Weekend

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Patti_is_knittinginflashes

I woke up early for a Saturday – 8:00.

Guest bathroom – Fixed the 2-3 year-old water damage on the ceiling. Still have to paint it. The bathroom was all clean and shiny until I looked at the trim. I’ve been meaning to repaint the trim for years but never got around to it. Until Saturday. Done.

Washed, dried, folded, and put away two loads of laundry.

Made cornbread and soup for lunch.

Hung the garland on the front porch with Mr. Aitch. Finished taking in all the porch and deck furniture. Rolled up the rug from the front porch. All put neatly away for the winter. Mr. Aitch swept the porch.

Cut the fabric for one of the quilt tops.

Jambalaya with chicken (no sausage) for dinner).

Cut more fabric for the second quilt top.

Went to bed.

Sunday morning – church. It started snowing during Mass and when we left the church, about 2 inches had fallen.

Went to the market. It was crowded for a Sunday morning when I arrived but quickly cleared out as the snow kept piling up outside.

Groceries put away.

Pancakes and sausage for lunch.

Roast beef with carrots, celery, and onions in the oven. It smelled so good.

Pieced one quilt top together. No photo as it was a dark dreary day.

Added potatoes to the roast beef concoction in the oven.

Watched a part of “The Crossing” with Mr. Aitch until dinner was ready.

Lovely roast beef and vegetables. And a bottle of wine, of course.

Finished watching “The Crossing” with Mr. Aitch.

Checked email.

Pinterest.

Did an Internet search for a free knitted pattern for a newsboy cap aka bakers cap, golf cap, ivy cap, English driving cap for a small child. No luck. Found crocheted patterns. Don’t crochet.

Turned on the dishwasher and went to bed with a book, “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak. Couldn’t stop reading until my eyes got too tired.

The alarm clock went off at 6:00 this morning. I turned it off and fell back asleep for 45 more minutes. That happens more often than I care to admit.

The schools and colleges were closed today due to the snow storm and freezing rain. I had no trouble getting to work.

And so it goes.

Seamed slippers – a pattern

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Patti_is_knittinginflashes

A reader of my last post needed a simpler slipper pattern that did not require double-pointed needles, knitting in the round or a lot of increasing or decreasing of stitches.

So I found the original pattern from my grandmother and made it into a pdf for you to save for yourself. These are the slippers that my grandmother and my aunt made for many, many years. I remember my mom was collecting clothing for a rummage sale and someone donated a hand knit wool dress. It was purple with hot pink, grey, and white stripes and easy to see why it had been donated. My grandmother ripped the dress apart and saved the yarn. I have no idea how many of these slippers she and my aunt made with this yarn but we received some variation of purple slippers for years and years and years. This is not an original design and you can do a search to find many variations on this pattern.

The pattern is easy and knitted flat. It’s a great beginner pattern for someone learning how to knit and purl. There are two decrease rows. Two seams are sewn for each slipper. The end result is almost the same as the seamless slipper but the heel part is a bit wonky as it isn’t shaped quite the same.

Here’s a photo of the bottom and back seam. Once on the foot, the sole evens out and fits fine. It just looks weird at first. Have fun and let me know if you make these.

The pattern is listed on the “My Designs” tab at the top of this post as a pdf pattern.

Hello darkness

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Patti_is_knittinginflashes

…my old friend. (Name that tune.)

Well, I was going to show you the pair of seamless slippers I finished Sunday night but the lighting was terrible and I go to work in the dark and return in the dark.

I knit this slipper at the end of October and finally got the mate done. Pretend there are two slippers here.

I plan to make two more pair before Christmas. I’m using acrylic yarn (don’t judge) as that is what I have tons of and it really holds up well for these seamless slippers. It’s a bit hard on my hands and fingers.

Orange seamless slippers

I will sew replacement carpet soles on these as well as add pompoms.

Seamless slippers in autumn with soles

Usefulness

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Patti_is_knittinginflashes

I’ve had a couple of people ask me what is the use of fingerless mitts.

Having fingers exposed allows one to use their fingers while keeping the rest of their han and wrist warm. Think of buttoning you child’s coat or tieing their shoes when it’s cold outside. Feeling for something (keys, lip gloss, tissues, gum) in your purse without taking your gloves or mittens off. Answering your cell phone or texting. Buckling your child into a car seat when it’s c-o-l-d outside. Typing, filing, taking notes in a cold classroom or office.

The difference between fingerless mitts and fingerless gloves is (IMHO) is that fingerless mitts just end so the fingers are free while fingerless gloves have topless fingers.

I’ve made a combination of fingerless gloves and mittens once for a friend who loves to take photographs on the C&O Canal towpath in our area. Ever try to take a picture with gloves on? The pattern is called “Glittens” by Nuttinbutknittin.