tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372802697938244202024-03-05T07:27:35.503-04:00Stitchery and SuchKnitting one stitch at a time . . .Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.comBlogger537125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-34123132735557043462017-04-09T15:36:00.001-03:002017-04-09T15:36:17.105-03:00Life from Death<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So much has happened that I'm not sure where to begin . . . . . . .</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCsmVNF1vcvFfLgynySasz1wYDNt5Qr_Cq3s5dnJ3udM6Ajp_LQRhJjurK2UQcA95iiJkpp-8Zk0sIHmm8nPmr_-V9KwZR4-HWPKTgSDLg1_sa0EOETTZt0ZEeYa1aV6hJtwU8iCi0Ow/s1600/20170314_101246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCsmVNF1vcvFfLgynySasz1wYDNt5Qr_Cq3s5dnJ3udM6Ajp_LQRhJjurK2UQcA95iiJkpp-8Zk0sIHmm8nPmr_-V9KwZR4-HWPKTgSDLg1_sa0EOETTZt0ZEeYa1aV6hJtwU8iCi0Ow/s320/20170314_101246.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When he was a cool dude . . .</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Initially I was busy with school and also with preparing a challenge for, not one or two, but seven course! Lots of work! I finished the course and am waiting to find out about the course challenges. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SEAuB2CrWSiN9zymkPqlF1yVTWmW4kdtHexwdqoWP47Y2QU-BuICEwzQdJgerMy2YotbIpf_x_wHF03fuqQgmw1BR8HxjQ_X0A1qFAPRtCMpK5k1uiBDN2MvLXHQ4keKZEA3SdIVQEM/s1600/20170314_102313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SEAuB2CrWSiN9zymkPqlF1yVTWmW4kdtHexwdqoWP47Y2QU-BuICEwzQdJgerMy2YotbIpf_x_wHF03fuqQgmw1BR8HxjQ_X0A1qFAPRtCMpK5k1uiBDN2MvLXHQ4keKZEA3SdIVQEM/s320/20170314_102313.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nonno loved spending time with all his grandchildren</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meanwhile my dad who had been ill for some time finally gave up the ghost to cancer. He was almost 77. It's been a process and a journey and I am so grateful for the opportunity to get home with my family and spend time with them. And that we had a chance to share our grief and say goodbye. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhBU9DbMl_pJHXIbjzTtMTORQIa6PTMyweBqA3SJZV_7A-b8D7s1Zdbhuk9kEFAAmlLYNjl8f_X_q2en3gSvabeKfV_91Aa7q-gx3I0yu3EK2stHxla9Cn3iGI5L5ScqfzN9qmOMLRLI/s1600/20170314_101217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhBU9DbMl_pJHXIbjzTtMTORQIa6PTMyweBqA3SJZV_7A-b8D7s1Zdbhuk9kEFAAmlLYNjl8f_X_q2en3gSvabeKfV_91Aa7q-gx3I0yu3EK2stHxla9Cn3iGI5L5ScqfzN9qmOMLRLI/s320/20170314_101217.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mum & dad at happier times</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'll just leave you with some memories: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">How do you sum up the life of a man whom we loved with all our hearts and souls? How can you reduce a lifetime to a few short paragraphs?</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">My father would have found the words! He was a man who loved to talk & share stories. Making friends came easily to him & he developed friendships with many people, feeling comfortable around anyone and everyone.</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">What do I remember about our father? </span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I remember being three & feeling so shy and overwhelmed. I buried my head in his lap. I felt safe. Protected. No harm would come to me. He would be there to care for us. Always</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I remember the silly little things. The horsey-back rides & the tickle fights where we laughed so hard, we felt as if our sides would explode.</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I remember his veggie garden! Even now, I can see him standing in the middle of his magnificent "gardino", surveying its progress & watering the "tinnirumi" and the "pomodori". And always he had plenty to share. With everyone.</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I remember the long talks--and sometimes heated arguments--at the supper table after everyone finished eating. We felt as if we had managed to solve the world's problems . . . </span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I remember dad surprising me by picking me up from kindergarten. Instead of going home, we ended up at the "billardo" where he treated me to pop & chips. </span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">And I remember all the long "passeggiare" along St Clair Ave where we'd look at shop windows. Eventually we'd stop at the bakery or one of cafes and get a "gelato".</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I remember him taking aside my then fiance to give him "the talk" before the wedding--just so he knew "what was what". And I remember him telling me that he just couldn't do the father-daughter dance 'cuz it would've been too hard. He wouldn't have the strength to get through it without falling apart.</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">These little moment make my soul happy. They bring us peace and comfort. So while our hearts swell with sadness, reminiscing about our shared joys & little moments of happiness fill us with hope.</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Farewell :( </span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></b></span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-15773293168837520742016-12-25T13:27:00.000-04:002016-12-25T13:27:13.766-04:00Merry, Merry<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCwJTWr-Ahml5vbfe5TeuP1XRajbLymDlgvIL8OwMpUqAFzCWBmWM587O1-Gpw-i5atax3N9kcyLMzZYtNyFmFFW7ZbwdKmhAa_DcmixgCnJsSBYePWt9TzLxrIblthYBaihPlIukCnM/s1600/20161224_180516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCwJTWr-Ahml5vbfe5TeuP1XRajbLymDlgvIL8OwMpUqAFzCWBmWM587O1-Gpw-i5atax3N9kcyLMzZYtNyFmFFW7ZbwdKmhAa_DcmixgCnJsSBYePWt9TzLxrIblthYBaihPlIukCnM/s320/20161224_180516.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just popping in to wish everyone a very merry, merry Christmas! And here's hoping the day brings joy and happiness shared with friends and family. :)</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-413182032762040052016-12-11T16:51:00.002-04:002016-12-11T16:51:27.283-04:00Just in Time . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BmnWaMt1c9u3Aom3ytX63I3Pr9B7ExO3026HfLzExHW_lIvAM6XwrD9RkMv5r4C167vyAYo1IougImUAycVV_eZPCMYK8WxJbAGB_THraP138d9jeOLfFxVg5VAn858L51xIX2WV7XI/s1600/20161210_134307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BmnWaMt1c9u3Aom3ytX63I3Pr9B7ExO3026HfLzExHW_lIvAM6XwrD9RkMv5r4C167vyAYo1IougImUAycVV_eZPCMYK8WxJbAGB_THraP138d9jeOLfFxVg5VAn858L51xIX2WV7XI/s320/20161210_134307.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ends and bits trimmed off the hats</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear friend, I have not crafted in a long, long time. Hard to blog when there's no crafting to report. Yeah, school got in the way (and work, and family life . . . well you get the point, right?). Thankfully I have finished all my courses for the semester. So I <b><i>finally</i></b> have some free time. And what did I do with this mythical free time? I was industrious! LOL! I managed to finish the first of my Christmas gifts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Check out my nephew's hats:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyATkL5RKYtVqtPqE-lqrw3-COKAPbNpWppeyKRHmB2Q0jA45mbdK4DLh_03anXGJmQPZeBg6_dlcVVw1uwfD9QYPnYJsVsUkZduXwEqH-FAw7bNW6m2syH9zI7ti-bwAAe1CMnppS4A/s1600/20161211_114015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyATkL5RKYtVqtPqE-lqrw3-COKAPbNpWppeyKRHmB2Q0jA45mbdK4DLh_03anXGJmQPZeBg6_dlcVVw1uwfD9QYPnYJsVsUkZduXwEqH-FAw7bNW6m2syH9zI7ti-bwAAe1CMnppS4A/s320/20161211_114015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Angry Bird Hats</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I really like how everything came together. If you will remember from previous <a href="https://stitcheryandsuch.blogspot.ca/2016/07/about-boys-hats.html" target="_blank">posts </a>the hats initially didn't look like much without the face details. Don't the finished hats look great, though? Just love them (If you're interested in the mods, check out my Ravelry notes for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/DinaPurls/red-bird-with-an-attitude-6" target="_blank">Angry Bird #2</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I really like my niece's hat. I decided against threading any ribbon through the eyelets 'cuz I was worried it might interfere with the fabric's stretchiness. Besides, the pom pom adds a nice "pop" of colour (Too bad the yarn sheds a little).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmF74dkIVWNF3orK60RrrQAa3cRfgQ1IoeOBEAipirlgBmpABLCdTt33ON9BV07OCds8jKLGwdIsU35VxNVpvFQpWYlXsSc2uFX7t-Mlp1ALYC86VIeVvtWu55FDbW_JxXWHJfZ4gx44/s1600/20161210_133140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmF74dkIVWNF3orK60RrrQAa3cRfgQ1IoeOBEAipirlgBmpABLCdTt33ON9BV07OCds8jKLGwdIsU35VxNVpvFQpWYlXsSc2uFX7t-Mlp1ALYC86VIeVvtWu55FDbW_JxXWHJfZ4gx44/s320/20161210_133140.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finished Zeebad Hat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was nervous about making a pom pom 'cuz it's been a long time since I made one--and honestly I was never really good at it. But I found this great tutorial on You-Tube from Repeat Crafter Me (I follow her Facebook page).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EyfaOdTeCCM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EyfaOdTeCCM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It really works!! And yes, I did the thing using only my fingers! Check out the finished pom pom before it was sewn to the top of the hat:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzN3HWlxDdb0zmHk0SKuy0Pugt7ygwIqCKZmSbRbVz8P86n0D3nY8gZZicYYr1ig3WogJHEUtrQddTOzGeQaHTJp7zpgfYC1hhnO6KkrKHUjGSVARBmA25-GCBsk6x5c0rOBMQP3-ZPs/s1600/20161210_131847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzN3HWlxDdb0zmHk0SKuy0Pugt7ygwIqCKZmSbRbVz8P86n0D3nY8gZZicYYr1ig3WogJHEUtrQddTOzGeQaHTJp7zpgfYC1hhnO6KkrKHUjGSVARBmA25-GCBsk6x5c0rOBMQP3-ZPs/s320/20161210_131847.