Emptyknitster

Adult Sweaters; 2 Socks: 37 pairs Slippers: 7 pairs Baby Sweaters: 4 Baby Quilts: 7 Toys: 1 Christmas Sweater Ornaments: 9 Hats: 5   Preemie hats: 69 Cowls: 1 Scarves: 2 Mittens: 3 Cat Beds: 21 Grand Total of knitting in 2017: 161 items Favorite items: So proud to have protesters in the family! Favorite photo prop for knitted item: Knitting on our trip to China 2017 Craziest thing knit this year: Favorite hand dyed item: Only hand dyed item I knit this year Dumbest mistake: Starting and ripping out 3 sweaters. ( So bad there are no photos!)

The Chick came home a few days before Christmas and told me she had a friend who was going to have twin boys and surprise! They were born a bit early, the Wednesday before Christmas.   Pattern: Five Pound Baby Cardigan by Carole Barenys Yarn: BernatSoftee Baby Solids Colorway: Blue Needle Size: US Size 3 and 5 I love knitting quick, impromptu, projects over the holidays and so was more than happy to knit up these little sweaters for the new babies. The projects aren't finished, finished, finished…I still have to find 10 little buttons sew on the two sweaters but I’m currently snowed in and do not mind staying home one little a bit!

Another wonderful Christmas is in the books. We missed the California Family this year but the ballerina was busy performing in not one but two Nutcracker ballets. She was Mother Ginger in her school's performance and King Mouse with the Oakland Ballet Company. She spent several days  including Christmas Eve dancing. The Chick came into town on Wednesday and we planned out meals and did the shopping. (What a great help) I was pleased when she wanted to get yarn to knit a baby sweater. There isn't a more satisfying way to spend a snowy holiday than to cuddle up and work on knitting. The NorDak Family arrive Friday and we decided with all the decorating I had done around the house previously, we could forgo having a tree this year in order to have kittens who didn't electrocute themselves! I was relieved to have SadieLou around to make Chex Mix and decorate cookies.   We enjoyed putting puzzles together, playing cards and renew an interest in Mexican Train Domino...

We were going to renew a tradition and meet the WyomingCowboy Family to go skiing on Christmas Eve. There would be a new generation going for the first time and when we planned it, the trip sounded like a great idea. The youngest member of the WyomingCowboy Family, little Kynlee, was visiting from Reno and I thought she could use an Elf hat to keep her warm on the slopes. My best stranded knitting yet! Pattern: Norwegian Star Earflap Hat by Tiennie Yarn: Cascade Yarns, Pacific Colorway: Red and Cream Needle Size: US 8 But alas, plans fell through - the weather was just to cold for this family to brave a day of skiing. The WyomingCowboy Family went without us and were quite proud of themselves. Despite the weather they skied for an hour and a half.  Polly thought the pompom was pretty special, grrrr!

I've been wanting to sew another baby quilt for a few months. There was a mess in the fiber room and I've had a busy fall coming and going visiting the girls, so I put any thought of a quilt on the back burner. But this week with all the Christmas gifts wrapped and goodies baked I decided to kick back and enjoy the season by following my bliss. I thought I had enough scraps from previous quilts to make another quilt and was quite happy I had taken the advice of another quilter by pre-cutting all the extra quilt fabric into 7", 5", 3.5", 2.5" and 1.5"strips. I even had leftover binding cut and ironed, ready to be sewn on.  All I had to do was thread the sewing machine and get to sewing! I'm beginning to understand why a quilter has a stash just like knitters. While I was sewing this quilt I ran out of green, yellow and orange material making a to run to the store for several half yarn pieces necessary. Once again I have extras of these colors an...

 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

Although I missed ChloeALittleBit's birthday by a few days we still celebrated! She chose stuffed pasta for dinner and brownies and ice cream for dessert. Then we were off to the ballet. The Joffrey Ballet was performing in Zellerbach Hall at Berkeley and gave a wonderful performance. Although trained classically they perform contemporary dance as well. My exposure to ballet is limited and so I was a bit surprised at the contemporary aspect of the performance. My favorite was "Joy" where everyone was on their toes including the men in high heels shoes! The kiddos had the week of Thanksgiving off from public school and so we had time to enjoy each other between working hard to complete homework, Chloe's ballet classes and both of their on line classes. The Pirate taught me to play the board game, Dominion and I even won a game or two! For the last five years the California family have traveled to Southern Oregon to meet with The Oregon Family for a few days over T...

