Rino the SEXY BEAST!

Isn't he SEXY??? He's not mine, but he's wearing my work. And looking just FAB roaming the neighborhood in his Houndstooth Check sweater made especially for him. The pattern is a combination of several and the yarn is Red Heart (washable-YEAH).

I found the stitch pattern and loved it and made some modification to a pattern in "Men Who Knit and the Dogs Who Love Them," towards the back of the book, can't remember the name, and of course I've shifted the library around so can't find the book at the moment.

Wanda's Prize

You'd think we've learned our lesson about gauge swatches. Yep, you'd think so, but you'd think WRONG! This is a very easy FREE pattern, and I have more of the yarn-Lily Sugar'n Cream Confectionary Colors Twists, so I'll be making it again. After one washing the cotton yarn drew up about a inch in length so this very pretty vest now belongs to my friend Wanda, who is modeling it in the picture.

OCDK-

OCDK
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Knitting. There! I’ve said it. I have a problem, the first step is always admitting to your self that you have a problem. Is there a 12-step program for knitters? Enough! My obsession has always been those beautiful self-stripping yarns and how to match perfectly the strips on two separate feet. I love knitting my sock ‘toe up, two at once’ and being able to finish both socks at the same time. The trick has always been how to get the ball of yarn to tell us when we’re at the halfway point. I will admit to cheating….here’s how:
Years ago I purchased an "incredible sweater machine’ and I’ve found the perfect use for it, well, OK, it became a part of my OCD. My therapist says I’ve got to stop ‘justifying my actions.’ Anyway, take out the sweater machine, or whatever brand knitting machine you’ve got. Now cast on about 56-60 stitches with waste yarn and then start with your self-striping sock yarn. Add some more waste yarn and start then next ball of self-striping sock yarn (because you KNOW that you have at least 10 in the stash) that’s right keep going. Why not knit them all up while you got the knitting machine out and dusted off. Put about 5-10 rows of waste yarn between each section of good sock yarn and remove from the knitting machine. Now you have this HUGH scarf looking thing. Snip about half way though the section of waste yarn and unravel, separating the sections of sock yarn. You can now see the color rotation and exactly how many sections of the color strip you have in that ball of yarn. If you count 17 sections of yellow/red/green you know that you can start your toe at yellow and knit eight sections per sock. You can also snip and unravel to separate the scarf into two sections and knit your sock at the same time from the two, now separated scarves. Keep in mind, the scarf will only unravel in one direction, you will KNOW if your going from the wrong way because you’ll only get to unravel one row at a time before you have to untie the knot.
And that is my secret to these PERFECTLY matched heels….TA DA!!!!!

Cuff 2 Cuff

Finished the 'Sideways' cardi by Judith Shangold, yarn was Jo-Ann Sensations Rainbow Boucle in the pink/white as you can see. Already had a co-worker put in a request for one for Christmas..... hmmm

Christmas in July

Well, not really Christmas in July, but I'm getting SO many Christmas gifts done and tucked away..... This is a great hat pattern from CBKnits. I used two balls of Patons SWS in the Natural Blue colorway. LOVELY!!! Now lets see.... who's it gonna be for.....???

Hat's for the boys! Yarn is Laces Shepherd Sock and the pattern is from "knitting from the top down" by Barbara Walker, highly recommend this book!

Socks for some girls at the office.

Fidget in Debbie Bliss Baby cashmerino

Long Cabled Vest by Gayle Bunn

Yarn was Filatura Di Crosa Zarella in a discontinued color, purchased at the now closed Carma's Needlecraft in Louisville, Ky.
Pattern can be found here
With my dread of sewing pieces together, I’m knited this in the round to the armhole shaping. I really liked this pattern, very well written.

Icelandic Lace Shawl

Finially finished this lovely shawl. I ordered yarn as a kit from Sarah's. Started knitting in February and just got it blocked out this week. Lovely! Still haven't decided who will receive it.

I can tell you now, my friend Patty R. has retired from our Department and received her shawl...couldn't have anyone spoiling the surprise.