Socks for Soldiers

I finished another pair of socks for "Socks for Soldiers" this weekend. As I wove in the ends, all I could think of was, did I have more yarn to start another pair? Luckily I did because on Sunday I cast on for a black pair and by the end of the day had knit about 6 inches on it. I will admit that I find it oddly comforting to be knitting on a SFS sock. I have the gauge down pat and the pattern memorized so there is little thinking involved. It's also small and portable and easy to carry with me where-ever I go. Every little bit of time helps makes the sock grow faster and faster.

On Sunday I also took everything out of my craft closet and sorted through all of the projects putting like projects together. I threw away or abandoned about a shopping bags worth of stuff that I will never do again. In the end I prioritized the projects so that the ones on the top of each box were the ones I really want to work on and the ones on the bottom, not so much. I found my box of fabric for a quilt I want to start working on but at the same time found some others also that are almost done but need quilting up. The closet is neat again and I'm ready to work on some of the other projects but in the meantime it's back to my sock bag.

A new year

I finished Bob the builder with all of his tools yesterday. This is a project that has been sitting in 'complete me' pile. He came out real cute and will be fun for some kid to play with.

I've been working on unfinished and unstarted projects in order to clean out my closets. These are some pincushions that look like carrots. I'm not a big fan of eating my vegetables but it sure is fun making some. I can see on in my sewing basket fun of needles.

Christmas came and went with a bang. Everyone loved all of the homemade socks and cowls I had knitted. Now it's back to SFS and other projects, maybe even a quilt or two. A quiet start to the new year and back to crafting and work.

Another Pair

I'm working away on another pair of socks. I've got the first one knit and it's half way done on the second. I realize that I like knitting socks when there is a gift opportunity on the way. It's that deadline that spurs me on. I know there is a month until christmas but thinking of the people getting gifts that you knit yourself just gives encouragement to the needles.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we'll be traveling to the cape to be with my mom and sister. It'll be a nice quiet day of talking, sharing and a bit of eating too. My cake will get frosted tonite and I'll gather up all of the items I'm bringing. We get off early from work today so that is an extra special treat for us all.

This weekend I'll be de-decorating the house from Thanksgiving and prepping it for winter. It's getting colder everyday so that gets one in the mood. Last nite on my way home two houses already had their holiday lights on. The christmas music is on the special radio station so you can tune in to get in the mood. But always in the backround the knitting and crafting goes on. It's an addiction, the crafting, and I freely admit it but I'm not giving it up any time soon.

Happy Holidays

Socks,Socks and more Socks

I finished my second pair of socks from the Stitches East yarn last night. They came out lovely and will fit like a dream. I've adjusted the pattern to knit a women's size that fits a size 8 foot. This means a little more knitting, 6 inches - 7.5 inches on the foot but there won't be so much wear on the toes or the heel from over-stretching.

I wound more yarn into balls last nite in preparation for casting on my third pair of socks. I some feline help with this project as the yarn kept jumping out of the basket and becoming the perfect cat toy. All was well at the end, yarn okay and felines happy.

My mom called and wants to knit a simple cowl. She has charged me with picking out the pattern and the yarn from my local yarn store. It's always fun to go to the yarn store with a mission. She also has put me in charge of making her some loaves of swedish coffee bread for a meeting she'll attend in a couple of weeks. I'll have to make more than one loaf because this is delicious bread that doesn't last long.

Apologies for not updating the blog

My apologies to all who have checked in lately and not found any updates. Yes I've been crafting away everyday but mostly I've been knitting non-stop. I've been updating all of the projects status on Ravelry but that doesn't account for all of the crafting goings on in my studio. I say studio but it's really just the desk in the corner of my bedroom and the comfy chair in the den. This past weekend I've been knitting away on a pair of socks for "Socks for Soldiers" . I turned the heels and am nearing the toes on the pair. I made a cute little snowman mug rug for my sister. And in the needlepoint genre I'm almost 3/4 of the way done with my 'Red Sox' shirt ornament. I've run out of white thread so that project will be on hiatus until I can order some more tomorrow.

I'll try to keep up with the crafting updates as best I can. It's the time of year that all of us crafters buckle down and finish up those projects so they can be gifted out next month. Bye for now but Happy Crafting.

More Socks

On my needles this week is another black military sock. I'm already working on the first heel flap. I still need a lot of light to work on the black yarn. I've put in my request for some olive drab and my sister might have spotted some at her local knitting store. I've also got a prayer shawl that needs working on also.

Yesterday I mailed a large package of supplies to the 'Socks for Soldiers' Headquarters in Ohio. I contained lots of stuff the soldiers need and two pairs of handknitted socks. I enjoyed picking everything out at the store and when I got home the gang of cats enjoyed sitting in and on top of the box.

Back to work

This week has not been as exciting and fun as last week. I'm back to work and it was waiting in force for me to play catch up with it all. But I made sure I worked on my knitting. I continue to knit about 1-2 inches a day on my black Sock for Soldiers. I've just turned the heel at lunchtime today and am now on to the gusset decreases. My goal is to have it completed by next week so I can mail in both pairs.

The Barnstable County Fair starts today and on Sunday I'll volunteer to sit and watch over the exhibits with my Mom. I entered the Hula Hamsters and she entered a scissor case. It's fun watching all of the people come to see how their entries did and just generally admire all of the talent that shows at the fair. I'm hopeful that the hamsters will win a ribbon.

The Shaker Box I made has been on my show & tell shelf outside my office this past week and has gotten great reviews from the staff here. Such a different lifestyle up in Maine as here at home. I'm afraid I'm not ready to give up all of my amenities too quickly. I like air-conditioning and stores right down the road. Being there makes me appreciate all the more what I have here.