Year of Socks!

I think this is going to be my year of socks (or at least the first of many). Warning** - Picture heavy post coming up! :-)

My new favorite sock yarn. Regia Silk! (I've got some solid black also, but that didn't photo well.) The blue I just used to finish a pair, and the tan and grey will be next.
Partially done. I love how it was so easy to get the two to match!


Voila! Done, and so comfortable as all handmade socks are. They knit up so fast, and easily. The yarn is extra soft with the silk added (yet still washable)(very important, as you know!) yet light and airy and sproingy (is that a word?) :-)

Kitty loves it when I get down on the floor with him. Here is part of him - checkin' out the new socks! See how well they match! I love it!


This is actually going to be my very next sock project - a special pair for a special person (man) ;-> My LYS just got this yarn in - Mountain Colors, lovely luxurious merino and mohair blends. And the handpainted colors practically slap you in the face as you pick up the yarn to fondle it! It looks like it should stripe pretty nicely, too, we'll see.

As the title implies - I have several socks in the planning stage, some for me, some for others. Both my parents love the socks they got for borthdays, so I figure I can't go wrong with more socks. My brother, A., certainly could use some more socks, and of course my other brother D. and his wife are probably feeling a little left out! Sorry guys! So - for the New Year 2007 - I am going to make a lot of socks!!!

Now for some kitty eye-candy:
Lexy is certainly a girl! She'd rather be curled up in my comfortable chair, than sprawled on the floor with Kitty.
This is unusual for Kitty to sit this still for a picture. I whip out the camera and he tries to chase the wrist holder that dangles down.
Here is both of them this morning - must have played themselves out as usually when they are this close together, Lexy is teasing Kitty, and Kitty is getting in trouble for being too rough and making Lexy growl, cry, whatever. It's an un-ending circle. Poor Kitty. I try to give him extra attention after that.

So, have a Happy (and safe) New Year! Make 2007 a memorable year. I know I will!

Post-Christmas Pictures

Finally - Christmas is over! Whew! Well, it wasn't that bad. I did get most of what I wanted to finish done. And everyone liked their gifts. So I am content. Now for some pictures:
This is my parents Christmas tree (and yes, that is a gun hanging on the wall above it.) Explanation later on.
This is the alpaca I've been working on. The first picture is the 3-ply yarn (left over skein from project) and the second is the shawl I made with it for my mom! She really liked it, and it came out so nice and light and airy. I actually still have another 3 oz to spin up, so I will have enough yarn for something else to match the shawl. Anniversary, birthday...hmmm! :-)

By the way - the printer box underneath the skein is my Christmas present from Mom and Dad. Thanks again, so much!
In other spinning news - I ordered a sampler pack of 4 different colors of shetland from Hello Yarn. I actually ordered 2 packs, for a total of 2 lbs, and am going to order a 3rd as I want to do a 3-ply. I started with the gray, and I apologize for the fuzziness of the picture. I think I was too close with the camera. Anyway, this shetland is so easy to spin, I love it! And the gray isn't the same homogenous color throughout. Oh no, my friend, it has strands of white all the way through to black, for a great tweedy look. And it is spinning so fine and evenly, thus the 3-ply. I am going for at least a DK-weight yarn.

My plan is simple. A sweater using all 4 colors (cream, lt brown, dk brown, and grey) with a fairly simple fair isle pattern through out. (Haven't picked out the pattern yet, but I can envision it!)

Now for the gun. Yes, my parents do live in Hickville, USA, but they're not your average redneck. Not by a long shot. My dad doesn't hunt, and their front yard is not a dump-all/used car lot. (Well, it used to be when my brothers lived there.) :-0 (J/K) The rifle is actually an antique - a Civil War rifle including the bayonette. It was given to my grandfather when he was fairly young and passed down to my father. My parents know the actual story with more details, but it is a pretty neat piece. Definitely a conversation starter.

Hope every one had a safe and fun Christmas, and have a Happy New Year!

