Meaner's Grandkids Get the Best of Her

I've been nagging Karen to bring over some of the finished projects she's made her great-grandbabies in the past. Here are some photos of a few things she made for great-grandson, Conner (who is a chip off the old block and could legitimately be dubbed "Meanerest" or "Lil' Mean").

This first one is just a-fricking-dorable. A little sherpa hat and jacket Karen crocheted for Lil' Mean before we knew how onery he was going to turn out to be (not that it would have made any difference -- Karen would have made them anyway).



The second one is a cool little baby blanket, stitched with a lot of love for the little begger.



And, finally, a flannel cowboy throw that Karen says he still drags around. I love the finishing touch of his name and the date embroidered on the blankie.

Look Ma, No Fingers!

I adapted "Moya's Orpah-Annie Fingerless Gloves" pattern for my granddaughter, Aubrey. The gloves are made using a variety of sock yarns, giving them an eclectic, colorful look.



The work on the needles is pair of adult sized gloves, almost half-way completed, to give you an idea of size.

I seem to accumulate more yarn, patterns, needles and other accoutrements of knitting than I actually end up with in product, but reading this from the Yarn Harlot's 2009 calendar gave me comfort ~

I no longer make resolutions about my knitting. I don't say, "This year I'm going to get the stash in order" or "This year I'm going to alphabetize my patterns," and it's been many years since I swore that I would have fewer projects going a once." It's not that I've given up, since I'm not the sort, but rather that a kind of acceptance has come over me. I am a knitter. This is what it looks like. Anyone who thinks it's too much, or too messy, or too unfinished ... Well, they should just be happy that my passion is for lovely soft yarn and beautiful sweaters. After all, it could be much worse. I could have these same feelings about cabbage.

I was talking to Meaner the other day, though, and we both acknowledged that if we want to give socks as gifts for Christmas, we really need to start knitting them in January, given our lack of ability to stick with a task for long and the fact that we both have several people wanting socks. My other problem in making items for Christmas is that when I'm done with a project, I want to give it right away. I've never been known for delaying gratification, either my own or yours.

Mean finishes a project

Knitting is very conducive to thought. It is nice to knit a while, put down the needles, write a while, then take up the sock again. ~Dorothy Day

I made this sweater for my grandson, Mason. I just finished it. I told my son, Mike, that when Mason grows out of it, I have too much time invested in it to simply throw it in the Goodwill bag. It may be a simple little project for experienced knitters, but anytime I finish anything I'm amazed and have to have the proof around for awhile.

It's been like forever

I'm sure we are all busy working on knitting projects. Me? I'm regretting not starting on those ten pair of Christmas socks back in July. Even if I had, I probably could not have held on until Christmas to hand them out, so, oh well.

Meaner's been knitting madly for her new great-grandson to be and finished up the sweater and hat to go with the lovely blanket in the last post. Here they are ~



Here's a shot of the beanie standing up. Obviously, it will be much cuter with a little noggin inside it !



Mean is working on yet another crocheted afghan (among a half-dozen other projects) ~



I just ate three oatmeal-raisin cookies for breakfast. That's not a bad thing, is it?

Together Again

It's been awhile since I've posted a blog entry, but we've been busy, busy, busy with Dia de los Muertos. Time to put the dead to rest and get back to the unique creativity that winter and knitting provides.

Karen made this lovely mint green baby blanket for her great grandchild, who is not here yet, but will be soon. She's making a sweater to match. I'll post a photo of that when it is finished ~



I'm still working on my son's afghan from the Babette's blanket pattern.

Yolanda has a scheme to get us together this coming Thursday to all start a "Design your own sweater" in the round, based on a video she watched at at Easy Knitting Design.

I look forward getting together with the sisters again.

Nonknitters can think what they will about the value of knitting on earth, but know this: No knitter will ever depart the earth without leaving evidence behind.
~The Yarn Whore

I can only imagine ...

how huge I'd be if I didn't knit. Apparently, the Hippest, Old-Fashioned way to keep from overeating is to knit. Maybe if I could knit my jaw shut, it would prove to be true for me. Personally, I don't think you are an accomplished knitter until you've learned to purl and eat Cheetos at the same time. Yes, I am that good. And, yes, I am fond of orange yarn.

In other knitting news, Karen (aka "Meaner") and I (Linda, aka "Mean") finished making shawls from the free Lion Brand pattern, Spendid Triangle.



The pattern called for using Lion Brand Homespun yarn, which neither of us have had great experience knitting with. Karen used an alternative bulky weight yarn from Lion Brand (Jiffy), but wasn't pleased with the results. The pattern pops out with this yarn, but it isn't as soft and flexible as Homespun.

Meaner went with Homespun on her second attempt at this shawl. It is really lovely. If you use sharp pointed needles such as Denise or some other brand, it is much easier to knit Homespun. Forget about crocheting with that yarn, though. It's a biatch.

Here's Karen's second shawl in a beautiful green and then mine in variegated fall colors.





When Karen was trying to add some line to her Denise needles, she accidently pulled a large portion of the shawl off the line. This is her cussing and trying to fix her mess (hee hee) ~





Oh, and to leave you with a smile, here's a photo of my grandson, Mason, shaving with his "da dee." (When you maintain the blog, you get the privilege of occasional lapses into cuteness.)

Meaner's Entrelac Scarf

Karen finished the scarf she's been working on. It turned out beautifully.



What's next, Karen? Where's that afghan you've been working on?

This is ... something ... something very strange that creeped out of one of Yolie's many bags of yarn when last we were at her home. I'm not sure what it is, but if you see it, poke it with a stick to see if it moves.