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pom pom detail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I'm off to wrap these hats so they can get mailed to my niece and nephews--just in time for Christmas!! :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-45476829773466623502016-10-22T16:39:00.002-03:002016-10-22T16:39:18.731-03:00Yay!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even though I haven't been good about posting regularly, I am trying ever so hard to craft on a regular basis. It can be hard during the week 'cuz I've got lots of readings and assignments to work on (seriously, I have something due every week).</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69dGAlCwsV8-z0uK6aXroyfra2p5SnXy68GQGPNFLY2Y-V34ch7Pwyx9oO7Hmrcpn9GhKfLHWVcaC-WxkoarMwC4D80OiDY4Pmi_syTNgaXSq6e6u-eJMpkjUg_2B_xrZ_PzLYeuP1Xw/s1600/Family+and+Christmas+Knits+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69dGAlCwsV8-z0uK6aXroyfra2p5SnXy68GQGPNFLY2Y-V34ch7Pwyx9oO7Hmrcpn9GhKfLHWVcaC-WxkoarMwC4D80OiDY4Pmi_syTNgaXSq6e6u-eJMpkjUg_2B_xrZ_PzLYeuP1Xw/s320/Family+and+Christmas+Knits+016.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stack of Christmas hats</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy to say that all my Christmas hats are finally done (six in all)! They're not completely finished, but all the knitting is done. And that's something for me who has been lacking in the mojo and/or the time department. I just need a weekend to finish everything, as in weave in ends and make pompoms and such (Hoping to work on the ones that need to be mailed away first). <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgP95I0H3BMDsqPIvJcNR3t_4bptJhysmzIX_7udyEz4dMFuFaR13j9vFr7lBJaLg8xnSmRGpUBhA4qx0RW5rd-z1fPJrkmoVAaDKiHRaPYfo_-A7o2_xwauhyphenhyphenSgyVT3PdFvn-UjRtBYQ/s1600/Family+and+Christmas+Knits+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgP95I0H3BMDsqPIvJcNR3t_4bptJhysmzIX_7udyEz4dMFuFaR13j9vFr7lBJaLg8xnSmRGpUBhA4qx0RW5rd-z1fPJrkmoVAaDKiHRaPYfo_-A7o2_xwauhyphenhyphenSgyVT3PdFvn-UjRtBYQ/s320/Family+and+Christmas+Knits+013.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Angry Bird Hat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I managed to finish the last Angry Bird hat. Even though it is the black Angry Bird, I decided to finish it in the same way as the red ones. I'll just adjust the colours of the facial features so that the features will be visible against the black. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYOf5CV1eVMGdWzoeC5S4t5hHASC2nrWLwN9zvYVIhr-r3kD2ZV6KLfJitDs5JD6AOONkJUnpgOHzwC9_TekVHMJcES5vJTqCpKt0DcGQanK8UrayNhQxJoTJq3xhw9ZQbkl_i9dgKfo/s1600/Family+and+Christmas+Knits+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYOf5CV1eVMGdWzoeC5S4t5hHASC2nrWLwN9zvYVIhr-r3kD2ZV6KLfJitDs5JD6AOONkJUnpgOHzwC9_TekVHMJcES5vJTqCpKt0DcGQanK8UrayNhQxJoTJq3xhw9ZQbkl_i9dgKfo/s320/Family+and+Christmas+Knits+018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New amigurumi, but who could it be?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I've started something new and interesting. Can you guess what it might be? I'll give you a hint. It's amigurumi and it's something for which I have no pattern. Yeah, that's right: I gotta wing it. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcttPEAZjt4_1BiNqwC6m7gZPjZlzoitC7toisbPfrW8LgnKQmre6LmQIHAAVlhjsBB7o0FtbSV_hbUgyDFuFtPHNagHrm2EjPpbpiasQlQ4Bz2yB2lyqLzsM2NiFI2wExjFrHXbFhKAI/s1600/Family+and+Christmas+Knits+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcttPEAZjt4_1BiNqwC6m7gZPjZlzoitC7toisbPfrW8LgnKQmre6LmQIHAAVlhjsBB7o0FtbSV_hbUgyDFuFtPHNagHrm2EjPpbpiasQlQ4Bz2yB2lyqLzsM2NiFI2wExjFrHXbFhKAI/s320/Family+and+Christmas+Knits+023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'll give you another hint: I'm using a pattern for John Lennon and converting it into something else--or someone else. Stayed tuned . . . . ;)</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-12695993726448251562016-10-10T10:34:00.001-03:002016-10-10T10:34:35.618-03:00Happy Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEGgem8uYO1TW-bvwJRRkYv_yMQmt8OvDi6nxvJy79H6dhFmlnTP-RPwgTKoQNfN1qWsgDKvFltXOf2EeXUVriV0uXRLvpbwGd3lIyyVPgyAucLQ-qHGt282GHopGazaN2Hy5AcP0KRM/s1600/scarecrowmorguefile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEGgem8uYO1TW-bvwJRRkYv_yMQmt8OvDi6nxvJy79H6dhFmlnTP-RPwgTKoQNfN1qWsgDKvFltXOf2EeXUVriV0uXRLvpbwGd3lIyyVPgyAucLQ-qHGt282GHopGazaN2Hy5AcP0KRM/s320/scarecrowmorguefile.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scarecrow courtesy of morguefile.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though it's dark, dreary and pouring rain, I feel incredibly thankful. So hug your babies and enjoy time with your family and friends this fine Thanksgiving morn. :)</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-13043502413445503072016-09-25T17:36:00.004-03:002016-09-25T17:36:44.639-03:00Some Problems<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIhZVKePoyWvHkmeFsmsGtc37Cn0-sED5kxNOuy1xEiTlNSi_byWaFfiOL8iX_pvrHM8U18e6jNWQdpQBMmZYwYpZXLLT2nhjcO5MtkhuH4xtJJCAomh0843NcEHHaTspTkXigvp8ZTU/s1600/School+and+Knitting+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIhZVKePoyWvHkmeFsmsGtc37Cn0-sED5kxNOuy1xEiTlNSi_byWaFfiOL8iX_pvrHM8U18e6jNWQdpQBMmZYwYpZXLLT2nhjcO5MtkhuH4xtJJCAomh0843NcEHHaTspTkXigvp8ZTU/s320/School+and+Knitting+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last Angry Bird hat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is knitting--not that there's much to share (Actually, I'm farther along than picutred above--almost ready to start decreases with an inch to go). At least I'm on my last Christmas gift. I decided to work a black Angry Bird rather than a yellow one. It'll be interesting to modify the facial features. Hope this fits my oldest nephew. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiUHzerIdthLRgsuWzFUmI84Bg1hXRgo3jaGlPLmwYre_keinpbXrsbzYxX5zs7n-tv_yg_5FPfaeGlI1_tWRuJBfIeVr3ENKbEx_v2j152V9YpDvpuz5ZXeHtIOK9Jgzq0TbsPUK7t0/s1600/School+and+Knitting+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiUHzerIdthLRgsuWzFUmI84Bg1hXRgo3jaGlPLmwYre_keinpbXrsbzYxX5zs7n-tv_yg_5FPfaeGlI1_tWRuJBfIeVr3ENKbEx_v2j152V9YpDvpuz5ZXeHtIOK9Jgzq0TbsPUK7t0/s320/School+and+Knitting+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School books with binder</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyways I'm currently facing a couple of problems with regard to lack of time for knitting. The first problem is school--specifically homework. There's lots of reading, especially since I'm enrolled in 2 courses. Free time is limited. After supper and the dishes, I'm doing homework. When I'm done with that, I have little brain power or energy to knit. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhderRcGs1HSX4NGK0Kl5h1_de38D1EvvMtvmsGjSnz0W2QJVtJ7SM4LMMqjID-aS0pIS9faw3v6ExoiAv-mQcjZzH9yq9Rb2UTTxn6Z9lgOZwNsgKF4R-rg4ku_f7IpC_mnntAN02KwWY/s1600/School+and+Knitting+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhderRcGs1HSX4NGK0Kl5h1_de38D1EvvMtvmsGjSnz0W2QJVtJ7SM4LMMqjID-aS0pIS9faw3v6ExoiAv-mQcjZzH9yq9Rb2UTTxn6Z9lgOZwNsgKF4R-rg4ku_f7IpC_mnntAN02KwWY/s320/School+and+Knitting+010.JPG" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smartphone with Candy Crush Soda app</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My other problem is my new phone. My previous phone was a small flip one. Very old school in size and function: small and no real internet access. Now I have a smartphone--with apps! Oh the apps! Specifically Candy Crush Soda. That is my downfall. At naptime, I used knit and now I "crush candy". See the problem? Welcome to my world.</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-67506026387152456292016-09-05T13:38:00.000-03:002016-09-05T13:38:46.363-03:00Good Ol' Stash!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nothing like rummaging through one's stash to get the mojo flowin'! </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkZfIOglMv5mOWqUOFy1noekXPrV7nrjDsbdW6kjOfubezIaQEEUF1v1rXVaLgHgZnpZBA5lX_ExKNShFZL07MuC16yPnf6T2pz6bdayNvIQzu1zd56UHnMANU8DujcbYjnOpIE1gkg8/s1600/20160903_101046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkZfIOglMv5mOWqUOFy1noekXPrV7nrjDsbdW6kjOfubezIaQEEUF1v1rXVaLgHgZnpZBA5lX_ExKNShFZL07MuC16yPnf6T2pz6bdayNvIQzu1zd56UHnMANU8DujcbYjnOpIE1gkg8/s320/20160903_101046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Leftover bits of yarn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over the long weekend, I decided to clean out my two yarn baskets--full of used patterns, misplaced (or "lost") needles, leftover yarn and almost finished items. Do you have one too? A bin, basket or other suitable receptacle where all the leftovers or WIPs collect?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18DSFr_JogJpPHBVnjgNQM6cuxhR42R2DVRJgm3RMunbXiscO-tGy1huJ-nu2-AhmGM5D6E89IMxllezXxeipHLYucm0JihJP2I-N2OXChzEsXPz9XKWdcEdPitSvdBK3wljpoK8JWsM/s1600/20160903_101107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18DSFr_JogJpPHBVnjgNQM6cuxhR42R2DVRJgm3RMunbXiscO-tGy1huJ-nu2-AhmGM5D6E89IMxllezXxeipHLYucm0JihJP2I-N2OXChzEsXPz9XKWdcEdPitSvdBK3wljpoK8JWsM/s320/20160903_101107.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yarn, socks and lacy scarf</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In re-organizing all those bits and pieces, I had to rummage through my stash containers. Lo and behold, there was my mojo! Hidden away in a plastic drawer filled with special yarns in pretty colours. Funny how one's stash can inspire . . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocJXaTjXdygW9U24bkbCyjoLHcH2o2QKmk6wAJ06nNBokvgFQWCnlTbCNnjNkPa15a96hTIhUVMp-ZSqYvhHnd3yrHZVorGyMSz7UA-HIoxWp6gka7cswtyLBdSt6UPabPhKnUjrxhKg/s1600/Rogue+Tomato+%2526+Knitting+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocJXaTjXdygW9U24bkbCyjoLHcH2o2QKmk6wAJ06nNBokvgFQWCnlTbCNnjNkPa15a96hTIhUVMp-ZSqYvhHnd3yrHZVorGyMSz7UA-HIoxWp6gka7cswtyLBdSt6UPabPhKnUjrxhKg/s320/Rogue+Tomato+%2526+Knitting+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there . . . </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I finally got back to ripping out and finishing one of those Angry Bird hats. Some of those itty-bitty face parts got made too. Excited to sew all those bits in place 'cuz then I'll be almost done (although I have to confess that I'm eyeing a special project for a family member, but it will require some "designing". . . ).