Author: Mary

Off my needles

~ Mary ~ 3 Comments

Hat #32 is done. No pattern with this one … just a simple beanie. I’m trying to use up some of the partial skeins before my hat knitting marathon ends. The last 3 were from leftovers and I started #4 after finishing this one. I weigh the skeins but it’s always a bit more nerve wracking as I get to the decreases wondering if I’ll run out of yarn.

Yarn is Caron Cupcake – I’ll mention again that I’m not a fan of the dye splotches that occur in this yarn and it’s not the softest … I won’t be buying more of this yarn.

I’ve found a local place to donate these too! Big Canoe is having a coat drive for those in need and I wrote the coordinator and asked if I could donate hand knit hats and scarves and she thought it was a great idea.

Off my needles

~ Mary ~ 3 Comments

This is hat #31 and it’s a variation of the pattern below inspired by Stephanie from my HeartStrings group. For the body of the hat just alternate rows 1 and 2 of the pattern.

I’ve linked to the actual hat pattern below but check out the main pattern page on the Knots of Love site for other free patterns.

  • Free pattern found online at Knots of Love – William’s Chemo Hat
  • Needle size – 7 for the brim, 8 for the body of the hat
  • Yarn – Sprightly Yarn Spectrum Worsted

365 Block Challenge

~ Mary ~ 5 Comments

Another goal accomplished! Today I finished the last 7 blocks I needed to meet my HeartStrings 365 block challenge for the year. I thought I was going to set these blocks aside and make the other ones for this quilt at the start of the new year but once I dragged everything out … I decided to keep it all out and continue on to make a set of 48 Strips and Strings log cabin blocks. I have a bunch of shorter strings all ready to go and a log cabin block is perfect for using them.

I also started another hat to work on while I watch the hockey game tonight. And look at the photo Becky sent today… I love seeing them use the hats I make for them and Becky is so good about sharing photos with me.

Progress

~ Mary ~ 10 Comments

I’ve been working on my Strips and Strings Rail Fence blocks – this is the 8th quilt from my string bins this year and I’m kind of at the bottom of the barrel. Not necessarily in terms of the number of strips and strings left but more that they’ve been well picked over. I think I’m going to like it anyway.

And hat #30 has been finished. I substituted a K1P1 rib for the brim and forgot to change to a larger needle when starting the body of the hat. Also, there is an error in the crown decreases in the pattern – a K4, K2tog row was left out and I added that in.

I hope that all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving have a wonderful day. Keith and I will have a quiet one with just the two of us and I won’t be cooking a large meal so I’ll have time for more sewing.

I’ve had much to be thankful for in my life and I’m especially grateful for all my blessings this year.

Off my needles

~ Mary ~ 4 Comments

I may not have done any sewing while the girls were here the last several days but I did stay up and knit at night after everyone else had gone to bed. This is hat #29 and it’s a variation of the pattern below. Stephanie from my HeartStrings group has been knitting hats along with me and said she’d knit this one only using rows 1-4 of the pattern for the body of the hat and I thought I’d give it a try too. I like how it turned out.

I’ve linked to the actual hat pattern below but check out the main pattern page on the Knots of Love site for other free patterns.

  • Free pattern found online at Knots of Love – William’s Chemo Hat
  • Needle size – 8
  • Yarn – KnitPicks Swish Tonal

I did get back in the sewing room tonight after the game and started another set of Strips and Strings Rail Fence blocks. My goal is to finish my 365 block challenge by the end of the holiday weekend. I need 55 blocks and this quilt will take 48 of them.

Off my needles

~ Mary ~ 2 Comments

Hat #27

I’ve linked to the actual hat pattern below but check out the main pattern page on the Knots of Love site for other free patterns.

  • Free pattern found online at Knots of Love – Brandye Beanie
  • Needle size – 6
  • Yarn – Knit Picks Swish tonal

Hat #28 finished tonight while I watched the Lightning win.

  • Pattern – Ross found free on Ravelry
  • Needle size 8
  • Yarn – Paintbox Simply Aran
  • Cast on 80

An extra day

~ Mary ~ 3 Comments

Chris came yesterday to pick the girls up and stayed for dinner and the night. Today, I went hiking at Amicalola Falls State Park with them. It’s one of our favorite places around here to hike.

I have plans to “retreat” the rest of the week and work on string blocks. I’m leaning toward another set of Strips and Strings rail fence blocks but we’ll see what I decide on once I open up the string bins. By the end of the holiday weekend I expect to hit my goal for our HeartStrings 365 blocks challenge for 2021. Of course, there will be some more hat knitting too!

More fun today

~ Mary ~ 5 Comments

The girls and I went for a short hike today … we wanted to play some soccer too but it rained last night and it was too wet on the field.

Chris came for dinner and they’re spending the night so we’ll have time to spend with them tomorrow too.