No one could possibly think this is enough

space?!? I was at Wal-Mart getting some large bins for my yarn storage. You know, the 58-quart tubs that can hold 20 or more large skeins of yarn. A reasonable storage size for a small stash (I bought three to go with the several I have already, but am outgrowing them). I looked at the upper shelf, and noticed the label on the small tubs with a couple things of yarn and some knitting needles and just about died laughing. I don't know anyone who could store their knitting or crochet in a tub this small! And I think people who saw me standing in that aisle laughing at storage tubs at 1:30 a.m. (I went on my way home from work) must have thought I was crazy!

Mom's afghan is coming along

It's a good thing mom doesn't look at my blog. Here is the progress on her Christmas afghan. I love the way the stitch pattern is working up. The pattern is from the Weekend Afghans book. The pattern in teh book is made up in a variegated, and mom doesn't really like variegated. So I am using I Love This Yarn in cranberry, and the tweed insets are one strand of the cranberry and one strand of ivory chenille.

It is soft, and I think will make a really cuddly blanket when it's finished. Still deciding if I want to add fringe or a border. And I am using my new wood Q-hook. It is so smooth and comfortable. I am totally pleased with the choice of yarn, the way the insets will look, and how well the hook works.

I have the greatest sister!

It just turned really cold at my house. We have had sleet and freezing rain. I went out to the mailbox and look what I found!! Three great ear bands to help keep me warm. They are perfect and have already seen plenty of use. We are looking at temperatures below freezing until late this week, and there will probably be snow and more freezing rain. Chauntel sent these to me just in time. Yea for terrific sisters! She's the best.

A trial hat

Alyx asked for a hat with ear flaps that would keep her warmer up in Nebraska as the snow begins to fly. So I bought some terrific superwash wool at Twist, and found a fun pattern. However, I wanted to try it out first to see if it would fit her all right, and to see if the pattern needs to be adjusted at all. I had some Wool-ease around from previous projects and it feels about the same weight as the wool, so I whipped up a little hat and sent it to her. She has posted a picture of her wearing it on her blog

I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and she likes it too, so now I have to do the "real" thing. I told her to give the sample to one of her friends at school. I love the wool I found (and it is black and ivory as well) and think it will make a great hat and scarf. I think I will just mirror the hat pattern in the scarf. 4-5 rows of black double crochet, alternating with a row of ivory dc clusters. I think I will add a fringe, too. She wants the strings fatter, so I will try my sister's method for making cord on the next one. All in all, I'm pretty happy with it, and she's pretty happy with it, so it's all good!