So true

I saw this on another blog in the Christian Knitters Ring, and it just spoke to me immensely, it is so true:

"Maker of the sun, He is made under the sun. In the Father He remains, from His mother He goes forth. Creator of heaven and earth, He was born on earth under heaven. Unspeakably wise, He is wisely speechless. Filling the world, He lies in a manger. Ruler of the stars, He nurses at His mother's bosom. He is both great in the nature of God, and small in the form of a servant."Augustine (354-430)

Sometimes we just need a reminder that even though He (and the Trinity) is omnipotent and Lord of all, He did become human just for us. This is the season to remember even though He was born a human babe, it was to fulfill a higher purpose, which we celebrate at Easter, but need to remember all year round.

Some Knitting Content

Well, I've been really sick this week - knocked flat on my back with a killer sinus and bronchial infection. It was just yesterday evening and this morning that I've actually felt anywhere near normal again.

So - that means that Christmas knitting was postponed. I'm really sorry, immediate family. :-/ Mom, yours will be done, but Bro - your vest will be gifted to you on your birthday (really sorry), and Dad, your's is mostly done, so it will get wrapped, but I will have to finish it after and get it back to you!

But...It's the thought that counts, right? Merry Christmas, one and all!!!

First Snow

Well, when I woke up this morning - this is what I saw when I looked out my window:

The very first snow of the season! A little unseasonably late, but just in time for a white Christmas. There is something so magical about snow, and not jsut snow, but the first snow of the season! It keeps drawing me to the window to look out, so white and pure and peaceful. Do you ever notice just how quite it is during and after a snow?

These next pictures are of the finished stocking I was making for a little cousin. (A year later than my aunt wanted it) but finished.

If you live in Reno (or anywhere that has snow) please, please drive safe! :-)

Oh, the things I do...

So, last night I gave presents to all the people who meet on Thursday night for our small group Bible study! Oh, the joy - I could barely contain myself! :-) I so love the looks on friends and families faces as they open handmade gifts, the curiousity, then the slight puzzlement as they look into the book or bag, then...oh, then - the look of wonder and amazement as they pull it out into the light of day! Then comes the fingering of the fabric and the trying on! :-) Merry Christmas to all my good friends - Leah, Kelly, Amber and Jason, Joe and Ellie, Dave, Parker, and Cameron.

I still have one more gift to give at church - to Jay and Danielle. I'll get them on Sunday!

Last night was wodnerful in more ways than one. Instead of looking at James 3, quite a few of us opened up and shared, including me. We all learned a little more about each other, which is the point and goal of this small group. I feel so close to this small group of people, they have all become really good friends, and sometimes it is painful to hear what they've gone though, but it is so good to tell someone(s) you are close to. There are definitely some ongoing prayer requests that we were made aware of last night, and the need for constant encouragment and uplifting. I can only pray that I can be there for them as they are for me.

Thank you, guys (and gals)! =)

A day like any other...

This is the white shawl I made for my friend M. An angora and merino blend, it was so easy to work with, and bloomed wo nicely. I must send a word of thanks to my friend Alison - she gave me 2 full cones of it for really cheap! Thanks, Alison! :-)

It is the most depressing day today, here in Reno! All clouds and no rain (or snow - but it is really way too warm for snow). At 55 degrees F this morning at 8am - it is very unseasonably warm. That's fine, I like warmer, but I also like snow, and we haven't had any! Hmm. It is definitely a day to stay home and knit. Unfortunately, I am here at work with very little to do.
(Note - If you want to buy a car - come to Nissan of Reno!) =) It has been very slow the last couple of months.

Well, I will leave you now to go lift my flagging spirits with a cruise around the internet/knitting blogs sites! ;-P

Cheers!

Mmm...Lace!

So I have a new favorite pattern/coffeetable/history book.