</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGk8zq4FJC2KTXVSRz5TluqsHoClG9ZS3Fr5c3h5esRIsm5ilCPYATrRXRdyFY7rBpBuMvOcX5ieJ2WR0NwnDE9kcZUGjK_vf5oQVAMs6urd2PbWyEwAZ6D6kjppx0Wm8nuxkv5TXTZRk/s1600/Tomatoes+and+Knitting+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGk8zq4FJC2KTXVSRz5TluqsHoClG9ZS3Fr5c3h5esRIsm5ilCPYATrRXRdyFY7rBpBuMvOcX5ieJ2WR0NwnDE9kcZUGjK_vf5oQVAMs6urd2PbWyEwAZ6D6kjppx0Wm8nuxkv5TXTZRk/s320/Tomatoes+and+Knitting+012.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yarn for last Angry Bird hat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy to report there's just one more hat to make! This last Angry Bird will have to be a different colour. There's not much red left. So one of my nephews will get either a yellow or black Angry Bird--not sure which colour to use yet. I promise to keep you posted. :)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-44589766448231796332016-08-21T20:26:00.003-03:002016-08-21T20:26:43.964-03:00Almost Over . . . . <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eK2auW2W1wxnTYi9FlJDJ413_fpbIOYyXS7DYVmOh-kiz5G0S8KlbwMerWa2bLbr8Z_8cmrumxmdRgvzbFniXUP5Zuho70e1yPRz0oqP697Z5HKUULQ12i4HW6tQWFCYvEcvA8IFxOQ/s1600/Tomatoes+and+Knitting+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eK2auW2W1wxnTYi9FlJDJ413_fpbIOYyXS7DYVmOh-kiz5G0S8KlbwMerWa2bLbr8Z_8cmrumxmdRgvzbFniXUP5Zuho70e1yPRz0oqP697Z5HKUULQ12i4HW6tQWFCYvEcvA8IFxOQ/s320/Tomatoes+and+Knitting+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pretty cone flowers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The days are getting shorter and the nights a little cooler . . . In a few weeks, the fall fair comes to town and then school will start up. Summer will officially be over. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGScREIsAYrJTnM5XRkTAM6csVqet3DhFYEL2YUiPV92EoJivppiaBZ7Im1ux1qRb8Y5Fhv9txV6wgneNboNHM8DDP3XSOB43SpcuRQOg3WAzvoTogk8JOJ702foo43ppKe9K6OIrtK0/s1600/Tomatoes+and+Knitting+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGScREIsAYrJTnM5XRkTAM6csVqet3DhFYEL2YUiPV92EoJivppiaBZ7Im1ux1qRb8Y5Fhv9txV6wgneNboNHM8DDP3XSOB43SpcuRQOg3WAzvoTogk8JOJ702foo43ppKe9K6OIrtK0/s320/Tomatoes+and+Knitting+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tomatoes are getting big</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meanwhile I've been busy doing nothing. That's right. Nothing. No crochet. No knitting (hence no blogging). Actually, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">there has been
some knitting, but I've been distracted by family events, outings to the
big city, games and technology. Truthfully my knittin' mojo had been waning
and now it's MIA! I'm gonna have to find it if I want to finish
those Christmas hats.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1JW5BzXjIpvZ4XNOzJ2zpc0bm72woNgC_VB99NY2c9rWkmzwiZw6BeJ8Yxrhe3PWibCfTP5X0qWhAtboNCZQHPDXBBnvYJEOSy59ZZ7gGznqAhAcMQwzEHgYJ9PFDa1MZmNIrJCAjUE/s1600/Tomatoes+and+Knitting+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1JW5BzXjIpvZ4XNOzJ2zpc0bm72woNgC_VB99NY2c9rWkmzwiZw6BeJ8Yxrhe3PWibCfTP5X0qWhAtboNCZQHPDXBBnvYJEOSy59ZZ7gGznqAhAcMQwzEHgYJ9PFDa1MZmNIrJCAjUE/s320/Tomatoes+and+Knitting+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The beans that survived . . . </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhATH1xH8zNBUIzl7Js2N9QFU8Xqutaslgbi62iuZIzF2J0lNVQo-JSqSm6OPpaAH0fhCHC8B_y9jfCmSK6ZoMj_TN5XBFvQelSZ9X2-1s1ogOH1zV_z2w_tUCNg1Y6Xrv2WsQHa5Yeh4/s1600/Garden+in+July+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhATH1xH8zNBUIzl7Js2N9QFU8Xqutaslgbi62iuZIzF2J0lNVQo-JSqSm6OPpaAH0fhCHC8B_y9jfCmSK6ZoMj_TN5XBFvQelSZ9X2-1s1ogOH1zV_z2w_tUCNg1Y6Xrv2WsQHa5Yeh4/s320/Garden+in+July+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging basket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meanwhile I've been
putterin' 'round in the garden: watering my flowers and veggies, pulling
weeds and trimming over-grown bushes and trees. </span>There's something very primal 'bout planting seeds and watching them grow . . . </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tomorrow I step back into the mundane ordinary life, and I'll have to re-focus my energies and prioritize my time. I'll keep you posted. ;)</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-86253591184470842012016-08-01T21:18:00.003-03:002016-08-01T21:18:38.569-03:00While on Vacation . . . <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vacations are for sleeping in, relaxing and taking it slow. And knitting. On the downside, sometimes blogs fall by the wayside . . . <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9DYTZXXIXEvnw2nRFAlDv070ry9LOnztC-qXqasVwMBGqpMwb0F-rOuRnjBXgeysXkfOAlNsZ5C58WMeNqrZRlsMHN66ZAmbjKJl4rNF2VltlKmEz3FvfJX5l0Ag_Gsxqay4nuYz0E/s1600/Xmas+Hats+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9DYTZXXIXEvnw2nRFAlDv070ry9LOnztC-qXqasVwMBGqpMwb0F-rOuRnjBXgeysXkfOAlNsZ5C58WMeNqrZRlsMHN66ZAmbjKJl4rNF2VltlKmEz3FvfJX5l0Ag_Gsxqay4nuYz0E/s320/Xmas+Hats+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One hat and a second almost done . . . </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But there is progress! I've got one <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zeebad" target="_blank">Zeebad</a> hat finished and the second one is almost done. I should be further along, but there was ripping--followed by cursing (or maybe it was the other way around? Expletives were shouted and there might even have been some growling). In a fit of exasperation over size, missed yarn overs and dropped stitches I ripped it all out and started again. Twice. Once for each hat. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tvKwUxK7emM3lRpEXxl115Wh-YUZv3GwQ-gkQbqbUfqAX_ZcKmptHv0V1tX5Bz6S8k7CEs-8pHM1QSUSdnl9NHlu-0xsurjcRgeDYN-B5-pbSDiBW1HzcAlvX_Zr-Grpj3LdR0cHOYc/s1600/Xmas+Hats+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tvKwUxK7emM3lRpEXxl115Wh-YUZv3GwQ-gkQbqbUfqAX_ZcKmptHv0V1tX5Bz6S8k7CEs-8pHM1QSUSdnl9NHlu-0xsurjcRgeDYN-B5-pbSDiBW1HzcAlvX_Zr-Grpj3LdR0cHOYc/s320/Xmas+Hats+003.JPG" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First hat awaiting ribbon and pompom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The hats have to be perfect 'cuz they're gifts. So when I was done cursin', I knocked some sense into those stitches. And I promised myself to only work on the hats when I am well-rested and have time to concentrate. (Don't rest and time go hand-in-hand with vacations?). <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WBGVsD3IgJHT9H4b6dooGXyRULppZdnPwhGJvs98v6-dDVwMADf024MXWn0Dwv3sosmdE7NHJcMwFmMUp6Jm0t7vdSQ6Ks2TQ66SnxN348nuo5VNhTa4jeFBXvWtwjS2A1xYdXOAnPk/s1600/Xmas+Hats+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WBGVsD3IgJHT9H4b6dooGXyRULppZdnPwhGJvs98v6-dDVwMADf024MXWn0Dwv3sosmdE7NHJcMwFmMUp6Jm0t7vdSQ6Ks2TQ66SnxN348nuo5VNhTa4jeFBXvWtwjS2A1xYdXOAnPk/s320/Xmas+Hats+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second hat in progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In any case, my goal: finish the second hat within the week and then look for ribbons. These will get threaded through the eyelets. There are pompoms to be made too! Haven't made those in a long time. I might have to peruse some how-to videos. I'll keep you posted.</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-26083244882686766572016-07-17T13:02:00.000-03:002016-07-17T13:02:05.184-03:00About the Boys' Hats<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since I'd shared details about the girls' hats, I thought it only fair that I also share <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">m</span>ore about the boys' hats. There were lots of options, but I decided on something related to Angry Birds (my older nephews really love <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Angry Birds)</span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I decided to use <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/red-bird-with-an-attitude" target="_blank">Red Bird with Attitude</a> by Heidi Yates (free download at Ravelry) because the facial features looked great and didn't protrude from the hat (Also, I wanted my older nephews to wear their hats<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Y'all know how older kids get about hand knits if they think it <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">looks silly).</span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0PG5XKsqx2s08s_mXIvmuDnvqcWx43gVHOyTeFN_KY_MyM2wCYmg8QapepbDe7SuAdWoeHq0cOtX1fZKmUgB-C3_BAxPj5djd7SPSnre2FO-WbOpqIEEEBc7HCT7qtHn5G-uxcijYoA/s1600/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0PG5XKsqx2s08s_mXIvmuDnvqcWx43gVHOyTeFN_KY_MyM2wCYmg8QapepbDe7SuAdWoeHq0cOtX1fZKmUgB-C3_BAxPj5djd7SPSnre2FO-WbOpqIEEEBc7HCT7qtHn5G-uxcijYoA/s320/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finished hats before facial details are added</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's the thing: I needed to make some mods. First off, the hat sizes tended to run on the small side. I started with the child size, but<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> that</span> looked more like toddler size. So I knit the next size up (teen size) to get something in a child size (sounds confusing, right?). Also, I really did<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n</span>'t like the "tail" as written in the pattern. I wasn't sure my older nephews would go for it. What do you think (see version #1 pictured below)?</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0uXtDDbfkk0kQf5iK0aCGn3qTUw3GhCsOzE0IRrc838ZrBtlC2FcFP6NT2E8p0TKU29kotpGXLThXVnM5mTAx6paudU7ecWxnHQgfz5tv6hb1nH7hsVPpvvX32HvXtWWsGojXUyJr10/s1600/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0uXtDDbfkk0kQf5iK0aCGn3qTUw3GhCsOzE0IRrc838ZrBtlC2FcFP6NT2E8p0TKU29kotpGXLThXVnM5mTAx6paudU7ecWxnHQgfz5tv6hb1nH7hsVPpvvX32HvXtWWsGojXUyJr10/s320/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hat version following pattern exactly as written</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So for version #2, I made some mods:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) Used 3.75mm circulars to work the brim for a more snug fit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) Used K2P2 instead of K1P1. That's just a personal preference. Besides, I think my choice looks better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3) Switched to 4.5mm circulars for body.