Knittinggarden

and that's how many were reported to be lining the route of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. We were poised precariously on a second story ledge outside a window of our hotel waiting for our Princess and her high school marching band to appear in the crowded street below. They came, they played, they conquered! Here is a short clip (sorry it looks so fuzzy) of the Best Youth Band: Shorecrest High School Band, Shoreline Washington as awarded by the official St. Patrick's Festival organization. Congratulations, kids. You did a great job and we were thrilled to be able to see it. The Drummer Girl concentrating: These balloons were huge and cool, and right in front of our kids. What a crowd!

to watch the Princess/Drummer Girl's high school band march in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin. It doesn't get much better than that! See you next week.

Now that the mittens are finished, the Princess looks for the snow. Come on, bring it on! I know it's out there! No snow in Seattle today.

Not that I am... There's been a lot of knitting-related goings on lately, but I haven't gotten around to writing them down. I am determined to keep up with my FO reporting, so here goes. I finished my Moderne Baby Blanket and have it packed up to go to afghans for Afghans . I also made two tiny pairs of socks out of leftover yarn and will tuck them into the box, too. It makes me happy to think about little Afghan babies wearing the same socks that I am. I hope they'll keep someone warm on a cold day. I also finished my Flower Basket shawl today. I'll have to take a better picture, but couldn't wait to get it documented. The colorful beach towel doesn't add to the look of the shawl, but it works for the blocking. The Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist (purchased at The Loopy Ewe ) was great to work with, and I got through this pattern pretty easily. (I still have to concentrate pretty hard to keep my place in the chart no matter what tricks or markings I emp...

not to be sad when the kids leave for college. One day you will realize that there must be some extra shelves in someone's former closet that can, with some judicious rearranging of abandoned junk important stuff that might be needed someday, be used for yarn storage.

It is very heartwarming to belong to such a generous group as the Knitters. As I cruise blogland, I find more and more opportunities to be of help to others. I intersperse knitting for self and family with charity knitting and feel good about providing some warmth to someone in need as I learn new skills. I'd like to mention my Dishrag Tag teammate and blog buddy, Sarah-Hope, who is holding a raffle and giving away some great prizes to raise money for animal causes, something near and dear to her heart. Check out her blog and make a donation, if you can. Just a chance to look at her lovely Swallowtail Shawl makes the trip worthwhile! I've also recently heard about The Make it Right project and specifically The House that Yarn Built. If you can give up a skein of yarn or two, consider donating the money here and help build a house for Katrina victims. There's also a drawing going on for some cool yarny prizes. I finished my second pair of Fingerless Mitts for niece #2...

Since I'm determined to keep track of what I knit this year, I will post photos when I finish something and also add it to my Flickr set of 2008 knitting. How's that for organization? Now if I could just make a schedule of what's next and stick to it.....The bags of projects are piling up around my knitting chair again. Here are the fingerless mitts I made for a niece's birthday. I used Cascade 220 Superwash and a size 6 needle; Addi Turbos 32" cable for Magic Loop. I started them two-at-a-time but made a mistake in one so had to separate them, rip one back and then finish. The pattern is Cableback Gloves by A. Karen Alfke. I also finished a pair of baby socks to send to afghans for Afghans . I used some leftover Regia tweed sock yarn and the Infant Socks pattern by Judy Ellis. These are quick and so cute! I did make both of these at the same time - I started with two circs, got mixed up with the cables, put them on Magic Loop (after separating them to do...

Okay, okay, I know my oldest is 20, but how can it be possible that my baby is 17? Wasn't it just yesterday when I looked like this and then you looked like this? You always had the most amazing hair. You had more hair than most babies, more hair than most two year olds, and lots more hair than most three year olds. And then there was the talent! The lovely bunny ballerina who decided that dancing wasn't her thing; the little girl who played the huge piano (and who still plays very well, even after deciding not to pursue it seriously.) The sports have always been important. Soccer from first grade, basketball from second grade. We went to a lot of games! It's been great fun watching you play, grow, and change. Buddy was mascot for awhile. You and your "twin" had lots of fun playing last year. And we can't forget the year of the track champions. You girls were fast! Marching band has taken you around Seattle, to Victoria, BC and this year will be Ir...

Need I say more?

