Sterling Silver Necklace

I made a sterling silver necklace today. I will be putting some of these up in my
Etsy shop. :)

I've been trying to get some Christmas gifts done. I also have a special order for stitch markers that I need to do. I do keep busy!!

Big Little Bags.....

I've been busy working on bags for the past couple of weeks.
These adorable Big Little Bags, made by me, are the perfect little bags for
someone (like me) who doesn't like to carry a large bag. They have a
zipper front, a pocket on the back, nice long straps, and are
quilted. They are 'no frills' cute little bags, and I absolutely love
mine. I am able to carry my ID, Credit Cards, Cell Phone, Pack of Gum,
Dental Floss, Ink Pen, Hand Sanitizer, and Money in my bag with room to
spare should I need to throw in my MP3 player or something else small.
It's perfect to carry alone (as I do), or put into a larger bag should
you wish to carry more stuff.
My 16 year old grandaughter saw mine last weekend and said that it was a bag
that she would actually use!
I have 3 of them listed at my Etsy Shop, which can be found here:
Feel free to go and take a look. :)
I'm thinking I will design some to make to attatch to walkers for donations at the rest homes.

OK....back to sock knitting. :) I have a couple different pairs of socks on the needles, and would
like to get them done as I have another design in my head that I want to try. :)

No rest for the wicked!! *grins*

Crocus Toe-Up Socks

I finished another pair of socks today. This yarn was purchased when I was in Helena at a cute little shop that Amanda found for me. Here is a link to the shop: http://www.theknitandnosh.com/

We had fun browsing around in this shop, and it made me wish I could have a shop of my own!!

The yarn is 'Knit One, Crochet Too" in the color Ty-Dy Socks 1767 Tropicale. I LOVE this yarn!!

The pattern is my own, and it can be found here.The pattern chart is very easy to memorize, and the socks knit up really fast! :)

More socks!

I finished some more socks last week. These are made with my
Diamond Chains toe up sock pattern which can be found here
The yarn I got from ILashDesigns at Etsy.
I'm working on another sock pattern, and will post it when I have it done.

Diamond Chain Toe Up Socks

This is my last pair of socks. I really like them. They are toe up socks, and my pattern can be found here
I really enjoyed making these socks and want to make another pair of them.
The yarn is Knitpicks Bare that I dyed with kool aid.

I've been bad about keeping up with my blog. There just isn't enuff hours to the day!

Mallow Socks

I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I blogged. I've been doing a lot during that time, but just didn't get a chance to show you all. :) For one thing, I've posted some of my handspun yarns, and also some of my cards on my Etsy story. The address to it is: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7071174 Susan made me a banner and an avatar. *THANKS SUSAN*. :)

I've been doing some knitting, but my thumbs have been bothering me so have retrained myself to knit differently, and the new way is pretty slow compared to my old way of knitting. The above socks are the 'Mallow Socks', and the pattern is by Wendy Johnson. You can find the pattern here: http://media.wendyknits.net/media/MallowSocks.pdf I'm happy with these socks. :)

I am currently working on another sock pattern of my own and once I have the socks completed I will post pictures along with the pattern. :)

Socks, socks, socks!

I've been busy knitting socks again. Above is my version of Wendy Johnson's 'Ribbed Ribbon' socks. The pattern can be found in her book. :)
I'm happy with these socks.





Here is my latest sock design, my 'Mock Cable Lacy Toe-Up Socks'.
They are toe up socks, and the pattern can be found here:

http://billiesplace.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Socks/mockcablelacysocks.pdf
I'm happy with these socks, and will be using this pattern again.
The yarn is from KnitPicks.
If you use this pattern, and find any mistakes, PLEASE let me know.
I proof-read my patterns several times, but after awhile I get pretty bleary eyed,
and it's easy to miss a mistake.
:)

Another Eyelet ZigZag Sock pattern.....

Here is another pair of socks I just completed.
I named them "Another Eyelet ZigZag Sock" because they are a take-off on my
Eyelet ZigZag socks.
To make these socks, I used my basic pattern using a chart for the 28 stitch pattern stitch.
The yarn is Opal sock yarn. I'm not real happy with the yarn. You pay a pretty good price for Opal yarn, and the color pattern matched pretty good until I got above the heel, and then it went all haywire from there.
There were also several knots in the yarn. If I'm going to pay that kind of price for yarn, I want to get good quality.
Oh well......No one sees the cuffs usually anyway, as my jeans cover them unless I'm sitting down. My feet show pretty good because of the Birkies I usually wear. :)
I'm still looking for clear Crocs to show off my socks. I have wide feet, so need something that comes in a wide size.

I do love making socks....and especially toe up socks!

