7QT - September Yarn Along

Oh goodness. It has been a long time since I participated in Ginny's yarn along. I thought I would combine it with my 7 Quick Takes this month.

               

1

Rosary Bags

I am making a bunch of these little rosary bags. Some have decorations, some are plain. I am heading off to a conference the end of this month and I decided to try my hand at selling something. We shall see how this works out.

2

Rosary Roses

Again, these groups of roses are for little ones to count their prayers when praying the Rosary. I have made a couple sets in the past for friends and thought I would see if anyone else would like them.

3

Baby Blanket

Ah, I finished this a bit ago for the most adorable baby boy. For all the baby blankets I have made in the past, this is the first KNIT blanket. I like it! and I promise, 1- the color in the picture is very dull compared to the actual blanket and 2- I will get it to him - soon!

4

Another baby blanket

This is the beginning of my favorite baby blanket ever. I am really making it to have .... just in case.

5

Carry-all bag

I tried my hand at crocheting over cotton clothes-line. I like the feel of the bag. It has a nice sturdy feel to it. I think I will definitely make more.

6

Wool Hat

Despite the 90 degree heat lately, we are in New England - it will get cold. This will be needed.

7

Table cover

Honestly not sure if I will finish this or frog it. I like the design, I just don't like the size. I think I will sit some more on this.


And that's it. 7 projects.

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along and Kelly's 7 Quick Takes today!

Yarn-Along: March 2

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

The last yarn post was dated 2/3 (how cool that is the opposite of today's date - it's the little things, people, the little things!)

So - a four week update.....

I finished Isabel's patchwork dog.

I think she likes it!

I think it came out pretty cute.

I have been working on baby blankets.

Completed:
This one for our new Godson, Zachary:

This one for the new baby boy the wife of one of Frank's contractors is expecting this month:

In the works:

these two blankets for the older sister and brother of the new baby due mentioned above.

I am hoping to complete some WIP's once these blankets are finished

As far as reading: the pile is just to daunting to actually record: some of note: A collection of short stories to keep up Nathaniel for High School Am Lit, Introduction of the Devout Life (always), Lent Reflections by Bishop Robert Barron, A Wrinkle in Time, a children's biography on John Adams (for history with Julianne and Lucas), The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (audio in the car), Wildly Affordable Organic, Frugavore: How to Grow Organic, Buy Local and Waste Nothing, and East Well. A very eclectic mix to be sure.

head on over to Ginny's to see what everyone else is doing!

Yarn Along - 2/3

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

A 2 week update:

Crochet work: Finished the cowl for my daughter's friend, Mackenzie; just in time for her to get it the day she left to study in Portugal for the next 6 months. We will miss her a whole bunch!

Still working on the patchwork dog for Isabel and started on a blanket for an 8 year old boy who loves lime green! No knitting, yet.

Reading: Listening to Running Like a Girl when walking and reading For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards.I am enjoying both books.


Head on over to Ginny's to see what everyone else is reading and knitting (or crocheting)

1/20 Yarn-Along

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

Yippee! I have something to post for a Yarn Along with Ginny.

I did not do much last year.  A sore arm forced me to take a break from all yarn work. I am trying to catch up and get rid of some WIPs as well as work through the large amount of yarn stashed around the house.

Right now, I am working on making a patchwork dog pillow for Isabel. She saw the pattern at my mom's and wanted one. (can find the info here) To the left of all those squares is the beginning of a cowl (pattern here) I am doing for my daughter's friend before she leaves to study in Portugal for  the year. The colors are much prettier in person.

As for reading: The littles and I started reading A Wrinkle in Time last night. I am still working on readings for my Salesian Formation.

Head on over to Ginny's to see what others are doing.

Yarn Along 10/15

It has been a long time since my last yarn along. I have been busy with yarn, just not getting it on to the computer. I have been working on a sweater. I have been working on this sweater for about 6 months, so I think it was for the best that the very small changes week to week weren't documented. That would have been frustrating!

I am knitting a February Lady Sweater. I like it. However, I am not sure it will stay in one piece once I am finished. We shall see how it wears. The best part about this sweater is I have learned how to increase, decease, make decorative stitches and basic lace work as well as working with double pointed needles. All in all, with all the mistakes that jump out at me, I am rather pleased with what I have managed to learn without taking scissors to the whole thing.

