Five Knitting Projects Isn't Too Many

Having finished all of the projects for classes I'm teaching this fall, I can now get back to some of the projects I have in progress or in my head.  My main project is the Clematis Shopping Bag by Noni.  I fell in love with this pattern as soon as I saw it and HAD to make it.  I'm using Cascade 220 for the main part of the bag, scrap yarn for the clematis vine, and Frog Tree Yarn for the clematis flowers.  Here is Noni's photo of the bag, and I'll post mine when finished, which should be soon.  Mine will look similar since I loved the colors used for the pattern.  The difference is that I bought a print fabric to make the lining. 

I've finished the main bag and felted it.  Still working on the accessories (flowers).






In August, we went to Alaska so that I could run a marathon - my 50th state!  Marathon evening, my new friend, Debbie Cropper, invited us to her home for dinner.  She is a great runner, a nice person, and a terrific cook.  While at her home she showed us numerous things that people have given her, which gave me the idea to make her a hat with flaps - perfect for Alaska weather.  I'm going to start that tonight, using a couple balls of Cascade Jazz that I had leftover when I made myself a sweater.  Since she had mentioned that her favorite colors are green and purple, she will love this, and it's a joy to knit for someone who is so obviously appreciative of gifts given to her.

I'll probably use the flap hat pattern from Knitty.com.  It's funny that this pattern shows someone on the beach in Florida and I'm making it for winter in Alaska.





















My daughter-in-law has been planning her family holiday card and wants me to make a vest for Liam to wear.  I bought the yarn and will start this soon.  I'm using a nice cable pattern I found in my LYS.

And in the summer I nearly finished the Hexagon Petal Tee from the Spring issue of Interweave knits.  It's a fun project knitted in modules (hexagons).  It's different from anything I've ever knitted before.  I did finish all of the hexagons, but still need to do quite a bit of edging.  Not sure I'll get to it before Spring, now that it's autumn in Pennsylvania.

And many years ago, I started a lace scarf.  It was my first lace project and a huge struggle for me.  I knit half of it, but left it to hibernate.  I will get back to it someday.

And, BTW, here is my blue jean cowl, finished, and modeled by Kathy, who has been in two of my knitting classes.

A Day With Thomas

If you're lucky enough to have young children in your life, consider taking them to ride on Thomas the Train.  Apparently there are some 45 locations in USA and Canada.

This morning we picked up Liam and Seamus at "school" later than planned, realizing that we would need to move along quickly to arrive in Strasburg on time.  Clay went to Liam's room and I headed to get Seamus, only to find out that his class was "out for a walk around the block" in some unknown (to me) location.  Figuring Liam would know, we all jumped in the car.  Liam wasn't certain, but eyed his brother's class three blocks away.  "He recognized Miss Lisa's jacket."

We arrived just in time to quickly get our tickets and visit the porta potties - necessary with pre-schoolers - and get onto the train.  The kids enjoyed it a lot. 

After the train ride we visited Sir Topham Hatt, rode on several more small trains, and had a picnic on a bench.  The kids rode on cranky cars, got tattoos, and played with small model trains.  The Thomas staff were all kid-friendly.  There were lots of opportunities to spend more money on shirts, souvenirs, photos, and we mostly resisted.

Both kids fell asleep on the ride back for some well-needed rest.

Panther Invitational XC for Middle School Kids

When Bob Weikert asks you to do something, you say, "yes."  So when he asked me to stop by to photograph a kids' cross country meet on September 19, I agreed.  400 shots later, I finished.  It was a nice day, cloudy, but not cold and the kids were nervous.  Some kids raced, really raced.  Some just ran.  And a few cried in the finisher chutes.


The meet is organized by the York Road Runners Club, specifically Bob with lots of additional YRRC volunteers, and I am now one of them.  Wellspan/York Hospital is the sponsor.  It's great to see so many kids out there and physically fit.  Running is a great habit to start so young.

Girls' Start

Boys' Start

Tonight's projects are:  1) Finish my blue jean cowl and 2) Get ready to teach two classes tomorrow:  Italian Moped Cap and Foliage Wrap.  Here is a pic of this versatile wrap.  The big leaves can be worn at the top, bottom, or sides.

Multi-Tasking or Knitting While Doing Anything

Got up this morning and did a quick (short) run and then Clay and I went to time and photograph a race, the Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run, a race to benefit the Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County.  It was a first year race and had almost 300 hundred people, which pleased Sean Kenny and his race committee.  

This photo is about a minute after our local Patriot shot off the cannon.

After lunch at Central Market, Clay and I planned to ride on the Rail Trail, but by then it was raining (again).  We changed our plans and went to Planet Fitness, or PF as we call it.  Clay rode 16 miles, but I knitted 12 rounds on my Riveting Cowl.  OK, I only exercised my hands and one arm since I'm a "thrower."  But that's what I felt like doing - and I did run this morning.

Tonight we are going to see the York Revolution baseball game - yay, more knitting time.

BTW, I love the Kollage Riveting yarn which is made of recycled blue jeans, and the pattern, My Kind of Saturday, is great.  It's a very simple 12 row/4 stitch lace pattern which is easy memorize.  This will be a nice class for beginning lace knitters.

A Rainy Thursday

Woke this morning to rain, not that rain is anything new lately.  Between Irene and Lee, it rained enough to flood many basements in this area, including ours (but that's a story for another day).  I decided that I would spend the morning on the computer - posting a new blog, making my Italian Moped Cap available for purchase on Ravelry, and updating US Road Running.  I'll run later today.  


Here is a photo of my Italian Moped Cap modeled by Connie Buckwalter, another runner and knitter.  And it is now available for sale on Ravelry here.

I am also working on my latest knitting project, designed by IrishgirleKnits for Kollage Yarns and named, "My Kind of Saturday."  It's a wonderful and casual cowl made of recycled blue jeans and designed with a lovely (and simple) lace pattern.  I will be teaching a class on this pattern at the Colonial Yarn Shop on November 1 and 15 from 1 - 3 pm.  My cowl will be hanging in the shop in the next few days, and I will post a photo soon.