Missouri Star

Back - For A While!

Thanks for all the kind comments regarding my wrist.  It is doing a lot better.  A combination of the splint, icing and a little knitting vacation seemed to do the trick.  The knitting hiatus came about because of a real vacation - we flew back to Missouri for a family reunion.  There was lots of visiting (and eating!), but very little knitting.

As those of you who have followed my blog might remember, my home town is a tiny little town in Missouri.  The population varies somewhat, but as far as anyone can tell, it's less than 100.  My parents have lived in the same cute little stone house for over 30 years:

We even got to visit the actual house I was born in.  I was a little disappointed that the owner wasn't home, so we didn't get to go inside.

This visit was especially memorable, because all of the siblings were together for the first time in almost 10 years!

Aren't we a cute bunch?  We also got to meet my brother Pat's wife for the first time.

They are an absolutely darling couple.  This picture was taken in front of the house that Rose Wilder Lane built for her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder.  We also visited the house that Almanzo built for her:

I have to admit that I never did read the Little House books growing up.  But I bought one for the granddaughters and I think we will read them together.

Immediately upon returning, we had birthdays to celebrate.  Isobel and Grandpa celebrated their birthdays with a joint party - they are only one day (and 56 years!) apart.

Abby and I took a chance and bought Isobel an American Girl Doll.  When Ivy got hers, Isobel insisted that she didn't "need" a doll because she is not a "girly-girl".  But whenever they passed the American Girl Doll place in Alderwood Mall, she would look wistfully in the window.  We thought that perhaps she would be won over if the doll suited her.  So we picked out a doll that looked like her and I made a Gi with a yellow belt because Isobel just earned her first yellow belt in Karate.  The effort was a resounding success!  One of the first things Isobel said was, "She looks just like me!"

She promptly named her doll Amelia, after Amelia Earhart. And there was more than enough dolly love to go around!

We're off on other adventures soon, but I'll post after we get back.  I'm a little cautious any more about advertising that we'll be gone, even though we have a house/dog sitter.  I'll be visiting a favorite sister-in-law, who just happens to be a knitter.  Good times!

Ouch!

I've been knitting for more years than I care to remember, and sometimes quite intensively.  And, I've managed to do so without suffering any ill effects to my hands and wrists.  Until now.

Several days ago I woke up to extreme pain in my right wrist.  I couldn't even hold a coffee cup.  I think what did me in was the next to the last clue in the 2011 KALendar shawl:

Usually when knitting lace, there's enough variety that I'm not making exactly the same wrist and finger movements all of the time.  On this particular clue, there are endless rows on I don't know how many stitches (a LOT - enough to fill a 60" cable to overflowing) of the same pattern - k2 tog through the front and back of a stitch.  Over and over - and over.  I probably should have paced myself a little better, but I so wanted to get beyond it to the more interesting border.  I bought a wrist splint and have been icing like crazy and it's much improved.  I haven't entirely quit knitting, but am limiting myself to lightweight projects for no more than about 20 minutes at a time and no more than maybe an hour a day.  For me, that's almost the equivalent of complete withdrawal!  I am prepared to stop entirely if there's the spectre of permanent damage, but since I am getting better, I'll keep doing what I'm doing.  I am seeing the doctor today for my annual physical and I'll discuss the matter with him.

Fortunately I have some sewing projects to command my attention.  Isobel's 7th birthday is coming up and she has been showing a lot of interest in knitting.  So I am making her a learn-to-knit kit.  I found this darling fabric to make a bag and have bought her some bamboo needles.  I'll look for some pretty blue yarn from my stash to complete the kit:

Her mother and I also took a big chance and went together to get her this:

We're not exactly sure what the reception will be.  She told her mother that she wanted an American Girl Doll, but then said she didn't like dolls because she's not a girly-girl.  She does a lot of rubber necking when they walk by the store, so I think she's intrigued.  We're hoping to convince her that tomboys can have dolls too.  We liked this one because it looks like her.  My sister is going to get her a book about women scientists and we'll suggest she name her doll after one of them.  I'll also make her a Karate outfit.  Isobel recently won her first belt in Karate!

