Pumpkin Sunrise

  I finished it! After my last post about how to end the shawl and where to end the shawl, I decided to just cast off after doing many rows of the texture stitch. I didn't even do a fancy edging - I didn't have the energy left to choose one and I still had the problem of running out of the second skein of yarn. I used yarn from my stash and made do with what I already owned. I loved knitting this christening blanket . Do you remember me wondering about the blanket size after blocking? Well, after casting off I think the unblocked width was 35 inches. After blocking the width was 51 inches. I was pretty excited about that. I also wonder how big would the blanket be if I continued with the rest of the charts??? How are your projects coming along?

  Good morning! How are you and how is your crafting coming along? I continue to work feverishly on the christening blanket and am now mulling over how to finish it off without doing all of the remaining charts. I do not have much yarn left with the second skein. I do have a third optional color (similar to the first one) but I'm not sure if I want that and most of all I don't know if 500 yards will give me an additional inch of pattern based on how many inches I obtained with the second skein.  If I could get the blanket to be 36 inches wide and long (it's a square!) I feel that would be enough of a blanket. So my wonderings are: how many add inches in blocking will I get? Definitely one inch per quadrant but would I get two inches? Three inches might be right out! Also, how do I finish it off? I am going to flip through some of my other knitting books for some ideas. Overall, I have loved knitting this and I'm excited to get it off the needles and give it a blocking....

  Good morning to you! How are you and how are your projects coming along? I continue to work on the christening blanket but barely did one row in the past seven days because I was traveling and after getting back into town, I've been babysitting the grandchildren while my son and his wife set up their new home. There are over 800 stitches on the needles and it's only going to get bigger. However I know I am over half way through based on yardage and where I am on the charts. Even though this is lace weight wool and slow going, I am thoroughly enjoying the process. I cannot wait for this to be off the needles so I can see it all blocked out. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you doing?  Oh my, I've been busy. I saw the eye doctor on Friday and I see her again today. She is getting close to the final fittings of the custom made contact lenses to protect my severe dry eye due to Sjogren's Syndrome. I am getting used to putting them in and taking out, better than I thought I would! We went to the art museum a few days ago and then went out to lunch for our 'first' outdoor patio eating of the season. It was wonderful to be outside and to look at the pond. I wish I could photograph the frogs singing, but I guess you'll have to imagine that. They were delightful. I've been spending all my free time working on the christening blanket and have added the second skein yesterday. I've quit timing myself because the rows get longer and longer. I have 90 rows to go! If I run out of this yarn I have yet another 500 yards of a third back up yarn for the edging. I love the not knowing. I also love to knit with small siz...

  Good morning! How are you doing? How are your projects coming along? I continue to work on the christening blanket and have moved up another needle length. I'm on the third chart (of five) and am doing the second repeat of the third chart. I then have to go back to the second chart and repeat that one another four times.  I am focusing on yardage instead of chart completion because of the repeating charts and returning to charts I've finished. Each row now takes over 20 minutes! I am enjoying the knitting process and watching the patterns emerge. The grand baby is due at the end of September and I have high hopes that this will be done by then. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you doing? How are your projects coming along this week? I have made steady progress on two projects. First up is the christening blanket , I am on the second chart out of five charts (some are repeated...). Yay! As you can see in the photo I found another lace weight yarn in my basket that I completely forgot that I had and I believe when I run out of my first yarn I can use this second skein of wool and it will look nice. I am hoping it will be the edging, but I won't know until I run out.  Next up is the green baby blanket , I am over half way and it's very very exciting to know that. I keep working on this at night while watching tv shows.  I will see you all on Monday morning, I am going to relax and enjoy some days off from my space here.  So what are you working on this week?

