I Finished!!

I finished the sweater for my sister! She was wearing it this morning when she left. 64 degrees out calls for a good sweater!

She is a nurse and always wears a sweater to work. In Charleston, SC they keep the air conditioning kind of cool I guess in the hospital so she needs it. Made the sleeves 3/4 length, didn't want them getting in her way while she worked.

Really like the buttons too! She wears navy blue scrubs for work and I think the color of the buttons will co-ordinate nicely.

This and That

It's obviously been some time since I posted. What have I been doing? Well...

I took a trip to Florida for 4 days/3 nights, all by myself! Mike insisted on me going, and I'm really glad now that he pushed me to it. I truly hate to fly, but I did that too. My 2 sisters also joined me to visit my mom. One flew in from Utah and the other drove 6 hours from South Carlina. It was absolutely wonderful! Relaxing and fun! We spent several hours each day by the pool sunning and chatting. Mom cooked some wonderful meals and we drank wine and mojitos, and one night we even went out for dinner! We've decided that this will now be an annual event! Here are some photos of the fun.

Like every good vacation it takes a week or more to get back into the grove hence the hiatus from blogging.

On Holy Thursday we didn't make mass because Jacob has piano lessons, but we did get our eggs colored. We used the perfectly good brown eggs we have in abundance, they came out really nice. Easter was a quiet day at home with just the 5 of us. Faith did an egg hunt, we ate a huge breakfast, took a stroll and just chilled all afternoon snacking on chocolate.

As for the knitting, I finished the socks I was working on while in Florida. Gave those to sister Suzanne since she didn't have a pair of my socks yet, so I figured why not!

Because I was afraid to take metal needles or any project of relevance (for fear of confiscation) in my carry on my flight I knitted some dish clothes on bamboo needles. Who doesn't need new dish clothes?

Still working on the summer's end sweater. The body and both sleeves are done, next step join them and work on the yoke. Still not too sure of the yarn, but pressing on.

Oh how good it feels!

My sister Laura got her knitted wrap I made her for her birthday and she was thrilled!! She loved everything about it, and said she intended to get plenty of use out of it.

It makes me feel so good to know she loves it as much as I loved making it for her.

Now....who to make something for? This is fun giving away knitted items to those you love, especially when appreciated.

Now I've Done It!

Laura, don't read this post!

Among knitters we have this term, "Process Knitting". Which essentially means you teach yourself a new technique each time you take on a project. Or try a new style of knitting. It is all process knitting. I've never really been a process knitter myself, but I do sometimes convince myself I'm ready to try something new.

If you know anything about me, it is that I'm not a lacy, frilly kind of gal. I'm more cotton and denim. So, I've never really considered doing a lace knitted project. Although, I must say I do appreciate the work and the look of something that is lace knitted.

When I decided to take on a knitted lace project, I was both nervous and excited. The biggest challenge was that my first lace knitted item was to be a gift. A gift for my sister Laura's 50th birthday. I'm really pleased with the results and am looking forward to doing something like it again.

Here it is:

Guess being an addict can sometimes be a good thing. Tell me what you think.

Oh the turmoil!

Wow, it has been 3 days since I had anything to write in my blog! Does that mean I live a boring life? Well, maybe.

I've been doing school work (with the kids), house work, laundry and of course plenty of knitting. I'll finish Laura's wrap for her 50th birthday today, and should even have time to block it. Maybe I'll post a picture tomorrow.

When a knitter is in the process of finishing one project she/he spends almost as much time figuring out what will be worked on next. Or at least I do. So yesterday morning I spent a lot of time figuring out what I wanted to make my dad for Christmas and then discovering I didn't have anything in my stash (yarn in waiting to those of you who don't knit) that would work for the project I decided on.

Which can only mean I had to place a call to my favorite yarn shop back in Connecticut!! My good friends Sue and Paula, found exactly what I needed, and it was all in the bargain bin for 50% off!! No kidding!! So, since I saved all that money I then put them to work to fill the box, that was already now coming to Virginia anyway, with a some more yarn for the stash. Woooooo Hoooooo!!