Reading is, as usual, all over the place. We are listening to Around the World in 80 Days, I am listening, on walks, to Eat, Move, Sleep, There are books from the library about canning small amounts, diet cookbooks and lots of books on marine mammals and other sea creatures.

Joining with everyone over at Ginny's.

Yarn Along Jan 22

Joining Ginny today for the yarn along. I have started another afghan; but I am not sure I am going to keep working on it. It involves 9 skeins of yarn that are carried through the project. Tangled doesn't even begin to describe the mess in my bag right now. If I can figure out how to do this, I will get a picture for next week!

I did want to post a picture of the finished afghan for my mom that I had shown on the last yarn-along post. It is amazing how much crocheting and sewing you can done during football games!

laid out on my bed

close-up of the edging

Mom had mentioned she liked the random pattern better than the color-rainbow pattern. I am pretty pleased with the pattern.

Reading - no, not so much. Still reading Organized Simplicity. Not sure why, but eventually I will get back to reading multiples again.

Off to see what is going on at Ginny's!

Yarn Along - Dec 18th

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

Still working on the Christmas present for my nephew.... it is coming along, should get it done this weekend, if not before:

Here the animals are stacked. I got the tree finished and am working my way through the animals. The monkey is still waiting to be done.

I spread out the animals so you can see them a bit better. The giraffe, elephant, and lion are finished. The tiger needs its stripes.

As for reading - nope, not much at all, just Jesse Tree and Advent books to the children (when I remember.)

Off to take a quick peek at Ginny's.

Yarn Along: December 4

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

I have been working on a Christmas present for my 16 month old nephew.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Here is the beginning....

 

I have got the main part of the tree done as well as the bodies of (in order from bottom to top) the giraffe, elephant, lion, and tiger done. I have to get the right color for the last animal: a monkey. The tree, or base, is one piece with a removable top which will have all the palm leaves attached. Now to get all the heads, legs, arms, ears and many leaves done. Being stuck on the couch is good for something after all!

pardon the quality of the picture of my Kindle

I am just finishing Pope Awesome and Other Stories by Cari Donaldson and working on Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims by Rush Limbaugh. Oh, both are so good! 

Off to Ginny's to see what is up!

Yarn Along 11/20

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

my turn!

Nathaniel came to me the other day and asked for me to make him a hat. Not just any hat. Oh, no. Not for my boy.... it has to be a medieval helmet. Seems he saw a picture of a crocheted helmet on Facebook and figured I could make one for him. 

I found pictures, but no pattern. So - I made one.

I stopped on the way home from dropping the girls at Portuguese school to get some grey yarn. For some reason, I didn't have any grey. I sat down to some NCIS and Elementary and here is what he got to try on this morning:

He's holding the face piece as it still needs the buttons and all the ends tucked in. He also wants that thing on the top - I think it is supposed to be for protection - I have to figure out how to add that.  

I think the face is too big. 

He likes it. It is for him, so we shall leave it. 

Lucas wants one too. Maybe tonight!

Reading: I don't know. Lots of things I am sure, but nothing is jumping out of my brain to hit this page.

Off to Ginny's with Julianne to see what is going on there - and to enjoy more baby pictures of Baby Job. 

Julianne's Yarn Along

Julianne wanted her own Yarn Along post.  Here she is:

Its hard to knit but i'm getting the hang of it.And after a while my finger hurts! And i want to have it done by Christmas.And so far i think i'm gonna get it done before that, considering i'm this far already.

 I think that the Stink series is fun to read and i sometimes. (Only sometimes) learn stuff from the books.(especially Stink the solar system super hero) And i like how the author has a big imagination.

Great job, Julianne, thank you.

I'm going to link up to Ginny for Julianne!

Knitting 101

Julianne is teaching herself to knit.

She asked if I would take a picture of her work so far and post it here on the blog. OF COURSE!

I think she is doing quite well!

A very happy and proud-of-herself little big girl I have here!

My first Yarn Along for 2013

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

Better late than never, right? I figure if I wait until next Wednesday, I will get distracted again and miss it - so here we go!

getting back into the blogging saddle - again.

