Mittens for Sue

I have been knitting mittens. Each pair has been different. Each a challenge in pattern and shape. Here is a picture of my latest mittens. They are knit with Noro Silk Garden and a Angora blend by elsebeth lavold from KFI. I cast on 40 sts on #5 ndls. These a big mittens.
A friend asked me to knit here a pair of warm mitts. This is the main reason I knit the pattern so the yarn is double with more angora on the inside on the mittens. The angora will get real fuzzy with the longer floats on the inside to provide additional warmth.

Knitting gifts

I hope I will finish this hat tonight. Time is running out and there is still more knitting to do.

I discovered that I did not post this picture back in December. The cardinals hat really turned out good. I saw Marie wearing it on Valentines day. Knitting gifts for young people is always risky. You can never tell if they will like your creations. It made me feel good about knitting gifts to see Marie wearing her hat.
This cable hat is still evolving. I am decreasing the crown. I will post finished pic.

Mercer Spinners and Weave Guild Dec.13 2012

Our guild met today for a soup lunch.

Finished trellis Tam

Rainout of red yarn so I had to make a design change.

Red Trellis Tam #8

Row30 - 45

Two rows or so past the third cable decrease row
P2, k1, k2 tog, k1 around

I am starting to run out of yarn so I will add a new red yarn, introducing it every other row so if the dye lot is not the same the color will blend. The only other option is to finish the tam off and then it might be too small.
See photo.

Red trellis tam #7

Row 29 and 30 shown in this photo

Red Trellis Tam #6

Row 14. Cable row = 102 stitches
Move the rest of the purl stitches so they are arranged:
K2, P4

Row 15.increase k2, cable the knits. P2,m1P, P2
Knit around (knitting the knits and purling the Ps)

Row 16 Knit around

Row. 17 knit around

Row 18 move the purl stitches as you did before k1, p2, k1, p3

Row 19 move two more purl stitches
K1, p1, k1, p4, k1. See photo

Row 20 knit around. P4, K3
Row 21 P4, K2, m1 K, K1
Row 22 P4, cable 2 forward k2, K2 from cable needle
Row 23 - 28 knit around
Row 29 decrease p2 tog twice, K4
Row 30 P4 cable (same as row 22)

Knit Along Red Trellis Tam #5

Row 12 cable row
Knit, 2 purl, knit.
\ . . / . . \ . . / . .

Row 13 knit around
K, p2, k, p2

Knit Along Red Trellis Tam #4

Row 9 K2, P3

Row10 cable the knit stitches, p1, m1p, p2. Increase row

Row11 k2, P4

Knit Along Red Trellis Tam #3

Row 8 K2, P2 ( m1 p) increase

Knit Along Red Trellis Tam #2

Row 3 Cable the knit stitches
As shown in photo

Row 4 knit around knitting the knit stitches through the back twisting the stitches to make the cable stitches more crisp and stand out.
Row5 knit around follow the pattern as seen knitting and purling.

Row 6 cable moving the knit stitches over the purls as shown in the next photo. I will post again after Row 6 and 7 which are knit as seen.

Knit along trellis tam

Trellis Tam
Worsted weight wool in red
Holding #4 ndls together
cast on 68 stitches

Transfer stitches to 16in circular # 7 needles k2, p2 Ribb for 2 rows.

Wake up kitty

Poor old Bob my big Tom cat is hiding from the morning light. He is on the corner of my bed and does not look like he is ready for the day to begin.

I have to get my knitting inventoried and ready for display at the Dragon Fly Studio this week end. I wish I had more items finished but my fascination with making things with more complex designs means every item took many more hours to complete than the things I was making before on big needles. I am working on finishing up some mittens today. I will post pictures later.

Still knitting

Some of my knitted accessories will be in a exhibit. Everyone is invited.

ART SHOW and SALE at the
DRGONFLY STUDIO
135 Pink Road
Slippery Rock PA
Sat. Dec. 1 10 am - 4 pm
Sun. dec 2, 1 - 4 pm

Work by Nancy Kneupper, Barbara Wukich, Nancy Griffin , Diane Bowser and Tamila Normand

Call 724-794-6317 to confirm if the weather is bad.

7 Days till the election

Lunch before we go to phone bank forMissa Eaton

Fair isle Tam

Just finished, washed and blocked over a plate lid. Now dry and mail.

