Just about ready to mail off box for 'the kids'.

I finished the last sweater set, and still have a pair of socks to finish and then the box for 'the kids' will be ready to mail off. I will not be able to send another box until after the New Year, as I need to finish up my personal Chrismas knitting. The box will contain 5 sweater sets (all of the sweaters are pictured here on my blog), 2 pairs of socks, and a couple caps, all in 100% wool. What a blessing it's been to do this knitting for 'the kids', and I'm going to try to always have a box in the process of being filled for them, and try to always have something on my needles for them.

Another sweater set for one of 'The Kids'....

Here is another sweater set for one of the European kids. This sweater is 100% wool, and was worked from the bottom up in one piece......(no seams) and was a fun one to make. I started another one last night that is worked from the top down, with no seams. (That's my kinda knitting......easy, and no seams!)

Charity Knitting.......

It has been brought to my attention the huge need for warm clothing for children in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union so I have been knitting sweater sets for them. The 3 sets pictured above are made of 100% wool, and will fit children ages 3 - 4 years. This endeavor has brought me so much pleasure, and just knowing that some child will benefit from my knitting is a blessing I can't even begin to put into words. I plan to always have something for 'the kids' on my needles at all times and I will go back and forth between my personal knitting and knitting for the kids. In that way, I don't get bored doing the same project for too long. For information on CIC knitting, here is the link: http://stitchesofviolet.blogspot.com/2004/11/what-is-cic.html I also have a couple more caps knit up, and a pair of socks, but didn't take pictures of them. I have another sweater and a pair of socks on the needles and hope to have them done in the next few days so that I can get a package mailed off next week. What a blessing to know that something I make will be truly appreciated and that a child will be warmer because of my efforts.

Simple Shrug Completed

I have no clue how to get a good picture of this shrug, because it won't lay 'open' like it would if you were to be wearing it.......so this is the best I could do. I wish I had a model to wear it, but I don't, so I hope this gives you an idea of what it looks like. The arms go into the sleeves and the rest just sorta wraps around your back, so that your arms and shoulders are covered. The top part is the back collar, and the bottom part is the part that goes around the back at the bottom. This is an easy pattern, and can be found at: http://www.caron.com/projects/shadows/sss_shrug.html The yarn is very soft, and nice to work with, but one thing I found is that you need more yarn than the pattern calls for. I used 2 more skeins than it said to use, so if you make this shrug, be aware that you will need extra yarn.

October Stamp Class

I've been trying to prepare for this months stamp class and this is what I've come up with. The green set is a checkbook cover and matching card to go with it. I think the gals will like that a lot. :) I still have some cutting to do and then I think I'm ready for class! :) This month is: 5 cards and the checkbook cover.

Next month will be my last class of the year, as we are going to skip the December class because we're all so busy then.

Like.....I Needed A New Hobby!

When Jim and Jo were here last week, Jo showed me her Swedish Weave afghans and I thought they were beautiful and they looked so interesting.......so guess what I've started. LOL There are lots of mistakes, but hey....it's my first one! Much, much easier on the eyes than counted cross stitch, and pretty relaxing to do once you have the pattern in your head. From there on, it's just repeating. I probably should have started with a placemat or something, but do I ever start with something easy? NOPE! LOL Will send more pictures when I get nearer to completion. This is just the very beginning and actually looks pretty pathetic. :)

September Stamping Class Cards

Here are the cards we made in our September stamping class.
We also made checkbook covers, and they were a big hit and several of the gals want to make more again in the October class. I always try to make one masculine card and one Christmas card at each class simply because masculine cards seem to be the most challenging for us....and if we make a Christmas card each month we'll have a few ready when Christmas time rolls around. :)
Now it's time to start thinking about what we'll do at the October class. :)

More socks done!

I got a couple more pairs of socks done. It's slow but steady! :)

I love making socks!!

I am going to start working on my green sweater again, as it's cooled off enough

now for me to start wearing sweaters. Maybe I'll have it done by next week.

I can dream, can't I? LOL

Another Shawl Finished!

Got another shawl done. :) I love, love, love it. Wish I could keep it for me!! Same pattern as in the shawl below, made from the same yarn only a different color. I'm starting to get some of my Christmas stuff done! :)

Working On Socks Again

I've been working on socks again, and finished two of the six pair I have on needles. :)

The red ones pictured above are made from some yarn that I kool-aid dyed. I used cherry kool-aid, and I love the way they turned out. The yarn is merino wool, and came from Knitpicks. I love Knitpicks!!!!!

The multicolored pair is made from some Lorna's Laces superwashed wool and nylon yarn that I got off of ebay. It's very nice yarn to work with, and I will definitely make more socks from her yarn.