Now I need to find something to work on until the box arrives! Oh the woes of a knitter!

Just Everyday Stuff

Not much happening around here.

We had to renegotiate the contract on the house because the appraisal came in lower than buying price. Which is good for us. One more hurdle to hop over that is all. Because it is a new construction there are a lot of forms that need to be completed that we have to wait on. But, we still expect to close before the end of October.

As for knitting, I'm still working on Laura's 50th birthday gift. Almost finished there and formulating the next project. Thinking Dad will get something knitted for Christmas.

Today we all go to mass at 1:00, and then we will do some shopping. Haley is in need of warmer clothes. Then off to Liberty University for Jacob's piano lesson.

Knitted Gifts

Mom & Laura, Do not read this post!

Here it is the sweater I made my mother for Christmas.

I bought the pattern and yarn back in April. Stored them, packed them, and then moved them to Virginia. Strated it September 10 and finished it yesterday. Hopefully she will get some use out of it in Florida!! Now that she is 70, she is cold more often than not! LOL

Now that I'm on a role with knitting and giving it away. I decided to make my sister Laura something for her 50th birthday coming in November. She apprciated her purse so much. I started this wrap last night out of a beautiful alpaca yarn. She should get plenty of use out of it in Utah!!

What would we do without technology?

Ahh......technology! Gotta love it! My sister Laura and I were able to chat last night over a glass of wine. How you ask, with Laura in Utah and you in Virginia? Well... by web cam.

It took Laura a lot of effort trying to get her computer up and running. After a lot of laughing by both of us and her old clunker of a computer never catching up to the live feed, her daughter Leah came to the rescue and set her mother up on her computer. Then we sipped wine, chuckled some more and chatted.

My kids were thrilled to see Aunt Laura. Jacob played his guitar for her. Faith got to sing one of her favorite songs by Laura's son TJ. And Haley enjoyed listening to her mother and aunt giggle with each other. Haley was also thrilled to catch a glimpse of her cousin Leah. The two of them converse through emails.

Actually, mom, dad and I have been doing web calls with eachother for the past several weeks. It has become nearly a daily event for us to visit over the Internet. The kids love being able to to see "Mem" and "Pep" so often.

Looking forward to many more web conversations over a glass of wine!

Just Love It

My sister sent me an email this morning, with this..

Powerful Women's Motto:

LIVE YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WHEN YOUR FEET HIT THE
FLOOR IN THE MORNING, SATAN SHUDDERS AND SAYS, "OH, SHIT....SHE'S
AWAKE!!"

Love it!!!

Yippee, It Arrived Today!

My box of stuff from, Woolworks Yarn Shop in Putnam, CT arrived today.

Look at the beautiful sock yarn. Alpaca Sox in a gray heather, Ultra Alpaca Fine in a dark brown, Reynolds Soft Seawool in black, and the Araucania hand dyed wool in a great purple colorway.

All the Jil Eaton Minnow Merino yarn, in a precious periwinckle, I need to make that cute cardigan (Minnowknits Garter Cardi #168)for Faith and the perfectly matched buttons that Jen and Paula (my friend from the shop) chose.

The magnetic clasps, that only Jen has, to put on the surprises I made for my sisters and their daughters, oh and some gorgeous pewter buttons for the finishing touches on their gifts.

Better get knitting on mom's Christmas gift so I can delve into this stuff. PURE HEAVEN!

Why not give a gift?

(Sisters please do not read this post, it is about a surprise for you!!)


So, if you didn't know it already, I love to knit, and on occasion I've been known to crochet.


{standing up like at an AA meeting she raises her right hand and says}
My name is Michelle, and I have a fiber fetish and am addicted to knitting.



The only problem I sometimes have is finding someone to knit for, and then having the courage to give it away. Anyone who knows the work and love that goes into a knitted item can understand the difficulty.


Recently I decided to knit and felt some purses for my sisters and their daughters. I truly believe they will appreciate them, and it has given me purpose. Since Saturday, I've finished knitting 2 and am close to finishing #3 pictured below. They work up really fast and then I'll felt them and send them on their way.


It is motivating to have someone in mind when you are working on a project.