Knotty Nancys

I consider knitting my zen time. I am at peace, I am involved and yet very meditative. That is, until I was working on this shawl for a friend with a yarn that I almost detest. It has a high acrylic content and was taking forever to knit up so I was losing my patience and gobs of time. Needless to say, I was less then please this would be the time I should learn the importance of reading directions but also the golden rule of knitting - check your gauge. I knit sweaters and hats and scarves and all sorts of things but never FOR someone in particular. So far at least. So gauge hasn't matter too much. Even this shawl wouldn't have proven too much of a problem except that the project was born out of the need to make something with a scant few skeins of a yarn picked up at a yard sale.  It has a very earthy tone that my friend liked, and the bulky weight of it lends itself well to the idea of being something warm and cozy for fall and winter. I backed into the pattern through Ra...

True to form and name, I had to try some more saucy knits. Thanks to Nikol Lohr, I now have a great variety of options. And I had a fast request for some pasties as a bachelorette gift. I could not resist the opportunity to try making these, including the mini pom-pom. The end result was much appreciated and in great humor.. I wish to share. "Hoochie Kootchies" - N. Lohr

The eastern seaboard took a wallop from Hurricane and then Tropical Storm Irene last weekend. It came roaring up through North Carolina, Virginia, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and headed right past New Hampshire and Vermont. Sadly, some parts were very nearly devastated by torrential rains, flooding and high winds. Fortunately most communities were given plenty of warning and most people were prepared for a bad storm. However, plenty of people and areas couldn't have predicted the flash floods and destruction, mostly from falling trees, debris, and water. My own experience was extremely tame in comparison. As I lost power about 1:00pm on the Sunday and had it fully restored sometime the following afternoon while I was back at work. Most of the surrounding community weren't affected at all. And then there those areas that are still in the dark.  Needless to say, I felt like Sunday was a day I could give into the elements and lo...