  Hello! How are you?  I'm doing pretty good. I spent the weekend absorbing all the electricity and internet after having neither for 48 hours last week. I am so dependent on both and I am okay with that. The weather was all over the place with sun then rain but thankfully no big storms.  I received my first temporary pair of scleral lenses (medically necessary for severe dry eye) and I can get them in and out of my eyes, so yay. However the fit will be continually changed since they are custom made for my eyes. It is a long process, I guess. I finally am finish with chart TWO on the christening blanket! I need a parade or something because the last 5-6 rows took forever and it's only going to get worse. Each row is longer and longer. I can do it! As you can see, Holly decided to give me some love. She does that every once in awhile. I love it and she loves me.  How was your weekend?

  Good morning! How are you doing? We lost our electricity on Tuesday at around 5:15 pm from a mighty thunderstorm with winds up to 80 mph and it came on yesterday in the afternoon.  Our whole entire area was without power and it took the electric company a long time to plug everyone back in. There are some people who still have no power and have to wait until Sunday. So nearly 48 hours of me being ultra SAD but grateful this morning. We have some trees down but they are in our wooded area and luckily they're not near the house, thank goodness. I was fortunate that I could move some of our food from the refrigerator to my sister's house and only lost one large bag of food. We are in the process of tidying up the house and putting everything back to where it's supposed to go. I really didn't knit much so the photo is one I took a few days ago of a cowl I am working on. I am planning to cut back on posting here three times a week. I hope to be posting 1-2 times a week fro...

  Good morning! How are you doing and how are your projects coming along? I've been consistently knitting this Christening blanket every day and I wonder what have I gotten myself into because it's going to take a long time to finish! Also, as I previously stated, I do not think I have enough wool and have to figure out a way to ease into another similar color seamlessly when I do run out of wool.  How are your projects coming along?

  How are you doing today? I'm doing pretty good. It's been a busy week and today is a day where I don't have to be anywhere pressing. Of course I might go out but it will be because I want to go out. Before I forget, Happy Easter if you are celebrating! My sister's hosting Easter this year so I get to kick back and relax and enjoy the food. I will see family too! Around here, it will be getting warm and the tree pollen will be at an all time high. I have quit walking outside because of allergies since I can't take anything because of my health issues. I am enjoying doing you-tube exercise videos in my office. They are more challenging than my daily walks! I'm enjoying my lace knitting project that I talked about on Wednesday. It is a fun knit. Also, I had my first contact lens fitting for my 'medically necessary' contacts that will help protect and heal my extremely dry eyes. Once the lenses are made and in their office, I go back and get another fittin...

  Good morning! How are you doing and how are your projects coming along? I started two projects recently. First off, I started a lace Christening blanket and hope I have enough yarn, I have another skein that is close to this color and hope if I run out it will be when I start the edging...We will see! I started yet another baby blanket this one in a darker green and I like it. Babies do not mind the color as much as the like the softness! What are you working on this week?

  How was your weekend? My weekend was spent casting on new projects. I'm happy to share that our daughter and son in law are expecting their first child at the end of September. So of course I started a baby blanket and a lace Christening blanket over the weekend.  The Christening Blanket is challenging because the chart symbols are not the universal symbols that I am used to knitting. I am frequently flipping back and forth to the symbol chart to make sure I am doing the right stitches. I have already unknit 3 rows because I didn't even follow the chart correctly. I started another baby blanket (same pattern, forest green yarn). That is my TV knitting at the end of the day, I don't need to think about much when I am knitting that pattern. I hope to have updated project pages on Ravelry soon.  The weather is getting nicer, but the seasonal allergies are absolutely awful. So I've been doing indoor exercising hoping for some rain to tamp down the tree pollen. How as your...

  Good morning! I finished my sweater !! I had a fantastic time knitting this pattern which was easy to follow. I wish the neckline dipped a little lower in the front though. The original pattern was a cropped version with 3/4 sleeves. As you can see I lengthened the body and the sleeves to perfection. I also like the size I made super cosy! I will knit this pattern again, I am sure but not right away. Right now I have some serious baby gifts to knit. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you? My family left yesterday morning and yes, they did find a house that is 12 minutes away for us. They are so excited to be moving to the area and we are happy as well. We will get to see the grandchildren more often. My weekend and my past week was busy with grandchildren. We played lots, did sidewalk chalk and took little walks down the street. My grandson is 3 years old and my granddaughter is 19 months old.  Currently I am loving the silence! Yesterday I put away all the toys and baby stuff, cleaned the bedrooms and bathrooms and did a ton of laundry. I did not knit the entire week, however last night I added more inches to the second sleeve.  How was your weekend? (those beautiful daffodils from my front yard got zapped by the extreme cold, I hope the warm weather revives them!) I hope to be catching up with all of you soon!

