Emptyknitster

Each year the adults in our family draw names for gift giving but no matter who's name I draw I like to do a little knitting for everyone. Socks have been the go to gift lately.... The California Dreamin’ Gurl has a very specific order for her Christmas Socks: 1)Yoga Socks 2)Black 3)Tight I’m not fond of knitting black yarn but decided with no toes or heels I could put up with a little bit of knitting in the black. Even knitting only in daylight these were a very fast knit.To achieve the third request I found this pattern and knit these socks in a twisted cable. I think I'll use this little twist in many other toed socks. Pattern: Women's Yoga Socks by Rebecca Bathje Yarn: Cascade Sock Yarn Colorway: Black Needle Size: US Size 1 ...but the California Dreamin' Gurl was also the family member name I drew and so when she sent me her list of possible gifts and I saw DRYER BALLS I was delighted!! I got on YouTube, found a tutorial, and was quickly I was makin...

This year has been the year to knit socks. I've enjoyed every sock knit. Being able to put the project in my purse and take it anywhere has been the best. I feel like I can be adventurous in colors and patterns knowing the recipients will still wear the finished product - after all, they only have to slip on a pair of boots if they really find them offensive! I've always tried to have my Christmas presents bought, or completed by Thanksgiving so imagine my surprise when I went to wrap the NorDak family gifts and realized that I didn't have the Big Boy's socks completed! Quickly I got the THREE skeins of sock yarn, picked out a favorite pattern, and began knitting! Pattern: Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks FX Colorway: Cadet Colours Needle Size: US 2.5 All wrapped and ready for Christmas!

I happily knit a pair of socks for one of my biggest sock fans! Pattern: Pin Striped Socks by Julia Gabriel              Fish Lip Kiss Heel Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks Ragg Shades Colorway: Brown Striped Ragg Amount: 2 skeins Needle Size:  US 1 needles

Thanksgiving and the Griz/Bobcat annual game happen about the same time each year.  The NorDak Family came the weekend before Thanksgiving, and we were at the football game when they walked into the house, The Tiger declared they had been "ditched"! I hope he felt we made up for it before they left today! It was a busy week. The family met our kitty Denali for the first time and fell in love. It took several days for her to come around. She travels with us and was visiting her "kitty cousin" while we were at the game. She helped with her first Christmas tree... But once we got home Denali went into hiding for a day and a half under the covers of our bed - evidently on overload after a trip, the kitty cousin, and four new bodies at the house! Then all of a sudden she came out and jumped into the mix!  Later in the evening the tables turned and kitty cousin came through the door to visit Denali in her world! We played our favorite game, Ticket To Ride!, and...

Every year we look forward to the big rivalry game between the Griz and Bobcat teams. Each team switches hosting the game, this year it was at Washington Grizzly Stadium. It is always scheduled as the last game regular of the season and so we can expect cold weather, this year was no different. Rain was predicted at kickoff turning to snow before game's end.  We arrived prepared: The people in our section, the infamous N-Zone, have gotten to know each other over the years. We worry about missing fellow fans that usually sit around us (new babies or surgeries perhaps??) and are often asked about our latest trip up from Billings. This week as we settled into the stands for pre-game chatter, one of our oldest Griz buddies handed Hubby a piece of paper with his phone number and said he'd heard the passes were going to get hammered with snow, possibly closing by the game's end. He added that all the motels in the area were full so if we wanted to stay the night at his house ...

While visiting the California Dreamin' Family, Chloe-A-Little-Bit asked me for a new hat and glove set. I sat down and knit several hats this weekend - never quite finding the perfect pattern but loving the knit anyway! Enjoy the hat fashion show..... Pattern: Izmir Hat by Shana Schasteen Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks Stripes Colorway: 243455 Sweet Stripes Amount: 1 Skein Needle Size:US Size 6  Pattern: Hat No. 5 by Kara McKinley Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Solids & Heathers Colorway: Ecru Amount: Less than 1 skein Needle Size: US 8 Pattern: E-ola (Reversible Hat) by Muriela Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pacific Colorway: French Blue Amount: Less than one skien Needle Size: US Size 7 ( calls for a size 8) Pattern: Women's Peaked Hat by Patons Yarn: Cascade Yarn Pacific Colorway: Navy Amount: Less than one skein Needle Size: Crochet Hook J (two sizes larger than called for)

I love one piece sweaters and this is just a little different from the usual. I enjoyed knitting this sweater after so many pairs of socks. There were a few changes from the printed pattern, I knit the yoke longer, didn't decrease before the waist and increased two extra times from the waist to the hips. The tunic was knit much longer than the suggested length in the pattern.  To quote a blogger, "If you are over 18 and you don’t live in the Playboy Mansion, you must wear your leggings with a top or tee that's long enough to cover your hoo-ha and your booty. No exceptions, ladies." For this sweater I used an unusual choice of yarn. I didn't want it to be to warm, and knowing I would be wearing something under this short sleeve sweater I used an 60% acrylic/40% wool yarn. After wearing the sweater to work I'm happy with the choice but the sweater did receive a couple of snags throughout the day. It's not easy to take a selfie in this house! ...