Noolie Knits

Catch Up Post

Betty's blanket was delivered yesterday afternoon.  Unfortunately, I had to deliver it to her in the hospital; she was admitted again yesterday for pain.  I was happy to be able to bring a little sunshine into her day with the blanket, though.  She was so touched that so many would take the time to help make this blanket for her.  I only stayed for about 15 minutes or so, and the whole time I was there she was rubbing the blanket and admiring it.  I didn't ask to take a picture because I didn't think it was appropriate since she was in a hospital bed.  Thank you for helping me to give a very special person a little bit of joy on a day when she really needed it!

Now, let's catch up on what I've been up to. As you know, there hasn't been a whole lot of knitting of late, but there has been some.

I started, and almost finished, this pair of socks for Dulann a week ago Sunday and only just got around to finishing them this morning.

Pattern: Norma's Magic 28 Yarn: Paton's Classic Merino, Leaf Green Needles: Brittney size 5 dpn This is only my second pair of Magic 28 socks; 26 to go. Good thing there isn't any time limit on this!

I'm teaching a Booga Bag class at The Yarn Sellar. The first class was last night. There were 5 students in the class and they all did really well. It's fun to see how the different colorways of Noro Kureyon work up. Here's my bag so far:

 

I'm using color #90 (don't you just love the creative color names Noro uses?).  I plan to have this felted for next week's class; the studens should be finished knitting the bag portion and be working on the 5 to 6 FEET OF I-CORD at that point. It's a two week class, though, so I want to be able to explain the felting process and the finishing process. That means I'll be knitting exclusively on this until it is done.  This also means the two kids' sweaters are still on hold. No problem; I'll get back to them soon.  Notice the gorgeous stitch marker on that bag?  That was a gift from the wonderful Heather a while back.  She makes beautiful stitch markers and dyes gorgeous yarn; you should really go check out her store.

Recently, I won a contest over at Susan's blog and the prize package came in the mail last week. Check this out:

 

Claudia Handpainted yarn in the most incredibly gorgeous colorway and some adorable stitch markers. I love them. Thanks, Susan!

Have you seen that Rabbitch has opened up her online store? Is it wrong that I made sure I ordered what I wanted before telling you about it?  She just opened it up today and will be updating it daily for a while; go check it out.  I bought the set of fridge magnets designed by her very talented husband.

 

The Sheep is going to be walking in circles to help fight cancer and is doing a bit of fundraising (she's giving away prizes, too).  She's real close to reaching her goal; how about you go on over to her fundraising page and help her if you can (and maybe win a prize).  Go, Sheepie, Go!

Okay, that's the end of the catch up game; have a wonderful day :)

Finally!

BETTY'S BLANKET OF LOVE

 

It's really hard to get a good picture of a blanket this size; this is the best I could do.

It took a lot longer than I had anticipated; but I'm happy with the result and I think Betty will be too. I plan to take it to her tomorrow. I'll get a picture of her with it if she's up to it.

Thanks so much for all your help and for your thoughts and prayers for Betty. You're all wonderful!

More Squares

I've done precious little knitting this week. I've been busy, busy, busy. We are in our busy time at work and I've been teaching some classes at the Yarn Sellar in the evenings, so by the time I'm done, I'm pooped. Monday night I taught a knitting class. Tuesday night was Chicks with Sticks and I'd normally get something done then, but this week one of my students from the Monday night class came for some help. She was having trouble picking up stitches for the sleeve (we're doing the Fisherlad Guernsey sweater by Yankee Knitter) when the class ended Monday, so I was really happy that she came Tuesday night so I could help her. It's a good feeling when you teach someone something that you love and they get it and enjoy it. Last night, I taught a Granny Square class and went to bed shortly after I got home, so no knitting last night either.

I took yesterday off of work so that I could begin the process of joining the squares for Betty's blanket.  I had an appointment in the morning, so I didn't get started until almost noon.  I spent a couple hours arranging and rearranging squares before deciding how I'm going to join them.  Notice I said "how I'm going to join them".  I didn't end up joining any yet.  I'm still waiting for a couple of squares that I know are in the mail, but I can start joining what I have tonight since I have no place I have to be. I'll work on it tomorrow night and over the weekend and hopefully, I'll have a picture of the completed blanket by the end of the weekend. 

Since I have no knitting of my own to show you, let me show the the squares you haven't seen yet (in no particular order).

Left to Right, Top to Bottom, squares made by:

Zonda, Holly, Holly, Sheila

Jeanne, Jason, Ann, Amanda Kathleen

Tempe, Sara, Robin (from work), Mary I. (from work)

Mary, Karen (from work), Dianne, Dana

I know I've said it before, but it's worth repeating; I am so blown away by the response to my request for squares! It warms my heart to know how many people care. I absolutely can't wait to give this to Betty; she's going love it. She's been having a really tough time for a while now; she's been in and out of the hospital several times in the past couple of months (in more than out, I think) and I know this will bring her much comfort. Thank you all!