We've enjoyed some really stellar weather around here lately - at least between the rain showers.  Last Saturday hubby and I decided to take the Karman Ghia convertible out for a spin and found this charming little example of yarn bombing:

Actually, I don't know if it's technically yarn bombing if you use commercially knit garments, but it's cute nonetheless!  

Next week I hope to post from my parents' house in Missouri, although internet and even cell phone coverage will be sketchy at best.  It should be a fun time.  All of my parents' children and their spouses will be there.  Please pray for a safe journey for all, and no tornadoes! 

Down the Rabbit Hole

Whenever I start a new piece of lace, I always feel as if I've slipped down a rabbit hole.  I get so engrossed in it that everything else takes a back seat.  The 2011 KALendar Shawl has been no exception!  This is such a wonderful pattern!  There is so much going on and it is constantly changing and keeping my interest.  The pattern is very well written, and since the KAL is officially over, has the added bonus of having been test knit by a large number of knitters.  Like most large shawls, it's difficult to get a good picture without risking having it slip off the needles, but here goes:

However, I really do need to start thinking about putting it aside because I have several other projects that need my attention.  As if I don't have enough on my plate, I signed up for a swap with the American Girl Doll Knitters group on Ravelry.  This won't be too involved, though.  I think I can probably finish a little sweater in less than a week.  I've chosen as my pattern a darling little cabled sweater by Astrid Aesoey.  I just want to finish this one section on the KALendar shawl, which should be done tonight.

The other project that needs to take front and center stage is my son's sweater.  As you may recall, I gave him the yarn for Christmas and it would really, really be nice if I could finish it in time for his birthday the end of June.  No promises though, Ben!  I just couldn't find a pattern that he liked, so I'm devising my own pattern.  It will be a simple set-in sleeve cardigan in basketweave stitch.  My LYS offered to plug it into her Sweater Wizard.  However, I found it on sale for half price and bit the bullet and bought it.  I've been trying to hold out for a Mac version (have I mentioned how much I hate Windows?), but that doesn't seem to be on the horizon quite yet.  

I also need to resume work on my gansey.  There's no huge rush, but it is our yearly group project for my knitting group and since I'm the only one crazy enough to do a fingering weight version, I am already hopelessly behind.

And . . . . our knitting group has also undertaken a project for our picnic in July with a neighboring group.  They have decided to do teddy bears and I am on the hook for two.  It seems like everyone in our group is just too fond of knitting tiny little toys, except me!  I keep putting it off, but the time will come soon when I need to get going on that.  I'm trying to use the "small step" approach to spur me on.  The first step was putting the pattern into Knitters Companion.  I love this program so much and my iPad is a constant fixture in my knitting basket now.  Next step was to get out the needles.  This week I will choose the yarn and then will have no choice but to get going on it!

I did take time out from knitting projects to scrapbook about my knitting.  Our project this month in the scrapbooking class I'm taking is our hobbies.  Wow - I could probably fill a whole scrapbook with just that.  Here's my page on knitting:

Spring has finally sprung in our part of the country, but we're not out of the woods yet.  Lots more rain to come, but these lovely daffodils are God's way of saying that he hasn't forgotten us.  

And the Winner Is . . .

In the great lace race of 2012, the winner is the KALendar 2011 shawl.  

