Emptyknitster

When I gave up on the Tofutsies Yarn I was lucky to have some Opal Yarn stashed in the suitcase (for an emergency). This yarn is the usual 80% wool/ 20% nylon blend I love. So I started these Vanilla socks toward the end of our stay, continuing knitting on the plane and just finished them at home. Pattern: Vanilla Socks with Fish Lip Kiss Heels Yarn: Zwerger Garn Opal Illusion Colorway: Bodybuilder Needle Size: US Size 1.5

I take knitting with me everywhere, even on vacations. I had been saving several skiens of Tofutsies Sock Yarn for the trip. This yarn is 40% wool, 25% soysilk fibers, 22.5% cotton and 2.5% chitin (shrimp and crab shells) and I thought it would be a very comfortable knit on the beach with much less than the usual wool I knit for socks. However, the knitting was painful. It was like knitting with thin string and the strand stuck to my hands not wanting to be knit into socks. I seriously doubt the socks will last any length of time, the fabric is limp and thin. I struggled through two pairs and then gave up. This is unusual for me, my standard is to knit four pairs of socks while in Hawaii.  Pattern: Salis Socks Yarn: TOFUtsies Colorway: Multi Lavender White Gray Needle Size: US Size 1 Pattern: Lichen and Moss Socks Yarn: TOFUtsies Colorway: 733 Needle Size: US Size 1 I still have one skein and bits left but think I'll pass it on to one of my daring knitting buddies...

Three weeks of sun, sand, and beach was wonderful. We had the added pleasure of family spending time with us too! The Chick and NorDak Family spend over a week lounging in the sand. Our daily schedule was tough: up and out the door by 8:00 each morning, settled on the beach by 8:20, back to the condo by 5:15, dinner at 6:00, and in bed by 8:00, then repeat! When we arrived in Hawaii we immediately went to our favorite beach, Hapuna. The waves were incredible! We spent most of the day sitting in our beach chairs in the shelter, it was definitely not the time to renew our love for boogie boarding. I was happy my hair went into the expected immediate curly/wavy mode! Several years ago I pick up several bulbs from this plant and they are now growing on the deck in the summer and in the house in the winter. The plant has never bloomed and Jo wanted to know what the blooms looked like. It can grow to a height of 7 feet and is called a White Spider Lily.  And a photo by hu...

Last November the CaliforniaDreamin' Guy asked if I'd make a specific hat for him. Since I was unable to find a hat pattern with a lining, I wanted to make sure knitting the hat and lining was as easy as I imagined so I first knit a mock up, no worries. The lining was 50%qivuit 50%cashmere and I’ve NEVER knit on such lovely yarn… the red yarn knit up like butter. Aaaaah, qiviut and cashmere! Polly thought she might like it too...  Pattern: My brother's favorite hat by Annelene Eversen Yarn: The Fiber Co. Arranmore Light and  Cottage Craft Angora Mill - Decadent Qiviut & Cashmere Colorway:  Mailn Head and Artic Red Needle Size: US Size 4 (The pattern called for a size 6 needle and DK yarn but the gauge was to loose so I dropped two sizes and used a US Size 4.)