Knitting and family pictures

This is our daughter, with her German Shepherd, Gabby. Grandbaby is 4 1/2 months along at this point and she is looking wonderful!
This is a picture of my most recent stash enhancements. All are intended for either daughter or grandbaby, at this point. I have some ideas, but am not certain, yet, what I'll do with them. I have more of each, so there's no problem with having enough.
This is the baby kimono (from Mason-Dixon). I just need to add the ribbons and it's done. I used Paton's Astra yarn and I'm not sure I'll use it again. It seems a bit bulkier than I wanted and a bit stiff. Hopefully when I wash it, it will soften up. I certainly hope so, since the booties and one of the hats I've knit are out of it, too.

Well, off to do taxes (ugh!) and then knit while watching the Las Vegas Nascar race this afternoon. ;-)

No pictures, once again

I have finished a diaper sweater in the green color of the booties and cap. Just need to put some ribbon ties on it. I've started a sweater in yellow and hopefully will be finished with the multicolored blanket soon. I'll take some pictures tomorrow, I hope. I've also received a couple of new yarns in the mail.

Yesterday my DH was at our daughter's helping her pick up baby furniture and bring it home. I got pictures of her at 4 1/2 months. I'll see her in about a month, so I'm really excited to see these pictures.

;-)

Baby Blanket and Booties

Yeah!!! I've finished a blanket and it looks really pretty and feels exceptionally soft! It is made out of Thread Art Soft and Thick Chenille in white. Perfect for a brand new grandchild!. I think I'll try to make a sweater and cap out of the same chenille. The green booties are out of Paton's Astra and were really simple, except for my binding off. I learned that I bind off too tightly and tried something new this time. I enlarged the bindoff needle two sizes and it helped a lot. I may just try that with casting on next time, too. In spite of knitting for almost 50 years, I learn new things all the time and it makes it even more fun because of that.

I went to Ben Franklin's 1/3 off sale today and bought several skeins of Paton's Grace to hopefully make a few baby washcloths. I'll post those as I do them. I got a couple of Sugar and Cream cotton balls and some other baby yarns, too. Fun, fun, fun!! ;-)

Baby Blanket

These are pictures of my Cottontots blanket, done in Koolade color. It is more than half way done and I can hardly wait. It seems to have taken a while to complete. Anyway, I just finished the knitting of the white chenille one last night and need to weave in the ends to have it complete. I'll try to take a picture today or tomorrow and post it. I might even start a sweater and cap out of the chenille, too. I'm not sure. I've knitted a pair of mint green Paton's Astra booties, too, so I do have a couple of pictures to take and post. By the time I finish with all of my ideas for knitting and then tackle my English smocking, this baby will be over dressed. But, gee, it is fun to do all of this!!! ;-)

Doldrums and a pretty sock

This is a pair of socks I've been working on for quite a while, or at least it seems like that. I can't seem to get them done, but I can't seem to get anything done, actually. Maybe I have too many projects on the needles right now, I'm not sure. I seem to be having doldrums and I don't know why. I've read a couple of other blogs that have them, too, so maybe it's just the time of year. I'm trying to finish two baby blankets that seem to have taken too long, so when they are done maybe things will clear up for me. I did knit a pair of mint green booties Monday night, but don't have a picture, yet. I'll try to take a picture this weekend and post soon. They were really simple and turned out cute, even if I do say so myself.

I've ordered some yarn from an Ebay purchase to make a sweater for my daughter for nursing when the baby comes. Hopefully she will like it anyway. It's a pattern from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms and I think it's pretty anyway. I want to knit the chenile baby sweater from that same book, too.
;-)

New knitting books

These are two new knitting books I've just purchased. I got them from KnitPicks with my Options needles and I've just ordered some yarn on Ebay, so eventually I'll get some more baby things knitted. The Natural Knits book has some great things, including two nursing mother sweaters. I think I'll knit one of them for my daughter. Her birthday is about 2 months after the baby is due, so it will be a good present for her for returning to work. I know I'll use both books for baby things sooner and even later on. I hope to knit sweaters and hats for quite a while. There just might be some more babies later on, too. Who knows?
;-)

February Dishcloth KAL's

These haven't been blocked, but I'm really pleased how they have come out. The pink one is the Feb 1st KAL and the blue is the most recent. I really enjoyed doing each of them and hope to be able to continue doing the KAL's as they are published. I have about 6 of these ready for gifting when I need them, so that is nice, too. Lots more cotton yarn is still in my stash, too.

New KnitPicks Options plus some

This is one of my newest purchases. I broke down and purchased these along with a couple of small circulars. I want to try circular socks with my next pair, maybe even toe-up. Who knows. The Options are really pretty. I already have a set of Denise needles and I broke a cord the other night, so I switched to a circular in these and they are really, really smooth. I'm impressed!

I have finished my mid-month Dishcloth KAL, but no picture, yet. Hopefully I'll get a picture of it and the one from the first of the month and post them soon.

;-)

Day 2, Dishcloth KAL

Although this is the picture of Day 2 of the current KAL, I'm actually on Day 4 toniht and it's really pretty. This is being knitted with Sugar 'n Cream in cornflower blue. I'm using size 6 Denise needles because my gauge is looser than most. I'm really enjoying this one.

I'm back!!