I just could not resist the aweseomness of all the different patterns.  It will definitely keep me intrigued and challenged!  Although I have the yarn for Evenstar, it will need to wait just a while longer.  In addition to the fact that this is a new knit for me, one of the things that sent this to the top of the pile is that I actually found yarn in my stash.  I have enough Knit Picks Bare in laceweight to accomplish this, with enough left over for insurance.  The option is given to use beads, eyelets or nupps and I have chosen to do nupps.  I'm not a great fan of doing them, but since this is knit circular (although it is square, if that makes sense), you don't have to wrestle with purling them all together - you knit together through the back loop.  I find this SO much easier.  Here is the start:

As much of a bear as this was to start, I think I'm going to start over because I don't like the way the center came out.  Part of the trouble was a catch in the join of one of my Knit Picks needles.  I have really loved these needles and they've been my first choice for laceweight, but I do find the quality control lacking.  I found these Knitters' Pride needles at my LYS and am going to give them a try.

They are priced quite reasonably and the owner of the LYS said the cables were very flexible and the joins smooth.  However, they do come with a warning!

I told hubby he was absolutely forbidden to use them, as he is not adequately trained!

On Thursday I took a bus down to the Sewing Expo in Puyallup (for you non-Washingtonians, that's pronounced "pew-allup") with a group of fellow quilters.  We had a lot of fun, spend a boatload of money and at least one of us (ahem) came home with a new serger:

My old one is on its last legs and I spend more time fiddling with broken parts than actually sewing.  The time and price seemed right and this found its way onto the bus with me.  Good news - it's a demo model and since they couldn't find the box for me, they threw in this pretty pink carrying case.  

 Bad news - they forgot to throw in the owner's manual.  We didn't realize it until it was being loaded on the bus and I didn't have time to go back to the booth to get it.  I'm hoping to go in for my free training next week and can pick it up then.  Until then, I'm just gazing at it fondly because I don't want to mess around with it too much and break something!

One of the projects I'll be using it for is to sew more doll clothes for my and Mei-Mei's dolls.  I found a pattern for costumes from the Wizard of Oz.  I've always wanted to sew a costume featuring my namesake and since I'm too old to wear it, my doll will do.  I know that Mei-Mei may not know about Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, but I think she'll be pretty impressed with glittery ruby slippers!

But shhhh . . . . not a word to her (I'm looking at you Abby!)  This will be a surprise, probably for her birthday.

All these fun things are helping distract me from some vision problems I've been having.  I've been diagnosed with Posterior Vitreous Detachment.  The opthamologist said it's not uncommon as we age, although I am on the young side for this to happen.  Apparently the sac of vitreous fluid in the eye tugs and pulls on the retinal lining, especially in the macular region, as it shrinks when we age.  Many people get no symptoms at all, but I am in the lucky minority that is experiencing some rather pronounced effects.  Imagine someone coating your glasses lens with debris and dirt - only you can't clean it off.  It's especially noticeable when looking at anything light colored.  The bad news is that there really is nothing they can do until there is actual detachment.   I am trying to accept it with as good graces as I can.  After all, I have friends who are dealing with a lot worse - chronic pain, cancer.  But as one friend noted, it's ok to grieve the loss of something before moving on.  The suddeness of this coming on has made me a little anxious about the changes that can happen to our bodies in a heartbeat (literally!).  However, I'm hoping that after throwing a major pity party, I will just move on and adapt.

I'm working on a quilt today and hope to have an FO in that area to show next time.  Toodles!

Jonesing for Lace

I haven't knitted any lace since I finished my Advent Scarf back in November and I'm definitely feeling the effects.  I am in full blown withdrawal and will have to remedy that soon.  I've already ordered some Eos from the Unique Sheep in a lovely soft pink.  My original plan was to knit another Evenstar.  

As you may remember, I made the shocking decision to give away the first one I made.  I certainly don't regret it because my niece absolutely loves it and does wear it.  Another option might be the 2011 KALendar shawl.    Because it is a mystery KAL, there are not pictures on the project page, but fellow Raveler Judy has kindly consented to let me share hers:

Is that not absolutely glorious?  However, I'm not sure I have enough yarn for that.  Even if I don't do it this time, it definitely goes in my queue.  The other option is be patient, because scuttlebutt has it that the same designer, Carmen Oliveras, may be starting another KAL in March.  Looking at her designs, I would most certainly be on board for that.  I will keep you posted.

