Emptyknitster

 I’m already thinking of Christmas 2018. For Christmas’ 2015 - 2017 I’ve knit the Bunco Gals little ornaments, Christmas stockings, hat and mittens, and a sweater for their trees. They seem to love them and I'd like to continue the tradition but I've knit all the usual tree ornaments and I’m not sure what to knit for next Christmas. I thought maybe a gnome could be cute and found this pattern. It’s crocheted so the gnomes would make up quickly. But in the end, although the little gnome is cute, he’s to big to hang on a tree.  Pattern: Christmas Gnome by Liesbeth Braam Yarn: Rauma Finuligarn Colorways: Dark Olive and Burgundy Needle Size: D I’ll continue my search for that perfect little gnome, I do have a year!

I saw this new heel on The Knit Show which featured a segment on short rows. They used this sock pattern to highlight the technique.  Fish Lips Kiss Heels are my "go to" heel but I was willing to give this new heel a try. They are knit from the toe up and use short rows to make a gusset. Although the pattern calls for a picot edge cuff the yarn was just to sturdy and I chose to knit a regular ribbed cuff. These socks are shorties - just the kind SadieLouWho loves - but could have easily been extended into regular length socks. I'm happy to have this technique in my bag of tricks. I will be listening to the family to hear if any have a bit of difficulty getting them over their "cankles". Pattern: Picot Socks by Lydia Gluck Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Colorway: Winter Eclipse Needle Size: US Size 1

While visiting the family, California Dreamin' Son-in-law asked if there was a way to mend his socks, the balls of both were just about worn through. After a quick disclaimer I  picked up the stitches above the worn areas, cut the worn bits off, and even though they had been toe up socks, I knit down to the toes and Kitchnered the ends together. An easy fix on the socks and a happy son-in-law. Later in the week I was folding clean laundry and saw more almost worn out socks.  This time the worn spots were on the heels of the socks but I thought it would be just an easy fix and I could repair the socks before the son-in-law came home from work. I started ripping the heel, and then ripped some more, and a little more...these socks were just to far gone - and I hadn't asked for permission to operate on them. "No worries," I thought. "I have some more of the exact yarn at home and I'll just knit another pair and pop them in the mail." When I got home...

While visiting the CaliforniaDreamin’ Family I was asked to knit a lined hat called The Frontier Tuque One size fits all 8” crown height 19” opening Inner Layer: 35% Qiviut, 35% Cashmere, 30% Merino Wool Outer Layer: 100% Merino Wool I wanted to do a test knit before I committed to the expensive Qiviut yarn. I found a pattern and decided to use my own handspun yarn for the outer shell but bought some really soft Llama for the inner shell. I followed the pattern exactly on the hat but used a double strand of Llama with the size 8 needles on the inner shell. The pattern will work well for the Son-in-law.  Pattern: On the C Train by Espace Tricot Yarn: Handspun and Illmani Yarn ECO-Llama Colorway: Natural and Bone Needle SIze: US Size 7, and 8 Now, I just have to try to find some Qiviut/Cashmere/Merino yarn!

I was going to an off the grid farm in Oregon to celebrate Thanksgiving this year and I thought slippers for everyone would be fun. To bad I thought of it 5 days before I left! I used 80% Acrylic/20% wool worsted AND sock yarn intertwined so there would be no shrinking of the slippers when washed. Seven pair knit - only photo of one. Pattern: Simple House Slippers by Simone A. Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease, and Leftover colorful sock yarn Colorway: A great stash buster - all yarns were on hand and the sock yarn was just leftover sock yarn added for color and warmth! Needle Size: US Size 6 and 7 In the end I didn’t knit slippers for all just most and they seemed to like them. If I make more for myself I’ll knit them a bis smaller, they seem a bit floppy.

The last pair of sock I knit while on my travels weren't completed until after I arrived home but they did facilitate a lovely conversation with the lady across the aisle on the plane. I seldom talk to anyone while flying but this was such a easy and enjoyable conversation. Her name was Katie and she was the same age as The Chick. She showed me photos of her boyfriend visiting in California while making notes of different places to visit in Montana. She shared with me that her mother's name was Judy and we laughed at the coincidence. Katie met her boyfriend at Salt Lake City for some mountain climbing and hiking and I continued my jaunt home. I think we both thought under different circumstances we would have become friends. Pattern: Vanilla, Fish Lips Kiss Heel Yarn: Carlton Sock Yarn Colorway: Birthday Cake Needle Size: US Size 1

While in California the kiddos introduced me to Stranger Things . The show had caused quite a stir Halloween week when Session 2 was released but I didn't know if it was just in my world or universal. The kiddos assured me it was universal and we started watching one night, "just to see what the big deal was." We couldn't get enough of Will, Eleven, and the rest of the cast and tried to squeeze an extra episode in every night. The last night I was there the California Dreamin' Gal cooked dinner AND did the dishes so the three of us could finish Session 2.  I also knit The Pirate a pair of socks during my visit, finishing them just in time. Pattern: Broken Ribbed Socks Yarn: Carlton Sock Yarn Colorway: The Blues Needles: US Size 1