More Therapy was Needed...

Another pair of Brushed Suri Mitts quickly made and blocked.

These are so light and extravagantly soft that I have several requests from family now for Christmas gifts. That list I made last week for Knitting TO DO's for gifts will have to be updated!

One Twin's Tootsies done, with a million mistakes. Hospital knitting without a computer or a pattern. Distracted? Alittle bit...but I just kept on knittin'...and got one sock finished. This is made in color Calypso, Spud & Chloë Fine, my favorite sock yarn. One Twin is going to love them--crooked gusset and all!
Day 2--found my book and started a toe up sock. This is out of Wendy D. Johnson's book Socks From the Toe Up. I picked the Diamond Gansey pattern, which I love, for Twin Two. But this sock is going to be too big. I had my size 2's with me and I think it's going to have to be frogged and done on 0's or 1's. Also notice the 2 big holes on the increase side of the toe. Can't stand those. So a froggin' I will go...
Couldn't resist casting on for another sock though...knitting ADD showing? Could be...but I sure was having fun. Here is a cuff down with some Online Sock yarn in Sienna. These will go to someone in the family I know that LOVES red. She bought me the yarn--so no color stressing or wondering if she's going to like them or not. I'm just knitting them up! Easy stockinette knitting with the self striping colors, but I'm adding a purled "seam" on each side of the sock for a little detailing.

And, for that INSOMNIA that seems to infiltrate me on "Mom duty" during the wee hours of the AM...alittle lace knitting. I got another section done and I loved this one. The picture isn't real clear, but the little peaks on this one really was fun. There's another Calendar Scarf knit along to start real soon rumor has it...for the 2010 Calendar Scarf and I am trying to hold myself back not to join in. I need another side project right?! If it goes in January maybe I will jump in with both needles. I am already stashing some wonderful yarn to use. Luxury yarn, and I've worked hard for it...of course, it sure would help to finish the 2009 Scarf first, wouldn't it?

Therapy knitting.

Yes, it works. Highly recommend it.

Yarn Dolls

The Twins have been busy!

This will enhance some Christmas gifts this season. Find this easy fun kid-sized project here: on Spud Says.

Making a list...

and checking it twice!

Is it crazy to think of all those knitting requests from friends and family, only 2 weeks before Thanksgiving? And seriously think that I'll be able to get it all done? I did make a list. My eyes bugged out just a bit.

So far I have:

• 3 prs of mittens, 1 bulky pair, 1 worsted weight, 1 fine (Latvian variety)

• 4 prs of hand warmers/fingerless mitts, sport weight and fingering weight

• 1 hat, Fair Isle of course!

• 4 prs of socks, 1 plain knit w/self striping, 2 texture, 1 Fair Isle

• 4 mini mitt ornaments, stash yarn busting

• 1 lacy scarf, lace weight cashmere

• 2 Itty Bitty Toys for kids
  

Am I panicked yet? Not really. I am really looking forward to the holidays, I love to give hand knit gifts for Christmas. If I complete this list, someone commit me to the white walled padded room because only an insane person would get this done in time for Dec. 25th, even if I started today.

I wanted to share a pic of this stamp that a friend sent me. It's from Latvia and Vidzeme is the area my great grandmother was born in. The more checkerboard white and green mitten in the background is exactly the style my great gram knit. I love the folk costumes! How awesome it is to have this family heritage. There are more of these stamps, and I would love to get the entire series. I'm not sure how to find them, but browsing eBay was suggested to me. I hope they don't cost a million dollars! I don't stamp collect really, so I have no idea.

A knitting gene?

Could be.

Knitting Therapy week-end recap #4

Thursday night brought some lace knitting and finishing the next 2 sections of my Insomnia Scarf. Thursday night was a rough night, as it had been just a short while since I had last seen my mom and was not prepared for how far downhill she has gone in that short time. It's been 4 weeks since finding out her cancer has spread to everywhere in her body, and 4 weeks has many changes physically. Only 2 treatments of chemo, when over the years she has had so many, but these 2 treatments have been the worst yet. She is trying to buy some time.
These yarn overs stand for focus on something other than the "beast" raging inside of her. And the helplessness I feel inside.