The reason I've not been doing lace was because I was so focused on finished hubby's Mountain Brook.  As promised, here is the modeled shot.  Doesn't he look handsome?  And the fit is perfect!

Next up I need to get working on son's sweater.  We haven't been able to find any patterns that he likes, so I'm afraid I'll need to draft one.  Thankfully, my LYS, from whom I bought the yarn has Sweater Wizard on her computer at the shop and is going to plug in the numbers for me.  I just need to get a good gauge for her first.  I did need to do some mending on the sweater I made for him last year.  He's certainly got a lot of wear out of it, but that has taken its toll:

This wasn't a simple fix as it involved two rows of knitting.  First up, I had to (horrors!) make the hold bigger:

Then I stabilized it with a contrasting thread and wove in the ends:

Next up was to weave two lengths of yarn into the opening:

Then, using a crochet hook, I laddered up the stitiches:

In the interest of full disclosure, I almost didn't post this last picture because the end result wasn't as neat as I would have wished.  I should have taken more time and used better light, but at least the end result is not too ugly and is completely functional!

I'm hoping it will even out more as it's washed.  For more complete directions, check out this article in Knitty.

For now it's on to more sock knitting.  I've finished the first pair of the barter socks and am down to the foot on the first of the second pair.  I really want to get these done and get on to something fun - like lace!

FO and App Review

I know, not a very creative title, but all my winter-weary brain can come up with at this point.  Don't get me wrong - we certainly can't complain that we've had a tough winter this year.  Other than the few days of Snowmageddon, it's been relatively mild.  But we have entered the time when the grey skies start to take their toll and visions of warm, sunny spring are starting to seem so far away.

I promised hubby I would have his sweater completed by spring, and lo and behold I was able to keep my promise!

Mountain Brook was finished today.  All the ends are even woven in and all that's left is a nice bath and blocking, although I think it looks pretty good even without blocking.  Maybe it's my imagination, but there does seem to be a very faint color difference in the skeins.  I know they are all the same dye lot - the LYS double checked for me.  So I'm just going to chalk it up to a strange trick of light.  Yup, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Model shots will follow once it's blocked.  Stats:  Mountain Brook by Janet Szabo, yarn - Nature Spun Sport by Brown Sheep, size 3 needles.  Knit all in one piece - no seaming!!  Yeay!

Recently I was given a copy of the app Yarn U to review on my blog.  This is an app available for the iPhone or iPad that reviews yarns.  You can sort by manufacturer, name, weight or (strangely enough), the distance you are from the manufacturer.  When you choose your yarn, a page comes up showing the yarn and giving the basic statistics, along with a map giving the location of the manufacturer.

For most yarns (but not all), you can scroll through the color choices:

There are also links to online companies where the yarn can be purchased, along with a spot for comments (you can add your own).  There is also a list of pros and cons, which can, of course, be quite subjective.

I think this is the start of a decent app, but it does need some more work.  The list of yarns, although extensive, does have gaps.  For instance, the only Brown Sheep yarn profiled is its Cotton Fleece.  Only four of Knit Picks yarns are listed.  I did like the reviews and the ability to add comments from knitters who had actually used the yarns would seem to be very useful.  The photos of the yarns that did have a list of colors were a decent enough size to get a real feel for the yarn itself.  Although there were links to online retailers, there need to be more.  Only a select few retailers were offered.  The one part of the app that I found most puzzling were the maps.  I found them distracting.  I really don't need to see on a map where the yarn was manufactured and I think they take up screen real estate that would be better filled with more photos of the yarn in use.  I do think the app is slightly overpriced right now at $2.99.  Perhaps in the future when more yarns are added the price would be justified, but for now it's just a little too light on information.  It certainly will be interesting to see how the app evolves and I hope the developers will continue to add and improve!

