Emptyknitster

Sadly, this year I didn't follow my own favorite advice to Grammas - I didn't have the kiddos decorate the Christmas Tree the night before they left after Thanksgiving. So, instead, the night the kiddos arrived for Christmas holiday the decorations went up! Now, it's time for the family to leave and it just doesn't seem right to take the tree down after such a short amount of time. BUT next year it's back to Gramma's Favorite Piece of Christmas Advice!

I just finished the second wagon train shawl! This one is for Chloe. Pattern: Knit and Crochet Shawl by Diane Moyer Yarn: Plymouth Yarn, Encore Tweed Colorway: Denim Amount: 2.5 skeins Needle Size: Size 8, Hook Size I I'm hoping the NorDakPurlGurl will bring her sewing machine at Christmas. The next item I want to work on for this trip is an apron for myself. It has a large pocket to hold needles, yarn and the project. It was a free pattern from Cast On. And then we need to make some sunbonnets!

Last summer while visiting the NorDakPurl Gurl we visited a wagon train the night before setting out on their week long journey. The kiddos fell in love with the idea of a pioneer journey. When I asked the NorDak Kiddos at Thanksgiving if they still wanted to go, there was a resounding YES! I gave the California Dreamin' crew a call and my reply was, "I thought that was a for sure, the kiddos are planning on it!" I’m going wrap up a shawl for each of the little girls for Christmas to symbolize the upcoming trip we will be taking. And each boy is receiving a cowboy shirt! Pattern: Knit and Crochet Shawl Yarn: Plymouth Encore Colorway: Ruby Amount: 2.5 from the stash Needle Size: Size 8 (not the 9 recommended), crochet Hook J

I just can't tell you how happy I am that the DAMN Sam sweater is done! I hope, hope, hope that it will fit my beloved Sam but I readily admit the sweater I started in April, yes April, has been the bain of my existence and may be to small or big, the arms to long, short, skinny, or the entire sweater may just fall apart! Seldom - if ever have I hated the knitting of an item so much! Pattern: Mirror Stripes Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Heather Colorway: Mallard, Cordovian Needle size: US 3, US 5 Last night I cast off, worked in the ends, will wash off all the months of cat hair, blocked it, and pop the Christmas gift in the mail this weekend. PS: I've already started something else that I love - more to come later.....

The Pirate's Sweater Take III was finished in July. I wanted it to look fresh and new for the beginning of school and planned on mailing it right before the first day. However, with the start of MY school year it quickly became too hectic for me to even get the package in the mail, that is until I received this email.... The sweater was popped in the mail and I received an email this afternoon.... The California Dreamin' Gurl wrote: "Apparently there was a crowd of "at least 20 kids" gathered around Cameron this morning as they waited for school to start - all admiring the new sweater!  First time they had seen him in something (slightly) different in two years!"

The fourth of six Christmas sweaters is now complete. Although I started Joe's sweater earlier this summer, I decided to change the stripes to this beautiful oatmeal color. I plan on using the original striped sweater but it will be ripped back to a size that I can use it for Sam. Pattern: Mirror Stripes by Deb Gemmel Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Colorway: Natural Mix Needles: US 3 and 5

While The Pirate was visiting we had a nice discussion about his Christmas sweaters. Something is coming between him and every single one of his Christmas sweaters - the Pirate Sweater.  He loves the pattern, the fit, the hood the yarn, everything about his Pirate Sweater. I explained I LOVE knitting him sweaters but I also want them to be worn. We came to a mutual decision to knit another Pirate Sweater, Pirate Sweater II is dieing.  He would like to have it for the new school year. (Last winter he explained to his mom that he didn't want to wear any other sweater to school because it would call attention to him - he's known for his Pirate Sweater.) We went to the yarn shop and I said he could choose any yarn  he wanted. The Pirate chose a tweed (like Pirate Sweater I and II) but in ruby not green. I was proud The Pirate was stretching out of his comfort zone! It wasn't until we got home that his sister shared The Pirate choose ruby because there was only one skein o...

Christmas Sweater knitting has been slow going this summer, I  just finished my second of six... Pattern: Tiny Top Down #608 by Cabin Fever (with modifications) Yarn: Cascade 220 Colorway: Mallard and Cordovan Amount: 2 skeins of each Needle Size: US Size 5 and 6 The basic sweater line is from the Cabin Fever pattern but I added cuffs at the wrists and bottom. I love this sweater for my youngest Grandkiddo! Earlier I had started this sweater for Nephew Joe. At first, I was concerned about the contrast between the two colors. I realized it wasn't the two color combinations bothering me but the age appropriateness of the colors for an 8th grader. In my school world it just wasn't going to work - I am almost certain it would have turned into an "Auntie" sweater onlypulled out when I appeared....

The first of six Christmas sweaters is in the cupboard! I've finished Choe-A-Little-Bit's Vodka Lemonade cardigan and am on to the second sweater. I did make a few modifications, both intentional and unintentional. The pattern calls for a US size 5 but to get gauge I used size 4. Although I’m not sure of the final fit, I loved the decreases and increases at the side for a fitted sweater. I just hope it works for Chloe. I was a sloppy pattern reader and only put one lace repeat on each front side - a design feature I guess! I looks fine to me but doing two on each side would have added a little more interest for me when knitting it! Pattern: Vodka Lemonade Yarn: Jojoland Tonic Colorway: Shaded Spruce Amount: 4 skeins Needle Size: US 4 All in all this is a sweater worth doing again!

First to check in with their new sweaters: Chloe A Little Bit The Pirate Grandma gets the second set accounted for: Sadie Lou The Tiger And the last two are looking good!

The NorDak Family are on the road home. It's been a fun holiday, here's a quick snapshot of the happenings: (I'm just beginning to get used to my new camera!) Frosting Christmas cookies for Santa. Sadie with Aunt Kate. Sadie Lou and Isaac wrote a book about their Dad. Grandpa and The Tiger Sadie Lou Showing off their new sweaters. Winding down with Mom. We're ready to go but there's not much snow! Watching a movie with Bluie (II or III, I'm not sure). Nikko honors The Tiger! Grandpa gives advice to the newbies!

My girls grew up with a great tradition that has been passed on to their kids.  The kiddos are allowed to open one package each Christmas Eve, It is picked out by their mother, and the package always contains... a new pair of jammies.  The kids never seem to catch on!