one a practice glove and make another. Anyway, I'm glad that I did finish this one glove because of the practice at using small DPNs and picking up the small stitches. I'll be casting on for the second glove this evening and I'm going to try and get the Magic Loop method to work this time.



I keep going back to this page to view Little Purl of the Orient's sampler afghan. I think this would be a great way project to track my progress as I learn to knit. I could start out with easy stitches, advance to more complex patterns, and end with designs of my own (made up of the stitches that I've learned). Maybe a square or two a month? The knitting sounds fun but all of that seaming and weaving in the ends has me scared!

Fingerless Glove Update

I want to bind off my middle stitches and leave my gloves like this...

Pattern from Melanie Falick's book - Weekend Knitting.
My fingers aren't normally blue and the yarn color is persimmon not pink. I thought taking the picture outside would help...but noitdidn't.

Two fingers and 1 glove to go!

I spent Friday night working on my OSW. I'm loving this yarn more and more. I really like the way the pattern is written. When I started out, the rows went quickly but as I add more stitches it slows waaaaay down for me. I think I would have been frustrated had I started out with so many stitches. As it is, I can't wait to finish!

OSW & Straw Hat

I've started my One Skein Wonder in TLC Amore. The color is Lake Blue and I have Lagoon Print for the borders/sleeves. More than likely, I'll stick with Lake Blue for the whole project.


Don't ask me if I'm on gauge, I can't see the stitches but I do love this yarn.


I should have made my first OSW with a yarn that allowed me to see the stitches...then again, if I make a mistake, who will ever know?

About a month ago, I made a lot of these...

...for a Lion Brand 'Straw Hat'. The yarn label has a prettier picture than the website. I'm using Lion Brand Cotton in Maize. Crochet must make me tense because I broke a hook in half! I'm not even sure if I'm doing it right.

Fingerless Glove Update

The photos have gone from pink to orange! I'll get it right one day.
One thumb down and four fingers to go! I have a few holey areas but I think they can be fixed. I've decided these will be my everydayeverywhere gloves so a problem here or there is not critical. I kept the thumb short so I could still use the space bar and touchpad on the computer without any problems. I was very nervous they would not fit but so far so good!

I finally ordered Glampyre's One Skein Wonder (OSW) pattern today. At first I wasn't sure I liked the pattern but I've seen so many completed OSW on blogs and Flickr.com that I must make one, too!

Sweater Stone

My free (add shipping) Sweater Stone arrived yesterday. I haven't used it because there hasn't been a need to get my sweaters out for the season. I hope it works!