Sock # ?

A great crafting weekend ended with another pair of socks knitted and a new skein of stretch yarn already on the needles. I enjoyed knitting this twisted rib sock pattern. It looks complated but is really quite easy. The new pair is back to a basic k2p2 rib but the yarn is stretchy so I'll see how this new type yarn works before working it in to fancier patterns. My son gave these his craft seal of approval.

I set aside a lot of time for quilting too and finished up the center of the quilt. I took it off the long frame and put it on the q-snap frame so I could get the borders done. I had to think about how the quilt would get finished and by just quilting it the vision of it in it's final glory appeared to me. My gang of cats are quite interested in the whole quilt thing and really want to jump on it but they are being good. Just wait until I have to go to work tomorrow and the they have the entire day to themselves.

Turkey day craft aftermath

It was a great turkey day and I even got to do some knitting at the end. I made pumpkin cheeseballs for the appetizers and they were a big hit. Next year I'll make them a tad bit smaller so they fit on a cracker and you don't get cheese overload.

check out the bettycrocker website (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/recipe.aspx?recipeID=37889&Source=SearchResultPage&terms=cheese%20pumpkins) and you can see a picture.

We checked out all of my mom's new knitting magazines, commented on good and bad knitting, got some good guidance on what others needs are for the future and generally had a great time just visiting. After a wonderful dinner it was on to checking out the upstairs craft supply and my sister and I both went home with some fabric and other projects that will get finished by us and then given back completed to mom.

After a stress free car ride home (lighter traffic than expected), everything go put away and then I could sit back and relax with the little gang. A dvd and a bag of knitting along with a bowl of the Rose Clan Indian Pudding made for nice end to the holiday. I thought seriously about going to the stores at 5 am the next day for those door buster sales but the extra hours in bed won out as did a snuggly Magpie keeping me warm.

I brought my knitting to work and did some at lunch so tonite it's a quilt session with some more dvds and cats. Another sublime nite of crafting.

Craft companions

The quilt has recovered from it's batting surgery and is now fully back on the frame. I found the quilting thread, the 12 sharps that I love to quilt with (short and sharp), my thread holder to wear around my neck, favorite thimble, box of finger cots (little thin rubber covers for your finger that grips the needle, sharp scissors and masking tape. All the tools to get the job done, along with the tv remote control. I tuned up my thread and got right back into quilting. There is a lot to do but an hour or two every nite will get me done. I'm extremely hopeful at the moment but it's still November.

My craft companions were extremely perplexed at the rearranging of furniture and favorite perching spots (my lap and back of chair). Magpie kept coming and looking at the quilt frame, trying to peek over it and putting her paws up to see if there is a space for her. She's not quite ready to settle into a spot as yet. I cover it up when I'm not using it and also tilt the top up so that it doesn't encourage napping during the day time.

The first twisted rib sock is completed and the second cast on. I still need a carry along project for work so socks it is. My local yarn shop had the missing yarn I was needing and I'll have just a Little bit left over at the end of the pair. They are quite the pattern and I'll ask my son to do a test fit for me just to make sure they'll be a good wearing sock. The foot is done totally in stocking stitch instead of my usual ribbed top.

The Indian pudding is in the fridge ready for dessert tomorrow. I couldn't resist and had a little tasting bowl tonite, hot from the oven. Yummy. The Rose clan's recipe holds up to the ages. I think I just need a little bit bigger dish to bake it in or else next time use two dishes. Happy Turkey day tomorrow to one and all.

Holiday crafting season

It's now officially the start of the holiday crafting season. I realize that I have been crafting all year long but that's just me (or a small minority of addicted crafters). Since I'm getting down to the wire on my socks for everyone project I cast on another men's sock. It's a twisted rib pattern found in the book "knitting (man)ual" and featured in the knitpicks new catalog. I really like the way the sock looked in the knitpicks catalog and went to my library and checked out the book. The sock in the book was poorly photographed and styled and I could see why I just went right by it. The catalog was clear and showed how nice the ribbing would look. It's an easy 9 stitch pattern repeat so the number of stitches around had to be adjusted a little.

This sock does have a problem though. I'm running out of yarn to finish the foot. A visit to the local yarn store is in the works to see if they have more of this. What's worse is I don't remember when or where I bought it. I think it was in the fall but I'm only guessing. If all else fails at the store I'll search on like and get the sock done by the holidays. I do have more backup yarn to knit with.

Another in the extremly limited series of stitched holiday cards. This one is very different for me and comes with a printed card to put over the stitching. Very nice.

A more modern interpretation of the holiday season. This one is a favorite, loved the modern vibe from the wondering reindeer.

Now a problem that has got to be fixed. This is a quilt on the frame that I started quilting over a year ago. I put it aside, wrapped in a sheet and forgot about it. The gang of cats got to it, pulled down the sheet and attacked the batting showing on the underside and made a big hole in it. It's only batting but before I can get back to the quilting the batting has to have some surgery. Luckily here is enough extra on the end so I'm hoping for the best. I'm going to to do a clean cut across above and below the damaged areas and then rejoin the two sections with whip stitching. The quilt top will get rebasted on the frame and then the quilting can begin. This time I'll make sure it's wrapped up securely each time I walk away from it. The gang of cats think that a quilt frame with quilt is the 'most excellent' place for a nap. I do love them and they are great craft companions. Now on to surgery and yeah, where is all the quilting thread and needles.

Crafting for the holidays

This doesn't look like much but there is still some stitching to do before it assembles into a pincushion, needlebook and scissor fob. It already has a matching case to slip into. Not sure who will get it but I want it finished and done. I'm liking getting to the assembly and finalizing.

Yesterday and today I had meetings to attend and used the time wisely by working on my second opal sock. It's done. Yeah!! Another guy sock pair finished. I didn't even waste any time but put another skein of brown regia yarn in the knitting bag, ready for the needles.

Snow cat 6

The snow cats are all finished being stitched. They got a press but their reward was to get carefully put away in a storage bag for finishing later. No rest for the weary crafter.

Snow Cats

I finished up two more snow cats this weekend, taking a break from knitting. These are working up really quickly. I found my wooden thread/scissor/needle holder and it's keeping me going on this project. I'm halfway finished with the final cat. They might get set aside as I need fabric to assemble them.

For a crafting break I went to see the new James Bond movie 'quantum of solace'. In prep for the movie I read the original story that bears the same name. It deals with men, revenge over the long haul so after the movie I think they picked a good name. Of course there aren't many Ian Fleming titles left to choose from. Chitty chitty bang bang could be a good shoot-um one but all viewers would think of it Dick Van Dyke singing 'toot-sweet'. It was a good addition to the James Bond lineup. Vintage echoes of Bond abound with visits to Haiti, loads of chase scenes, great villians, loads of killing but revenge in the end. If you've read Fleming you know that they just lift the titles and tack them on to the movie but in the end this one you could sense old Bond. Go, watch and just let the chases, girls and villians fall where they may.