Francisca's Scarf

Yes, in less than a week we are headed off to Italy. To say I cannot wait is an understatement. While we are in Florence, we will be meeting with a stainglass artist who is working with my husband on a project. They have invited us over for dinner at their house. They, like me, also have two daughters who are near the same age as my own. Needless to say we are all looking forward to this evening. We wanted to take gifts for everyone and since I found out at such late notice that we are having dinner in their home, I knew I wouldn't have a great deal of time to make something for the wife, Francisca, so I made her this scarf.

I love this scarf. I've made it before, and then ended up giving it away as a gift. I really need to make another one for me because I loved wearing it. It is called the Trellis scarf from Interweave Knit's Scarf Style book. The scarf (trellis part) is crocheted. Very quick and very easy. Then you just knit 10 roses and arrange them anyway you like. Again, very fast project that looks really nice on I think. Here is my daughter "modeling" the scarf for me. Never will say no to being in front of a camera!

Dishcloth Exchange

In one of the groups I belong to, Mary's Knitting and Crocheting Group, there was a sign-up to exchange a dishcloth with 11 other people. So, every month you send a dishcloth (and some goodies if you want to) to the person who signed up for that month. My month is May, and although I can tell I won't receive all 11 packages, I have received some very nice cloths. I received a particularly nice "puffy' from Nicole and just had to share it.

Isn't the flower theme she sent adorable? Packets of flower seeds, flower shaped scented cancles, and flower list pad and the best of all, the sunflower dishcloth. I love all the thought she put into her puffy. So, so sweet.

Traveling Hook

Have you ever heard of this? I didn't either. But then I was invited to join one. It is where a crochet hook, a pen and a notebook get mailed to you from someone else on the list. I received the package which also included an adorable washcloth as a present for me with the pattern. With the hook you are supposed to make something for charity, write about it, or anything you want to I guess, and then mail it off to the next person on the list. I made a pair of Baby Booties. Well, actually since the hook was bigger than what the pattern called for, they are really slippers for Toddlers, but I now have found an incredibly easy baby bootie pattern that I can whip up in about 1-1/2 hours. I wish I could tell you where I got the pattern. I can't, other than to say that I found it online for free. I think maybe I should start something like this with a pair of knitting needles as well.


Its also nice to be working on something new. I'm now working on knitting a baby hoodie sweater for a friend who is having their first baby. A baby boy. I think I'll make a pair of matching socks. I'm not one much for showing partial projects. I did that once and then never finished the project. Call me superstitious. Anyway, as soon as I finish the project I'll post it.

Oh, only a little more than a week until we go to Italy. Can't wait to shop for yarn there!!!

Two final Rune Letters: NG and O

Finally! The last two Rune Letters.
Rune Letter NG


Rune Letter O

Rune Letters D and L

Rune Letter D


Rune Letter L


Whew! Only two more letters to go -- letters NG and O.

Rune Letters B, E and M

Rune Letter B


Rune Letter E


Rune Letter M


Only 4 more to go. I should be able to knock Letter L out quickly. The remaining three are going to be a little bit challenging, so bear with me those of you who are actually waiting on these patterns.

Rune Letter T

Slowly but surely, all the letters are getting done. I'll have two more tomorrow. I have already written them and knitted them, but I haven't had a chance to block and photograph them, or to type up the patterns.

Rune Letters P, Z or -R, and S

Rune Letter P


Rune Letter Z or -R


Rune Letter S

Rune Letter T is almost finished so I hope to have it posted tomorrow.

Rune Letter EI

Here is Rune Letter EI or Eihwaz. Only 11 more to go.....

Rune Letter J or Y

This little guy was kind of tricky. This is the third cloth I made. I actually am pleased with the way it came out. Now I just need to learn to block better! As always, the pattern is free listed on the right, just scroll down. I'm working now on letter EI.

Rune Letters I and N

Rune Letter I



Rune Letter N



These patterns can be found on the right, just scroll down to free patterns. All the Rune Alphabet that I have designed so far is under one heading. I am working on the Letter J or Y and hope to have that as well as the letter EI out by tomorrow.