The pattern for both pair of socks is just a simple ribs and stockinette stitch. I made these socks using the '2 socks on one long circular needle' method, which is my new favorite way to make socks, and the instructions can be found here: http://www.tostetoes.com/twosocksoneneedle.htm

Now I have to finish the other 4 pairs that are waiting for me, then my green sweater and the shawl, and I'll be caught up.

First Prayer Shawl Is Completed

I have completed a Triangular Prayer Shawl, and I'm very happy with it. I did an i-cord bind off on it and I like the way it looks a lot.

I wrote up some quick instructions on how I made this shawl. Here they are:

Triangular Prayer Shawl by Wilma

(The idea of a prayer shawl is that you pray
for the person who will be receiving the shawl
as you knit it. You use a combination of 3 stitches to represent the Trinity.)

Supplies:
4 skeins Lion Brand Homespun Yarn
size 10 1/2 circular needle

Shawl:
Cast on 4 st
row 1: k
row 2: inc 1, k across
row 3: inc 1, k across
row 4: k 3, yo, k 3 (7st on needle)
Repeat row 4 until you have 12 stitches on
your needle. Next row: k 3, yo, k3, p3, k last 3 stitches
All consecutive rows: k3, yo, k in p stitches, p in k stitches, and always k the last 3 stitches which forms the border.
Repeat this pattern row until the shawl is the size you want it to be.

I-cord bind off: Cast on 1 stitch, then k that stitch, k next 2 stitches together, and slip both stitches from r/hand needle back onto l/hand needle. *k1, k2 tog, slip 2 r/hand stitches onto l/hand needle*. Repeat from * to * until bind off is complete. (Each time you k2 tog, you are basically binding off 1 stitch and eventually you will have bound off the entire shawl.)

I am working on another one of these shawls in a different color, as I really love this pattern, and I love the idea behind doing prayer shawls. :) These will be Christmas gifts for some very special people in my life.

5 Hour Baby Sweaters are finished!

Here's a couple of baby sweaters I completed. You can find the pattern at: http://www.minidata.co.nz/major/freepatt/patt01.htm I just made up my own pattern for the caps. These were fun sets to make.

Now I have to get back to the socks I have on needles. *sighs* I have 6 different pairs of socks on needles, plus a couple of shawls. I get so many different projects going that I have a hard time deciding what to work on next. LOL

The Shawl Is Finished

Last week I finished the shawl I was working on. It's so much prettier in real life. Photo's just never do anything justice. It's going to be so nice and warm, and is very soft. :)

There really is no pattern for it. I just used the Grandmothers's Favorite Dishcloth pattern and used the bee stitch instead of garter stitch, and then quit when it was the size I wanted it to be. It was a lot of fun, and very easy. I have started another one now for myself, only am using a diamond stitch on mine.

OH.......BIG NEWS!!!!!!

I HAVE MY SCOOTER!!!

I got it on Sunday and I love it!

I will have Terry take my picture on it tonight if it isn't so terribly hot again.

I rode it to town yesterday, and really enjoyed myself, and I think I'll ride it to town again today.

Today I'm also going to do laundry and try to get my house in order again.

I really need to get my green sweater done. Maybe this week I will! :)

I hope you're all having a wonderful week!

A couple completed projects

I completed the chainmaille watchband that I have been working on. It's my first chainmaille project, and is a very simple pattern. I had fun making it, and it was a good learning experience. Here is a picture of the completed project.

I have some 14k gold jumprings that I want to make into something next....maybe a box chain.......so this watchband was good practice.

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I also completed a dishcloth for a knitalong in a group I'm in, and here is a picture of it. It was a fun cloth to make. Thanks Karen! :) Knit alongs are always fun!

My son is calling me a Harley Biker Mom!!

LOOKIE at what we ordered yesterday when we were in town for breakfast!! Here is a picture of what it looks like. I'm so excited to get it I can hardly stand it. It should be here the end of the week....I HOPE! It is a Honda Metropolitan scooter, and it is only 49cc. The speedometer goes up to 45 mph, so I'll probably cruise along at around 30 mph or so on the highway. It will take me approx. 30 minutes to get to town. LOL (We are 12 miles from town) It's 'supposed' to get 110 mpg! It will be fun to go back and forth to town on it when the weather permits. Our road to town doesn't have very heavy traffic, and I doubt very much that I'll be taking it on the interstate. My friend Kathy who lives across the highway from us is also getting a scooter......and she is retiring next week......so we have plans for lots of scooter play time. LOL

OTN is still my green sweater. I haven't been knitting very much lately, but I'm up to the armholes on the front, so after I finish the front I only have the sleeves to do and then putting it together. I am also working on a shawl for an exchange in a group I am in....and I have a couple pairs of socks in the making. If I get bored knitting on one thing, I switch to another. LOL

It's a hot day here today......it was 103 at the bottom of the hill when we came home from church, and 99 up here where we live. It's supposed to 'cool down' to the 90's the middle of next week. We will be branding on Saturday, and Thad and Warren are coming from Sheridan to help us, so I hope the weather won't be so unmercifully hot by then. Kris and the kids (and maybe Jim, depending on his work schedule) will come out and help too, so it will be a family time with our kids! I love it SO MUCH when we get to spend time with our kids!