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4) For decreases, worked them as written until row 16 where I made some minor changes in how the decreases are worked:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Row 16:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> K1 K2tog (18 sts for teen size)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Row 17-18: Knit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Row 19: K2tog (9 sts for teen size)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Row 20: Knit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Row 21: K2tog till last st, K1 (5 sts teen size)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Row 22-24: Knit each round as I-cord</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Row 25: K2tog K1 K2tog (3 sts teen size)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rows 26-28: Knit each round as I-cord</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leave long tail and thread through last 3 stitches. Fasten off.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyzXHLo2ZCYOjYEXLJXAnKKAjEHf5UfJhOH6jC7ibba-up5sRWsuLc1zrqnh-_NF-9hRoRMLWZcX9cA2RcPlxcTbNszRSuUQHrNL7kleBUNs7PXA7No20p69wRnmMSGBzkdMTtr42mZI/s1600/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyzXHLo2ZCYOjYEXLJXAnKKAjEHf5UfJhOH6jC7ibba-up5sRWsuLc1zrqnh-_NF-9hRoRMLWZcX9cA2RcPlxcTbNszRSuUQHrNL7kleBUNs7PXA7No20p69wRnmMSGBzkdMTtr42mZI/s320/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Version #2 following modifications to "tail"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think the modified version looks so much better than the first--so much better that I may rip out the first version and re-do. Hey, I've got time. ;)</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-54415104825436595082016-07-07T19:16:00.000-03:002016-07-07T19:16:01.080-03:00About the Girls' Hats<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here are <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the </span>details on Christmas for my nieces.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQIojqA2P0LPNcFhoDkbDhudUrrJI5jLYi9rRvEZ90sLs-rpUjZbipGIsl1zO076Dq-UVgF5NV4DVdk2SfYnIYzZG-OUFwHpmAlUoaD1M0f7XqNAX-LCbgJNqX7cBxgoLMY4jlmYHk6E/s1600/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQIojqA2P0LPNcFhoDkbDhudUrrJI5jLYi9rRvEZ90sLs-rpUjZbipGIsl1zO076Dq-UVgF5NV4DVdk2SfYnIYzZG-OUFwHpmAlUoaD1M0f7XqNAX-LCbgJNqX7cBxgoLMY4jlmYHk6E/s320/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finished beret--aka Meret #2</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First off, the beret. The yarn was bulky (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/james-c-brett-marble-chunky" target="_blank">James Brett Marble Chunk<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">--which incidentally is a bulky yarn</span></span>, si<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">milar to Bernat's vinta<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">g</span>e Softee<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">; s</span></span></span>o I settled on Bernat's beret from their <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/bernat-530178-urban-weekend" target="_blank">Urban Weekend booklet</a>. Having made this pattern before (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/DinaPurls/cardigan-and-beret-3" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/DinaPurls/cardigan-and-beret-2" target="_blank">also here</a>), I remembered that the brim was a little shallow. I referenced another pattern I had recently made in which the brim was less shallow, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/meret-mystery-beret" target="_blank">Meret (aka Mystery Beret)</a> and lo and behold, it had the same number of cast-on stitches! So I switched gears and worked the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">M</span>eret instead (by the way<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I just love </span>my own <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/DinaPurls/meret-mystery-beret" target="_blank">Meret</a> !). <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThanxtilnQPFe25ZFaAQYFlj4lVJjKCVfP8EdD90RmF03ltyVyGO8hXmV58wTXj9MhqY06r8fOFn6Tf7RHdzUWilIuAFYelaBuMiMYFymIrmArrrYa1Y6PJOW6h7pQnn8WK0kfNbrMvg/s1600/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThanxtilnQPFe25ZFaAQYFlj4lVJjKCVfP8EdD90RmF03ltyVyGO8hXmV58wTXj9MhqY06r8fOFn6Tf7RHdzUWilIuAFYelaBuMiMYFymIrmArrrYa1Y6PJOW6h7pQnn8WK0kfNbrMvg/s320/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under side of beret</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is this a recipe for disaster? No, I say. A thou<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sand times no!! </span></span>First off, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the yarn I used for the original Meret was on the aran side--thicker than most worsted weight. The marble chunky yarn is listed as bulky but it's more on the thinner side--close to an aran weight. See the confusion? I also used smaller needles than would normally be used for the yarn weight (4.5mm and 5.5mm). Finally I worked the smallest size listed in the pattern directions. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My</span></span> oldest niece is 9 and rather tall for her age, so a child-sized hat was probably not gonna work for her anyways.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>I figure better it be a wee bit bigger than too small.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72HulW03rj_n5dPxp8WRFs3OpadqelzFjkpVKgI6xOVcvxZfX8dqmojJqjtnjbr-nGgqr1owJJtoLV8QErQb2mTzjxUp1ZuNA3LVBwrv0xMEIUhpkzMITMvcMmvq0vat9dMszPceOiQU/s1600/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72HulW03rj_n5dPxp8WRFs3OpadqelzFjkpVKgI6xOVcvxZfX8dqmojJqjtnjbr-nGgqr1owJJtoLV8QErQb2mTzjxUp1ZuNA3LVBwrv0xMEIUhpkzMITMvcMmvq0vat9dMszPceOiQU/s320/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Leftovers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">there's enough yard<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">age, </span></span>I'm hoping to make a matching beret (with purse and shawl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">)</span> for my niece's 18" doll. Won't that be cute? I'm certain she'll love all of it<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. :)</span> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv9uj6N5Bkq9AAHPpoXnvOuU3PnKulddRJ7E6RMHMjlwkEN7pz359jgaK5mSoCAdROfjsJ78mh8AdFK2Zs7TY5ZUeGIWSiubVipXPslr5wFe7khCKYoidItiVq7X4BqB9r1CKeRFjVQA/s1600/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv9uj6N5Bkq9AAHPpoXnvOuU3PnKulddRJ7E6RMHMjlwkEN7pz359jgaK5mSoCAdROfjsJ78mh8AdFK2Zs7TY5ZUeGIWSiubVipXPslr5wFe7khCKYoidItiVq7X4BqB9r1CKeRFjVQA/s320/Mostly+Knitting+Stuff+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yarn and pattern are ready to go . . . </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For my younger nieces, I'm hoping to get them some storybooks along with some pretty hats. How does <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zeebad" target="_blank">Zeebad</a> look? Cute, right? I've got some lovely Patons Classic Wool in orchid<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>(more like a lovely raspberry, in my opinion) for one niece. There's lots more pink in my stash, so if I run out of orchid, I can use a different colour for the second girl.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Very excited about getting started . . . </span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-4781415567554143722016-07-02T14:13:00.004-03:002016-07-02T14:13:23.050-03:00Makin' Christmas in July?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yup, that's right! I'm makin' Christmas in July. Hoping to make hats for my 3 nephews and 3 nieces just like last year--<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e</span>xcept this time I'm getting an early start.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhUzm1SAYIsmtEvNfsObXOSpaN0DD8pdzIaUpVrSpgc8ZoT0xLM9_Gcr60sjQS0h3XhFOKN7NmUuSu1cK-1c-lqAPVSfHzNWhKrRT1PdrkiCWTN-K_Rev66HCkLbecs7fNi9tdiLRg0c/s1600/Birthday%252C+Knitting+and+Flowers+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhUzm1SAYIsmtEvNfsObXOSpaN0DD8pdzIaUpVrSpgc8ZoT0xLM9_Gcr60sjQS0h3XhFOKN7NmUuSu1cK-1c-lqAPVSfHzNWhKrRT1PdrkiCWTN-K_Rev66HCkLbecs7fNi9tdiLRg0c/s320/Birthday%252C+Knitting+and+Flowers+041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In progress beret</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The plan is to make angry bird type hats for the boys, a beret for my older niece, and eyelet<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-</span> ribbon hats for the younger girls. I've got plenty of yarn in my stash<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (it really is nice to go "shopping" in the stash<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, especially when funds are tight).</span></span> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QQe1YYyP8h0CfII_2cO89aOOgb2FcbuZ6LtsrK6OUfzWV2pOFxPd5CE-2-h5R2uNbAsTgsCQL7mp2U0nOxvdNzf-88b1YFCMV65pBZUyb1c_5NjUJw3eNseeA4nMztjaQc4G8rJ4SS4/s1600/Birthday%252C+Knitting+and+Flowers+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QQe1YYyP8h0CfII_2cO89aOOgb2FcbuZ6LtsrK6OUfzWV2pOFxPd5CE-2-h5R2uNbAsTgsCQL7mp2U0nOxvdNzf-88b1YFCMV65pBZUyb1c_5NjUJw3eNseeA4nMztjaQc4G8rJ4SS4/s320/Birthday%252C+Knitting+and+Flowers+042.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In-progress hats for nephews</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopin<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">g to get most of the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gift knitting done by the end of the summer. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I can stick to "my plan", I may have time to make a scrapbook for the grandparents. Haven't really scrapped in a while, but <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've got lots of paper and it would be nice to use it<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-52896263043241549822016-07-01T19:39:00.002-03:002016-07-01T19:39:44.961-03:00Canada Day<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Canada Day!! :D</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kX0EoiPUCr2EkFKROhTruzGBNHyeAIsvMfCm9pimnfoHgGKcM8FVqWHoIdh4A5ya6unt27ZfGCf7tbHU4INL9qYuo_Y9RXZOWfSkP_sbSgoEx0fWbB3urK2zoCZ6MPqthTBEbfcju3U/s1600/flag+foter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kX0EoiPUCr2EkFKROhTruzGBNHyeAIsvMfCm9pimnfoHgGKcM8FVqWHoIdh4A5ya6unt27ZfGCf7tbHU4INL9qYuo_Y9RXZOWfSkP_sbSgoEx0fWbB3urK2zoCZ6MPqthTBEbfcju3U/s320/flag+foter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/zedzap/9185112960/">Nick Kenrick.</a> via <a href="http://www.remodelhunt.com/">Source</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">CC BY</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been a long week for me, especially since I've been fighting a bad head cold (I know: who gets a cold in the middle of summer? Personally I blame my wee toddlers--many of whom have been sick over the past few weeks). Happy to be able to rest and drink lots of tea.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wherever you are in this fine country, I hope you are surrounded with family and good friends. Enjoy the long weekend! :)</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-2505028539992110122016-06-26T20:43:00.000-03:002016-06-26T20:43:24.031-03:00Lovin' It!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">f</span>inishing my Keyhole <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">B</span>ow<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-t</span>ie <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>carf, I cast-on for another bow-tie type scarf. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With only 109 yards in the one skein of elann.com's Peruvian Alpaca, I needed something small. Problem: not happy.</span> The yarn is just lovely, but not loving the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">c</span>url which is intr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e</span>gal <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to the pattern</span>. What now? R<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ip out? What else to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">make with such a small amount of yarn? </span>The yardage</span> got me thinking about different types of small projects<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, which in turn got me thinking about dolls. That's right: <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d</span>olls</span>. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHixXQrp_aeBlxsZEINZYPZ8P3SPTQ_mT_OnXtygwi8HRGec7OGiBJLgiEOFshNqYYDVWCFzgdR04SLBTYoBySFDXTjtE9JePReG3ZXeikJp7ISwQutykr2ofP4ZWvnqpzAicRPf9aDA/s1600/Blossoms+and+Veggie+Garden+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHixXQrp_aeBlxsZEINZYPZ8P3SPTQ_mT_OnXtygwi8HRGec7OGiBJLgiEOFshNqYYDVWCFzgdR04SLBTYoBySFDXTjtE9JePReG3ZXeikJp7ISwQutykr2ofP4ZWvnqpzAicRPf9aDA/s320/Blossoms+and+Veggie+Garden+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not loving the curl</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flipping through Ravelry's search engine, I found load<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cute </span></span></span>patterns for 18" dolls (if you don't already know about <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>, get thee to the website post-haste 'cuz it is awesome!!). Perusing patterns always gets me looking through the stash. And I found a nice pattern to marry with some DK weight leftovers<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6XAkWSrT21Nu94cX43s9IoZvMR3JNomwe7nSfbPrhfGEAaRyMepxBHOcA2R3Bbm-PkJL1pzuDkJQRUGNQj8uJJB3O9WZt-MkrxSYhbhB-oHDEcliym3ZWz69ZWT-B3T_pzOZnToyN7w/s1600/Blossoms+and+Veggie+Garden+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6XAkWSrT21Nu94cX43s9IoZvMR3JNomwe7nSfbPrhfGEAaRyMepxBHOcA2R3Bbm-PkJL1pzuDkJQRUGNQj8uJJB3O9WZt-MkrxSYhbhB-oHDEcliym3ZWz69ZWT-B3T_pzOZnToyN7w/s320/Blossoms+and+Veggie+Garden+031.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Top/dress in progress</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pattern is a little <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/18-doll-summer-fun-ensemble" target="_blank">ensemble</a> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(</span>Ravelry link)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, but I only made the top. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The top le<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ngth is perfect <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as</span> a dress, especially as my doll has leggings and pink booties. Pattern is straight-forward, but I tweaked <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">pa<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rts of it because of personal preference and because I couldn't get gauge.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtizcY7lzQxVsrlxaNAXXuInD-5rxPr1j9oV2-YuC-69WGmG4YjfljdHiVFa8KgsF4XqmVuXAgrTMcKxfHE-uLQc9Md0npMw3yWYltkN1CG8sPPwY4z-RRp6HNf9b5OcED4vK3FO3Ssvs/s1600/Birthday%252C+Knitting+and+Flowers+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtizcY7lzQxVsrlxaNAXXuInD-5rxPr1j9oV2-YuC-69WGmG4YjfljdHiVFa8KgsF4XqmVuXAgrTMcKxfHE-uLQc9Md0npMw3yWYltkN1CG8sPPwY4z-RRp6HNf9b5OcED4vK3FO3Ssvs/s320/Birthday%252C+Knitting+and+Flowers+031.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Front view of dress</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYGOzLEXnJ9RPPWFPg4V1F5pSfq49in58TV0026hVn7JIYFSgb6jyBUmeGw4LbM83cISC61vtwijBXT-sr6J0dGezOk_oarhYpAo2LZSTpf8F0Mj-aLcg7z5CiMvhbUXiLi3j2a1rPD0/s1600/Birthday%252C+Knitting+and+Flowers+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYGOzLEXnJ9RPPWFPg4V1F5pSfq49in58TV0026hVn7JIYFSgb6jyBUmeGw4LbM83cISC61vtwijBXT-sr6J0dGezOk_oarhYpAo2LZSTpf8F0Mj-aLcg7z5CiMvhbUXiLi3j2a1rPD0/s320/Birthday%252C+Knitting+and+Flowers+032.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back view</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What do you think? Pretty? I love it<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, especially the </span>bright colours. Also love that I used leftovers. And my doll finally gets a nice outfit. Think she needs a matching cardigan? <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">M</span>aybe in green? I'll keep you posted. ;)</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-24004539441539840822016-06-19T10:31:00.003-03:002016-06-19T10:31:46.576-03:00Father's Day of Sorts . . . <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over at my place, all the fellas in our household are sick. To be fair, it has been a cool June and feels more like autumn than spring. So I'm playing nurse-maid today, making sure everyone has hot tea, vitamin C, blankets and fluffy pillows. And of course Netflix is playing non-stop (animated flicks aren't a cure-all, but it sure helps pass the time when you can't do much else). <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y_vgWs_hX_wD9jOAhxU7ler79ZqFtyNpWOCv-edtSgCxAS4nUPnkw2yQCiIjkg20TwghC99XlC5Z3IhsS5hcu2HPvBWLJa4aCgWIvxpcGEN7INJC6juGuzNe3CQsIuyAkyvQfypnyws/s1600/_86206646_sickbear.jpg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y_vgWs_hX_wD9jOAhxU7ler79ZqFtyNpWOCv-edtSgCxAS4nUPnkw2yQCiIjkg20TwghC99XlC5Z3IhsS5hcu2HPvBWLJa4aCgWIvxpcGEN7INJC6juGuzNe3CQsIuyAkyvQfypnyws/s320/_86206646_sickbear.jpg.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sick teddy courtesy of Google.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So hope you all enjoy happy times with the fathers in your life. Be well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Later ;) </span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-26119313916310685502016-06-12T12:59:00.001-03:002016-06-12T12:59:58.864-03:00Life Is Like . . . <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y3MPU78f0dxZGcljxJLY8EB9w0iPpA8vmxNmIcSOrJujUdkpge65cZ7AxMWGavo1m-5OibFin5igTAfNCTZod14CmX9ELQCLxeI1QAm0M0CSVWp0tBwv1iuvlrtyiKWbdwahE1obCC0/s1600/Daycare%252C+Garden%252C+Knitting+and+Music+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y3MPU78f0dxZGcljxJLY8EB9w0iPpA8vmxNmIcSOrJujUdkpge65cZ7AxMWGavo1m-5OibFin5igTAfNCTZod14CmX9ELQCLxeI1QAm0M0CSVWp0tBwv1iuvlrtyiKWbdwahE1obCC0/s320/Daycare%252C+Garden%252C+Knitting+and+Music+042.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fragrant lilacs in bloom</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. . . . Knitting. <i>N'est pas</i>? Yes, life is very much like knitting. You think you've found the most wonderful yarn or the best pattern. Full of enthusiasm, you cast on and soon realize something is amiss. Gauge? Dropped stitch? Wrong size? Ignoring the nagging doubts, you continue working on the piece until you realize the "mistake" needs addressing. Your options? Well, some of us </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">will throw the whole mess in a cupboard and try to forget; others try something entirely different, while others just give up altogether and declare knitting (or crochet) to be too difficult. </span>Then there are those of us that either tink back or frog the entire thing, but they do not give up. Maybe you need a different pattern for the yarn or different size needles. Maybe you modify the pattern. Maybe you ask for help and continue forth. Either way, you persevere. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24Hj6iddm2T2pRHTKh9c7osX4_-DDiMaSPK0DTZWcMtBJjffatUAJ9NCmlWOg8lL8rNmXGhQ1pBONNUJ77S54Y_2tpaFRLEautm7LsFyJUfs9a6ZpFMhToSL0FxFMhxQ_8jmySA41tWU/s1600/Blossoms+and+Veggie+Garden+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24Hj6iddm2T2pRHTKh9c7osX4_-DDiMaSPK0DTZWcMtBJjffatUAJ9NCmlWOg8lL8rNmXGhQ1pBONNUJ77S54Y_2tpaFRLEautm7LsFyJUfs9a6ZpFMhToSL0FxFMhxQ_8jmySA41tWU/s320/Blossoms+and+Veggie+Garden+011.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dainty bleeding hearts in bloom</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Life is like that. Stuff happens that shake you to the core. You wanna give up. But you don't. You persevere. You find a way.