This turkey brought so many smiles to my family and to the nurses at the hospital! This knit along is done now, but I have to "catch up" and get his feathers done and attached. I didn't have Internet access at my mom's house, so I could only do up to what was current when I left. I have many other turkey "parts" in various stages, as these guys will show up at my LYS soon! Turkeys, now how can you not smile looking at a turkey? Definitely therapy knitting done here.

Top section of mitten as of now:

My mitten. Or, should I say, Velta's mitten. This was therapy for my 86 year old grandma. See, this is her pattern. She can't see anymore. Once upon a time, 68 or so years ago, a textile student in Riga wrote a mitten pattern for a final in her school. She didn't think it was "good enough" and didn't wind up knitting the pattern. She then tucked away in a school book. 68 years later, she finds the book, and the pattern and hands it over to her knitting granddaughter. She now has the pleasure of knitting this mitten up, and sometimes filling in a few blanks on the chart with her almost blind grandma, who cries every time she sees the mitten. This is therapy for her too. She remembers the Old Country, the occupation, the burning down of her yet-to-be-opened weaving shop, the flee, the capture. The concentration camp. She remembers the fear of day to day living and not knowing if she'd make it out outlive. She gave up her dream of weaving, of textiles, when she and my grandpa came to the States. A dream un-lived, is a dream unfulfilled. She has given me her dream now, she says. It will live in me. I'm not sure about the weaving part...but I do know the knitting part is alive and well in me. We are creating these mittens together, and that I cherish so much! Here is the next section, again, 3 color carry on 3 rows.

Mom wound up in the ER on Sunday. I started a sock for one of the girls for Christmas out of Spud & Chloë Fine.


And a test knit for BSA that I can let you peek at...these are made out of the wonderfully soft Brushed Suri. This is a different yarn to knit up--very fuzzy and soft, but softer than cashmere. These mitts are extremely easy, so many of these could wind up as Christmas gifts for your loved ones that enjoy luxury items.

Whew! Lots of knitting. I also did lots of cleaning, lots of cooking, lots of "nurse tending" to my mom. Talking with her was so precious. We laughed, we cried and we did alot of reminiscing. I was awake every 2 hrs with her during the night, so this gave me all that "extra" mom time.

Give your mom a call today. Write her if you can. Hug her if you are given the privilege. Our moms are forever connected to us, no matter how far away. They do so much for us, not only as children but as adults. I am so blessed to have a mom. She will always be a part of who I am. Let your mom know that too, if you can.

You will make her day, I promise.

A sneek peek...

This cuff almost kicked my knitting needles to the curb. Yes, 3 colors in one row. FOR LOTS OF ROWS. Tension issues?! WHO ME?

Ayup.

I think I got somewhat better after the 3rd time frogging.

Call me stubborn, call me crazy.

All for the love of a Latvian mitten.

I am now full of projects other than just THIS mitten and shall be off to mom's again this week end.

May YOUR week end be full of knitting and fun.

Till next week...

Happy knits!

Another Knitting Therapy Week end Recap

A week end that was full of unexpected surprises.

My mother had an unexpected admittance in the hospital for some complications. I wasn't able to be with her this week end so I did some knitting. ALOT of knitting. It was indeed therapy. I have some mittens for my LYS as samples. The OUTSIDER mittens knit up quickly in Outer and are a new free pattern from Spud Says and Susan B Anderson. I also finished the Java Cloche hat that is a the new free pattern on the Blue Sky Alpacas website. This hat knit up very quickly and was a great knit for watching Jane Eyre on Netflix.

I have jumped in with all 4 needles with a little knit along on Spud Says.

This is a mystery knit along (just a little one) that Susan is having for the month of November. It's a Thanksgiving themed little toy and my girls are suspect that it will be a turkey. My son thinks it's going to be a monkey (?) and I am saying I have no idea. It's just the thrill of each step of the way and the "it's going to kill me" of what's up for us next, you know me and PATIENCE...go here to participate for step 1 and step 2 looks to be up already this AM on Spud Says! Link on over and check it out.

Stay tuned for more FO's...I'm in for more knitting this week end.