Two more Rune Letters

Two more Rune letters -- W or V, and H. The patterns can be found under Rune Alphabet on the right, just scroll down.

Back to the land of knitting

Don't you hate it when life gets in the way. I have just recently been able to pick up a pair of needles again. And the first thing I want to do is continue and complete working on the Rune Letter Alphabet and to assemble the U.S. afghan that I've put aside while I completed direction of The King and I at my daughters' school. The show was fabulous, if I do say so myself. But now, it is a little time for me...so, here is the first letter in a long time in the Rune Alphabet -- the Letter G. The pattern can be located under free patterns on the right. Just scroll down to Rune Alphabet.

Its been a long time...

Well, life has got in the way and I have hardly had any time at all this month to knit. My knitting friends told me they are worried about me. A musical I am directing has apparently consumed my every waking moment, and it is only now, at 12:40 a.m. that I have a few moments to write before I go and drop into bed. I just wanted to share the pattern for the latest KAL that I made for my group. I thought it was kind of pretty. My show, well it goes up next weekend, so I only have one more week to dedicate to it -- then I am going on a binge of knitting!!!

This pattern is called the zig zag and although I wrote it for an afghan square, you can easily knit it with cotton for a washcloth. The pattern is listed on the right -- just scroll down under free patterns.

Another Rune Alphabet Letter

Well I finally took some time to go back and create another Rune Letter -- as you can clearly see, the letter R or Raidho (pronounced "rye-though"). With all my obligated charity knitting and assembling of afghans, etc., it is nice to have a little creative outlet. I'll admit, I'm not particularly happy with the way this "R" turned out, but I think I will leave it for now and continue. If it continues to bother me I will go back and redo it.

I've also been very busy assembling a U.S. Afghan for my charity group. Women from all over the U.S. and Canada made state squares and mailed them in. When I finish this puppy it will go to Warm Up America. I'm actually enjoying putting it together, but I am only working on it a little bit everyday.



Finally, I just have to show you an adorable book that I have been wanting to get. But it is now no longer published and was going for $45 + online. One of the members of my charity group, lovely Leslie Pinney from California, apparently found the book and surprised me with it as a gift. Can you believe that. I'm still just speechless and touched. The book is called KNIT A SQUARE AND MAKE A TOY. It is patterns for all of these super cute stuffed animals, clowns, mermaid, etc., and they are all made from knitted squares. Very creative. I can't wait to get started on making one, or more. Leslie -- you rock girl!!!

Easter egg!

Well, Easter is right around the corner and I couldn't resist designing a little Easter Egg afghan square/dishcloth for my KAL group and to give in my two dishcloth exchanges.


So if you need a last minute little Easter gift, this is a quick knit.


I am in the process of assembling the USA afghan and will post an "in progress" photo later this weekend.

Oh, if you would like my little Easter Egg pattern, you will find it on the right -- just scroll down to free patterns.

Mitts from Penney

In a knit exchange group I belong to we exchanged either gloves, mittens or fingerless mitts. I think pretty much all of us made fingerless mitts. I just received mine today from Penney in Canada. The wool is gorgeous and very, very soft. I'm just not sure about the little gold coins attached though. I mean I give Penney an A+ for creativity, but I''m just not sure that I would wear them with the coins as I couldn't drive with them being in the way, and since I'm not much of a jewelry person, I think I would feel a bit conspicuous(sp?). Anyway, I do really love them. I hope Penney's feelings would not be hurt if I decide to snip off the coins. Exchanges are so hard because you make something for someone you know nothing about. But I do really love them. I just have to wait until it gets cold again.

My first Afghan!

I did it. I finally did it. I made my first afghan and I crocheted it! The afghan actually went pretty quickly. It was sitting down to do the border that took 3-4 months. Altogether I'd say the afghan took about 4-5 months.


I belong to Annie's Scrap Crochet Club and that is where I got the pattern. And boy, let me tell you, it really did use a lot of my scrap yarn! I didn't realize that the blanket was going to be so big.