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFDWfJI80yESCjpULTmHSze2oAHRkpfeilebnVyIg1x0xTuTxPVV8yVKYTC1qDiz5VFKpcO2WTFXDpI4dADxi41UEqTr3xMQu5TAo3SMzyQy06tLg1VKE0EQVd2zqmYQgh8AWTP77v5g/s1600/Various+Photos+May+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFDWfJI80yESCjpULTmHSze2oAHRkpfeilebnVyIg1x0xTuTxPVV8yVKYTC1qDiz5VFKpcO2WTFXDpI4dADxi41UEqTr3xMQu5TAo3SMzyQy06tLg1VKE0EQVd2zqmYQgh8AWTP77v5g/s320/Various+Photos+May+031.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Detail of pretty lungwort</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And truthfully, thank heavens for the knitting (or crochet). It can ease the stress and give your mind a place to focus when you feel like crumbling into a small ball in the corner. So while my absence has been much too long, my thoughts and heart were not far. Complete immersion in all things crafty (and all things garden-wise and plant-like) kept me sane and functional.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIsMlKzH5x79G4CmYXTvNEROyW8znmX2gV5eyxaoDTGfITYSKiqWJi-e4bspKtZAVebBHQzF-AxWT-PVld_NaEBINOKvpuqm3vP2mENIxWiIJDc5TvFvzM4zq17F64R7l_t02CW8SCjc/s1600/Blossoms+and+Veggie+Garden+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIsMlKzH5x79G4CmYXTvNEROyW8znmX2gV5eyxaoDTGfITYSKiqWJi-e4bspKtZAVebBHQzF-AxWT-PVld_NaEBINOKvpuqm3vP2mENIxWiIJDc5TvFvzM4zq17F64R7l_t02CW8SCjc/s320/Blossoms+and+Veggie+Garden+025.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finished keyhole scarf</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By the way, I finished that keyhole scarf. What a lovely quick knit--and satisfying too. Then I cast-on something else, but before I finished that, I cast on a second project. Then I had this crazy idea to start making Christmas early . . . but that's for another post. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-76525370595008405552016-05-15T20:15:00.001-03:002016-05-15T20:20:33.430-03:00About Ennui . . . <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeSJAl4MW-9AE1XexoAkr9QtJeckp9P9lQqc2PhYcWqaVXonTzzPHfvOIMhM9Wuc9i6M4A7ErXchnBvmdM2QNNSix8zoVfgUJRQI4zlA3l1ViTe1L4R7GGcEO9ER6gij6ci0772m-6_0/s1600/Various+Photos+May+011_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeSJAl4MW-9AE1XexoAkr9QtJeckp9P9lQqc2PhYcWqaVXonTzzPHfvOIMhM9Wuc9i6M4A7ErXchnBvmdM2QNNSix8zoVfgUJRQI4zlA3l1ViTe1L4R7GGcEO9ER6gij6ci0772m-6_0/s320/Various+Photos+May+011_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Progress of Keyhole Bow Tie Scarf </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I must confess that when ennui sneaks up on me, I peruse Ravelry or rummage through my stash (especially the special yarns). Something usually "speaks" to me so much so that I print off a pattern and immediately cast on. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdvtN0rP2bHigS9cCYbiAkH80g8Poyqdl1Va9P6_tFYvxbxfLra1LWxWtMFBv_hPH-rO3dIJsp47yA_W0jXzMkafrYt89Uvfd_KpITa6Wd7HP1BmO-rxuLG9vCh3OsiT_xv1MdK_BVTk/s1600/Various+Photos+May+013_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdvtN0rP2bHigS9cCYbiAkH80g8Poyqdl1Va9P6_tFYvxbxfLra1LWxWtMFBv_hPH-rO3dIJsp47yA_W0jXzMkafrYt89Uvfd_KpITa6Wd7HP1BmO-rxuLG9vCh3OsiT_xv1MdK_BVTk/s320/Various+Photos+May+013_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mainly garter stitch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Such was my mood last week. Not happy with my current WIPs, I cast on something new. I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t's a </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/06-keyhole-bow-tie" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">keyhole bow tie</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> from Knit Simple, Fall 2009. It's been in my queue for ages. Instead of worsted weight, I'm using chunky weight.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStilrZ_Ip7FDhBTM_KrUgBPerwJnnUPjnRGrHqrkxkeI3C0jX0DTp0RRYiRzLojacBU8p4JF1TlCLQkzwblljsPSydPsYArxibkbOySsYTrMnrziTbp-K7KtKmTehhhuO_imXeeEEPi0/s1600/Various+Photos+May+014_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStilrZ_Ip7FDhBTM_KrUgBPerwJnnUPjnRGrHqrkxkeI3C0jX0DTp0RRYiRzLojacBU8p4JF1TlCLQkzwblljsPSydPsYArxibkbOySsYTrMnrziTbp-K7KtKmTehhhuO_imXeeEEPi0/s320/Various+Photos+May+014_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Detail of keyhole</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instead of the 30 sts indicated in the pattern, I cast on 20 sts. The finished width is supposed to be 5”. Mine works out to just over 5” with 20 sts. And I'm loving the way the colour is mixing in the garter stitch. Here's hoping I have enough yarn.</span></span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-62189221456682512982016-05-08T11:04:00.001-03:002016-05-08T11:04:08.788-03:00A Day for Moms<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos1kyhMGptsoMMrW_S7H-c47706GB9epg_kRxKMgq-dY8uHfWcDucLVT9uETXZT8GcA1yxuTd4YTvSFBTq8DUNeac_ai3ZUjkcZychk9rJrcQ_SbfUkn99zbBqcMcDhNToGz2nPUnru0/s1600/lobster+fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos1kyhMGptsoMMrW_S7H-c47706GB9epg_kRxKMgq-dY8uHfWcDucLVT9uETXZT8GcA1yxuTd4YTvSFBTq8DUNeac_ai3ZUjkcZychk9rJrcQ_SbfUkn99zbBqcMcDhNToGz2nPUnru0/s320/lobster+fishing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bambe1964/8687775504/">bambe1964</a> via <a href="http://foter.com/">Foter.com</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here in the Maritimes, the lobster fishing opens about a week or so before Mother's Day. So in many communities, there are traditional lobster meals served on Mother's Day. This afternoon, I will partake of this maritime tradition with family.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0usYJfMAiQRUthLSQo7r5KXEyf5JHgW7qTpDRK562vLj0WZRA2CxeL-hIllnT87Jlg83fXbZLHiQc-03Mn3BAKYpDUGp8FWzSIDC5A7VhtiyIP29TjAkTQO9zwiZdeQ5KRLv88w7dcZw/s1600/lobster+foter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0usYJfMAiQRUthLSQo7r5KXEyf5JHgW7qTpDRK562vLj0WZRA2CxeL-hIllnT87Jlg83fXbZLHiQc-03Mn3BAKYpDUGp8FWzSIDC5A7VhtiyIP29TjAkTQO9zwiZdeQ5KRLv88w7dcZw/s320/lobster+foter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/garryknight/15549207610/">garryknight</a> via <a href="http://foter.com/">Foter.com</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">CC BY</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I enjoy my buttery crustacean with freshly baked rolls and green salad, I wilI give thanks for all that I have, modest as it seems. There are those who have much less. And although my own mom will be miles away, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all the mothers out there. Thank for you for your time, your kind words, your hugs and most of all, your love. :)</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-81248580017254542632016-05-01T20:45:00.001-03:002016-05-01T20:45:27.511-03:00Happy Birthday<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To me!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kpujLmisNcsln9fD78mJD7oTZXmRBZFFKWU1OFYER4VsKHydbojUqNgWgjowLRn-nd5MwyUfeBvWUH-qJwTpSxUhwE9d9PCylRe2Hk4F9n9ytU9pkcvQ3VKDBc-oOlTlWG6vBnSrRBc/s1600/candlecupcakefoter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kpujLmisNcsln9fD78mJD7oTZXmRBZFFKWU1OFYER4VsKHydbojUqNgWgjowLRn-nd5MwyUfeBvWUH-qJwTpSxUhwE9d9PCylRe2Hk4F9n9ytU9pkcvQ3VKDBc-oOlTlWG6vBnSrRBc/s1600/candlecupcakefoter.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo courtesy of foter.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're gonna celebrate tomorrow night 'cuz one of my boys had band commitments. It was still a happy happy birthday. :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feeling thankful and very grateful for all the good people and all the good stuff in my life. Also thankful for you. Thanks for reading my thoughts and reflections on all things crafty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers!</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-88692467012516707272016-04-30T15:40:00.000-03:002016-05-01T15:47:52.973-03:00Score!!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh yeah! After a busy week with little knitting (Who am I kidding? <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">T</span>here was no knitting.), I finally scored some <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">crafting</span> stuff. Seriously!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwodQlSVxDEs9mPl88kJUl8wKAFVdzfSLNpyjvCkcSgiHvBeQQwck4VIErqhwm8trT-lFntrnWE2os2LeiImM5S6sEMG_sXFAMe0sPQKhHFi1EIItEr6HChQbdKj1SxeO9zJw4LI_Pqvs/s1600/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwodQlSVxDEs9mPl88kJUl8wKAFVdzfSLNpyjvCkcSgiHvBeQQwck4VIErqhwm8trT-lFntrnWE2os2LeiImM5S6sEMG_sXFAMe0sPQKhHFi1EIItEr6HChQbdKj1SxeO9zJw4LI_Pqvs/s320/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cute crochet kit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First off, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span> cool crochet kit. Isn't it neat? There's enough yarn for one Beatle, but the book has patterns for all 4 Beatles in their early years AND patterns for the Sgt. Pepper versions (I know, right?). </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjgkafdvUNNT8YgyAdMxmoHZFUbqjxuKEeP8IqhwweP_ophGbf0qozEdMCVA7JexZpmoZ43Zci6nz_lQBhfzL14x0iM3bqpGsC1kQTaPwiIxbnZaVqPHAQ9xX5iS7smt-kL1a82s1xJw/s1600/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjgkafdvUNNT8YgyAdMxmoHZFUbqjxuKEeP8IqhwweP_ophGbf0qozEdMCVA7JexZpmoZ43Zci6nz_lQBhfzL14x0iM3bqpGsC1kQTaPwiIxbnZaVqPHAQ9xX5iS7smt-kL1a82s1xJw/s320/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sgt. Pepper's version</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Besides the kit, I got my hands on two knit books. One is a book on children's top-down knits (check out some of the patterns over at<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/childrens-sweaters-and-hats" target="_blank"> Ravelry.com</a>). By far, top-down is my fave way to construct a sweater. There are some cute items (and I dare confess that I've photocopied a pattern or two in the past . . . ). The only drawback is that the photos in the book are all B&W--but that's a small drawback<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpK3Ei2AUvhmEZF2Rs4-BOz8TKpjSE_hghtmD19xnSiKv0ROOuWlXg-4vhyUmEbuqiGJgjPmYwbBvu7BNTlcHSxkVGNDqx2hGQ-_0NAQmmgBGiO8gjcqBlH5LmePFhC9xViCpn5iGuwwo/s1600/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpK3Ei2AUvhmEZF2Rs4-BOz8TKpjSE_hghtmD19xnSiKv0ROOuWlXg-4vhyUmEbuqiGJgjPmYwbBvu7BNTlcHSxkVGNDqx2hGQ-_0NAQmmgBGiO8gjcqBlH5LmePFhC9xViCpn5iGuwwo/s320/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Book on top-down kids' knits</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vxCL6VWPRB6xkKrKArrQaVL40NxyWO8MWpK06c8kXS9DN7rKFtFwA4dAVxReCqtMV2f0qIR9bhsPmI2NzSdrQF8DuWDB_zjtAb0bZCISpzpV-R31B8rrrT1qyRrPkWFBHyrHgTNHjxs/s1600/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vxCL6VWPRB6xkKrKArrQaVL40NxyWO8MWpK06c8kXS9DN7rKFtFwA4dAVxReCqtMV2f0qIR9bhsPmI2NzSdrQF8DuWDB_zjtAb0bZCISpzpV-R31B8rrrT1qyRrPkWFBHyrHgTNHjxs/s320/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">View of more patterns</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other book is a re-working of vintage knits (check out more over at <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/vintage-knitwear-for-modern-knitters" target="_blank">Ravelry.com</a>). And while I might admire the patterns more so than make them, there a few accessories that caught my eye (scarves, a hat, bolero and<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 2</span> shrugs). It'll be a neat addition to the crafting library.