It's Friday?!

Where did the week go? It was here a Tuesday ago...

On my needles for more therapy this week end is the Java Cloche by Grace Akhram. The latest free pattern offered by Blue Sky Alpacas. 1 skein of sport weight or melange for the MC and little bits for the contrast color. This will go for my mom as chemo is starting to show its ugly head. She deserves some pampering and some luxury. Alpaca is about as soft as you can get!

I am finishing up a sample knit for my LYS of a free pattern as well...Susan B Anderson Outsider Mittens in Outer. I'll post those pics soon. I have another pair of test mitts on the horizon and not only am I super excited about them--(want a pair for myself) you all will LOVE them too...! Serious mitt love.

Have an itch to finish that Calendar Scarf from last year as I have completed a few more sections on it this month. I have about 6 to go and its done! I just need QUIET mommy's counting time...that's tricky around here. I hope to wear this over the holidays.

Then there's those SHHHH secret Latvians that are formulating in my knitting basket. I have the first cuff finished. I have to graph out the body of the mitten and figure out the thumbs yet. It's my toughest mitten design so far. I have another mitten simmering on the back burner, all graphed and waiting for my size 0's to free themselves. Oh, and more TIME?!

I also have a sock request from 2 other family members and I am anxious to start on some Christmas knitting. Yes, the list grows longer around here. But the knitting is such a welcomed distraction right now, how can this knitter say no?!

How's your FO's going?

Twisted In Stitches has...

caught THE COLD!

One of the results of Therapy Knitting Weekend #2.

This kitty is going to be a Christmas gift. I used buttons for the eyes because the intended recipient has a country style home and this will be a decoration. NO buttons for babies. That's a NO NO. Buttons for decorations...okay. The pattern was okay--but kitty sure has a floppy neck. I think the head is so heavy it makes it worse. I would reinforce this somehow if I ever made this again. The ribbed scarf helps alittle.

I also worked on my Insomnia lace scarf and got 2 more sections finished. I did a silly thing though. I did it while watching Jane Eyre. I know, I know...lace and movies? But I didn't drop too many yarn overs. It was slow, but it looks pretty good. I also decided Addi Lace Turbos are pretty nifty. I want to try some Signature dpns next.

I also got some test knitting done.

Now, will someone please pass the Kleenex?!

Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2009

Have you received your issue yet?

Holidays will be here before you know it...panic has not set in yet at my house...although my gift list for homemade stuff is getting pretty long. Reality will set in on Dec. 20th or thereabouts.

Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts is now available. Go check it out.

Funny, I've found 2 fab ideas for myself...

Some great Fair Isle mittens that have a double liner inside...can you say toasty?! I'd love these in black and white--navy and cream, even red and white.
I really could use a warm pair for myself as I seem to give all my Fair Isle mittens away.

And a sweater! A sweater!
Somebody slap me...
I only make LITTLE things...right?!
This Ripple Cardigan would look great in BSA Brushed Suri. I'm thinking Earl Grey.

I would wear this! Really!

Okay, the reason I got this issue was for gift ideas, right?

You can leave me in my little ME KNIT world for a bit longer, kay?!

Swap package surprise!

I love swaps! I love spoiling more than getting spoiled...but its also so fun to receive a package in the mail that you have NO idea what it contains. I've always loved that thrilling surprise...that it's just waiting for you to open its goodness.

Last week I received my box from the BSA Swap on Ravelry. Seepattiknit spoiled me so extremely well! She's a great stalker!

I received some yummy BSA cotton--(my very own, for me, yes me!--sorry girls!) and my first ever skein of Malabrigo in Vermilion. I see a scarf for my mother-in-law in the deep red! Also, sheepy tape measure, yummy dark chocolate coffee beans, paper brains calendar (how did she know?!) scrap booking ribbons, buttons, teas, t-pins, tissues that say "Bless You" on the package, a dream big deco, a FAITH pin, a super cute felted zip bag and a knitting magazine.

I can vouch for the coffee bean candies...those were down right nummy as I sipped some tea and browsed through the magazine planning some more knitting projects.

Thanks Patti! You made my week!