Projects,  Projects, PROJECTS!!  and KIPing at the Race(walk)


While I've been too busy to post, I'm happy to report that I haven't been too busy to knit.  My brilliant and talented godchildren Emma and Matthew were visiting for a few days last month.  Even though we went shopping for school clothes and supplies, saw a movie (Band Slam), played lots of Mexican dominoes (at which I lost to Grandma [Ethel] each time), and ate out way too often, I managed to start and complete another loofah while they were here.

I also sprinted through the hats and booties for Tara's soon to be born twin boys.  I did NOT sprint through the eighty-eight inches  of I-cord, however!  It was beyond boring to knit those ties, so it was with a sigh of relief that I delivered the completed project to Tara's co-workers at Millburn Veterinary Hospital.

Next in the finished project category are two toddler hats done in a jaquard sport yarn by Bernat.

One hat (with a rolled stockinette edge) is for April's daughter Jada.  April is also on the staff at Millburn and it has become a tradition for me to knit this style of hat for Jada ever since April told me it was the only one that would stay on! 

I made another of the same yarn but with a ribbed edge as part  my charity knitting.  Through the BAKG (Big Apple Knitting Guild), I learned of Sojourner House in Rochester -- a home for women leaving abusive relationships.  They and their children often arrive with little  other than the clothes they are wearing.  So I'm going to try and make some hats, scarves and mittens -- Rochester certainly gets cold in the winter.

My Seaman's Hat and Scarf for the Christmas at Sea Program is also finished.  Since several  members of our Trinity Knitting Group are also making items for the program, they will all be sent in November.

Of course, I have have a lot of WIPs duly noted in the Knitting Buddy on my iTouch.  This has not stopped me from starting two more projects.  Since they say charity begins at home, I am finally making something for myself.  I  fell in love Anne Budd's  "Garter Lace Jacket" in Simple Style. I am making it in "Island Coral" -- a lovely shade of KnitPicks CotLin.  The yarn is a fifty/fifty blend of cotton and linen and has incredible drape. Naturally, I am using my new Zephyr needles, which makes even the boring garter stitch off my needles....which brings me to last Sunday.

The whole family went to Ocean Township to watch Ethel's daughter Karen compete in the Jersey Shore 40 K.  Karen is a champion racewalker and this was our chance to cheer her on (and for Emma and Matthew to be her 'water boys').  A 40 K race is upwards of four hours, so Ethel and I hunkered down in lawn chairs and knitted while we waited for Karen to pass us as she looped around the course.  Karen wasn't the only one to notice us -- several racewalkers called out to us as they passed.  One said he was gauging the length he had gone in the race by the length of my knitting.  Another referred to me as Mme. Defarge.  Ethel told one we were taking orders for sweaters.  Best of all, I knitted six inches of the back of my sweater -- the first time I had completely knit a  ball of yarn straight through in one sitting.  I am now at the twelve inch mark (and starting my third ball of yarn), so I must give some credit to the Zephyr needles.. they are so much fun to work with.

Of course, several hours in the open air did wonders for our allergies -- alas, poor nose, eyes and throat!

 My other new WIP is a pair of socks -- a birthday present that needs to be completed within the next month.  Since I am using  a finer yarn and a different gauge than the pattern calls for, I had a disastrous start.  I must have been on a different planet when I made my calculations.  I did twenty rounds of the pattern for the cuff and then tried it on -- perfect for someone with swollen ankles!  I must now frog and go back to the drawing board.

Enough for now ... tomorrow night is Stitch 'n' Pitch at CitiField. While the Mets may be dismal, at least I'll be able to enjoy Janice's company and that of other knitters. Who knows, I may even finish the back of my sweater!