Happy New Year - 2016

This month marks the 9th year of Knitatation...where has the time gone?
Nine years ago tomorrow, January 4th, I was laid off from my job of
25 years. I was devastated....so I started the  blog as a way to pass time and
have something to do that I felt was productive.  Luckily, I found another job
within a a few months...and thanks to Ruth and Martha for contributing
every week. It would be quite dull with just my knitting.

 Note:  If you don't have a google account, you will need to get one to
read this blog and other blogs. Note from Google:

 We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

This is the Christmas knitting for the year, minus the mittens and one
pair of socks. From left to right they went to:
Mom, Vicky, Joey, Joe, Mark, Joe and the scarf to Tiffany.

 

The boys all loved their socks.
Mark's size 13 fit !!

 Joey loved his and said they were really "bad"....

Tiffany loved her scarf and cried. She said it was her
most favorite present after her ring (more on that later).
she was crying with happiness....

Based on pattern Blue Bell Hill Scarf.
It is a garter then stockinette chevron stitch.
Plymouth Select Worsted superwash yarn.
I started with some acrylic first and it just didn't work!

I added a stripe section.
Kitchnered together...
It was fun, quick and nice...

(Mark's niece Aubrey in the pic)

Ruth and I participated in the Just for you Two 7-day
before Christmas knit-a-long...now named Bittersweet.
I used Encore bulky for mine.

It's kinda weird, but warm.

I don't have a picture of Ruth's.

On Christmas Eve, I finished up my Alice's Capelet.
Actually wore it that night.

 Cascade Eco yarn.  I altered the pattern a bit. Added button bands
as I went.  Added 6 stitches to each side.
Used Elizabeth Zimmerman buttonhole.

I had to reblock because it was way to lose at the neck. Much better now.

It's really warm and just plain nice....I'm glad I made it.

On New Years day finished up the first Christmas sock for 2016.

Plain vanilla sock. The light color is really more lime
green.  Have a small start on the 2nd.
Trekking XXL yarn.

Started Lilli Pilli this week.
Making is more scarf like. Cast on 75 stitches.
Using Madelinetosh Light yarn.

Also adding a yarn over at each end to try and keep it a
little more lose.

It is boring right now...LOL

Tiffany finished up her blanket for Chase.

It is very soft and cuddly...WIN !

Ruth is done with her sweater,except for the buttons.
Pattern: Amy Herzog's Burnish 
using Oak Meadow Alpacas cormo/alpaca blend yarn.

It is sooo very nice. The details are amazing. Ruth figured out
how to do short rows at the top of sleeve and work down so she
didn't have to sew them in.   She has become a really great sweater
knitter.

Now she's working on some dishcloths in the lull.
Apple Leaf Cloth by Petronella

This is a classic corner to corner pattern. Both are Lilly Cotton.

 Martha is coming along nicely on her sweater.  She had a lot of it
done and decided it needed to be bigger so had to rip the whole
thing and start over.
Pattern:  Jackaroo by Amy Herzog

 She just finished up the back. Knitting with two balls of
yarn switching every couple of rows to avoid pooling.

In other news:
Joe's family got together before Christmas for the first time
in many years.  Here are some pictures. I did not really
get many.

Sister Donna (caterer) and boyfriend Ed

Sister Jeanine and daughter Jenna

 Selina, boyfriend John, Angel's husband Brandon, and Meghan's son Isaac

 Don and girlfriend Krista

 Angel and Jenna

 Jeremy, Jenna, Jeremy's wife Jessica and baby Sophia

 Jeanine and Jeremy's daughter Destiny

 Melinda and Mandy

 Donna, Joe, Mindy and Jeanine

 Christmas Eve table

 few healthy snacks for Christmas Eve

 love the candles

 and the tree

 Tiffany and Mark got engaged on Christmas Eve.
Very magical !

 Joe's sister brought a cake for  Tiffany and Mark on
New Years day...to try out the cake lady.

 Mark's mom came. She is really nice.

Wedding is October 8, 2016. A lot to do in 10 months, but why wait?
I won't bore you with tons of wedding details...too much!

Looking forward to lots of blog updates and knitting adventures
this year.