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-yV_p-13wU430bLuNbJYNAK3w-jNZ54VLmhDH-_DQWbkSNlR2xe0cyQZZAjCIYwMphtcGfmLZOkfafmUIc5R7wMUsZK2oOn3P_mvtGAnoLvsi4GSJtwe6NvVwV2K08-GxSDYE4S3owE/s1600/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-yV_p-13wU430bLuNbJYNAK3w-jNZ54VLmhDH-_DQWbkSNlR2xe0cyQZZAjCIYwMphtcGfmLZOkfafmUIc5R7wMUsZK2oOn3P_mvtGAnoLvsi4GSJtwe6NvVwV2K08-GxSDYE4S3owE/s320/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vintage Knitwear book</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHu49w4vbqEnxjb9PZnB2b6QlGXt5Jr_cO9i6dOHLmFOGyAWoj_GGQX1PS9ie0GAW6hA75rtfuuPGByDCs9lbqW9dSNGq0MYgZVpiQEjB2BjSXDKniobCQzKdOcV6mkR73n2y6c5pdmk/s1600/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+019_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHu49w4vbqEnxjb9PZnB2b6QlGXt5Jr_cO9i6dOHLmFOGyAWoj_GGQX1PS9ie0GAW6hA75rtfuuPGByDCs9lbqW9dSNGq0MYgZVpiQEjB2BjSXDKniobCQzKdOcV6mkR73n2y6c5pdmk/s320/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+019_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Circular knit vest/bolero</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SqUbFiHUJ-XWdrIRpyNjzuCN5YsFvILb0qzXGSwBQ56r_-pNoctRfjSwZuS9gFDdWpmrRs6j1PypexTsax0P0AZ5IIjOxzCTsQwOg_SHl9nmvx9jhfJyHhdUA_c_s8_JE3PPvMO5O0o/s1600/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SqUbFiHUJ-XWdrIRpyNjzuCN5YsFvILb0qzXGSwBQ56r_-pNoctRfjSwZuS9gFDdWpmrRs6j1PypexTsax0P0AZ5IIjOxzCTsQwOg_SHl9nmvx9jhfJyHhdUA_c_s8_JE3PPvMO5O0o/s320/Books+and+Garden+May+2016+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cute bolero</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At a dollar a pound, we made a steal! In total my husband and I spent about $37.00 for over 25 books (including the crochet kit, 4 gardening books, half a dozen kid's books, quite a few paperbacks and over-sized hardcovers. All the items had been donations from the local community). Seriously, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">w</span>e scored big time! And all the proceeds go to funding our local library (seeing as our provincial government has frozen current funding, local libraries need as much as they can get in the way of fund-raising. See <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/pictou-antigonish-library-funding-1.3515419" target="_blank">CBC news</a> for more details).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now I'm off to peruse my finds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later,</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-70724616640161831562016-04-17T17:40:00.000-03:002016-04-17T17:40:28.457-03:00Lost Mittens?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A pair of mittens from <a href="http://www.stitcheryandsuch.blogspot.ca/2015/11/its-wrong-colour.html" target="_blank">November 2015</a> were finally finished (they were intended as a gift, but then my niece got a new coat and the colours were all wrong. Long story short: the unfinished mitts went into "hibernation"). While they were a smidge big for the youngest toddlers, they were still wearable.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiwWvX8S_oEkg1Z9h-U_bhZAe7Hb_Lsm94rAaVj9iFMpoBrAgh_exlSMYCBm5nSzazIxRX60nbUNtCaaXsw0uPryhH5y5OfNme7Nc6uJXWvwhJMWBLGuUE2hyV2E4wLzW63zSMc9S9j8/s1600/Winter%252C+Hats+and+Mittens+015_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiwWvX8S_oEkg1Z9h-U_bhZAe7Hb_Lsm94rAaVj9iFMpoBrAgh_exlSMYCBm5nSzazIxRX60nbUNtCaaXsw0uPryhH5y5OfNme7Nc6uJXWvwhJMWBLGuUE2hyV2E4wLzW63zSMc9S9j8/s320/Winter%252C+Hats+and+Mittens+015_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finished Mittens</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sadly these mittens have since gone MIA. Yes, that's right: I lost my mittens. At the centre, one of my toddlers wore them ('cuz it was still snowy). The mittens went into the dryer along with all the other wet hats and mitts. Then they were no more. I suspect someone took them home by mistake, but they have yet to return. Hope that means somebody likes them . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To comfort my loss, I started another pair with some mods to create a better fitting mitt for smaller toddlers. Then I got to thinking: why worry over mods? And wouldn't pure wool make a better mitten? After all, wool's properties allow it to ret<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ai</span>n body heat even when wet. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEsy9dpQX9JhSBHh6YbBkxlOlPD-IOjDlQQ5WpwxDr2MXzetBLB9268a-wpz8Q-0UtNODR-6-fjS_fHnU8RXzB0bIBC6fNlrw-ksIw4p715cReQ2NCwYKnC0vBhSZRilU9Dix5jQp5Fo/s1600/Spring+and+mittens+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEsy9dpQX9JhSBHh6YbBkxlOlPD-IOjDlQQ5WpwxDr2MXzetBLB9268a-wpz8Q-0UtNODR-6-fjS_fHnU8RXzB0bIBC6fNlrw-ksIw4p715cReQ2NCwYKnC0vBhSZRilU9Dix5jQp5Fo/s320/Spring+and+mittens+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">New mitten project in Briggs and Little</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Browsing through my stash I found lots of Briggs and Little. One skein would make lots of wee mitts. So the search was on for a pattern using worsted weight. Lo and behold, check out <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/another-pair-of-mittens" target="_blank">Another Pair of Mittens</a> (Rav link). </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXV_Oyntl0udB0ZGh8bZFPp0bIHiaZO8O9Z0ElgVVFU-HsYQBJm2rOIcF0L-MnSukAuG-wqenC2FezhE_ZGwo6XPuSSqGRvhee4BTdjvqXyndPjhjuGYSnGY2uJVXe7rgVEL6kOKSvbTc/s1600/Spring+and+mittens+013_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXV_Oyntl0udB0ZGh8bZFPp0bIHiaZO8O9Z0ElgVVFU-HsYQBJm2rOIcF0L-MnSukAuG-wqenC2FezhE_ZGwo6XPuSSqGRvhee4BTdjvqXyndPjhjuGYSnGY2uJVXe7rgVEL6kOKSvbTc/s320/Spring+and+mittens+013_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mitten detail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thus far I've made minor mods with the exception of how the thumb is created. Instead of an after-thought thumb, I'm doing a regular one. It seems to create less holes and it isn't as fiddly when picking up the live stitches. I may have to tweak the numbers, but someone may have already done the math for me as tons of Ravelers have already made this pattern.</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-30387856263430722322016-04-10T16:12:00.002-03:002016-04-10T16:12:34.562-03:00Still Winter?!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHmuWqOLipDFMzdXqME22AbJgLIeRWXIJ6ib1Ll1ik5vv6GjFNnHHN89rtoTikpcIsajYdiTnahMT-r6y1Le2GY5whVQ7wkty8dmiQM1D8MVAZgJuDFysAxTWiKYtu6QXjz7A6SWg7G8/s1600/Winter%252C+Hats+and+Mittens+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHmuWqOLipDFMzdXqME22AbJgLIeRWXIJ6ib1Ll1ik5vv6GjFNnHHN89rtoTikpcIsajYdiTnahMT-r6y1Le2GY5whVQ7wkty8dmiQM1D8MVAZgJuDFysAxTWiKYtu6QXjz7A6SWg7G8/s320/Winter%252C+Hats+and+Mittens+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What? Winter still here?!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Yeah, it's blustery out there today. I dare say it is even blizzard like with all the snow and wind . . . Thank heavens my hat is finished 'cuz I can still wear it!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuCXWKk5zzdGKtlVFJ4TwgMdrDYeCFe0v88Yxm4kmjz-J66jk9KOtMWTYtL4A0UEOpg9AxQj_zgESfXH_q_wyGDaNWFZSF6R0oVDMZ4sHmMaj-o9HzSYWmtME4yO6dgfuENZ6KBuxlKc/s1600/Winter%252C+Hats+and+Mittens+010_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuCXWKk5zzdGKtlVFJ4TwgMdrDYeCFe0v88Yxm4kmjz-J66jk9KOtMWTYtL4A0UEOpg9AxQj_zgESfXH_q_wyGDaNWFZSF6R0oVDMZ4sHmMaj-o9HzSYWmtME4yO6dgfuENZ6KBuxlKc/s320/Winter%252C+Hats+and+Mittens+010_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Friend modeling my hat :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I really do like the fit. I did something different by casting on the smallest size for the ribbing, then I increased twice--once to reach the medium size stitch count for the brim/ribbing and then again as per the medium size instructions. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuxhDPyE_MjUkvwegdlsTiNh-6evujcTxDotlMGYLhT0no77xZ8BRU6blpIbGKr8nc7RaY6TT6qi8VUMhIY8wsjqig6BIe0gHp_vdilq_GjHgaQVli19XZbSWZZgwTXFNPlPJkbHYVXw/s1600/Winter%252C+Hats+and+Mittens+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuxhDPyE_MjUkvwegdlsTiNh-6evujcTxDotlMGYLhT0no77xZ8BRU6blpIbGKr8nc7RaY6TT6qi8VUMhIY8wsjqig6BIe0gHp_vdilq_GjHgaQVli19XZbSWZZgwTXFNPlPJkbHYVXw/s320/Winter%252C+Hats+and+Mittens+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Top view of my "meret"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also made the hat a little more slouchy by repeating the simple lace pattern twice before working the crown decreases (pattern offers suggestions for making mods. Gotta love it when the designer gives you options). And I love it! Now <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o</span>nward to another project . . . . </span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-43995257112750461012016-04-02T16:16:00.001-03:002016-04-02T16:16:14.268-03:00MIA?