Two, Three, Four

These are more of the ear-flap hats I made the boys for Christmas. The variegated blue and pink hat went to Corb. His favorite color used to be pink.

The blue with variegated blue was made originally for Corb, but when I found out that Gareth would be with us during Christmas it ended up being wrapped for him. I didn't want him to miss out on Christmas presents when I had the ability to make something for him also.

The fourth hat was sent to Justin or Riley, I can't remember for sure. It's kind of bright! The variegated colors in this hat were from an Easter egg dye experiment. I tend to think it was sent to Riley, because if I remember right this yarn was from the sheep of one of his high school teachers.

Boys, if I have the hats labeled wrong let me know.

I have three more hats to show you. I made seven for gifts this past Christmas.

Today I was able to spend some time at the spinning wheels. I have some singles just about plied. I'll have a new skein soon!

Happy knitting and spinning.

One of Seven

I thought I would share one of the seven hats I made for this past Christmas. The older boys in my life all received an ear-flap hat for Christmas. This is the hat that went to Erik, I believe (it was either Erik or Ben). All of them, but one, were made with wool mostly hand spun or partially hand spun.

This week I get to enjoy quite a bit of spinning and knitting time. That's what I get when vacation time takes over. I'm looking forward to knit night tonight and maybe finishing a project or two this week.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Happy New Year 2011

Welcome to 2011. So many plans, vacations, new grandchildren, knitting projects, spinning projects and time spent with family to look forward to. I am hoping to do more blogging in 2011. Last year only had 39 posts, the same as 2009. I'd like to get back to 2008's stats which was over 100.

I'd like to knit more from my stash and to kick that off, I have my first FO for 2011. I purchased the fiber at my last fiber fair in Idaho Falls before moving to Virginia. This yarn was spun in 2008 which was originally used for a hat for a coworker. I used some for the hats I made the 'boys' for Christmas and then I used what was left for this hat for myself. I started it on Dec. 27 and finished it last night, but it wasn't quite deep enough for me. I frogged it this morning and used what was left of the yarn. It is now just about right and will match the coats I use daily.

This has been a lazy day full of watching the Rose Parade, football games, knitting and some spinning. What a great way to start off a New Year.

What are your plans for 2011?

Happy knitting and spinning.

C's Found a Friend

I love this picture which was taken on Thanksgiving. We went to ES' sister's house for the afternoon. They have a couple of birds that C fell in love with. After we had been there for a couple of hours the birds decided we could hold them. Jewell found her favorite spot on C and kept migrating back there whenever she was moved. The best spot in her opinion, the spot between the collar of his shirt and his neck. C now says he wants a bird like Jewell.

There is lots of Christmas knitting going on here. Things are being blocked and readied to be shipped to their destinations. After Christmas, I will have lots of pictures to share.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten Dream Vacations

This weeks ten is Ten Dream Vacations. I couldn't pass this one up, there are so many places I would like to go.

1. Australia. J-b went there with People to People and he talks about it with fondness.
   
2. Ireland. R says he's a little leprechaun and he does have some Irish in his background.
3. Hawaii. ES says when he goes there for inspection of the facility there, I get to go!!
4. Alaska. I would love to do the boat tour of the glaciers and the inland strait.
   
5. A cruise through the Caribbean. I think that would be lots of fun.
6. Take all the kids, their spouses, and the grand kids to Glacier National Park and the Bitteroot Valley for a week or so.
   
7. Sister's Retreat. My sisters, mom and aunt did this in 2006. We need to do it again.
8. Snowmobiling in West Yellowstone. C says he'll go with me.
9. Scotland. I've always been fascinated with this country.
   
10. A Weekend Getaway with my honey anywhere, anytime!

Okay, this really was harder than I thought it would be. Where do you want to go for your dream vacation?

Happy knitting and spinning.

Robin's Nest All Spun Up

The fiber I picked up in Logan, when I visited the kids in July, has been turned into these singles:




Which was then Navajo plied into this bobbin:




And has been turned into these two skeins. I don't know how many yards I've ended up with. I didn't want to count that yet. But this yarn, I think, will turn into a pair of fingerless mitts for myself and maybe a hat to go along with them. The knitting of the mitts will have to wait until all the Christmas knitting is done though and I don't know when that will be for sure.

Happy knitting and spinning.

PIF Package

In February Vicky posted that she would like to do a PIF Challenge. I signed up and last Tuesday I received a package in the mail. It was a very fun package too!

Vicky is a very talented lady and I have really enjoyed getting to know her through the blogosphere. Her blog is one of the first ones I started reading on a regular basis just about three years ago.

There was this wonderful bag in the package which Vicky had embroidered. I love bags and can never have enough project/tote bags. This one is going to be my knit night bag from now on and it states what I like: 'knitting with handspun'.

Vicky had also included the book One Skein-30 quick projects to knit. I had looked at buying this book a couple of times, but hadn't yet decided. I love having it available now. Vicky had also included some chocolate bars. ES and C said they would take them off my hands if I decided I didn't want them. They haven't succeeded!

There is also four ounces of a wool combed top from Eagle's Find Fiber which sadly is closed at the moment. The colorway is Deep Blue Sea and it is really pretty. The Scholar is calling it's name, having been freed from it's fiber last week and is currently sitting bare.

There were two dishcloths in the package also along with a candy tube and a googly eye pen. When C saw the pen he took it and ran wanting to show his friend how fun it was. I had just been thinking it was about time to make some dishcloths, mine were looking pretty yucky.

Thank you, Vicky, for the wonderful package! It was a fun surprise and I really am going to enjoy everything you have included. I am thankful to call you a friend!

Happy knitting and spinning.