This is it for today! Have a great Lord's Day!

Montana Good Morning!

Yesterday when I went for my walk, I remembered to take my camera and here are a few of the pictures I took.

It was a beautiful morning, and just the perfect temperature for a walk. It was nice to see all the bales of hay out in the field. Terry has worked hard again this year getting the hay up, and the cows and horse will reap the benefits of his hard work next winter.

Next week will be stamping class again, so I will have to begin working on that. For now I've been knitting, and I have the back of my green sweater completed and am working on the front. I have also started a prayer shawl for a friend. As I knit on the shawl I try to remember to pray for her and for her family. It is a blessing to me to do this, and I hope she will enjoy the shawl, and that she can feel the prayers going up for her. :)

Today I have to take my car in and get new tires put on it. Next week I have to go to Billings for a Dr appt, so the new tires are coming at just the right time. I am also having lunch at the park with my dear friend Nettie, so I had better get my morning walk done and then get in the shower so I can get to town. :)

Green Crayon Sweater....

I started this sweater Friday evening. I have the back done up to the armholes. I love, love, love this yarn. It's Crayon cotton from Knitpicks.com and it's 100% cotton. It's sooooooo soft and so light. I can see it's going to be one of my fav. yarns. The pattern is also from knitpicks.

Stampin' Up! Class for June

Here is what we did at the June Stampin' Up! Class. All stamps, inks and papers used were from Stampin' Up! Our next class will be July 20th. Maybe I'll remember to take my camera and get some pictures of the gals as they are working on their projects. :)

Sweater for Baby

I finished a baby sweater last week. I am pleased with the way it turned out, and am hoping to make matching booties and a cap. Here is a picture of the sweater. I don't know where I got the pattern.

Stamping..........

Here are some of the things I have made for the stamping class that I teach once a month. I love stamping, and I am thankful for my monthly class because it makes me create and learn new things that I can teach the girls, and keep the class interesting

This is one of the Christmas cards I made for last year. :)

This was a card for our grandson on his 15th birthday.

This is a little photo album I made. I have a BindItAll machine that punches for the binding and does the wire binding. I love it, and I love the way my little album turned out.

How about some jewelry?

I have just recently become interested in jewelry making, and have really enjoyed what I have made. This is just a few of the necklace sets I have made, and I will get some more pictures taken later of some of the other sets I have made. I had the pleasure of donating 3 sets to our church building fund auction, and one of the sets went for $50.00. I was thrilled! I am now working with 14k gold wire, and sterling silver wire. I love lots of metal in my jewelry. :)

Dishcloths anyone?

I have been teaching some of the gals in our church how to knit, and I have started them on dishcloths. Here are a few of the dishcloths I made as I was working with the gals. The pillow is also knit, and I love the way it turned out.

I'm happy to report the gals at church are doing a great job with their knitting, and one of them is now working on an afghan with cables, and another is working on a sweater! I'm so proud of them!

Socks, socks and more socks! I love making socks!

I love knitting socks. The multi colored socks are my first pair of socks using one long circular needle to knit both socks at once. I love that technique and have only been using it since I learned it. The peach colored socks were made using 2 strands of lace weight wool yarn and 4 size 1 double point needles.

This is the first winter that I can remember having warm feet! I love my wool socks!! I was afraid they would be itchy, but they are not. They are so comfortable and so soft.......and oh so warm! :)

Hi! My name is Wilma, and I live in southeastern Montana. (USA) I love to knit, I love to make jewelry, and I love to stamp; so those will be the things I will be sharing for now. (Who knows what tomorrow will hold, though! :) I seem to go from one thing to another). I have always had a need to be creative, and I love things of beauty. I hope you will find what I share with you beautiful. :)

I have been married to Terry for 42 years, and we live in the country on a 124 acre mini-ranch. We have a horse and 9 head of cattle, plus 2 cats and 2 dogs. We have 2 grown children and 4 grandchildren. Terry is an electrical contractor and will be retiring in 2009.