Brownies Visit the Beautiful Drive

While I was in the rec room watching the news and talking on the phone, two mysterious brownies by the name of Buttercup and Pah decided to work some magic in the kitchen. These are pictures of the kitchen as it looked when I walked in. What you can't see, unfortunately, is the before -- the dishwasher was full of clean dishes, the counters were full of dirty dishes, the table was covered with "stuff." And now? The kitchen smells of orange cleaner, the clean dishes are in the cupboards, the dirty in the dishwasher. And Mama? Mama's so tickled she had to post it on the blog -- I've always dreamed of having brownies visit! (Yes, the kids know that -- what wonderful children, to make their Mama's dreams come true!) I have two reallio, trulio special children!

Bulky V Neck Pullover

This is the Bulky V Neck Pullover from Knitting Pure & Simple. I used Naturwolle from Austermann, color 03. I loved the method -- top down, all on circs. This is the sweater I completed three times. The first try looked like a maternity sweater (and if there was any hope of that I may have left it that way). So I ripped it out, added darts for shaping, and decided against the side slits. The final product doesn't look much like the pic on the pattern, but it fits nicely. I especially like the neck edge and raglan shaping. This was the first time I did the math on a sweater to fit it to me and I'm happy with the time and effort... A wonderful learning experience and a nice sweater, to boot.

Doubleknitski Number Two

Mark's Doubleknitski in Elann's Highland Wool (blue) and Paton's Classic Merino (grey). Love this pattern and I think he's going to love the warmth. I was worried that Spring would arrive before I could finish the hat. Have no fear; Spring is here -- but warm air is not. Mark should have a few chances yet to wear the hat this season....

Glad Ragg Socks

Here's the completed Glad Ragg sock. I haven't worn these, yet -- I've just been admiring them on the foot. :) This pair was for the Six_Sox_Knitalong Group. My first for the group, and the pattern Mom and I chose for our annual knitalong. Beading was a bother at first, but fun in the end. Don't know that I'd go for another beaded sock, but I can foresee other beaded projects in the future...

We're back!

We're back from our annual spring break trip to lovely Fairfield Township, PA. And I do mean lovely! We enjoyed blue skies, March winds, and spring-like temps for the whole ten days -- only to return to upstate NY and winter! I was happy to see our crocus coming up, only to find them covered in snow the first morning we were home!

I acquired a new skill on break -- knitting with beads. Mom and I chose for our annual mother/daughter knit along the Gladd Ragg socks from the six_sox_knitalong (check out Yahoo groups if you're interested!). I'll post picks later! I had fun, anyway. ;-) Ya' maybe don't want to ask Mom about it -- but her socks are beautiful! I also completed a neck-down raglan pullover for me... Three times. You know you've advanced as a knitter when you bind off, try it on, rip out, reknit, bind off, try it on, rip out, reknit... And my last project while in PA was the Doubleknitski for Mark. I just finished that one this morning -- he'll need it 'cause it's only 26 outside and it's not that warm inside!

And now we're back to school (Nine weeks left in the school year, and then we'll have a bit of a break and on to year 2. Where does the time go???), laundry, cleaning... Mark was an absolute sweetheart and cleaned house while I was gone AND baked cookies for us, so my load is light this week! Life is good!

Lavenderberry Doubleknitski

Buttercup models her new hat. This is the second hat I knit for Buttercup (the first was a colorwork hat I attempted before I had any clue about how to do colorwork). She picked the colors, I picked the pattern. This was the real double knit pattern I was looking for. Google Doubleknitski and you'll find the pattern and lots of warm caps. :)

Pah's Harlequin Hat

Harlequin \Har"le*quin\, n. i. To play the droll; to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.

Need I say more?

The hat is from a free pattern at Elann.com. The yarn is Elann's Sock It to Me Collection; Harlequin in Blue Jeans and Blue Stonewash. I was looking for a double-knit hat pattern and found this. Pah found it at the same time and decided he needed a hat like that. The hat's not really double knit. You use a provisional cast-on and knit the "first" hat with one skein. Then pick up the live stitches and knit the "second" hat with the second skein. When all is said and done you fold one inside the other and off you go, out into the snow. A warm, reversible hat -- really very simple to make. I'm not impressed with the Sock It to Me yarns and I'm envisioning this hat done in Opal -- one of the patterning yarns and a complimentary solid. Hhmmm, I may have to go shopping...

You appear to be a Knitting Purist.
You are an accomplished knitter producing beautiful

pieces with a classic feel. You sometimes

lament losing half of your local yarn shop to

garish novelty yarns. Perhaps you consider

fun fur scarves the bane of knitting society

and prefer to steer new knitters towards the

wool and cotton blends. Some might call you a

bit of an elitist but you know that you've

been doing this craft long enough to respect

the history behind it and honor it with

beautiful piece that can last a lifetime.
http://marniemaclean.com


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