White MiniDiamonds Toe-Up Socks finished

I completed the White MiniDiamonds Toe-Up Socks last week, but am just now getting around to uploading the picture of them. I have also uploaded the pattern for any of you who would like to have it. I really like these socks.
These socks are made with natural handspun 100% merino yarn that I spun.

I have a couple more pairs of socks on the needles right now, and hope to have them finished and uploaded by next week.

Mini Diamonds Toe Up Socks

I've been playing again.
This is my latest pattern.
Mini Diamonds Toe Up Socks
By Wilma, July 2009
Both of these socks are made with my handspun yarn, and is 100% Merino wool.
The blue/green was dyed before spinning. The cream was not dyed at all, but is the natural color of the wool.

I am leaving for a few days to go on a camping retreat with the Friday Morning bible study gals. I'm sure looking forward to it. I love those gals!! :) Terry will be on his own. I will leave Sassy with him.

We had company over the weekend. Terry's sister and her husband were here, and we sure enjoyed them. What a blessing they are.

Eyelet ZigZag Toe Up Socks

Eyelet ZigZag Toe Up Socks
by Wilma, July 2009.....

I finished another pair of socks tonight. These are from a stitch I found and liked, so I charted it and wrote up a pattern for toe up socks. I really like the way they turned out.
Click on the link to go to the pattern. :)

I have another pattern I'm working on. Hopefully by next week I'll have it finished and ready to show.

I love knitting socks!

Socks........and Grandkids!

This is a picture of our grandson Warren and his girlfriend, Winona.
They spent most of yesterday with us, and I took a quick shot of them.
Such a cute couple, and fun to be with. I feel so blessed that my grand children like to spend time with us. ;)


I've been working on socks......as usual!

Waterfall Socks, a Wendy Johnson Pattern
Done as a knit along in the "Socks Toe Up" group. This is some of my hand spun and hand dyed merino wool yarn. :)

Field of Flowers socks,
done as a Knit along in the "Just Socks" group.
I knitted them toe up, and charted the flowers to have more background
and fewer flowers. Purchased yarn....Cascade, Fixation.

Waterfall socks, by Wendy Johnson
Another pair of the Waterfall Socks.....I love this pattern. I love all of Wendy's socks!
More of my hand dyed, and hand spun merino wool yarn.

* * * * * * * * *

It's been quite awhile since I've posted here. I've been busy knitting socks
plus trying to just keep my head above water. lol
Sometimes life throws a curve ball at us, and we have to either duck or
get hit in the head. I ducked.....I'm still hanging in there! :)

My dear friend Pam, whom I've known since 4th grade, passed away last night.
I will miss her something awful, but I'm glad that her suffering is over, and she is safely with the Lord. I hurt for her daughter and g/children. I know they will miss her even more than I will.

We branded last weekend, and Thad was here to help....as were Warren and Winona. Now Terry is starting to hay. The grasshoppers are pretty bad, so he needs to get the hay up while there is still any left.

This is all from me for now. Summers are always so busy, and this summer is no exception.

Felted Bag......and Cards on Etsy

I made the "Around About Bag", and everyone who sees it loves it.
It was fun and easy to make, and is perfect as a knitting bag for SOCKS! :)
It is a free pattern.

It has been suggested that I sell some of my cards on Etsy,
so I am going to make up some sets and get them up.
It will be a few days before I get them up though, because tonight is Buncos,
and my Friday's are always busy.
Anyway, look for my cards in the near future! :)

Yesterday I figured out how to upload the PDF file for my sock recipe,
so if you want the pattern, you can get it here.
I use this recipe on every pair of socks I make. I love the simplicity
of the heel, and I love the way they fit.

Another Pair Of Socks Finished

I finished another pair of socks. They are my version of the daydreamer socks . The pattern is a free download at ravelry. I'm very happy with them. The daydreamer stitch is:

Round 1: *P1, YO, SSK, K2TOG, YO, P1* - repeat this six stitch pattern around.

Rounds 2, 3, and 4: *P1, K4, P1* - repeat this six stitch pattern around.

It was a very easy pattern to memorize.
So here's how I got it to work with my toe up sock formula. It's a 6 stitch pattern repeat, so using my 'pattern', I increased to a total of 56 stitches when doing my toe increases, (56 is my usual number for socks). Since half (figuring for the instep stitches) of 56 is 28 and the pattern is a six stitch repeat, I had a remainder of 4 stitches.... 6 x 4 = 24 + 4 extra stitches = 28 .... so I began and ended my pattern rows with a k2 so that I had the right number of stitches for the six stitch pattern. Does this make sense? In doing this you can get just about any pattern stitch you want to work with my instructions. You just have to work around the numbers a little bit. :)

Anyway, I finished these socks Sunday in the car on our way home from the
Women Of Faith
retreat that was in Billings (MT) last weekend. What a GREAT time we had. :)
It was great to spend the weekend with Kris, Joyce and Elaine. :)
I just love those gals!!

