New Baby

Well, I am now a great-great-grandmother. The baby, a boy, was born this morning. Although a month early he is healthy and weighs a little over five pounds. Our great-granddaughter is fine and had an easy time of it.

I have posted some pictures of my latest design. She will be available soon as a download at Knit Picks.


This is Emily.



Emily in sleeper ready for nap. She has had a busy day.



Emily sitting apparently contemplating her navel. Time for a snack.



Emily playing peek a boo and hiding from Mom under an old blanket.



Emily wearing her gown and bonnet and looking very cute.

Patterns and E Readers or I Love my NookColor

If you are a knitter you know how much a bother a printed pattern can be. Especially if you are working on more than one project at a time. You end with reams of paper next to your knitting spot. If you have organized those patterns you printed from the net, you have them in plastic sleeves in a notebook. Still awkward and heavy. My solution was an e reader.

I bought a Sony reader thinking I could put whatever pattern I was currently knitting on it. It worked just as I hoped, one simple little "book" that was easy to read. I used it for over a year before deciding what I really needed was color. About that time the iPad came out. I researched and researched and exchanged messages with dedicated iPad users. However, it seemed like a lot of money to pay for applications I would never use. I also found to use the iPad as a dedicated reader you had to download some third party software, Goodreader or some other of the same ilk. Hmmm. Decisions, Decisions. Then I saw an ad for the new NookColor. Same android technology as iPad, great color, wifi, but a reader that allowed you to highlight and take notes. Sounded perfect and was less than half the price of the iPad. I got it, and it works as a tool while I am knitting and as a book when I want to kick back and read. Allows me to check my email and cruise the net if I wish. In other words does exactly the tasks for which I bought it. I love this thing.

New Pattern

I finally finished Beth, a doll about 12 inches tall. She comes with a wardrobe of panties, skirt, top, pants, playsuit and hairtie.

This is kind of an experiment. For years I have heard the discussions about knitting toys in the round as opposed to knitting them flat and seaming. One of the reasons knitters give for not making toys is having to do all that sewing. However, it has been my experience that patterns knit flat sell much better than patterns knit in the round. For Beth I wrote the pattern in two versions, Beth 1 in the round and Beth 2 knit flat. I am curious to see which gets the most interest.

For those who want to take a better look Beth is listed as a download on Ravelry or at my Etsy shop. (You will find the links in the menu to your right.)

Christmas Knitting

As hot as it is it is hard to think of Christmas, but it will get here and for those that like to give handmade gifts now is the time to start. I thought I would list a few of the things my family likes and perhaps help someone come up with an idea.

Slippers are always a favorite. I ended tweaking several patterns and came up with this one They are fast and easy and can be a great stash buster. The mittens in the picture are crocheted and perhaps the easiest mittens I have made. They are made in one piece. No going back and picking up thumb stitches and no hole at the base of the thumb. (My nemesis) Both patterns are also good for charity knitting.
The slipper pattern can be found here. The mittens can be found here
In the free pattern menu to your left are a couple of patterns I have made over and over at the request of family members. The reversible beanie is a favorite of my sons and the flip flop socks are a favorite of all the younger women in the family who seem to wear flip flops winter and summer.











For other free patterns and some great ideas I recommend Knitting Pattern Central. The link is under Favorite Sites. For those that crochet there is also a Crochet Pattern Central.

The one who receives your lovely handmade gift will probably never know the thought, time and effort that went into making it, but everytime their hands are warmed by the mittens you made or a scarf you made keeps out a cold winter wind, they will understand the love that went into every stitch.