Ironically, my last yarn along post was posted October 24, 2012 - exactly one year ago today.
Does that mean I have not been doing anything? No, I just have not been taking pictures. Olivia mentioned that she misses seeing the cool pictures I used to post here. I have missed them as well. So I decided to take a couple of the new project.

Here is my new project:

Lots of pieces

about half together

An afghan made to look like the fan quilt. This was actually my very first afghan pattern I made that involved following directions and piecing parts together. I had made it for an extremely good friend and lugged lovingly brought it to her in the Azores for a wedding present. (and if you have some time, visit her, she has AMAZING recipes there!)

Each square will have a multi-colored fan appliqued to the top. The crochet is going quickly, the putting together a bit more slowly. This is for a friend who quilts and just had a kitchen makeover that spilled painting into the family room. Hopefully the colors will fit. If not, I am sure her boys won't mind when they are cold what color the afghan is!

I am still reading a lot about gardening and homesteading, as well as jumping into GK Chesterton.

Going to link over with Ginny!

Yarn Along

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

Still working on Nathaniel's sweater.

Last night I started and finished a baby hat for my nephew. My Sister-in-Law texted me yesterday morning and asked if I could make a red hat for my nephew's first Halloween costume. (we had discussed this last week, she just hadn't wanted to impose!)

He is going to be the 'Very Hungry Caterpillar'. So, of course, I said, "Yes! when do you want to get it?" Since they are coming down tonight for my mother-in-law's birthday celebration, she said "Tomorrow?"

Oh yeah - I love a challenge! I didn't even have a pattern.

Yep - I did it and it is too adorable; if I do say so myself.

Olivia and Catherine were in stitches when I was done. They thought it was cute.....

I couldn't resist going a bit past 'a red hat.' Really - just a hat? I don't think so. Auntie Karen just couldn't.


Reading: still reading about gardening and food storage and other fun homesteading stuff. Still absorbing St Francis de Sales' An Introduction to the Devout Life. (should I keep listing that - that seems to be a permanent read? Hmmm) On the Kindle is The Sinner's Guide by Venerable Louis of Granada. Good stuff.


Off to Ginny's to see what everyone else is doing. (and maybe I will get back here with a picture of the nephew in his hat - the adorable factor should increase exponentially.)

Yarn Along #48

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

Ah, a yarn along post - been a while. I have been very busy. Even too busy for yarning stuff - BUT! I did get the sweater finished:

TA-DAH!

My first button-down knitted sweater...

the pattern is in the Sally Melville book: The Kitting Experience; Book 1; The Knit Stitch

And my adorable nephew who will, hopefully, wear it - eventually.

(just because you have to include a cute baby picture if you have one!)

I also got a quick 'camo' sweater done for Lucas. It has a hood and pockets and he loves it.



someday I am going to get this off him and change those buttons to darker ones

pattern from CrochetWorld magazine: August 2012



Yeah, we are all abot the 'camo' here!

So, I am now woking on another quick crochet sweater for Nathaniel. He actually asked for his own! His will be black in the front and back with camo sleeves, hood, and pocket. We shall see how this one turnes out.

Reading consists of school books lately - lots of school books. A little bit of St Francis de Sales: heady stuff!

Hooking up with Ginny - go see what others are doing!

Yarn Along - #47

 

From Ginny

 ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

I am still working on the baby sweater for my future niece or nephew. I got the entire bottom and right front done. I am on the back panel now. I even did my very first button holes. Yep - I am proud of myself!

As for reading - I have a lot of books and not much being done with them. I did get the new Catherine Coulter book from the library which I started. Other than that I have been doing this:

This is the latest batch: The black plums

Canning.
Lots of plums.
I bought 4 boxes.
I thought I got 80 pounds at 50 cents per pound.
Seems I got 112 pounds at 36 cents per pound. A much better deal.

So far I have red plums: 15 quarts and 8 pints plum halves and 8 pints and 21 half-pints jelly;
Black plums: 7 quarts plum halves and 7 pints and 14 half pints jelly. I still have one more box to process.

Hopefully I will get the reading list straightened out and get back to a better reading list and schedule - soon.

Gotta get to Ginny's to see what everyone else is doing as well.....