Major Knitter

My Morning Joe

It's Friday - and after the first full week of school - I definitely find myself in dire need of my cup of joe in the morning.  

It helps that my coffee is in my favorite coffee mug - a handknit cable pattern from Starbucks circa 2008.

That's the way I like to start my day.  Here's wishing you a very happy Labor Day Weekend!

Recovery Mission

I had so much fun knitting those last two baby blankets that I decided to see if there were any other snoozing projects that needed to be recovered.

I found my Sweet Heart Baby Blanket started October 2008 that I left abandoned for a good many year.

I'm using Encore Worsted and it's knitting up at a decent speed.  I resurrected this pattern at the beginning of the second row of heart panels.  I've nearly finished the second set of panels.  I think this blanket will require a total of 4x4 hearts - so I'm nearly halfway done with this blanket.  But it's not a race.  

I haven't decided this blanket's fate.  It will live of course, now that it's been recovered, but I am not sure where it's destined to go upon completion.  Maybe it will go into safekeeping for a future baby.  That might be a nice gift to have on hand.

Wilma on Wednesday - Eating and Sleeping

There are two things that Wilma does really well - 

Eating

and Sleeping.

It's important to know what your talents are!  Good girl.

 

 

One Good Thing Deserves Another

As usually happens when I knit a feel good project, I immediately cast on for another charity baby blanket.  If you've been reading my blog, you know I run in cycles.  I like to knit something until it's run its course.  This often means I'll knit the same thing several times.  It makes me more efficient.  I learn as I knit... the pattern... the rhythm... some mistakes.... what yarn works best.... how much yarn.... etc.

From Start to Finish

I used the following:

• US Size 15 needles (could have used either 15 or 13s)
• 2 skeins Red Heart Baby Econo - Color 1926 Sweet Dreams
• 1 skein - Red Heart Soft Baby - Color 7737 Powder Pink
• 1 skein - unlabeled pink yarn - probably Red Heart or Caron
• Pattern - Major Knitter's Oh So Soft Baby Blanket

I knit this for a solid two days straight and am happy to present a FO in no time at all.  I probably should have given it a rest, but it was the perfect back-to-school knitting.  

Now I have two blankets to send to Jackson Recovery Centers' Women & Children's Center.  Yippy.

Back to School

Today is the first day of school for both my boys.

Both are freshmen this year.

Wilma couldn't be happier.  She loves the back-to-school schedule!  

Drive safely everyone!

Women and Children's Center

Earlier this month I dug up an old project that I started in May 2008 - Oh So Soft Baby Blanket - but quickly abandoned until 50 months later.  But this summer I needed something that I was able to knit in the dark while watching TV with Secundogeniture - and this was just the ticket.

It's a perfect baby blanket that is machine washable and durable.

It's so soft because it's knit holding two strands of yarn at the same time.  In this case I used

• Red Heart Baby Econo - Color 1987 Bathtime Print
• Phildar Pronostic + in Color Celadon 500229
• US Size 15 needles (sometimes I use a 13 for this blanket).

The stitches are big and loopy and very soft.  Some people prefer to knit it tighter on smaller needles - that's fine, too - but it makes the fabric a little tougher.  The joy of this one is that it is so soft.

It makes a pretty good sized blanket.  Mine is approximately 36" x 48".

This will be going to the Jackson Recovery Centers - Women and Children's Center.  I'm on the Auxiliary for the WCC and always try to find a way to help.  What better way than to combine my knitting with a good cause?

Don't Even Pay Attention Socks

I like to call things as they are.  You know - "Call a spade a spade."  So it's no wonder that patterns like "Basic Sock" or "Stockinette Sock" just bore me to tears.  I've decided that I will forever call them "Don't Even Pay Attention Socks" otherwise referred to as DEPA socks.

I can make these DEPA socks without even looking (OK - except when I pick up sts for the gusset.) so they're perfect for knitting in the movies, when I wear my contacts and forget my reading glasses (there, I admitted publicly that I now need reading glasses).  These are the socks that went with me to the Mets game yesterday so I could knit on the train.  They're perfect.  I like not paying attention to my knitting.

How about you?  Do you have another name that you use for stockinette socks?

Let's Go Mets!

Each year BF and I go to a day game with our friend Judy to cheer on the Mets.  It's a wonderful tradition and we truly enjoy every minute of it.

We arrive by subway at Citi Field.  We walk around and locate our brick outside.

We wander around the stadium before the game and enjoy the best lunch in the house.

We stand for the National Anthem (removing our caps, of course) and watch the ceremonial first pitch.  This year that honor went to Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas.

We hope Mr. Met will come near us for a picture (he didn't --- this was as close as he got).

We take the traditional sock knitting picture before the game.

And we wait for our favorite Met - David Wright to come to the plate.

Unfortunately, we almost always watch the Mets lose.  But we still go.  We love our traditions.  And we love our Mets.  Let's Go Mets!

 

Join Scouting 2012

You know how much I love Scouting, but did you know it ran in my family?  My sister and her two sons were selected for the Join Scouting 2012 recruiting campaign.

Scouting can change a boy's life.

Just ask a mother of a Scout.

Real moms talk about what their sons have accomplished since becoming Scouts.

  Ellen, Conor and Pierce

When a major flood threatened the community, Conor and Pierce helped the National Guard build sandbag levees.

How cute!  Great job boys!

 

 

Knitknack Sing-a-long - Cast On Baby!

Have you seen this video?  Check it out for a warm and fuzzy.

 

Thanks Knitknack knitters from Maplewood, New Jersey.