Socks again.............and May Stamp Class

Here's my last pair of socks. Used my own pattern for them.
I love doing toe up socks!



Last night was stamp class, and here's the cards we made.

Mother's Day Card


Generic Birthday Card


Sympathy Card


Christmas Card

Roving............

I dyed roving yesterday, and this is what it looks like.
I'll start spinning on it today. ;)

Another Pair Of Socks.......

I finished another pair of socks. These are socks that I had on the needles for awhile. One thing about having several projects on the needles, you finish them all around the same time. LOL These are toe up socks (again) and done in the waffle stitch. I wrote up a pattern for these socks and you can find it here.

Spinning, and Knitting an Afghan, and MORE Socks....

Here is an afghan I made for charity, plus another pair of socks.

The socks are toe up socks, and such a fun, simple pattern. It's just

k2, p2 for 2 rounds and then k for 2 rounds, and then repeat these

4 rounds. It's a no-brainer and fun for when watching tv or traveling or something. :)

The afghan is so so very soft.

The color is closer to the above picture with the socks....but this gives an idea of the pattern.

I just used my fav. dishcloth pattern (Spring Is In The Air) and did it big for an afghan.

Anyway I intended it for charity, but I like it so much I may have to

keep it.

I haven't made any stitch markers for a couple of weeks.
I need to get busy and make more.

I have been dyeing roving and spinning though, as you can see below.


This yarn I named 'Sweet Watermelon'. It's a mixture of kelly green and pink acid dye.....lots of variations of color. I haven't done the WPI yet, but I'm guessing it's going to be around 18 or so. It would work for socks or a scarf or mittens... There should be enough yarn for a pair of socks.

The yarn below I named 'Plum Purdy'. I used burgundy and teal to dye this roving. Again, there is lots of variation in the colorway. The WPI will be close to the same as the above yarn, but I haven't taken it yet either. There should be enough yarn for a pair of socks.
(This is why I love doing toe up socks......if I don't have enough yarn, I just make a shorter cuff and stop when I run out of yarn! :)

Socks.....

I finished the socks that I made from my fuchsia and purple hand dyed yarn.
I'm very happy with them. They're so bright and cheerful!

Socks.......

Here's the finished socks from the hand dyed yarn that I spun up last month.
I'm happy with these socks.
I may send them to CIC for the kids, I haven't decided for sure yet.
They are toe up socks.

Owls, turtles, and gift for Jan......

This is a gift I made for my dear friend Jan. It is a family of sheep.
On the bottom it says "We are the sheep of His pasture......"
It is for Jan's 70th birthday.
Each sheep represents a member of their family.
(Mom, Dad, and three kids)

Here is a set of turtle stitch markers that I made.
They were really hard for me, but I'm pretty pleased with the finished product.

Owls.....I was scared to try these, but am happy with the way they turned
out. :) I want to make a set for me!



Tha-tha-tha-that's all folks. :)

March Stamping class....

Jodi has been doing the craft for me each month, and this month we did a really neat scrapbook page. :)

Since class was on March 20, (the first day of spring), I decided to do a Spring card.

Each month I try to do a Masculine Card, and this is the one we did this month.

We also did an Easter Card.

Last but not least, this is our Christmas Card for the month. It's all glittery, but you can't see that in the scan.

We have stamp class again in two weeks. (YIKES)! We've been off schedule all year so far, and I'm trying to get us back to the 1st or 2nd Friday of the month....and the 2nd Friday in April is Good Friday, so we went with the 1st Friday.
Anyway....that's what class was this month.
I've not been very faithful about posting class stuff, and will try to be better.

Hummingbirds and more.....

I made these hummingbirds yesterday and have them listed at my Etsy store.
:)

I also listed this sheep family at my Etsy store.
There is a baby sister, a big brother, a momma, and a daddy sheep.
They make me smile! :)

I was able to spend the entire day yesterday playing with clay!
It was so much fun, but today after church I had to do some laundry and then I did

some knitting. I need to give my hands a rest, as the clay hurts my thumbs.

Brown and white sheep

Small dolphins

Tomorrow I have to go to town and mail out packages. Then I will go

to Joyce's and knit with her and Lainey, and will probably have lunch with them.

It is supposed to be cold tomorrow, and we're expecting more snow.

Can you believe that it was 75 degrees yesterday, and last night we had

thunder and lightening like you wouldn't believe. WEIRD weather!

I hope to dye some roving tomorrow after I get home. I miss spinning, and don't have
anything on my one wheel. I do have some cotton on the Lendrum wheel, and will resume working on it. Spinning cotton is way different than spinning wool.