Sweaters

This weekend was spent working on a few sweaters.  Little people sweaters. 

I finished the buttons for the pink/purple sweater.  Can I just say, I don't think I'll be crocheting little buttons with dark purple yarn again anytime soon.  My old eyes just can't take it!  The stitches were nearly impossible to see, but I managed and now I'm done.  I think they are perfect for this sweater. 

Minnowknits Gardi Cardi in Lamb's Pride pink and purple.

This is my April project for Holiday Headstart and will be for one of my great-neices.  I'm so glad I joined this KAL; I'm really getting a good headstart on my Christmas knitting. 

(Is it weird that I felt a little bit bad hanging Ted from the wall to take this picture?)

Next up, I finished the back of the Mock Cable sweater I started last week.

This is another Christmas present for my other great-neice.

I've put that aside while I knit this:

Yankee Knitter's Child's Fisherlad Guernsey in Plymouth Encore. The color is really a darker, deeper, beautiful green. This will be for my great-nephew for, you guessed it, Christmas.  See that little section of sleeve?  It was an almost finished sleeve around dinnertime last night.  As I was measuring it (10 of 10 1/2 inches done, by the way) I thought something didn't look quite right.  I looked closer and realized that I had knit the stupid sleeve inside out!  It's picked up from the sides of the sweater, which I did correctly, and then there are several patterned rows before starting the stockinette section that look the same on the right and wrong side.  I didn't even notice that I started the stockinette with the knits on the wrong side until I was almost done.  I was not a happy camper!  I ripped out the offending sleeve and put the sweater in timeout for the night.

While the sweater was thinking about what it had done, I started a dishcloth for Carrie's contest.  I'm making the Garterlac dishcloth found here, in some very bright Sugar'n Cream yarn.  I completed all but the last layer of top triangles; picture next time.  I really love the way this looks, but I'm not sure how soon I'll be doing it again - my hands are killing me!

I know I promised pictures  of the squares for Betty's blanket, but I'm lame and didn't get them taken yet.  All the squares I've received  so far are blocked and ready for the hard part of deciding how to arrange and join them.  There are still a few squares in the mail, but I think I can start to get an idea of how to arrange them.  I plan to start the process of joining them Wednesday or Thursday and hope to finish it by the end of the weekend.

That's it for today.  Have a good one :)

I Love My Mailman!

*Warning* If you are in the Rockin' Sock Club and haven't received your April package, don't read this post (unless you can't wait to see the yarn).*

The mailman has been very good to me this week.  He's brought me a package every single day so far this week.  I've received several more squares for Betty's blanket; you people are awesome! 

He also delivered two packages of sock club yarn - YAY.

I plan to take pictures of the squares on Saturday, so stay tuned for those.  Tonight, I'm going to show you the yarny goodness that was delivered.

First up, the April installment of Spunky Club yarn arrived the other day:

Strawberry Fields - 360 yards of sport weight superwash with 10% nylon. YUMMY!  I can't wait to knit this up; it's beautiful and oh so soft!

As if that wasn't good enough, the April installment of the Rockin' Sock Club yarn was delivered today.

I just love that little mini-skein key ring. This month's yarn is a brand new Socks that Rock yarn called Silkie.  It's a superwash merino/silk blend and it is gorgeous.  This colorway is "Walking on the Wild Tide".  Very, very pretty.  It came with a lovely pattern designed by Chrissy Gardiner called "Knee High to a Grasshopper".  The pattern can be knit in two versions, regular length and knee-highs. 
The regular length version: 

and the knee-high version: 

I really like this pattern. I think I'll use this shipment of yarn to knit the regular length sock, but I'll definitely be knitting the knee-highs at some point.

I wonder what the mailman will bring me tomorrow :-)

Saturday Sky and Squares

It's a beautiful, warm sunny day. The clouds you see are just light, fluffy things spread out here and there. What a difference a few days makes!

Squares have been rolling in. Check out what I've received so far:

From Left to Right, top to bottom, squares made by:

Patti, Nora in Australia, Marianne in the UK, Marianne,

Me, Marianne,  Nishanna, Me,

Jackie, Lisa, Colleen, Debby,

Gina, Carol, Carol, Brenda,

Gretchen, Gina & Amanda, Charity, Carole,

Amanda, Amy

22 Squares and still more than a week to go until I plan to take a day off work and join them together.

Thank you to everyone who has sent squares and everyone who is working on a square!  If the finished blanket gives Betty even half the comfort that receiving the squares has given me, she'll be well comforted indeed.