I have several things to report and these two bags are just a start on my newthings. The red bag holds a baby blanket that I'll show later this week, but the second, clear bag, holds a lot of new items. The bag came from KnitPicks, so that just gives you a hint about what came with it and what might be inside right now. I've progressed on many of my projects, fortunately, along with being really busy. I truly hope I've taken enough pictures to post frequently for a while. I'll try to post more regularly, now that we have MIL settled in the nursing home. I've been her daughter for almost 30 years and she means so much to me and her 3 sons. Hopefully things will level off for all of us now. We got a lot of work done this weekend clearing out her apartment, and even got to watch the Datona 500 today, so things are feeling much more normal. ;-)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, my friends. I hope it is a WONDERFUL DAY for all of you!

;-)

No pictures! I'm sorry!

I'm just glad to be posting! We've had my mother-in-law in the hospital in the past 10 days and then yesterday she was finally released to go to a nursing home. It has been a long haul and we are convinced she is in the right place, because she is truly safe now and will get proper care. She was living alone and full-time care just wasn't feasible.

I've managed to get both baby blankets to the half or better point. I've done the Feb. 1 KAL for a new dishcloth and it's really pretty. I have also finished my merino purple first sock and started the second one. (waiting in the hospital has it's good points when you have your knitting along!)

I'll try to get some pictures taken, but doubt it will be anytime soon. We still have to do a lot of work to clear out the apartment and sort through her things to determine what should be kept for rotation in her room.

Grandbaby number 1 is still safe and sound, but the pregnant mother is still having strong morning sickness at 15 weeks, so I doubt the sickness is going to stop for her, darn it. I just wish she could have a little while of really enjoying being pregnant!

;-)

If I can figure out how to upload the html for this site I will.
I'm excited about an order I made with Knitpicks last night. I ordered Options needles, the complete set, along with a couple of other small things. I'm looking forward to this! I already have a few Addi's and the Denise set, so this will make my needles complete!

My wallpaper

This is my wallpaper on my computer at work. It is Morro Rock in the bay at Morro Bay, California. I went to high school there and my mother still lives in our family home with a view of the Pacific Ocean from her living room, dining room and kitchen windows. It's a wonderful place to be!

This is my wallpaper at home. It is Vancouver Bay from the window of a harbor tour, taken in September 2006. My husband and I were celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary with a cruise/tour to Alaska and Vancouver. We went to Vancouver for our honeymoon 29 years ago, but didn't get this view. Isn't it beautiful. This wallpaper helps me remember the wonderful trip we've shared for over 29 years! ;-)

Snuggle kitty

For lack of anything else, here's a picture of OK, our snuggle kitty. He likes this extra bed because it gets the afternoon sun. My baby blanket is growing and we've been away to visit our pregnant daughter and her husband. I gave them the two baby caps and they loved them. I'll have to wait to give her more things.

The first baby blanket

This is the first baby blanket I'm making. White, of course, and a lovely simple chenille. It is soooo soft, I can hardly believe it. I'll try to remember to post a picture when it is finished. I'm enjoying it, anyway! I've been told we will not be told what sex the baby is, so I'm sticking mostly to white and some green and yellow. Pretty things, anyway, and soft, too.
;-)

Completed shawl

This is my finished merino shawl. It's really plain stocking knit stitch with a seeded edge all the way around. I need to block it, still, but I'm looking forward to our eventual winter weather (hope, hope!!) so I can wear it and feel all cuddly and warm from it. The picture is pretty true to the burgundy color, too! I finally remembered to turn the flash off to capture the color better.

I'm having fun ordering and dreaming about knitting for the new grandbaby. I'm ordering new sock yarns, too, and dishcloth cottons. I'll be busy, but that's how I'd rather be most of the time. I'm hoping my pregnant daughter will let me sew a few maternity clothes for her, too. She isn't a sewer. Mostly does cross stitch and does a nice job, but she really does appreciate my sewing and smocking and knitting. I'm happy to have someone special to do these crafts.
;-)

The first baby cap!

This is the first cap I've knitted for "the baby." It's obviously very simple. Only took me part of the evening Sunday. I used Paton's Astra yarn on size 5 needles. It's heavier than I anticipated, so I'm trying a white cap out of something a bit thinner. We'll see. I think the baby is going to get lots of caps and blankets, so far. I've started a white blanket. I'll post a picture of that next time.
;-)

Nothing to show today!

I've been busy this past week. Taking down Christmas decorations, getting back to work with a vengeance, picking up the house, getting "baby" things down from the attic (not yet gone through, unfortunately), and trying to help my husband have a happy birthday, yesterday.

I have gotten to a small yarn department and purchased a couple of baby yarns to start some presents with. Yes, presents for my daughter and her husband. They "say" they will not tell us the sex of the baby, so I'm going with the safe yellow, green and white for now. Hopefully she'll tell me when she finds out and I can make blue or hot pink things for the baby. She doesn't like pale pink at all! I think I might just go to lavender, because she loves any shade of purple, too.

I've started to reorganized my yarn stash and have even purchased a really cute hot pink nubby yarn with hopes of using it eventually for a baby. If not this one, then one in the future. Finding baby things I've stashed around the house is fun, too! A friend reminded me I will need some things here for the baby to visit, so I won't give it all away.

I'll try to post with pictures next time. I'm almost finished with my burgundy merino shawl, I've got a pair of really pretty purple socks on the needles now, and I've started a white chenille baby blanket. I'll probably have more on the needles soon! ;-)