Yes I am still knitting

I am knitting just have not been posting pictures lately. I have 4 projects on my needles, mittens, booties, lace scarf, and a tam. The tam pictured here will be finished today. I made matching fingerless gloves last week and gave them to Anne Feeney last Saturday to keep her hands warm as she played her guitar and sang to the folks at our We Are One Labor and Education Rally at the Mercer County Courthouse. It was chilly in the 40s Saturday morning. I hope to put the tam in the mail today.

Pictures of my trip to the DNC

Here are a few more pictures of Judy and I on our trip to the Democratic National Convention

DNC in Charlotte

I just returned from the DNC. What a week. I felt like I was dropped into a science fiction movie. The crush of people rushing about clutching their smart phones in one hand. The noise and lights on the Convention Floor. Security was really tight. My credentials said Honored Guest and I did not really understand what that meant except everywhere we went people treated us very well. Doors opened people smiled and were so nice. We thought that this must be the southern hospitality we heard about at first. Then we noticed the ribbon holding our passes was different from other people and there were a lot of different badges. Our badges were getting us this special treatment and it was nice.
Judy and I worked for OFA and Missa Eaton and the DNC rewarded us for our efforts. We were guests in a lovely hotel and met a lot of famous Senators and Congressmen and Women. Our days were very long and we did a lot of walking but it was a life changing experience. We came home FIRED UP and READY to GO. We are back to phone banking and daily meetings or political actions of one kind or another. I pledged to wear a political Tee shirt or button everywhere till the election. 58 more days. We have to win this one.

Butler PA Aug. 8 women protest

Women Protest Mike Kelly outside his Butler office tonight August 8, 2012

On Aug.1 our congressman Mike Kelly made a statement equating contraception  with Pearl Harbor and 9/11.  If you were not paying attention to the news on Aug. 1 here is a link a video to bring you up to speed on the issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwntUqwRSgM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Democrats Demand an Apology from Mike Kelly

Rally on Wednesday at 7 PM at Diamond Park, City of Butler to take this message to our illustrious, Korean car selling Congressman. This is important and I ask everyone to share this with at least 5 people and bring them with you.

When I heard Mike Kelly’s comparison of an enemy attack to the differential cost of contraceptives all I could think about was my father in law who was a decorated combat veteran of World War II serving with the 4^th Marine Division. The 4^th received two Presidential Citations for their valor. Tom Kerr would have been livid if he heard that a neophyte Congressman who has never served in the military compared combat to the incremental cost of a rubber. Georgiann Kerr

Kelly must apologize to all Veterans, to Women, to families impacted by the terrorist attack on 9-11 and frankly to all American people for his misguided statements.

“I know in your mind you can think of times when America was attacked. One is December 7th, that’s Pearl Harbor day. The other is September 11th, and that’s the day of the terrorist attack,” Kelly said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. “I want you to remember August the 1st, 2012, the attack on our religious freedom. That is a day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates.”  Mike Kelly from the Capitol steps on August 1, 2012

Meanwhile, Hawaii senator Daniel Inouye started his statement by saying he personally witnessed the attacks on Pearl Harbor and called Kelly’s remarks “misguided,” “insulting,” and “complete nonsense.” Article by Josh Feldman

Kitten looking for a home

This adorable little grey and white kitten came crying to our back door a few days ago. It was desperate, starving, abandoned of I gave it a little food and water. This morning it was on the window sill of my living room window looking in through the screen meow, meow, meow. I brought it in and confined it in the bathroom for now. It is so sweet, loves to be held, it purrs and purrs. I cannot keep this kitten. I have 4 adult cats. I think Bob brought this kitten home since all my cats seemed to know about it and seem to accept this little guy. They were talking with it when I got up this morning.

Please let me know if you know anyone willing to adopt this little kitten, it is very handsome beautiful markings, 4 white paws, might be long haired like my Maine coon cats. The fur seem to have two layers like my coon cats, tail looks like it will be full and fluffy. This little guy look very young. Tom is looking up how to tell the age on line. call 724-301-7079 if you want this kitten. We are in Mercer PA .

A spring walk

Tom and I walk to Brandy Springs Park. The geese and ducks are fun to watch. This is a warm St. Patrick's Day. Daffodils are blooming a month early.