Emptyknitster

Adult Sweaters: 2 Socks: 27 pairs Afghan: 1 Baby Sweaters: 3 Toys: 2 Hats: 21 Cowls: 1 Shawls: 2 Mittens: 8 Grand Total of knitting in 2018: 67 items Favorite item: (I love using all my scrap yarn!) Favorite photo prop for knitted item: (Marta was happy to knit for a bit with me!) New skill learned this year: (Norwegian Mittens and Kimmie gets the award for most appreciative recipient of a knitted item for 2018,) Craziest thing knit this year: (Really not too crazy but am I crazy to make something that may not ever be used?)

I love this time of year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, snowy afternoons, but mostly the family. When they arrive we enjoy just being together. Usually we don't do anything out of the ordinary, games, puzzles, shopping, baking, planning and cooking meals. This year we added an escape room to the mix and had the best time even though we m-a-y-b-e got half way through. Good times... No sledding this year. The visiting family didn't bring cold weather clothes. When the family arrived it was fifty degrees out but the weather turned and there was snow the next day. Saved Grandpa manicuring the slope! The kiddos spent some time working on a surprise,  Everyone put at least a piece or two into the puzzle,  Christmas Eve arrived and a few select packages were opened,  And the kiddos were nestled all snug somewhere in the house....  if not in their beds! Before we knew it, the secret project was done... the puzzle put together... and it was time to re...

Although I have other knitting I want to complete before our winter trip, I've been knitting socks this Christmas break. There is nothing like a vanilla pair of socks to keep the hands busy while enjoying visiting with family. Pattern: Fish Lip Kiss Heel Socks by Sox Therapist Yarn: Regia Pairfect Colorway: Island Color Needle Size: US Size 1     Pattern: Fish Lip Kiss Heel Socks by Sox Therapist Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks Ragg Shade Colorway: Grey Brown Red Mari Needle Size: US Size 1

  The temperature was fifty degrees yesterday and today, Christmas Eve, SNOW! Welcome to Montana! The Julevotter mittens were finished just in time! I enjoyed participating in the December Mitten Knit Along and hope it is a yearly event! Pattern: Fabulous/Fabelatig by Wenche Roald (MKAL #Julevotten 2018) Yarn: Finulgarn Colorway: Medium Grey Heather  404 and Burgundy 444 Needle Size: US Size 4

Knitting Selbu mittens has been a nice change of pace from my usual sock knitting. It's sad though, less people need mittens than socks so my mitten knittin' will soon be coming to a halt! I needed to use a smaller needle than the ones called for in the pattern and I also dropped a section of the heart pattern in order to get the mittens small enough to fit a women's hand. Pattern: Cold Hands Warm Heart by Jacqui Walker Yarn: Finulgarn Colorway: Medium Brown,  Burgundy Needle Size: US Size 4 I've also been doing a bit of baking. I had visions of becoming a gingerbread decorating expert but settled for just getting them done! Gingerbread Cookies                        (Makes 3 dozen) 1/2 cup Crisco 2 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup dark molassas 3/4 teaspoon ginger 1 teaspoon allspice  1/4 teaspoon nutmeg ...

I have gotten into the habit of leaving a pair of in progress socks in my car. I had been forgetting to double check my purse for a project and was left several times without anything to keep my hands busy. So now with the in progress project in my vehicle, I always have something to pick up and knit a row or two. These socks were started the 29th of August and not completed until three months later. A long work in progress for me! Project: Fish Lips Kiss Heel, Basic Ribbed Socks Yarn: ONLine Supersocke Colorway: Oregon Color Needle Size: US Size 1 We are planning a cold trip in January and this is the first time Hubby has given me the okay to knit him a pair of socks. I’ve told him for years, once you put on a pair of handknit socks their the only socks you want to wear! However, I'd started these socks before I realized they were only 50% wool so these socks will go into the gift pile and I've already started a new pair with more wool content for Hubby. Projec...

