Billy and Lilly come to visit

I was in heaven this past weekend. Both of my grandchildren came to visit. They've only met each other one time before. They are Billy and Lilly. We call them "the illys" They are 2 days shy of 1 year apart in age.

Looks like they're dancing, but actually Lilly was trying to hug and kiss Billy. They both just kept giggling.

We went to the town's egg hunt on Saturday. What fun!

Hats for the Homeless

I posted these directions earlier (in December), but now I have some pictures of the hats.

Each year my daughter and I knit hats for homeless people and donate them to various shelters, soup kitchens, and sometimes just hand them out on the streets of NYC where my daughter goes to school. It started out as a way to use up leftover yarn and now we actually purchase yarn for the project. We did get a rather large donation from WEBS which is a great yarn store in Northampton, MA (http://www.yarn.com/).The pattern is very easy. We use size 10 or 10.5 16" circular knitting needles (double pointed needles would also work). It takes approximately 150 yards of worsted weight yarn to make one hat. Cast on 84 stiches. Place marker at the beginning of the round and you join in a circle and knit one, purl one around until the hat measures 10 ". Then begin the decrease rows. Decrease row one: * knit/purl for 5 stitches and then decrease one stitch (I like the slip as if to knit, knit one and passover method)* Continue from * to * around to the row marker. Next row: knit the knit stiches and purl the purl stitches. Decrease row two: "knit/purl for 4 stitches and then decrease one stitch*. Continue from * to * around to the row marker. Next row: knit the knit stiches and purl the purl stitches. Continue to decrease every other row with one fewer stitches between decreases and then knit/purl one row even until there are 12 stitches on the needles. (You'll probably have to switch to double pointed needles when there are about 48 stiches left.) Then cut a long tail. Thread through a tapestry needle and run it through all 12 stitches. pull tight and weave in the ends.It's a great project and there are a lot of cold heads out there. It takes me about 5-6 hours to make one hat, so I can't do too many in one season. So, if you want to help...start knitting.

best and worst yarn

Okay, this is for the SP10 contest. I definitely have two favorite yarns. Koigu Painter's Pallet yarn and Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I've made several scarves out of the Koigu as well as the only pair of socks I've every made. It's wool, but soft and the colors are incredible. I made two baby sweaters for my grandchildren out of the Baby Cashmerino. Both yarns are on the pricey side, so I don't knit too much with them...but I love them. Here are some of the scarves I've made from Koigu.

The worst yarn? Anything that is 100% acrylic and very stiff. In my youth, I knitted a couple of afghans out of acrylic yarn. I stil have the afghans, but they stay in the closet because they are very stiff and not comfortable.

birthday knitting

I just finished a sweater for my granddaughter, Lilly. She lives in Germany with her parents and we don't get to see her much. I knitted her this sweater for her birthday. I waited until they came to visit this week to give it to her. It's fun to be able to see her wearing the sweater. She's so cute. The sweater is made out of Plymouth Jelly Beenz yarn. I usually don't like to knit too much with acrylic yarn, but this has some acrylic in it making it easy to wash and dry which is good for baby stuff.

Billy's Birthday

We went to Virginia where our grandson lives (with his parents) to help celebrate his 2nd birthday. He is such a cute kid. He and his parents will be moving to Texas in a couple of months when his dad (or son) gets finished with border patrol school. So far away.

Lilly is one year old today

Our Granddaughter, Lilly, was born one year ago today and we've only seen her in person 2 times. She lives in Germany with her parents and It's sad that we weren't there.

Here she is with her Mommy. They both look pretty happy. Happy Birthday Lilly.

Secret Pal 10 Questionaire.

Here are is the questionnaire for SP10. Please be sure to post it in a spot on your blog where your pal can easily find it. Since your pal will use this to help create your packages you'll want to have it posted to your blog no later than the last day of February.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I like to knit with natural fibers. I'm not too fond of things that are too bulky. I absolutely do not like 100% acrylic yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a knitting needle case for the straight ones. I have hooks in my sewing room for the circular ones.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting for about 35 years. My mother taught me when I was in high school. I'm an advanced knitter.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

No, I don't have a wishlist online.

5. What's your favorite scent?

Not too fond of scents. They make me sneeze.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yes, I have a sweet tooth...Favorite candy is anything cherry flavored.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I love to sew, quilt, counted cross stitch. I also do home renovation projects. My husband and I just bought a house that we're renovating and hope to rent out soon. No, I don't spin.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I still like the music from the 60s and 70s best. Yes, my computer does play MP3s. and I don't have a stereo.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like blues, greens, burgandy, and lately orange. Can't stand yellow.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I'm married (to the same man for 30 years). I have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. I have two dogs (a golden retriever, and doberman mix) and two cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I wear scarves and mittens. I don't like hats much. I might wear a poncho, but don't own any right now.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Sweaters for my grandchildren, children, and nieces and nephews. I like to make hats for the homeless and scarves.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Hats for the Homeless.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Some handmade gifts are okay. Usually when I get something handmade, I know I could have made it myself, but I appreciate the effort of others as well.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer circular and double pointed needles. In order of preference: aluminum, bamboo, and plastic is last.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

No

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

About 5 years old.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect?

I collect all things "panda." And I like dishes of all kinds. Little animal figurines

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

No books or yarns in particular.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

None that I can think of

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I knitted one pair. It was fun. I would like to knit more of them. I wear a size 6.5 shoe.

23. When is your birthday?

December 31

Hats for the Homeless

Each year my daughter and I knit hats for homeless people and donate them to various shelters, soup kitchens, and sometimes just hand them out on the streets of NYC where my daughter goes to school. It started out as a way to use up leftover yarn and know we actually purchase yarn for the project. We did get a rather large donation from WEBS which is a great yarn store in Northampton, MA (www.yarn.com).

The pattern is very easy. We use size 10 or 10.5 16" circular knitting needles (double pointed needles would also work). It takes approximately 150 yards of worsted weight yarn to make one hat. Cast on 84 stiches. Place marker at the beginning of the round and you join in a circle and knit one, purl one around until the hat measures 10 ". Then begin the decrease rows. Decrease row one: * knit/purl for 5 stitches and then decrease one stitch (I like the slip as if to knit, knit one and passover method)* Continue from * to * around to the row marker. Next row: knit the knit stiches and purl the purl stitches. Decrease row two: "knit/purl for 4 stitches and then decrease one stitch*. Continue from * to * around to the row marker. Next row: knit the knit stiches and purl the purl stitches. Continue to decrease every other row with one fewer stitches between decreases and then knit/purl one row even until there are 12 stitches on the needles. (You'll probably have to switch to double pointed needles when there are about 48 stiches left.) Then cut a long tail. Thread through a tapestry needle and run it through all 12 stitches. pull tight and weave in the ends.

It's a great project and there are a lot of cold heads out there. It takes me about 5-6 hours to make one hat, so I can't do too many in one season. So, if you want to help...start knitting.

We had some snow and ice here over the past few days. Couldn't really get to the house to work on it. Tomorrow we're going to go there and try to shovel some of the snow and ice so we can get the car into the driveway. The snow plow hit our mailbox and severed the 4x4 post that was holding it up. Another chore.

We are closing in on getting the house ready for rental. Everything is painted and stained. We need to do some more cleaning of the wood floors though. That's my job tomorrow.

I'll post more pictures next time.

More on the house

Here are some pictures of the way the inside of the house used to look. The paint was partially stripped from the woodwork in the living room.










The only bathroom was so tiny that you could sit on the toilet and hit your knees on the bathtub.