This book has the most beautiful lace patterns. My other favorite, "A Gathering of Lace" is also nice, but doesn't provide the rich historical detail that this brand new publication does. It centers specifically on the Victorian period (thus the title :-P), in which some of the first knitting pattern books were published by women. And some basic and beautiful lace patterns were finally written down in usable form. Up until then, most patterns were handed down through oral tradition, and some had been lost in translation, so to speak.

All of the patterns put forth in this book are very romantic, ranging from very easy to definitely challenging. :-) I can't wait!

In other news (but still fiber related) I made a cute little shawl out of the alpaca I spun up. No pics yet as it is still unblocked (and a present for someone.) I'm also almost finished with the last MasonDixon washcloth for a set for my boss, Janet. I am making them out of Tahki Cotton Classic in two shades of pink. (Yep, she likes pink just as much as I do!) A couple of nice soaps will be included.

So, as far as Christmas knitting goes, that leaves:

1 afghan
1 vest

left to finish! Phew! Almost there. Despite my busy schedule I feel I have managed to accomplish quite a lot in the last few weeks.

Well, my brother has had a crush on one of my good friends, L., for a while now. I am very proud to announce that they went on date #1 on Saturday night. :-) That's right, folks, he actually asked her out. Of course, when I found out exactly how he got her number, I was a little miffed (he stole it from me!) but since both parties were pleased by the outcome of said date, I got over it.

However, my other friend, M., has liked my brother (A.) for a while, but has fortunately been content with being his friend. It is quite an interesting triangle going on, with me as a 4th dimension observer. I am resolved to not interfere, only to pray diligently, that all parties concerned will follow and be obedient to the will of the Lord. It will be hard, I know, as I love both my sisters in Christ and my brother.

Speaking of brother, he is having his 2nd annual Chirstmas party at his place this coming Saturday - which means he will have to clean his house!!! Dum-dum-dummmm! (Ominously.) It'll be fun - I am to bring a couple of baked good items, so that will be the order of the evening tonight. I also need to make something for Thursday evening, as well as wrap up the presents for my Thursday night bible study group. Ohh, I can't wait to see the faces as they open their gifts. ;->

I gave my friend M. her present last Saturday, and it was so fun to see her face as she opened it. I will have a pic of the angora shawl I made her up sometime in the next couple of days. It was so soft and snuggly!

Hope everyone has a great week!

I am a...

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

It's coming, it's coming...

Closer and closer it comes, like a wolf stalking its prey. No, no, that's not the right image. It's a happy thing, Christmas is! :-) Like a bee circling the flower, or...oh, I can't think of anything right now. But it's almost here.

Fortunately, I am close to finishing all my presents. I can't wait to give them out. Oh, the looks on their faces as they open the bag. Heehee!

I had a stressful moment late last week when I realized that the back of the vest I am making for my brother was starting to do the bias-knit-scarf thing, rather than being a true rectangle! I was ready to start the armhole decreases when I finally noticed. I know what happened and it's my own fault for not following the pattern correctly. (Bad Hannah!) So I frogged it, and started over, this time paying better attention to the instructions. It looks so much better (who knew) and it knits up quickly. I am using Rowan Wool Cotton in the dark grey, in the 1920's style vest found in Jean Moss's Structured Knits. My brother actually picked it and the yarn out by himself. 8-)

A while ago I finished a pair of socks for my father, knit out of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, color Black Watch. I gifted them to him last weekend in honor of his birthday (which is actually Thursday 12-7). He loved them, and wore them all weekend. Shown here modeled on the wearer:

As for other news, I am organizing this months Ladies Night Out for our young adult groiup at church. It's this Friday and I can't wait. I think this will be the most people I've ever had over (barring the time Andrew had 30 people over to our house for last years Super Bowl). Upwards of 18 ladies could be there. (Talk about standing room only!) It's all good though. I've had help from Leah organizing the craft, and everyone is bringing something for the potluck taco's! It will be a lot of fun - great time to fellowship, eat, and learn more about each other.

Cheers and happy knitting (if you do!) ;-)