Fair Trade

Once a month I have kind of a mini sewing retreat with a fun group of quilters.  I think I've mentioned it on the blog before.  We drive over to a neighboring island to a darling little house that's set up just for this use.  We spend the day sewing and eating with an occasional trip to two fabric/quilt shops close by. For several months I've been watching my friend Ramona work on a beautiful quilt.  It's in my favorite soft pastels.  She's mentioned several times that these are not her favorite colors, but she knows they are mine.    I'm not sure how she came to work on it - it may have been a kit that was gifted to her.  At our January get together she was putting the finishing touches on it.  She is a marvelous machine quilter - a technique I have not mastered.  She finished and held it up to oohs and aahs.  She commented that she didn't know what she was going to do with it because she really didn't like it that much.  I sat there contemplating if I could really afford to offer her what the quilt was worth (I couldn't), when she turned to me and said, "Maybe I could trade it for two pairs of hand knit socks."  I immediately replied, "Sold!"  She handed me the quilt and we drove over to the LYS and picked out yarn for her socks.  We are both thrilled to bits with our trade!

I've been working away on hubby's sweater, but suffered a little set back.  I had finished the decreasing on the one sleeve and had him try it on.  The sleeve was way too tight, so I had to rip back and pick up stitches for the larger size.  It was then I remembered that I had lengthened the armhole (duh!).  I'm back on track, but sleeve island is proving to be a pretty boring place.  No pictures because I'm pretty much at the same spot I was in the last post.

So, in self defense I fall back occasionally on Cape Cod.  I'm still not sure what the fit is going to be on this.  I keep running the numbers, but gauge-wise I often see what I want to see!  And we all know gauge lies.  This will probably be a little bit of an over size fit, but Starmore sweaters often are.  However, I am loving the yarn and the pattern.  I can't say enough for the Knit Companion app on the iPad.  I honestly don't think I would be loving this pattern so much without the convenience of KC keeping my place in the pattern.  And no juggling of paper charts!  After my miscounting adventure in casting on, I almost switched to another Starmore pattern (Eriskay), but decided that it was now or never for Cape Cod and I'm very happy with the decision.

Speaking of iPads, I had a little misadventure.  I had decided to go bare with mine (the iPad silly, not me!)  But one night I had it sitting on my lap and as I reached into my knitting bag for something, it slid off my lap, did a huge flip in the air and landed face down on the hardwoos floor!  I picked it up and horrors of horrors - there were three cracks in the screen.  Fortunately I had bought the extended warranty that the Navy Exchange offers on electronics and accidental damage is covered.  It is now in the hospital getting repaired and I'm back to sharing one with hubby.  And I've bought a case with bumpers on the corners to prevent this happening again.

This past week we had a wonderful visit from Bill's cousin Val.  She has been wanting to get into digital scrapbooking, but just needed a little one-on-one tutorial.  Unfortunately, hubby and I both came down with bronchitis and it turned into a real challenge because I kind of lost my voice! However, we muddled through and she proved to be a very apt student.  We sent her home happy with new scrapbooking skills and a nice little bronchial virus.  This is how we spent most of the four days she was here:

So - I think just relaxing and taking it easy is on my agenda for a few days yet.  The doctor said this is a tricky one to get over.  The good news is that I don't feel so bad that I can't knit, quilt or scrapbook, so I'm certainly not bored.  Whatever do people do who don't have such consuming hobbies?  I feel so very blessed to not only have those interests, but the tools and supplies to indulge them!