I was leaving to visit/help the California Dreamin' Daughter who was recovering from a knee surgery and knew the current pair of socks I was knitting wouldn't last the fight out to California. Packing for a two week adventure always includes yarn and so I not only had yarn in my suitcase but in my purse as well. Happy to have finished this pair for the Birthday Granddaughter, I cast on another pair for The Pirate while waiting for my connection in Salt Lake City. Pattern: Vanilla Socks with a Fish Lips Kiss Heel Yarn: Carlton Yarns Sock Weight, Cascade Heritage Sock (black) Colorway: Wild Flowers, with a Black heel Needle Size: US Size 1

This is the second little Knubbelchen I've made. I think a baby will either love them to pieces as a favorite toy or the Knubbelchen will end up at the bottom of the toybox, nothing in between. Hoping AnnaMarie will love this little guy... Pattern: Knubbenchen by pezi888 Yarn: Patons  Kroy Stripes Colorway: Mexicala Striipes Needle Size: US Size 1,5 I plan on getting Knubbelchen and the sweater wrapped and popped into the mail next week...one down and ??? to go!

It had been a few years since I'd knit a Wallaby. It was a sad day when The Pirate outgrew the need for a continual Wallaby on his back. (I'd been hoping he'd go to a college with a Pirate mascot so I could knit them for him forever!) BUT, I'm happy to have a Grand Niece to knit for. AnnaMarie was born this year so she is just a little mite and will be sweater worthy for a long time. Pattern: Wonderful Wallaby Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Stroll Colorway: MC: Celestial                   Stripes: Orange, Rouge, Freesia Needle Size: US Size 6

The last two years I've knit ornaments for the Bunco Gals. The first year I knit cute little Christmas sweaters and last year I knit hats and mittens. This year I knit Christmas stockings for them. All are darling! Christmas Stockings by Jude Yarn: Bits and Bobs Needle Size: US Size 1, circular needle Directions: Using Turkish Cast On, cast on 4 stitches on each needle Increase every other round to 14 stitches on each needle Knit for about 1 inch Knit a Fish Lips Kiss Heel Knit to about the same length as the foot Rib 4 rows Cast off in “old Fashioned” cast off (not stretchy)

Halloween and black cats a scary combination but not when you have lucky socks! Pattern: Fish Lips Kiss Heel Yarn: Carlton Sock Yarn Colorway: Emerald City Needle Size: US Size 1 (No Trick or Treaters again this year! Resulting in a happy Hubby because he'd bought full size candy bars, "Just in case!")

Niece Molly's bridal shower was this afternoon. We had a great time catching up and discussing plans for the upcoming festivities.    Where do couples go for a destination wedding when they live in Hawaii? Montana of course!

The NorDak Family haven't posted about their new kitten yet. They've had this beautiful little, now 13 week girl, for two weeks and I just can't wait any longer! She is one of the most unusual kittens I have ever seen, she's polka-dotted and I already love her from afar.... Look at that mustache... And the dots.... I even love the reverse widow's peek, Telling everyone to check out the spots! Her name is Lucy and even Charlotte thinks she's a keeper.

I’ve been working on my families genealogy for many years. It has always been an interest of mine, however, I found I didn't sleep at night when working on my investigations. I either got to caught up with the research and worked most of the night or couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about past ancestors, their lives, and how I could glean more information about their lives. Now retirement allows for many things, one of them is to pursue my passion for genealogy. I’d been interested in Ancestry.com for years but felt the cost, currently $200 a year, was to much when I had a job which should and did occupy most of my time. Last January I bought a membership thinking I would recover as much information as I could from the site and then pull out. This idea has now been revised however. Back in the day when I send off a request and three dollars via snail mail I’d wait weeks for get a response. I might get a response if the Clerk of Court took pity on me or I had a relative ...

When we got home from the Griz game, Hubby wanted to load the trailer up and take off for the Missouri Breaks. So I spent Sunday gathering meals. I made barley soup with garlic bread, chicken enchiladas, and packed things for Rueben and pulled pork sandwiches. Breakfasts were bacon, eggs and hash browns. I cooked up the bacon at home... place in cold oven then turn it on to 400 degrees, when its done preheating you have cooked bacon, easy! We took both cats with us this adventure. It was Polly’s first trip and she did well in her carrier until about five minutes before our destination. Rats!  Once in the trailer she was fine. When I was in the trailer she was sitting next to me purring. At night she cuddled up next to me in bed to stay warm. I loved it. Denali didn’t growl but spent most of her time in her little hidie-hole Hubby fixed for her under the couch. Life was good. The wind blew Monday and Tuesday. It appears the elk would rather stay in the willows than be out in th...