Contest Deadline Moved

I just realized that my contest is supposed to end on Friday but we won't be here! Since the boys have off from school for Rosh Hashanah, we're going away tonight for the weekend. I'll be picking a winner sometime on Monday so make sure you get your joke in on the contest post. Good luck!

Another Score!

I've been a busy knitting fool lately. I finished the Bella's Mittens, I'm working on a Sockhead Hat and a pair of Bubble Wrap socks. I've also been busy looking at what sock yarns are available on Ravelry in the destash group. I really like the idea of that group, which I'm sure I've stated several times before. Even if I don't buy anything, I love looking at what yarns others are using and getting ideas of what I want to use.
This week I actually purchased a lovely skein of SockPixie yarn from a gentlemen who was destashing. It's a Tencel/Merino blend called Napoleon & Josephine.



It's got red, gold, brown and black in it with a terrific sheen from the Tencel. I'm really looking forward to knitting up a nice pair of socks for Patrick with this yarn.
If you're on Ravelry, make sure you check out this group. You can get yarns at good prices and you may be helping out another knitter short of funds.

Realization

This week I finished up a couple of projects I'd been working on. One was the Lacy Socks I had in my last post and the other was a pair of Bella's Mittens. I've knit the mittens twice before and really enjoyed making them. The first pair was for my niece, Joyce, made from Classic Elite Montera yarn which is 50% wool and 50% llama making for a softer fuller knit. The second pair I made with Shetland Marl which is 100% shetland wool. I really enjoyed making both pair of these mittens and they came out lovely.
I cast on this third pair of mittens and began knitting. I was making them for another one of my nieces who lives in upstate NY and is crazy about Twilight. I picked a striking red I had in my stash. I knit the first couple of rounds with no problem but after that I realized I didn't like knitting this. Was this the same pattern? I looked and realized it was. Why didn't I enjoy this as much as the first two? The only difference was the yarn. I realized that I did love the pattern but it was the yarn I didn't love. I wonder if that's happened in the past where I thought it was the pattern but it may well be the yarn! I'm going to have to go through my library of knits, which aren't really that many, and find knits I didn't really like making and redo them if I like the pattern.
I won't say what yarn it is but suffice it to say they made a lovely pair of mittens that will be well used and loved. The rest of the yarn is tucked away at the back of my knitting closet to be used only in the most dire emergency.

Fair

While on vacation we looked for local things to do. Glenn found out that the Wayne County Fair was going on while we were upstate. It's in PA and a bit of a drive but well worth the trip. We've gone before but not in the last year or two. I think the last time we went, I wasn't yet knitting so I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had knitted goods that had competed for awards! Here are a few of the prize winning pieces:





Aren't they sweet? They also had an animal auction which included goats and sheep, prize winning vegetables and fruit, games and rides. The boys had a couple of major wins.







Patrick won that giant mouse and Glenn won a giant pug dog. We almost had to strap Patrick to the roof of the car. Next year we may take a van.

Contest Giveaway!

As I stated in an earlier post, I've had a lot to celebrate this month including my birthday and my second blogiversary. In light of these fun things, I've decided to share the wealth and have a contest! I wasn't sure what type to have but Patrick asked that I have a joke contest again. He really loved reading all the jokes last time so once again I'll ask that you comment on this blog post with a joke for Patrick. Keep in mind that he's thirteen and a boy so funky bathroom and booger jokes will be greatly appreciated. By him, not me. And he'll be judging the winner.
Oh what will you win, you ask? Well here they are:



It's a skein of Noro Silk Garden sock yarn and a copy of Knit Lit. A lovely yarn and a sweet book to read when you're not knitting.
Contest will end on Friday, September 10th at midnight. One comment per email address please.
Good luck!

Barn Quilts of Neversink

While on vacation in upstate NY, we always look for local fairs and events to attend and take the kids to see. This year we noticed the Neversink Barn Quilts. The Barn Quilts of Neversink is a project of Neversink Renaissance — a beautification and community development program principally funded by Sullivan Renaissance and the Gerry Foundation. Since its inception in the fall of 2006, the “Barn Quilts” concept has yielded a total of 75 barn quilt panels which have been placed on historic barns,outbuildings, freestanding displays and area businesses in the Town of Neversink. The colorful 8x8- and 4x4-foot quilt panels were designed and painted by local volunteers and
barn owners. Our thanks to the hundreds of local residents whose pride in their community and spirit of volunteerism can be seen across the Township.
I just thought it was gorgeous and a fun thing to do on a rainy day. The brochure gave you three different maps so you could drive around the area to see the various quilts. Of course the boys had no interest but Glenn and I did so we took a drive around and here are some of the photos we got:



Aren't they all lovely? This is just a quick look at this fun and beautiful craft display in Sullivan County. Glenn and I had a fun time driving around hunting for these. Some of them were a bit off the beaten track but that was part of the fun of it. I think he found more than I did but who's counting?
Here's the pdf for the trails to follow in case you'll be in the area.

Vacation Knitting

We've just gotten home from vacation. Three wonderful weeks in the country was just enough. Ok maybe I could have stayed another week but a month would be my limit without my city. Maybe.
I did get some knitting done though. I finished a pair of Lacy Mock Cable socks and here they are:





Gorgeous, if I do say so myself, fun and easy. Again using BMFA medium weight yarn which is truly spoiling me for all other sock yarn. Not that it stopped me from purchasing yarn at my favorite Catskill LYS mind you.
Here's a pair of socks that I'm working on now. Well here's the first of the pair:



This is from the Big Book Of Socks and it's the Easy Lace sock. I apparently have a type because this strongly resembles the Lacy Mock Cable Sock.
I started this sock then came to the heel. The pattern calls for a short row heel which I'd never done before but I decided to give it a go and here was the result:



It wasn't great but I left it and pushed on. The more I knit, the more that heel got under my skin. I was almost at the toe and decided to frog it back and do a flap and gusset which turned out, as you can see, much better. I'm going to have to practice the short row heel because I don't want to be married to the flap and gusset. I don't mind dating it but I want to see other heels.
Those were the only things I got done because we were so busy with other things this vacation. I'll soon post non-knitting stuff and I want to a contest soon to celebrate my second blogiversary! I should have a contest up and running this week. Now I have to get things in order around the house but I'll be posting again soon!