Snowed In

This is the view out our window this morning:

Now, I know many of you from other parts of the country (I'm looking at you Marguerite!) think this is laughable that this would snow us in, but this is the great Pacific Northwest.  While we can deal with lots of rain and grey skies, snow and ice brings us to a screeching halt!  We have many hills and don't have the snow removing equipment to deal with it.  We actually probably could get out of our driveway with our 4 wheel drive, but discretion is the better part of valor and we have chosen to stay put.  I had gone to the granddaughters for the weekend and instead of coming home Saturday night, decided to wait until Sunday.  Oops!  This is what greeted me the next morning:

I would not have gotten out of Ben & Abby's housing development without the 4 wheel drive, but the freeway was clear.  In fact, there was almost no snow between our house and theirs, but our house had as much snow as they did!  Another weather oddity of our area - snow can be really hit and miss.

Maggie really, really loves the snow and one of her favorite games is catch the snowball:

That was taken yesterday - we've had about 5-6 more inches since then.  This morning while I was standing on the deck taking pictures, this little guy was terribly put out that I was standing by his feeder:

So, we've been snug as bugs in our warm house, watching movies, scrapbooking, knitting, and just generally being lazy.  I did get quite a bit accomplished on hubby's sweater.  The body and neckline are done and I've started on the sleeves:

Not a great picture.  The neckline doesn't ruffle like that.  So far it seems to fit him very well.  We weren't sure if we would even get mail delivery today, but the USPS came through and delivered this:

12 skeins of Knit Picks Gloss in Sea Spray.  This will be for my Cape Cod gansey.  Thank you Ben and Abby for the gift certificate!  I lost no time in casting on:

Unfortunately in my haste I miscounted and cast on 50 stitches less than I should have - discovered after the first two rounds.  Off to start over!

In the meantime, I've gotten a lot of scrapbooking done while cooped up - here's one of my newest pages:

Call Me Crazy

I belong to a small knitting group and on occasion we undertake a group project.  This year we decided we'd like to explore knitting ganseys.  Most of us will be knitting a gansey, although we won't all be using the same pattern.  I've decided to do Cape Cod by Alice Starmore.  The crazy part?  The suggested gauge is (drum roll, please) 8.5 stitches to the inch with sport weight yarn.  Excuse me?  I can't imagine anyone getting that gauge.  As it is, I will be using fingering weight yarn, at a gauge of 8 stitches to the inch on (another drum roll) size 0 needles.  Yes, I am a little bit looney tunes.  Two things are working in my favor (well, maybe three).  First of all, the pattern only comes in one size, which is too small for me.  The  .5  less stitches per inch should put it in exactly the right size range.  Secondly, our deadline is almost a year away.  Our goal is to all wear our sweaters to our Christmas party the beginning of December.  And, I ordered a color I truly love.  I debated whether to get something timeless and neutral, but decided if I was going to be working on this for a year, I really needed to love the color.  I ordered it today - stay tuned.

Of course, this is in addition to the two adult sized sweaters I promised for hubby and son.  On the plus side, I almost have the body done on hubby's sweater.  I've finished the front and am up past the armholes on the back.

Son still hasn't decided on a pattern for his.  I may end up having to draft something.  He really wants a zip up cardigan and I haven't had any luck finding one in sport weight on Ravelry.  Anyone out there have any ideas?  I told him if he could at least find a picture of a style he liked, I would create the pattern.  Maybe this will be an excuse to buy Sweater Wizard.  I've been trying to hold off until they come out with a Mac version.

In addition to knitting away madly, I've been working on scrapbooking as well.  I've started a year long class and have decided to make a book for my parents.  I toyed with the idea of surprising them with it when it was done, but decided that I really need their input along the way.  Here are my first two pages:

(Kit-Ever After by Kristal Hartley, Recollection by Joanne Brisebois, Boys and Toys by Linda Sattgast, Scrap It Now Clusters and Scrap It Now Template by Digital Scrapper.com Font - American Typewriter)

And of course, the granddaughters always give me good scrapbooking opportunities:

Kit - Thankfully by Krystal Hartley, ScrapItNow Templates, fonts Beautiful ES and Cambria.

Kit - Under the Pier by Kellie Mize, Pennant tutorial by Susie Roberts, ScrapItNow Templates, font Calisto MT.

