Thursdays Are For Knit Group

Once upon a time --- I arrived at knit group to have my camera batteries die. Since that time, I have carried a set of charged batteries in my purse.

That would be my brown purse. Not the green purse I took with me to knit group today. Today then, is a one shot day.

Here we have Gail's 2 little hats.

Knit with yarn she picked up from Sandy's sister, Sue's stash, last week. Gail, of course is our knitter trying to knit a ball a day from her own stash before the September Knitters Fair. Sue's big, stash give-away obviously has put her behind a couple of balls - or more. Notice that variegated Galway she's knitting with? That too is from Sue's stash.

Without batteries, that's it for today. Shots of Sharon's red,to-be-felted purse from One skein Wonders, Sandy's green scarf, Lois' bright blue sweater beginnings, Doreen and Marlene's giant stockings for Meaford's scarecrows - all those will have to wait for another Thursday.

Thomas Watson - founder of IBM once said "Nothing happens until a sale is made". I would add - not much can be seen to have happened without charged batteries.

Ready To Wear

Remember this topper - the Easter 2010 Topper? Easter, again this year, has come and gone, but at last the topper is ready to wear.

I trotted my tootsies into blisters looking for capris or a skirt to match this top. Seems orange isn't a popular colour for clothing manufacturers. Desperation forced the decision and I decide to sew a skirt. Voila! The perfect summer outfit.

As a 'tween' and teen, I sewed all my clothes. Then, as life got busier, off-shore imports got cheaper and knitting more important to me, I let the sewing slide. To occasionally take it up now, is difficult.

My sewing mind still perceives my body as that of a young person. Double checking my measurements before pattern shopping causes me to gasp. Sewing patterns are often sized 'larger' than ready-made clothing and to purchase a size 14 pattern almost gives me chest pains. (No disrespect to full bodied women, but I'm a petite little thing. Or maybe not. That could be my 18 year old brain still living in this 60 something body.)

Then of course there are all the little 'tips' that daily sewing teaches one. Those are long forgotten and the cause of much 'ripping' in this skirt. Thank goodness I still own a seam ripper.

Will viewers be so impressed with colour match that they don't notice my less-than-stellar sewing skills?

First wearing will tell. When I get the nerve.

Reunited

Elizabeth and I have been reunited. As usual, she is leading me where I've never gone before.

Of course,this time that's not saying much as I am probably the only knitter in the universe that has never knit baby booties. Not that there are any babies on my horizon, but these booties caught my attention in Knitting Without Tears.

You see, I have a thing for slipper patterns. Not that I knit many slippers, but for some reason I collect slipper patterns. In Knitting Without Tears, Elizabeth calls these booties 'A Good 2-Needle Garter Stitch Slipper With Cuff ' and knits them with thick - 8 sts/4 " - wool. My original plan was to knit them just like that until the same pattern caught my eye in The Opinionated Knitter.

In that book, Elizabeth knit them with fine yarn and they are part of a baby outfit. As with the Tomten Jacket, Elizabeth used the thickness of yarn to change the size. I love that concept. No change to number of stitches or rows, just change the yarn. Of course, designers would starve if we all knit that way.

These 'slooties' or blippers' are typical Elizabeth.

All one piece, all garter stitch. Shaped with increases and decreases. Open to striping, fair isle or colour work of your choice. Bless your heart Elizabeth for being so creative.

In Knitting Without Tears, Elizabeth comments "These boots come to an endearing point at the toe, so that you look like a Lapp, Eskimo or Kurd." Who can resist Elizabeth?