One final look at 2007 . . .

From the first blue sweater of 2007 . . .


. . . to the last warm hat and mittens, the final accounting is a total of 16 knitted items.

My favorite? Probably the Flower Basket Shawl. It was great fun and a learning experience.

My least favorite? Probably the Edged in Lace shawl done as a baby blanket. Too much garter stitch!

My favorite sock? The Lupine Lace socks. They became addicting.

So, Evelyn A. Clark won the knitting trifecta this year at Chez Daisy.

Looking ahead? I am going to finish the Back to School vest, my Interlocking Balloons scarf from Scarf Style, the red knitted bag from "25 Knitted Bags", my red cotton shopping bag, and, possibly, Andy's Big Brown Sweater. Oh, and the socks I am working on right now. That should hold me until about July, especially as I have to pop two baby sweaters into the mix. V from over at Spin/Knit is working on a sweater a month. I'm not shooting for that (I prize my sanity!) but I think I can get at least one project a month. Let's give a cheer for knitting - after all, it keeps me off the streets!

A Blessed and Peaceful New Year to you all!

Saturday Seven Rides again!

Just seven of the oh, about 20 items we weeded out of Oldest Daughters closet this afternoon.

Two tan skirts, a broomstick pleated "hippie" skirt, a pair of orange corduroy pants, a velvet shirt, a long sleeved red tee and a black and white sports jacket that she swore she had lost.

Along the way, she had a much needed lesson on how to hang up dress pants and why expensive new blazers should be hung on hangers and not on pegs on the door. I did NOT yell but I may tomorrow when I ask her to sort out her drawers. See what happens when vacations drag on too long?!

Knitting wise, I am toddling along on the EAC Go With the Flow socks. I think the yarn is Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in something like Autumn, possibly Indian Summer. For some reason, I just love the way her mind works. Once you dive into the pattern, they are very easy to continue with. I may even revisit some patterns of hers in the next year . . .

A Belated Merry Christmas!

And a relaxing New Year! That isn't me up there in the air - Middle Daughter, Dear Husband and the Fair Cousin Hannah are all such risk takers! - but the view from the ground was just as good. Our trip to Mexico was beautiful, relaxing and filled with laughter. Those of you with teenagers realize that that is a nearly impossible combination!



And look what someone left on my pillow!



Unfortunately, things were so relaxing that this is all of the Go With the Flow sock (an Evelyn A. Clark pattern, natch'!) that I started on my trip.

Ready for a relaxing holiday break - Really!

I am winding down the blog for a short holiday break. We are traveling to warmer climates for a week and I have a million things to do before we go.



This weekend's Saturday Seven is only partially represented here. My church has a "Mitten Tree" started by the woman who taught me to knit. I made four pairs of mittens for pick up this week. I am hoping to make three more pairs for the Marvelous Mitten makers, the charity project for the Minnesota Knitters Guild. They are easy but I have to have my sewing machine out to get things accomplished. And they are truly a "give-a-way" because I have had this fleece for at least four years.




For a quick look at the Center Square hat in action, Youngest Child and Dear Husband went sledding yesterday. No injuries reported (this time!)

Now, back to deciding what knitting items to bring along . . . shawl? Hats? Baby sweater? Socks?

Star Boy wants YOU or Happy St. Lucia Day!

These early morning celebrations really put a crimp in my day. Especially as Star Boy was up at 5 a.m., asking if it was time. No, it wasn't.



After a little time had passed, we did all sit down to some saffron buns and coffee. Now, that's a holiday tradition I can take! Oldest Daughter was a reluctant Lucia but everyone wants that lighted wreath! As today is also my anniversary, let the partying continue! And keep those exclamation points coming!

Already stolen by the big sister . . .

I finished the Center Square cap the other day and Youngest Child promptly wore it sledding. Tonight, however, Oldest Child snarfed it and promptly stretched it all out. Back to the blocking board. I was afraid I would run out of the contrast color (the gold) so I did the top in stripes rather than a sold contrast color.



Since we are getting ready to go to warmer climates, we had to make a holiday shopping trip for swim suits today. There is nothing worse than buying swimsuits with teens. And I mean that! When I was checking out Middle Child's shorts and teeshirt situation, I was able to pry out of her drawers the following Saturday Seven: a pair of pajama pants, a pair of shorts, an unfortunate polo shirt choice, two never worn cute (or so I thought!) teeshirts and two swimsuits. And she never even noticed!

Necessary Things

Well, since we've had our second big snow in a week, I've progressed from knitting mittens to working on the hats that love them. After I made a cute little pair of black and orange mittens for Youngest Child, I planned on making a simple black knit cap. But, he said it had to match.

So, I found the gorgeous, yet simple Center Square cap by London Nelson in the Winter 2006 issue of Knitty. This has been lots of fun! I doubled up the remaining Nature Spun orange and used some yellow Nature Spun as the second color. I used this color as an embroidered accent on the Youngest Child's mittens - I'd show them to you but I think I would have to fish them out from behind the radiator.



Perhaps I've mentioned this secret shameful love of Nature Spun before? Remember this? It comes in handy to have an obsession sometimes!

Lookie here, look at what I got!

I had a lovely time at the No Coast Craft-o-Rama on Friday. There was a real variety of items available and I was able to do quite a lot of Christmas shopping. GFM found some gorgeous clothing for her daughter and I was able to score some hair jewelry for the Girls. The rest of the items will have to remain anonymous until after the holiday! I bought this dark yarn from AishaCelia for a Sand Dollar Shawl from Knitting Lace Triangles by Evelyn A. Clark and the pink yarn from Green Apple Yarn for a pair of mittens for me! Okay, so they are both for me. Call it my birthday present to myself!



I had to clean out my closet in order to free up some room for hiding presents so I was able to round up two sweaters, a lace poncho - one I usually wore as a shawl - a pair of running shoes, two tote bags and a Pokemon. I actually don't know how that little guy got in there! Off the Saturday Seven goes to charity!