Isobel was SO excited to get that tooth out!  And, since the picture was taken, she has lost the other upper tooth.  She's really starting to lose that little girl look and is becoming a big girl way, way too fast!

 

 

Over the River and Through the Woods

That little phrase has taken on  real meaning for us as we settle into new traditions for our family.  We do indeed travel over the river (several times), through the woods (several times), in addition to over an ocean, a slough and at least two islands to get to and from our Christmas celebrations.

As we did last year, Ben & Abby and girls traveled up to our house for Christmas Eve.  We had a great time opening our presents followed by a fine ham dinner.  As is our tradition, we read the Christmas story before opening our presents.  Last year Isobel read from a story book.  This year she read directly from the Bible.  She did a great job, but she did have some trouble with all the big words, so next year we might seek out a more age appropriate translation.  The tradition was brought into the modern age by having her read it on an iPad!

One of my presents to Ivy was a 3-D counting book that I made.  I don't think she cared much for the 3-D glasses, but she did insist that anyone reading it to her wear them:

On Christmas Day we made the trek to their house.  We opened our stockings, which the girls found almost as much fun as presents.  They're usually filled with funny little gifts and, of course, chocolate!  The adults found theirs filled with an assortment of little bottles of spirits!

Unfortunately, we left the festivities a little early because hubby was coming down with a cold.  He's felt pretty crummy for the past few days and I'm hoping not to come down with it. 

Post Christmas has found me playing with the new toy hubby got me - my own iPad!

This was really a surprise because he wasn't supposed to get me anything beyond a token gift.  I had a fancy new radio put into my car and that was to be my Christmas/Birthday present.  Of course, it probably was a little bit of self preservation because I had been hogging our mutual iPad since I downloaded KnitCompanion.  Nevertheless, it was an outstanding gift and I have been enjoying it immensely.  In fact, I'm finding that now that I have unfettered access to it, I'm using it a lot more than my computer.  Of course, I still need my computer for scrapbooking and photo editing, and for any lengthy typing.  

I can also now post pictures of some stealth projects.  First off - Abby's socks.  I did gift these to her for Christmas, but I also owe her some birthday socks for her birthday in November.  These are More Fun than Cables, courtesy of Marguerite, yarn is Cascade Heritage Hand Paint.

Sorry for the crummy picture, but we have entered the gloomy days of the year when the sun is nowhere to be seen.  So my pictures will either be dark, or washed out by the flash.

Next up is hubby's Christmas sweater.  I knew that I'd never be able to get a sweater done for him in time, so he got what is becoming almost a tradition - a bag of yarn!  However, he had the added bonus of having a half done sweater on the needles included.  I had been working on it right under his nose, telling him it was a sweater for Ben.  The pattern is Mountain Brook by Janet Szabo, yarn is Nature Spun sport:

Ben also got a bag of Nature Spun sport yarn for a sweater of his choice - yet to be determined.  

I've also been working on a Perlemor sweater for a soon-to-be-born great nephew.  I saw the pattern on the Yarn Harlot's website and was smitten.  Of course, it was in an out of print book that was running at least $200 in the secondary market.  A little bit of detective work, though, and I found the pattern in another Dale book that was on sale for $3.00.  Score!  Of course, all did not run smoothly.  No matter how hard I tried, my pattern just wasn't coming out looking right!  Ravelry to the rescue - I emailed someone who had made the pattern and we compared charts.  There was an error in my book.  Once correct, it has been smooth sailing.  I have the body done up to the armholes and one sleeve done.  The baby's due in February, so I think I'm in good shapel

That will definitely keep me in projects for the rest of the year!!  Add to that the fact that our knitting group is embarking on a sweater project and I got a gift certificate for Knit Picks.  I'd better quit playing with my iPad and get to knitting.  So glad I have KnitCompanion to keep all my projects organized!

Happy New Year to everyone.  I hope the year holds joy and blessings for you all.