Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Sit and Knit:January

Hello All,
January Sit and Knit is almost here. It's this Saturday, January 31st at 4pm. Pre-knitters please come at 4pm with size 10 needles and a bulkier yarn. Or, whatever supplies you have around the house. We'll make it work. The Sit and Knit goes from 4-10pm. We might hang out longer if we nightowls are up for it.

We are meeting at my house this time. Please rsvp and I will send you directions.
knitshanknit@comcast.net

Bring: food to share (would you like to bring a main dish so we can eat something substantial and not just chocolate?)
Needles, yarn, projects. Size 10 needles and bulky yarn for beginners.
A big pillow or folding chair. I think there will be quite a few of us this time. We'll be happy together.

***Charity Knitting Opps*** I will be discussing some altruistic (thanks Gretchen for the adjective) knitting opportunities for us to ponder. If you can't wait till Saturday, please email me and I'll send you the three opportunities I have.

Sit and Knit is a time to do exactly that. We are all so busy in our day to day lives. Let's make time, yes make time, to sit, talk, and work on something with our hands. Proverbs 31 in the bible talks about a virtuous woman who was very crafty indeed. She worked with fiber and fabric, a resourceful and steady woman. If you are a hand crafter like me it's fun to read the industrious woman's description. Check it out.

I look forward to sharing stitches with you. Being in the present and just hanging out.

...shan...

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Meet Wasabi...

Here's my sweet son and his knitted friend...
This is the infamous Wasabi. He is a knit monkey. Sort of like a sock monkey, but not made of socks. He is handknit in alpaca wool. His face plate and tail have some lambs wool in them. Sage, his happy new owner is tickled to have his monkey finally, it took me two years I think to finish him. Not because I worked on him continuously, but because I finished him once, did not like how he turned out. I completely unstuffed him, due to the white poly fiber peeking through. I redesigned his head, because I HATED the way the first head turned out. Too cartoon like. So here he is, in his glory.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Sheesh...

GAUGE GAUGE GAUGE.....I knit this hat for Ezra, didn't *know* that cables would pull differently, so I knit my gauge straight up stocking-knit stitch. I learned an important lesson about cables. I snapped this pic of Ezra with his hershey kiss cabled hat to engrave in my mind that I need to work my swatch in the stitch pattern I am working, not just the particular yarn and needles. Makes for a cute picture though, eh?

Things are a little hectic here at the Stainer Casa. I did manage to get some photos organized to post on my blog this evening. I guess when I get busy blogging falls off my plate. I set my mind to posting this fine January evening, even if January is almost gone..........

Our homeschool is in full swing and the holidays were blessed. We were snowed in a lot and took an extra long winter break. We even had almost two weeks with Daddy home for the holidays and due to the inclement weather. I am hoping for more snow so that I can do the mother of all snow angels. I did not seize the day and do this. I will go and plop myself down in the snow, that is if we get more. We had about 2 feet of snow at Christmas time.

So, what have I been knitting during December and January? Let me tell you about it with pictures.......Wasabi's head. I had determined to finish him by Christmas. I did not finish him by Christmas, but he is finished! Wasabi is the monkey I started knitting for my oldest son a couple of years ago.
Crazy cable knitting. Easier than it looks...you just have to follow the directions and learn a few maneuvers. I completed a swatch of this cable. I did have to take 10 rows out and start again. I will post of picture of the completed project.
My lovely son Eli and his knitting project. He was so cute knitting this day......


Amigurumi. My new love. My nephew Israel holding his little penguin I crochet for him. Try out some of the amigurumi patterns on ravelry.com
A knit ball, fun times , easy, breezy...........I felted it and put a bell inside. Stuffing it with wool fleece. I gave it to my niece Bella, the beautiful.