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Missing mojo is sucky, but I gotta confess: even though I have been absent the last number of weeks, I got over my slump. Yes Martha, there HAS been knitting! And really, that's all that matters.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXE_SVxJbVX9W3Cl3fTxLnjgA4l7Ytr4LwtuPMfM0_fYpWowKsOVKDU80wduUDP6E-kIhyphenhyphenq0QO0620cthRTsBBN0Uyttwyli_8vzRd0hMt6Es4C4R1IBe1YZIK5pRPsBe5UV0x8kZiKgk/s1600/Music+and+Knitting+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXE_SVxJbVX9W3Cl3fTxLnjgA4l7Ytr4LwtuPMfM0_fYpWowKsOVKDU80wduUDP6E-kIhyphenhyphenq0QO0620cthRTsBBN0Uyttwyli_8vzRd0hMt6Es4C4R1IBe1YZIK5pRPsBe5UV0x8kZiKgk/s320/Music+and+Knitting+007.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pretty <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y</span>arn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In fact, I finished one project and am very close to finishing another one. And surprisingly, there are a few other small projects in the works--nothing new or special, but something that is needed (more on that later). </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xanceIrVeCcRxOcLIWzOHEucXZ2tA6Jq6xAmc_oY9fvL1Npg9nk1DL-V8_tBT0jqu9OraxLphgdnW2teOQEBm4gyLepB5cKMaMe6UU1TQlb5JsjWn99p1W5kp9u2slnWdbOCeauRYfk/s1600/Music+and+Knitting+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xanceIrVeCcRxOcLIWzOHEucXZ2tA6Jq6xAmc_oY9fvL1Npg9nk1DL-V8_tBT0jqu9OraxLphgdnW2teOQEBm4gyLepB5cKMaMe6UU1TQlb5JsjWn99p1W5kp9u2slnWdbOCeauRYfk/s320/Music+and+Knitting+008.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In-progress beret</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So the hat I was working on is one that's been in my queue for ages. It's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/meret-mystery-beret" target="_blank">Wolly Wormhead's Meret</a> (aka Mystery Beret). It's a lovely pattern with clear instructions and tips for mods (you can find it <a href="http://www.woollywormhead.com/free-patterns" target="_blank">here along with other free patterns</a> ). Everything about this project made me happy except for one thing: I lost a circular bamboo needle. The cable separated from one of the needles. Thank heavens I didn't lose any live stitches, but I was not happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With school just about done, I hope I can get back into regular weekly blogging. More importantly, I wanna get back to regularly scheduled knitting--as in every night, if you please. It's a great cure for itchy fingers. ;)</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-16252045516308540482016-03-13T18:50:00.000-03:002016-03-13T18:50:07.204-03:00No Mojo :(<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SyUannC61kc2_mqjO_CfU9GDjbULSnOTSum-IIVEjgXBvXsrzo_rZ4sWPqFim_l1ZxYlzpirSsrHMZbrTJdvRIKGXyPr_zL7lyMnYnHBN24mEdvhPuDQwj1z-VriILzm0LBmuMzINg4/s1600/Daycare+Group+with+Socks+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SyUannC61kc2_mqjO_CfU9GDjbULSnOTSum-IIVEjgXBvXsrzo_rZ4sWPqFim_l1ZxYlzpirSsrHMZbrTJdvRIKGXyPr_zL7lyMnYnHBN24mEdvhPuDQwj1z-VriILzm0LBmuMzINg4/s320/Daycare+Group+with+Socks+067.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finished socks :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So the socks got finished. Yay! Even with readings, assignments and a group project taking up my free time, I managed to pick at the project long enough to finally finish. I'd like to say that once finished, I immediately cast on something else. But that didn't happen. No. Instead I was stuck--more like, lost in quagmire. What to make next?</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ynwjyFC0QElaDOCOUhc0vEFgijTaX7VRglnIMaXa6prDL_4oLH8Zq3-uSf0GRJ7QT7VBJq8h9XDMs5KJ64WbyeEgErY0cAIk8sKrgYg8m9LnzDgtoCPI3b3ztHrFhTgNJ8hJmzw208o/s1600/Daycare+Group+with+Socks+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ynwjyFC0QElaDOCOUhc0vEFgijTaX7VRglnIMaXa6prDL_4oLH8Zq3-uSf0GRJ7QT7VBJq8h9XDMs5KJ64WbyeEgErY0cAIk8sKrgYg8m9LnzDgtoCPI3b3ztHrFhTgNJ8hJmzw208o/s320/Daycare+Group+with+Socks+070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fits great!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thought long and hard, but couldn't make up my mind. Do I make more worsted socks (enjoyed using Glenna C.'s worsted sock so much, I wanted to make more)? My sock drawer was certainly lacking a nice pair of thick--almost "workman-type"--socks.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe a beret? With winter still around, I'd been itching to finally make that matching hat for my lovely cowl (I'd even printed off a bunch of beret patterns ages ago). And hats are often quick projects, especially in worsted weight.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I also needed mittens--specifically toddler mittens. I had the pattern and lots of leftover yarn from Christmas. Many a toddler at work often needed an extra pair and the spares at work were often too big for their wee hands.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then there was that list of waiting WIPs. Some of those projects needed just a little time . . . .</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What did I do instead? Nothing. Nyet. Nada. I made no choice, so sadly there was no knitting. And now, my little peeps, I am feeling the withdrawals. The fingers are itchy and twitchy. My jaw is clenched. My stomach is in knots. I gotta grab some needles and string quick before I stab someone in the eye . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:(</span>Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-737280269793824420.post-91165779060784917512016-02-21T10:59:00.001-04:002016-02-21T10:59:26.774-04:00More Socks!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4TUAQYgLZyUMzw7bYZH1MIEHT-fd_N0NTTxgBGWfPAqtX_9e1h8JaP-xFb8LZDJ0vVz9wH9sWRCH3bd7miIYYnBF1FU16xKaG-McKAWuJDxzpo11TIMWFP28b0E6sXruvMToijygtYE/s1600/Knitting+Stuff+Feb+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4TUAQYgLZyUMzw7bYZH1MIEHT-fd_N0NTTxgBGWfPAqtX_9e1h8JaP-xFb8LZDJ0vVz9wH9sWRCH3bd7miIYYnBF1FU16xKaG-McKAWuJDxzpo11TIMWFP28b0E6sXruvMToijygtYE/s320/Knitting+Stuff+Feb+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Knitting tools with yarn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Yup, socks are king at my house--that is, worsted socks. For some reason, socks grow quickly in worsted weight. And that's part of the appeal.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ki8WFu_R7u0QaAN-IYT5g1pHArWPLOgvQ6xJxoZocUnxA3MKOjY4sLcO0FQFG_25cdHHhmGst6cpziYY-bz0JMc2Q4LzSZ-a-gTJ1V0l4S2oedSu_ogZhZMWupwaB2UIVlR6xDY6R38/s1600/Knitting+Stuff+Feb+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ki8WFu_R7u0QaAN-IYT5g1pHArWPLOgvQ6xJxoZocUnxA3MKOjY4sLcO0FQFG_25cdHHhmGst6cpziYY-bz0JMc2Q4LzSZ-a-gTJ1V0l4S2oedSu_ogZhZMWupwaB2UIVlR6xDY6R38/s320/Knitting+Stuff+Feb+019.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sock detail in worsted weight</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm using Briggs and Little 'cuz everything I saw on Ravelry recommended it as very durable and washing-machine friendly. Living in a small town, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">m</span>y options are limited regarding yarn availability. However, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Briggs and Little is readily available--and there's lots in my stash!</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyc_CZ1iXien6pNpNMHOutbdBIXGworyGhcTdtTBXNnAhVA3jUql6r8A-pckTDNKIX5f1SxyWlFX_4TJyGKAsEpacJ4Kiz0UKCICdaOYBhvkH0uQF_b4PL1WQrQ3KdDI9Ru8AgQHn_uY/s1600/Knitting+Stuff+Feb+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyc_CZ1iXien6pNpNMHOutbdBIXGworyGhcTdtTBXNnAhVA3jUql6r8A-pckTDNKIX5f1SxyWlFX_4TJyGKAsEpacJ4Kiz0UKCICdaOYBhvkH0uQF_b4PL1WQrQ3KdDI9Ru8AgQHn_uY/s320/Knitting+Stuff+Feb+028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heel detail in contrasting colour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pattern initially was to be <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heavy-socks-2" target="_blank">Heavy Socks</a> (link to free pattern on Ravelry), but the numbers looked too big.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The 54 stitches looked <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">more like a man's size. So I checked out </span></span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-basic-sock-worsted-weight" target="_blank">Paton's Basic Sock (worsted weight version)</a> 'cuz I had<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> used it before</span>. The 48 stitches still looked big, so I adjusted the numbers <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">again and reduced my cast-on to 44 stitches<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (I like using long-tail cast-on for sock<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s 'cuz it makes a nice <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">even edge at the cuff).</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I always cast on on DPN<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s</span> and then move my work to 2 circulars after <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">working a few rows. My preference<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is</span> working in the round on circulars ('cuz for me it reduces ladders). Rather than using a pattern, I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">prefer <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">plain </span>ribbing 'cuz it usually <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">provides a decent fit. Bes<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ides, ribbing can fix a multitude of sock sins. Hoping the two-tone<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>blue and cream <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">looks </span>fun and interesting.</span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Dina-Purlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09857713274477141720noreply@blogger.com0