Awaiting the Invite

Took the Ravelry plunge this evening. Where am I on the list of those who want to be invited? 6354 people are ahead of you in line. 8 people are behind you in line.

It seems like so many people ahead of me, but I can wait. I AM SO EXCITED!

Snowbird Banner and Picture Kudo's

Thank you goes to my Northern friend that sent me a number of snow pictures to help finish the set-up of my blog. I look at this picture with the long road going somewhere and think that SNOWBIRD may have traveled similar roads--some going North and some going South. I like the rustic building and the snow covered trees. Thanks again my Northern friend for sharing and being a part of my SNOWBIRD blog in some small way.

Knitting Books, Magazines and References

Took some time today after my eight hour "off to work I go" to add some of my favorite books, magazines, references and resources for knitting to the blog. This is by no means all of them. There are more. Just putting in what I can get my hands on quickly. Don't know about you, but I would be hard pressed to give up my knitting treasures. Sometimes I can hardly wait until the latest issue of anything knitting appears in the bookstore. Is it an obsession? I'm thinking, I'm thinking.....YES! It is just pure joy to look at the creativity of others, the yarn selections and new resources available to the knitter. I can take the knitting catalogs I receive and look at them for hours. Remember that catalog that came out during the holiday season that every youngster would look at for hours? That is kind of how I feel about my knitting catalogs. What do I buy next? Waiting for some books to come by "snail" mail within the week. Just pure joy!

Learning How to Knit

I would be remiss if I didn't thank the person who taught me to knit many years ago (1968-1969). She was my Junior High School English teacher. We would read aloud certain lessons and present thoughts on whatever the assignment was for the day--nouns, pronouns, adverbs, adjectives, etc. As we were doing so, my English teacher would be knitting and listening. You would think that the knitting would distract her from paying close attention to her students, but it did not. When she laid her needles down and stood up, we knew it was time for serious English lessons. It was the "lovelies" she used and the projects she made that captivated me and drove me to learn how to knit. So one day, after class, I asked her if she would teach me. She told me to buy size seven needles and a skein of inexpensive yarn. So off to the dime store I went with my Mom and she bought me the needles and a skein of "purple" yarn. My first project was a pair of slippers with pom-poms. That was the beginning of many years of knitting. I can never thank my English teacher enough for taking the time after school to teach me how to knit. Thank you Mrs. Miller. She has long since passed, but a part of her lives on whenever I pick up my needles and yarn.

Finished Objects and Some on Needles

White Baby Blanket

An acrylic baby blanket is on the needles. Found this pattern in an older knitting book purchased on E-Bay. Try to work on the blanket when hubby is not at home so I can concentrate on the pattern rows. Need to get going on this one to make my goal of keeping a ready supply of baby gifts in the "gift cupboard". Why knit some things in acrylic and less expensive yarn for gifts? Wash and dry. That is unless you can hand the person the yarn label with care instructions. I do try to make it as easy as possible when gifting handmade items. Living in the Deep South, wool sometimes not the better option for gifts as we are warm/hot most of the year. But for the few months when it is cool/colder, we do like to sneak in our wool "lovelies". What a treat....

Turquoise Blue Scarf

This unfinished scarf will be gifted. Yet another baby blanket pattern found on-line reduced down to a scarf. This is knit in 100% fine merino wool. The scarf will be gifted when finished. Love the color and the feel of the yarn when knitting. Only recommendation is to knit using bamboo or wooden needles as the merino has a tendency to slip on metal needles. The baby blanket done with the same pattern was knit using an inexpensive acrylic yarn in pale blue. This was given to a friends daughter for her new baby boy. I have the e-mail address for the person who posted this pattern and will try to post information regarding the pattern to give this person all the kudo's. Thoroughly enjoyed the pattern and will probably make another blanket in the future.

Hunter Green Scarf

Finished a scarf for my hubby to match a sweater knit and gifted in 2006. It is very dark green (picture shows it lighter than true color) and is knit in an acrylic/wool blend. Found the pattern on-line and changed the width as it was just a little too wide to fit comfortably. As soon as I find the link, will add to give credit where credit is due. Trying to get this picture-taking down to a science so that the fo's will show up. Maybe better to take pictures in natural sunlight?

Do know that I knit dark yarn better when using my full-spectrum floor lamp (brand name will be left unsaid). Before hubby bought me the lamp and working on his sweater, thought I would go blind trying to see the stitches. Really frustrating. Yes, my favorite knitting chair is not in a well-lit area of my house. But, it is convenient. My knitting supplies are near my chair and can watch TV there as well. The full-spectrum floor lamp is probably one of my most treasured gifts from hubby. Well not most treasured, but pretty close. Did I mention that he feeds my knitting/crafting habits? Was on "yarn restriction" for awhile, but should be using up my stash enough where more "lovelies" can be added.