Hey! I'm Up and Away!

Do you make lists before you go on a trip? Of things to pack? Of things to do before you go? Or any number of things? I sure do. If I didn't I would be lost. I.Have.To.Be.Organized. It makes me feel as if I am in control. 

I just got finished work (It's 20 minutes to 9PM) and wanted to start a new blog. I get worried that too many people are following me. It's creepy. Sort of.

Back to lists for trips. What do you put on your list? I'll share mine tomorrow or even later this week. (I even laminated it because it was getting tattered from so much use). If you share yours. Send me a link to your blog in the comments. I want to see it posted!

"Amazing"

When I first saw this yarn I thought it was beautiful but way too expensive. But when Micheal's handed me a 40% off coupon I knew just how I would use it. The pattern: One Day Beret. So simple even I had no trouble. (I would give yourself more than one day, though! It takes me at least two days to finish this pattern.)

Gramma's Mittens

My Gramma taught me many things. She taught me how to make an apple pie from scratch and she taught me how to make a delicious roast from onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup and a roll of tin foil. But the most useful thing she taught me was how to knit. My Gramma made tons of mittens. The neighbor children would pass by her front porch and Granpa would look for a child without proper hand protection and call him over for a pair of "Gramma's Mittens". So in the early 70's Gramma taught me how to do it myself. My very first project was a pair of mittens for a Mennonite friend who was one of seven or eight children and only had mismatched mittens to wear. I had enough yarn left over to make myself a pair and I still have them! I can't believe they are not long gone. I have no idea how they made it this far in my life - from Pennsylvania to California to Canada. Over 40 years! But they have made it and I still use them. My girls are always clamoring for new mittens or socks or finger-less mitts and I often give them the pair fresh off the needles but I haven't parted with these old faithful yet. And I don't think I will.

Not only have the mittens made it to the 21st century so has the instruction book she and I used! It was falling apart back then but with the help of some sticky adhesive clear plastic we managed to salvage the book for posterity. Yes, I think it may last at least another 40 years.

So when someone needs a pair of mittens out comes "the book". I usually follow the instructions for 2 needles but just noticed last week that you could use 4 needles and knit in the round. Having tried knitting this pattern on four needles I think I prefer it. There's no messy seaming up to do at the end and when you put in that last stitch at the tip you are done... unless someone's fingers are longer than you thought.

Thankfully, there's no side seam to take out.

Scraps ~ I Mean Old Scraps

Take a ball of yarn ~ any old yarn. Preferably, a ball that has been hidden in the deep dark recesses of your yarn box(es). Yarn that has already served its purpose in another project or two. A scrap that is no good for any project ~ not even a woven square.

Then take some more yarn. Something that has no purpose either. Make sure it's junk. I mean something that's been in the bottom of the box for quite some time. Ugly, scratchy stuff.

And finally, take a third skein of unwanted variegated 100% acrylic yarn that you just want to get rid of but don't want to throw away since you've saturated all your friends with unwanted yarn and they can't/won't take ANY MORE!

Mix.

And knit.

Linen Stitch Scarf

from scraps

linen-stitch-scarf