Knitting Quick Things!

OK. I have to admit I have been very busy knitting. I am trying to get my Christmas gifts knit and feel that I am on my way...

I decided this year that the smaller shawl slash scarf was the thing to knit. So far I have completed 4... I also have a Clapotis and a pair of socks done....just need to decide who is getting what.

I decided that the Aestlight shawl that I knit for the Sketchy KAL is going to be given to someone.

I also knit Traveling Woman, 198 yards of Heaven, Ishbel and am currently finishing up the Dandy Neckerchief. They have all been fairly fast and simple but I think they look great. I was hoping to get a few more done for the 'teenagers' on my list.

Traveling Woman and Ishbel were knit using Silky Wool that I bought off of Kirsty. Ishbel is knit in a Pink colour and Traveling Woman is a dark purple. Each Shawl took less than 2 skeins of yarn. I was quite pleased with how they turned out.

I haven't taken a picture of 198 Yards of Heaven yet. It is blocking as I type this. I will try to get it uploaded tomorrow. I used Estelle 100% Silk for this one. I had a few balls leftover from my Corset top that was made a while ago. I used a larger needle than was suggested so I used about 220 yards instead.

I am now working on the Dandy Neckerchief...it is knit using Cascades 220 Heather in a teal colour. Talk about fast...I started this one last night and only have a few more repeats to go before I cast off. I should be finished this evening! At this rate I may get my Christmas knitting complete well in advance! Woo Hoo!

I am also working on a shawl for me. I want to wear it to DH's work Christmas dinner / party at the end of November. I started Night Blooms but am having second thoughts about it as I am using fingering weight yarn and I think that one should really be done in the DK weigh. I am going to give Cumparsita a try. I was originally going to do it but then decided that I liked the Night Blooms better. Not happening...

My knitting group, The Sketchy Knitters decided back in January that we were going to knit some squares to be sewn into blankets for charity. I have completed all of them to date, but only have photos of 4 of them...

Sorry about the crappy pictures. I really need to work on improving them. Each square is a different month in the overall pattern. I have also learned how to read a chart now as a result of doing these squares. The designer has incorporated a new technique into each month. Cabling without a needle was another learned technique.

This past weekend was our Canadian Thanksgiving. I had 3 glorious days off. The weather was good, we got all our outside household chores done. Gardening, lawn cut, and pool closed. Dinner was in there as well. We went to SIL's on Sunday for a ham and scalloped potato dinner. It was nice. Monday DH cooked our own turkey. An 18lb turkey for 4 of us....we had it all...turkey, mashed potatos, turnip, gravy, stuffing and pumpkin pie. There was so much leftover that I put enough in the freezer for 2 future meals. We ate it the next day and I made soup as well. You gotta love a turkey!

My pumpkin pie was a hit as well. I made a few extra tarts for my father as he loves my pies and pastry, but since I didn't have enough fixings for another pie, tarts it was. They were delivered the next morning and probably eaten before I was down the road. *LOL*

So now after that we are all back to work as usual. There are no more long weekend until Christmas...too bad!

Keep on knitting!

The Great Hunting/Knitting Trip

It's that time of year again...hunting season. I just returned home this past weekend from my great hunting slash knitting trip.

I went last year with DH to northern Ontario to hunt moose. Well MY original plan was to get away and just knit for the week, but the closer the departure date got, the more I thought I should try to get my hunting license. So the week befroe we left last year I took the Hunter Safety Education and Firearms Safety Course and passed. I was now armed with a license to kill. I didn't know if I could ACTUALLY do it but I was allowed.

DH decided that it would be cool to take a few pictures with my Sock Wars mug. So you will see them here and from time to time in my pictures!

So as this years hunting season approached I realized that I truly wanted to go again. I made all the arrangements to have everyone looked after while I was gone, kids, dog, business (THAT was no simple task either, as the person who was going to do it cancelled at the last minute) BUT my BEST friend Della, stepped up and took my herd in so that I could get the much needed sanity break!

The day we were leaving, DH and I packed everything in the truck. It was a FULL truck. Hunting clothes, regular clothes, bows, guns, sleeping bags and Knitting , of course. I had packed about 5 projects to take on this trip. I figured that I had a nine hour drive there, the time I was away and a nine hour drive home. Was 5 going to be enough? Sure it was.....

We were off, only an hour and a half late but that was okay. I was knitting 198 yards of Heaven. A small triangular scarf. It was knit using Silky wool that I had bought from a fellow Raveler.

The drive up to hunt camp was uneventful. We arrived around 7:30ish...just in time for dinner! What luck.

This is one of the beavers that I saw.

The weeks, daily routines consisted of us getting up in the morning, some, (there were 8 of us), got up early and went out to hunt, others got up around 8 and just puttered around camp for the morning, 10:30 was breakfast. We ate so much bacon on this trip that I have had withdrawl symptoms. Once breaky was done, we were free to do what ever we wanted. Some of the guys went fishing, others went scouting and others puttered around camp and sighted in their guns. DH and I did a bit of each. I killed a few golf balls, sighting in my gun. It was great fun...

This is Timbert, the Moose in Timmins, Ontario. Unfortunately, HE was the only moose I saw this trip.

I decided that once I arrive in camp I would knit a pair of socks. Last year I had mentioned to the other woman there, D, that I would eventually knit her a pair of socks. Well, this was the year. I started on the Sunday. I just knit a simple 2 x 2 rib for the leg and a plain foot. The kicker was that D wanted knee socks. So I adjusted the stitch count and kept checking them against her legs. I used a Finnish Sock yarn that I had received in a swap. The socks turned out to be pretty good. They fit her perfectly and she was thrilled to have a custom made pair. A few comments were made wondering who I was going to knit the next pair of socks for...I had said that maybe I should make that a tradition, that each year someone different gets a pair of socks knit for them. They were in agreement....

I saw quite a few different animals this year. Not as many as last though. I walked by a young lynx, we saw beavers, loons, a young bald eagle and a full grown adult one. (It was gorgeous and so majestic) I thought of all my US friends out there when I saw him fly over!

I got to go out in a small motorized fishing boat and in a canoe. I haven't been in a canoe since I was about 8 at Girl Guide Camp. The scenery was lovely.

While I sat in the bush waiting for the moose to walk by (no, I didn't see one at all!) I read a few books, knit a few projects and generally had a great relaxing time. Being in the forest/bush is relaxing and peaceful, not quiet...but peaceful!

I was very sad on our last day. I really didn't want to come home. I could have stayed there longer. DH and I packed up the truck again and headed out for home. I knit almost the whole ride home. I was working on the 2009 Charity Afghan squares that the Sketchy Knitters are making. I even had a woman in a passing vehicle wave at me as she pulled out her knitting!

Work the next day was a bit difficult, to say the least...Reality sucks!

Before I left I finished the socks I was knitting for DS's friend. The are just a plain basic sock knit using Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Socka Bamboo yarn in a blue colourway.

Knitting Night was this week as well. It was nice to see everyone. We are planning a road trip at the end of this month that will include a few yarn stores and a winery or 2.

Well I have rambled enough for now.

Keep on knitting!