It was a Mostly Blue Year

Hi Dear Blog Readers.

The day after is such a let down huh? I love the Christmas season leading up the "the day".  We had a nice holiday. Lots of family time which we love.

 I finished up Joey's bottle sweater (coozie)   Leftover Plymouth Select DK yarn.  Size 3 needles.

It actually took longer than you would think....maybe 6 hours?  He loved it.

The Afternoon Knows sweater for Mason.  It took me a LONG time to figure the collar out. I finally just did it step by step and it worked.  Phew!

Sirdar Haworth Tweed     Size 6 needles

Would I make this again?  Maybe.  When I got to the collar I was thinking never again.  Tiffany loved it..so...maybe. Now that I know what's gong on with it...maybe....I decided to do a matching button. I will update with a picture of Mason wearing when he does. 

This is my 2021 Gift knitting. It was a mostly blue year!   I did a lot more knitting than this, but here are the gifts:

Socks for mom, dad, Vicky, Joel, Casey and Mark. Slippers for Tiffany. Hat for Tiffany and Joe.  Beer sweater for Joey.  Sweater for Mason.

It was fun to see them open it.  Tiffany's 2nd slipper is started.  The pony tail hat needs to be redone. Made bigger.  I knew that was a  possibility.

I worked on the fun colored sock Christmas Eve and Day. 

Brainless.

Ruth is working on a very regal looking beret!

 Alice Starmore Witch Hare Beret. Her Hebridean yarn. it is a kit.  I can't wait to see it done.

Martha fixed this sweater that she made this fall.

The tails are now correct on the front and back sides! Then she put a charm on the back so she would know the back!

This is her Miss Babs sock yarn sock. Too big for her so she will give to her son.

Speaking of her son Tom, here are the sweaters Martha made for her son and his girlfriend.

Look at the great fit!

In other news...

I did not get many pictures on  Christmas...too busy.  I was living in the moment I guess.

I did get a couple:

Tiffany, Mark and Mason

Joey, Casey and Benny

When Mason was born, Joe said he was going to call him something that no one else would think of, so when Mason heard that name and his voice, he would always know it was Joe talking.  Joe came up with "Herby Derby".  Mason is starting to say it...in baby  talk obviously.

Santa thought it was so cute he brought them matching Herby Derby hats.

Have a great week dear blog readers..stay safe and be kind. I hope there is a lot of knitting in your future!

Five More Days

 Hi Dear Blog Readers,

Five more knitting days until Christmas.  I may have to wrap things with needles on.

Tiffany requested a pony hat, yarn to match Mason's hat. Of course I had to order more yarn.

 Valley Yarn Haydenville, DK --worsted.  Navy Color.

Size 7 Needles.   My own pattern.

I cast on 108 stitches for 4" of ribbing.  I didn't want the ribbing to stretch....Decreased down to 100 stitches.  Put a big 8 stitch cable on the front, same as I did for Mason.  Knit 5"   Used https://www.ravelry.com/people/Knitatation/new_library#   for decreases.  Just have to weave in ends. It's very comfy. I'm not going to block it.

Finished up the knitting on Mason's  The Afternoon Knows. I think the shawl collar is a big pain. I have done them before and they were easy peasy. Lots of yarn.    See the big thing on the top?  Somehow that attaches to the neck.

these two neck pieces have to be seamed together

Then this attaches somehow.  Im having lunch with Ruth on Tuesday and warned her I may need help.  LOL

Ruth has been working on her 2nd sock this week. I love the colors !

Martha finished up  Tom's beautiful Deschutes sweater.   She  mailed this one and the one she made for his girlfriend so they should get them by Christmas. When you think of when she started, this is pretty quick knitting for two sweaters!

She is almost to the toe on her Miss Babs yarn sock.  Pretty colors.

In other news:

Joe and the kids got together with his nephew yesterday. I could not go - not feeling that great.

Chenzo is 2 months older than Mason and 2x as big.  I love this picture.  I guess it was hard to get the two of them to sit still

Santa was a bust

This is at Uncle Joey and Aunt Casey's.  He was pooped

Mason's shirt says Ring Security.  He was asked to be the ring bearer at their wedding.

Have a great holiday week dear blog readers. Next time we catch up, it will be after Christmas.

Not Much Time Left

 Hi Dear Blog Readers,

I am knitting  away trying to get  my Christmas knitting done.   I am hoping my family appreciates this.

These are Mason's mittens. Pattern is my own.  After I finished the tan color, I tried on him and they were not long enough.  I picked up stitches long the bottom and added the blue yarn, same as his hat.  The hat gets a lot of  use...yea !

The pick up made a nice place to fold the ribbing.

When Mason came Friday, I measured the icord to attach the mittens so they do not get lost.

He is pretty excited that they are done.

And kept them on for over a minute.  Now do I think he will wear these mittens...no.  But I'm hoping he will keep them on to and from the car; especially on cold day. 

I finished up the first Elve Slipper.

Size 3 needle.  Plymouth Select DK Superwash yarn.

The yarn is REALLY splitty which made for some challenging moments.  I will cast on the 2nd one today sometime.  The pattern itself is not really clear in a couple of places, and I had to rely on the Ravelry notes of others to get it done.

Mason's sweater is moving along again. I had to wait for him to come over so I could try it on him.

I sent this picture to Ruth and we decided the sleeve needed to be larger.

So this morning, I ripped it out.

And I'm a couple of inches along.

Once I get the sleeves done, I need to figure out that darn neck.

I still have 2nd slipper, hat and a bottle coozie to make.  I think I will be sitting up knitting and not going to bed so early for the next week.  Wish me luck.

 Ruth is working away on her sock.  I think the colors are sooo cool!

In her words:

Sock pattern is Showoff Stranded Socks. I don’t follow the directions for the sock construction. It’s a little weird. I knit the pattern which is easy. Rows 1 and 3 are knit. Row 2 is YO, K2, pass YO over  the 2 knit stitches, K2. Row 4 is K2, YO, K2, pass YO 2 knit stitches. Easy! 

 

 

Martha is moving right along on her son's sweater.  It's going to be sooo nice.

This is the backaand front together.

Here are the sleeves.  She has 14" done and 3" more to go.

Fun socks from Miss Babs yarn. She put lifeline in for afterthought heel.

It's feeling pretty festive around here.  Ruth got her tree up too!

Have a great week dear blog readers...Stay safe and be kind ...

Knit Faster

 Knit faster....that's what I keep thinking.  But my current project is a slow go.....

I am making a pair of Elve slippers.  The chart is tiny and 30 stitch rows. I put a piece of paper every 4 stitches, knit, move paper, knit....long process.  I am now on the part where out of 6 rows, two are weird, but 4 of them are just easy.  I hope to sit and kit for a couple of hours tonight.  Fingers crossed.

Plymouth yarn select DK yarn

Size 3 needles.  I have a LOT to go to get done for Christmas.  

It was tricky picking up these stitches on the front. The part that is done looks like a toe, but it's the heel. 

This is the bottom.

I feel like I did more, but can't remember.

Ruth is working on this FUN sock.  I'm sure there is a pattern, but I don't know it.  Stay tuned for more info next week.  Love the colors !!

Martha is working on her son's Deschutes sweater.  This is the back, all blocked.

Here is the front....up to the armpit decreases.  Looks great!!!

This is a sock she is working on . Miss Babs sparkly yarn..so nice.

In other news:  

Joe and I got our real tree yesterday.  This is a picture of the tree farm we go to to cut our own. This is a fraction of the trees they have. We like a small one.

 

 

Extra special news:

Joey and Casey are engaged!  So exciting for all of us.