I'm so glad I waited for The Tiger's Thanksgiving visit before knitting his Christmas socks.  Look at how his feet have grown! Pattern: Fish Lips Kiss Heel socks by the Sock Therapist Yarn:Cascade Yarns Heritage 150 Prints Colorway: 12 Holidaze Needles: US Size 2

Traditionally we put our tree up and decorate the day after Thanksgiving but last year we weren't at home for the turkey day and then one excuse followed another. The biggest excuse being the fact we had a new kitten who pretty much did exactly what she wanted! I was certain the tree would spend more time on the floor more than in an upright position. Even this year I was apprehensive but....... Polly LOVES the tree!

Several of Hubby's photos were featured on the news tonight!

Three o'clock in the afternoon and Denali just realized the intruders are gone. Then the unusual happened and she climbed on my lap!

I've spent most of my knitting time this month working on Selbu mittens.  Selbu mittens are usually knit in black and white and have a history spanning over 150 years. More than four hundred different traditional patterns for these mittens are registered at Selbu. There is a dramatic difference between the pattern on the back of the hand and the palm and the two different patterns are separated with a literal dividing line on either side.   Cuffs show the distinct difference between the male and female mittens. Men's mittens are knit with short cuffs all covered with patterns and the female mittens have longer cuffs with out patterns and mostly are ribbed. I love the patterned cuffs and knit them for the gals before I knew they were for male mittens. Everyone has liked the patterned cuffs and, truthfully, I've yet to find a pattern big enough for the ND Norwegian male's hands. If I were to use a bigger needle on the pattern as suggested the fabric would be too loos...

We had a fun filled and busy week. Many games were played, Ticket to Ride, Montanaopoly, Garbage, 4 wheeling, cookie baking, making wish lists, black Friday shopping,  and tree decorating.

When SadieLou comes to town I like to have a project of two we can do together. She loved sewing the makeup bags as Christmas gifts for friends.  We both ended up with bags for ourselves and I think mine will get a lot of use.  All four of us made some Scandinavian Star Christmas ornaments and I'm proud Isaac stuck it out and made one too!

I found some yarn in my stash to use for this cowl. It was 4ply superwash and MAN is this going to be warm when we go to Iceland! It was much to warm for the breezy fall day of football! Pattern: In the Loop by Espace Tricot Yarn: Beroco Ultra Wool Colorway: Hollyhock, Cast Iron, Granite,  Black Pepper Needle Size: US Size 8

It's so nice having a little one to project for again! I've enjoyed knitting this sweater in the past and was happy to pull it out again to knit a Christmas sweater for grand niece AnnaMarie. I also found a stuffed doll pattern I thought was cute. It's called Sleeping Buddy and is intended to be scented with lavender. I hope this becomes a favorite but little ones often love them to death or they don't give them a second glance, and they end up at the bottom of the toy box, time will tell! Pattern: Tasia's Cardigan #607 by Dana Gibbins Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Solids & Heather Colorway: Navy Needle Size: US Size 5, US Size 6 Pattern: Sleeping Buddies-Lavender stuffed dolls by Vanja Grundmann Yarn: Hobby Lobby I love This Yarn! and Red Heart 4-ply acrylic Colorway: Tropical Pink, Bloomtique, Flesh Color Hook Size: 2.0mm

Pattern: Vanilla Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Colorway: Blue Tit Needle Size: US Size 1 Pattern: Vanilla Yarn:Zwergar Garn Opal Reiselust 6-fach/6-ply Colorway: Rum Nien Needle Size: US Size 1 I finally had a pair of needles confiscated by airport security, It was on our journey home, leaving Ecuador to Miami.... the guard said they were "dangerous" and I couldn't take them on board the plane and then proceeded to stare at me. Finally I asked for them back and slid the needles off the almost completed sock and handed her the needles. Her response, "Those are very pretty socks." - Oh, come on lady!

After touring the volcanoes we had  lunch in  the home of a local artist along with an interesting conversation and a tour of her home and studio. Then is was a short drive to a nearby rose plantation. Ecuador is  the world's third-largest exporter of cut flowers, 73% are roses. High in the Andes roses have a much longer growing season.