  Hello! How are you and how is your crafting coming along this week? I have my family here until the weekend so I doubt I will be knitting much, but I did make it to the second sleeve of my vanilla sweater after I snapped this photo. I'm so excited that I am near the end. I'm still trying to decide if I should redo the neckline a third time...I will block it and see how it looks before I rip it out. I'm hoping the blocking will even out the edges. What are you working on this week? I will be busy with my family and will not post until Monday or Tuesday. We hope they find a house to buy!

  Good afternoon! How are you? We have been having wonderful weather here, I'm enjoying it immensely. It seems like a switch was flipped and winter is over. Don't worry though, we did not put the snow shovel away yet as a precaution. I don't know if you remember but Frodo (our mini schnauzer who passed last August) was a nosey little dog and I would call him Mrs. Kravitz whenever he watched the neighborhood (from Bewitched TV show). Well now, look at Miss Holly up there doing the same thing picking up the torch of being nosey in the neighborhood. I love it! (Frodo wanted to park at people, Holly is interested in the birds) This past week was really busy. Tomorrow is busy as well. I have a meeting at church then the rest of the day I'm helping out my cousin with her medical appointment and it's 40 minutes away. My aunt appreciates an extra pair of hands and I'm willing to help out. That is why I'm posting today instead of tomorrow. On my walk today I spied ab...

  Good morning! How are you and how is your crafting coming along? I made it to the first sleeve of my pullover ! Before I started the sleeve, I had to undo the cast off for the neckline because I couldn't get it over my head. I used a stretchy bind off and now the neckline is a bit floppy. I am keeping my fingers crossed that blocking fixes that floppiness and the body edging that is also curling up.  The baby blanket is nearing completion. I am on the last full skein of knitting and if my memory is correct I use a teeny bit of the last skein. (I really should write notes to myself!).   What are you working on this week?

  How was your weekend? Mine was busy, but I still managed to catch some minutes with my knitting. I am very close to the bottom of this sweater. I'm so excited! Our son and daughter in law started looking at houses virtually while my husband and I go physically to some of the houses. So far, nothing of interest that meets their needs but it did take up a chuck of our Sunday afternoon.  On Saturday, we went over to my sister's house to celebrate our brother in law's birthday. It was nice to get together and catch up with one another.  I am easing into another busy week helping family out, going to my classes and another routine doctor appointment. (these doctor appointments tend to bundle all together...). How was your weekend?

  I did it! I finished my hat a few days ago and instead of having five projects on the needles, I am now doing four projects. My brain loves that amount. For some reason I feel pressure with five projects. This hat was a fun project, it's the third one I've made of this design. I love the double thickness for walking in the extreme cold. It's the only hat design that I have knitted that keeps my heat toasty warm.  By the way, my daughter wove the scarf in the background of my photo. I love it so much!! She is talented and thoughtful.  What are you working on this week?

  We had some wild weather this weekend. On Saturday morning, it snowed so much that my husband had to clear the driveway before the rain set in. By Saturday night all the snow melted and it was raining until Sunday early afternoon. I decided to go for a walk after the became a scant drizzle. That is of course when the snow started and it was heavy! I was soaking wet and my shoes were leaking, so sad.  So now we have about 3-4 inches of snow to clear once again this morning. Besides the rollercoaster weather, I finished a book over the weekend and then started Glory Over Everything  as my next read. So far I find the book captivating and it is from my 'to be read' bookshelf. My goal of reading the books I already own for 2025 is going strong. I continued to work steadily on my sweater over the weekend as well. It's a comfort knit with all of those stockinette stitches. How was your weekend?