2008 is going to be a year of new experiences, knitting-wise. You've probably seen or heard of the beautiful Kauni cardigan , publicized by the Yarn Harlot , among others. I saw that sweater and thought it was just beautiful, but possible for me to do? Probably not. (Aside: I just went back and read some of the Harlot's trials and tribulations with this pattern, and now I'm REALLY concerned about my foolish decision to try it. Oh well, on with the story.) My LYS got the yarn in stock, and since I like to get the things that are not readily available (examples: yarn from Sheri's Sneak-ups , inaugural session of the Yarn Pirate Booty Club ) whether I need them or not, I visited the shop immediately and purchased the Kauni in the Rainbow colorway. It comes with a free pattern. The pattern includes all sorts of fun things to do like two-color patterning, sweater knitting in the round, and the best thing - steeks. I haven't done much, if any, of these things,...

Here I go, just as I promised, documenting all knitting of 2008. This scarf has a bit of a story, as I wasn't planning to make a scarf right now. I participated in ISE5 and volunteered to be an "angel" if needed. An angel knits a scarf for someone whose assigned partner falls down on the job for one reason or another and doesn't come through with a scarf. Anyway, an e-mail went out the other day calling for angels for three scarfless people. I've been fascinated with the book, 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders, and saw a scarf pattern in there that I wanted to try. I had enough yarn (Classic Elite Beatrice, bought on closeout from WEBS) so I decided to get going. It took me only one day to finish the scarf. Waterfall Scarf, 3 skeins Classic Elite Beatrice yarn, Size 11 needles. I blocked it when I finished, which makes the "holes" show up more than in the photo in the book. Anyway, back to the story. After I volunteered to make this for a scarfle...

Documentation of finished objects. Seems simple, right? Finish a project, take a picture. Save the picture to look at forever and ever. My routine is: finish a project, send it to recipient, charity, etc. Forget to take a picture. Never see it again. Forget exactly what I've made. 2008 routine: Make a folder for 2008 Knitting. Save on my computer and also on Flickr. How many things can I make in one year? We'll see....... Here's something to look at while pondering. Zen String Bambewe in "Moonshadow". December sock club yarn. Can't wait to use it.

I hope your year started safely and happily. We made it to midnight with a group of friends, toasted with champagne, and tried not to worry too much about our kids who were out. Everyone came home safely, I just got home from the group cast-on for the Peace Fleece Knitalong at my fabulous LYS , and life is good. I wish happiness, peace, and lots of good knitting for everyone in the new year.

Alpaca with a Twist, Baby Twist from the Loopy Ewe . Zen String Serendipity in Morocco and Poseidon Yarn Pirate in Solstice and Icicle Need I say more?

Well, it looks like my career working in a yarn and tea shop has ended as quickly as it began (that's right, so quickly I didn't even get a chance to blog about it.) I was in my favorite LYS a couple of weeks ago and noticed that they were pretty busy, and offered to help. (I'm such a good samaritan when the good deed involves being around yarn.) Anyway, I thought I could tag stuff or stock shelves, but I was asked "Do you want to work?" The owners are friends of mine and had faith, I guess, that I'd be able to figure out how to use a computer/cash register, measure and serve tea, and answer questions about yarn after not having worked in 20 years, so who was I to disagree? I made it clear that I didn't want to take hours from other people, and I started working at the beginning of December. It's been a lot of fun and I've learned so much (mostly that it's hard work being on your feet for 8 hours a day and trying to find things when you don...

has taken on a whole new meaning for me. (And has given me the inspiration to blog after a quite lengthy hiatus.) I called my son to tell him to watch for a package I had sent, since it had gifts in it, including a couple of checks that he would want. He told me that he had lost a key to the mailbox, and one roommate who had already gone home for break had the other one. So his plan is to watch out the window for the mailman and run out and ask for the mail when he arrives. Sounds good to me, and definitely much easier than looking through the house for the key! I hope he can see the mailbox from inside, since it's supposed to snow today. This is one item that's in the box (modeled by the lovely and talented DH). Scott asked for convertible fingerless mitts, and Mom was happy to comply. Especially after hearing that he doesn't wear the hat I made for him last year, because wearing a "matching hat and scarf that your mom made" is not cool. Oh well, who was...