Dd#3 is purling!

Dd#3 has been knitting coaster size squares (garter st) for a several months on and off. She wasn't interested in learning how to purl.

Then I ordered Kids Learn to Knit by Lucinda Guy.

She found a cute little owl project in that book that she wanted to make. It required purling which she picked up in a flash. 2 stockinette squares later and some felt shapes cut and we've got Flapping Fred.



She now also knows how to cast on using the reverse loop method. She'll sometimes just grab yarn and needles and cast on over and over.

Polly Pocket also received a rug designed and knit by dd#3.

Happy Herbie is next in her queue.

3 pairs of socks done!

I finished the pair of Philosopher's House Socks (Nov/Jan sock class) for Cat Bordhi's sock book. They fit nicely over a pair of regular wool socks...so I've got extra warmth for these really really cold days. The yarn is Cascade 220...more leftovers from the Wonderful Wallaby sweaters. Needles: Size 4 dpns.











This purple pair is for dd#3.

Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote, Columbine
Needles: Size 0 circulars
Method: Toe up, Crazy Toe & Heel style








This charcoal pair is my dad's Christmas present. It looks really black in the photo but it is a dark charcoal in real life. These were toe up - Crazy Toe & Heel style on size 0 circs. The yarn is called Pace from Universal Yarns.

I've got my brother-in-law's socks...same color, same size as these....on the needles . One foot is to the heel and the other is almost halfway to the heel.

Knitting and Reading

There has been some talk on the KnitList about knitting while reading.

I use a nifty little book holder called The Book Gem if I'm reading a printed book while knitting.

If the book is on CD...then a CD player will do.

I've recently acquired a Sony MP3 player (dd#2's old one). Today Wendy (from the KnitList) shared a link for LibriVox. This site provides free audiobooks for works in the public domain. That looks like a great resource! I'll have to learn how to download the files....not today....I've already got a book on CD and several "real" books going at the moment.

Another fun way to get a daily dose of literature is Daily Lit. They email you a small portion of a book of your choice each day at the time of your choosing. You can also omit weekends if you like. Set your mouse to slowly scroll and grab your knitting.

NB....I don't always read while knitting. Sometimes the TV is going (I don't often get control of the remote) or I'm visiting with friends or knitting in public....or sometimes everything is quiet. That doesn't happen real often in this house.

Philosopher's House Socks

This is the sock that we worked on in our sock class in November and December. December's class was snowed out so we met on the 8th of January for the final class.

We did the arch expansion to the heel turn in class. I finished the heel and cuff the next morning (way too early). It was knit in worsted weight yarn (Cascade 220...left over from my Wallaby). Fast knit. Although I'll use them more for slipper socks. They're a bit too thick for my regular shoes.

This pattern is from Cat Bordhi's newest sock book:
New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Book One on page 72.

I've got the toe started on its mate.

Christmas Crafting

Here are some crocheted soap bags. The pattern is from the Klutz Crochet Book. I did a twisted cord instead of a chain for the ties and also made them drawstring bags. It's about 3" wide and 5.5" high. Irish Spring or a bar of Dove fit just fine. The bag for the little one was filled with candy instead of soap.








My husband's work friends received Tribbles (scrubbies) knit by dd#1. This link doesn't seem to be working for me. Could just be my computer.






My sister got a storage case for her knitting needles.






The large plastic pockets are 3.5" x 6.75". The smaller plastic pockets that hold the needle labels are 2.5" x 1.75". I cut two pieces of coordinating fabric 30" x 28" and a piece of window screen 16.5" x 28" (to add stiffness to where the needles are stored). To fold: Flop the top down. Fold the left and right sides in toward each other 3 times and secure with ribbon and button. The button isn't really necessary but I liked it. I tie the half knot above the button and the loops of the bow below the button.

She also received the pink lacy round linen cloth (already pictured here). My mom also got one in a dark purple. I didn't take a picture of the purple one...hmmm. I also promised my mom that'd I'd knit her a bag with yarn she had been hoping would turn into a felted bag. Unfortunately the yarn didn't cooperate so she asked instead for a pair of socks in fingering weight yarn. She's got the first pair of socks I ever knit but they are in sport weight and don't fit in her shoes so well.



My dad and brother-in-law are also both getting a pair of socks. I had one toe of a sock started before Christmas for my dad. My b-i-l wants the same color as dad's...charcoal. One sock is about an inch from being complete. If it is a smidget too short for dad (and that is my only concern at the moment) it should fit my b-i-l just fine.

(This picture is from the 29th of December. The heel is done but with dental floss as a life line in case it didn't fit and I had to reknit the heel.)

My mother-in-law received the Truly Tasha Shawl...previous pictures here. We tried to get a picture on Christmas Eve of her wearing it (at least long enough to get a picture) but before I had it over her shoulders she had it off. Hope she comes to love the warmth it will provide her as she reads her books and/or surfs the webTV.

Friends at church and our next door neighbor received crocheted diagonal potholders, knit cloths, and tribbles.