I am planning on donating it to charity although my youngest daughter is begging that I let her have it. I'm flattered because she never wants anything that I make. I think I might let her use it for awhile and then I'll wash it and give it away. Now I want to start a second scrap blanket, just not such a big one.

Rune Alphabet

A member of one of my groups put out a request for someone to design afghan squares or dishcloth squares with the Rune alphabet on each square. I love a challenge, so I requested a try. Having made the first letter, the member of my group liked it so I am on my way to creating 24 other squares. Click http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/pronunciation.html to find out more about the Rune Alphabet. What is a Rune Alphabet you might ask? Well, I asked the same thing. Apparently it is an ancient Germanic language. "They were used throughout northern Europe, Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Iceland from about 100 B.C.E. to 1600 C.E. Runic inscriptions of great age have even been found in North America, supporting stories that the Vikings arrived in the Americas long before Columbus."

So, if you have any interest in the Rune Alphabet, you can start checking my blog periodically to get a free pattern for each letter. Although I will show the letter here, you can get the pattern by scrolling down on the right and look for the title "Rune Alphabet". Each letter and its pattern will be listed there.

Okay, here is the first letter that I have -- the Letter F or Fehu (fay-who).

And baby makes three...

A friend of mine, well actually my husband's co-worker's wife who has become a friend since we have started knitting together, is just about to have her first baby. As we have a knitting group that meets at my husband's office every week, the other knitters there and I decided we would each make her something and have a little shower in the office for her. Since I finally finished this sweater and gave it to her today, I can now post it.


This is made with Debbie Bliss cashmerino - pure heaven, and I used the Debbie Bliss pattern in baby cashmerino 2 pattern book. It was very easy, but I'll admit it really was not all that fun and it took quite a bit longer than I thought for a baby sweater. Probably because I just had a heck of a time getting into garter stitch. And, even though I matched up gauge, I still ran out of yarn. Naturally because it has taken me so dad-blasted long to knit the thing they didn't have the same dyelot. Oh well. despite the bad photo that you see of it, I still think it came out rather cute.

In my charity group I run two KALs a month. We just finished one and so I thought I'd post the picture here. You can get the pattern in the free pattern section over in the bar on the right.


Clearly I need to learn how to operate my camera better. I created an adorable Easter KAL that will start April 1st in my group. I'm really excited about this one. It could be an afghan square or a dishcloth!!!

Spring Break

Spring Break was wonderful this year. This is the first time my family and I actually got away and we had a great time renting a beach house on Galveston Island. Both the girls brought friends and it was just a lazy week. I say lazy, but boy did I finish a bunch of projects. So, while this post is small, there are many pictures of things I FINALLY finished -- my UFOs have become FOs!

First, my self-striping pink socks out of Lana Grossa Meilenweit Fantasy. Basic sock pattern, but boy was it fun seeing the pattern change. I finished the first sock a long time ago, but could never get past the heel on the second.


Next, a cupcake for my cupcake-crazed daughter. I guess it is all the rage right now. Anyway, it was easy as pie once I sat down to do it. Just doing it was the thing. This pattern is in the book ONE SKEIN by Leigh Radford.


Next, a hat that I started near Thanksgiving when I was doing a musical called INTO THE WOODS for a friend. The problem was that I didn't know how to do entrelac and I thought I could figure it out. Well, I couldn't, until I took the class. Then it went really fast and was kind of fun. My husband, unshaven from the holiday, was kind enough to model the hat for me.


Next, I'm sure you've seen those cute little sheep patterns from Patternworks? I think there are 4 of them. Anyway, I bought this one a long time ago. Silly, I know, but it was just so darn cute. Again, something I started right away, but never finished. Didn't take any time on my break.


And finally, last, but certainly not least, I finished my first sock design. I showed a pic weeks ago when I completed the first sock but could never get around to completing the second in order to check the pattern. Now I have. What do you think?


Now I just need to write up my pattern. I'll offer it free once I write it up.

Just an update...

I belong to a group called http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maryknittingandcrochetcorner/, where I have joined a year long dishcloth exchange group. I'll admit, its not that I love dishcloths so much, but I do love sending goodies and receiving them, as well as the chance and challenge of designing them. Every month I send out a dishcloth to someone with some little goodies. In May, I should receive 11 packages as that is the month I chose. We'll see if I actually get 11, but I guess that is not the point.

Checking on my delivery confirmation I know that my partner for March has received her package so I will go ahead and post what I made and sent her. Now, I did not design her dishcloth. I simply ran out of time. But why create something that already exists!!


I haven't heard from her yet, but I hope she likes it. I'm sure everyone who has come by and checked my blog the last couple of weeks has been pretty bored with all the afghan squares. To be honest, I'm pretty bored with them myself. I'm anxious to get back to other items. I'm also working on making a baby sweater, but once again I can't post any pics until the recepient receives the gift.

I'm looking forward to finishing the two pairs of socks I have started, maybe starting a sweater for me. I don't know, something. My charity group is really wonderful in that everyone has dove into this, but I think we all are anxious to slow down and even out our commitments. I think healthy knitting should be a good mix of knitting for charity and yourself/family, etc. I just hope next month when we focus on an elderly home that everyone is not so burned out that they drop off.

I am starting to get excited about our upcoming trip to Italy and have been collecting names and locations of yarn shops throughout.

Mystery Skein Exchange

Today was exciting for many reasons. I must say the most exciting reason for today is that my youngest daughter, Natalie, turned 13. There is nothing like seeing your babies grow-up in front of you. From sweet babies, to adorable toddlers, gangly pre-teens, and then beautiful teenagers. I'm very lucky.


As if that wasn't exciting enough, I also had another wonderful surprise today. Today I received my mystery skein exchange from my Aussie partner, Joy, in Australia. She made me the most beautiful scarves that are all twisty. I love twisty scarves. What is so fun about these is that you can wear them separately, or together. Beautiful autumn colors that I can't wait to wear. She also made a beautifully knit and crocheted little drawstring purse that will be perfect to wear on my belt loop. Very feminine, with a matching cellphone bag. She clearly had been very busy. In addition to these knitted treats, she included lots and lots of Australian chocolate. You can bet I am going to squirrel that chocolate away to savor when my family is NOT around. She also included a hilarious bumper sticker that is definitely going on my car that reads, WARNING - This Driver Spins, Weaves and Dyes"! Did I mention that Joy is the president of her weaving group? Finally, she sent me a yarn magazine that is published there in Australia. I thought that was a very clever gift and wish I had thought to send her one of my favorite magazines from here in the states. Rather than just tell you about it, you'd probably like to see what she sent?


Last but not least, true to my goal, I have knitted at least one afghan square a day. I can't show them all to you because some are for future KALs and some I have already handed off to be sewn into an afghan. I did take a picture of Illinois though.


I'm getting pretty tired of knitting afghan squares. Pretty bad since we are only 8 days into March. I think I'm going to try and crochet some to break up the monotony.

I love exchanges!

I just love exchanges. It is so much fun to receive something in the mail that was made specifically for you. Here are a beautiful pair of fingerless mitts that Teresa in Oklahoma made for me in a mitt exchange.


And now that I have received her gift and know that she has received mine, I can also post the mitts that I designed for her and mailed to her.



Finally, I have done yet another afghan square. Kentucky just in case you can't tell. I'm working on Illinois right now.

Afghan Square a Day

True to my word I have been keeping up with my commitment to do one afghan square a day this month. Let's hope I do better on this commitment than I ever do on any of my diets!!! Actually, I want to "average" one afghan square a day. Surprised my daughter with a trip to Dallas for her 13th birthday, which meant a long car trip. Great for getting these little suckers done.

This first square is a 9x9 100% wool square for our Afghans for Afghans blanket.

This Letter C is going to be included in one of two ABC afghans for Project Linus.

This State of Texas is actually going to another Yahoo Group moderated by Tyra. The group is dedicated to making state squares only for afghans that are being sent to our troops.