Lost my original posting so reposting so everyone has something to 'open' on Christmas from us!

Recap:

Julie & Darrin - Felted slippers

Lily - already shipped - ballet slippers + BB stuff

Sara - Lopi Sweater

Nelli - Scarf/Shawl

Susan - felted purse

Ben - Sony gift card

Unfortunately, I didn't stay awake long enough for me to grab Santa's help, but I LOVE the following poem!

Knitters Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me

There was unfinished knitting not under the tree,

The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care

'Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

But I had not finished the caps for their heads.

Dad was asleep---he was no help at all.

And the sweater for him was 6" too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I put down my needles to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash.

Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow

Reminded me how far I still had to go.

When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,

I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired--my brain a bit thick,

I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.

Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed

For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!

Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite!Move over!

Lopi, don't circle around, just stand there in line.

Pay attention you sheep and you'll work out just fine!

I know this is hard as it's just your first year

But I'd hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."

I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:

Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door

Santa's big boots stomping on the porch floor.

I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.

As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his heat to his toe

And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.

A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.

And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.

His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace

A beautiful frame for his rosey red face.

The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,

And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.

And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:

"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff.

So I asked, "Hey, Nick, did YOU knit all this stuff?"

He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.

I learned how to knit when I was just a kid."

He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,

And I laughed to myself, for I'd thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,

And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap

Where I had laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He began then to knit, first one cap then 2--

For the first time I thought I might really get through.

He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,

While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.

Quickly like magic his needles they flew,

Good Grief! He was finished by two!

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,

And over his shoulder he looked back at me.

I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,

"Next year, start your knitting sometime around JUNE!"

Dec 24th Drying Slippers

Felted slippers for Erika, Julie and Darrin (yes I had alot of red wool!) Since I only managed to wash/felt them yesterday, they are still drying!!! I'm hanging them up near the fireplace now!
 

Dec 24th works in progress

See our tree - no presents underneath, that's because Mama thought she'd knit them all - well I got myself into trouble for all the yarn buying I did this year, so when Daddy asked why I needed more wool/yarn, I kept saying "but it's for Christmas presents!!!" Unfortunately, that meant I had to knit up the stuff I bought since Daddy figured there was no shopping to have to do!
Sara's Lopi Sweater (which originally I started in 2002?)

Nellie's Clapotis Scarf/Shawl - not all the ladders have fallen yet. 

Dec 24th madness

Okay, I overextended myself - at the moment, knitting is no longer fun for me - I gave up on socks for my brother because I had to frog all the work I did yesterday when I tried the leg on this morning , then attempted 3 more times to restart and finally gave up. He's getting Tupperware instead!

And, as for all the projects for Ontario, well, they are in progress - being that the little guy and I were so sick throughout Nov/Dec, I didn't get in as much knitting time as expected - so as of last weekend I had to prioritize to the 'children'. Managed to whip up a pair of white ballet slippers (Knitty's Twinkletoes) for Lily on Sunday last week - then proceeded to work on Keiran's hat (which again is not finished).

So I'll be posting an email to the family with photos of their 'gifts to come'...guess once I finish them I'll start next year's gifts so I don't have this issue again!!! Although I figure since Sara knits, I'll give her a pattern and yarn next year and let her knit her own!!!!

UFO in process

I'm FINALLY finishing off an old unfinished project - and attempting to get it done in time for Christmas as well. Only problem is that the intended recipient has since grown in the last 5-6 years since I originally started it (yes, it's been that long!!!)

Will start posting pics when I have the chance - I have to spend my time knitting after all now don't I!!! :)

Sock Wars is over for knitcaboose....

Received my socks today from kiarapanther - nice timing, I was off work sick today - feet feel great, rest of me is miserable... so I'm out of the sock war...not sure if my target got her socks or not since she hasn't responded/posted that she's got them... I really think to win this war, you need to know the postman really well!!! 

CIBC Run for the Cure

Another year another Run for the Cure - taking little guy in the jogger stroller again this year - hopefully he'll sit still the whole time :)

Still fundraising - you can donate online before Oct 1st at
https://www.cibcrunforthecure.com/html/personal_page.asp?track=1694494&languageid=1

OR
Buy a pink coffee mug via my Tupperware Fundraising campaign - 40% of sales go to the charity - in this case, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation...

Fundraiser 2006 On the go

In the midst of my fundraising efforts for the CIBC Run for the Cure, I found out about this mug through my local Tupperware consultant - I'm collecting orders up until October 16th - $12 from each mug sale goes to the Charity!!!

Contact me for ordering details (I can take orders or I should have a weblink shortly for ordering these directly
online :) (Pink coffee mugs, start a new coffee trend - pass this along to anyone you'd think would be interested in helping me raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation!!!)

	Commuter Mug Double-walled design keeps beverages hot or cold. Tapered contoured shape fits most vehicle cup holders. Non-slip bottom, 500 mL / 16-oz. 5839 Frosted Pink with Starlight Accents $30.00 Q
	Tupperware is proud to partner with local organizations to help fund and develop vital programs and services in your community. With no investment and minimal effort, organizations receive 40% of the proceeds from a Tupperware Fund Raiser. It’s both easy and fun offering products backed by a name that is well known and trusted, plus the experiences and rewards gained are lasting.

The clock is ticking....

Sock weapon completed - been 7 hours since I emailed the target to find out address - no response, must be on the run now. No dossier, no info on internet. So I sit waiting while the clock is ticking on me :(
In the meantime, I tried on the socks (which are too big for me because my target is a US size 9 and I'm a size 7), but they turned out kinda cool! Think I'll use the leftovers to make ds some toddler socks :)
While I wait..tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock... 

Sock Wars has begun

Not that trying a new thing in the midst of a competition is a good thing, but I decided to try knitting 2 socks on 2 circulars for the FIRST TIME!! I'm liking this though, at least I'll give it a go for my next pair of socks :) 

Momma's first pair of socks

Forgot to mention my finished Socks!!! "Nearly" matched perfectly 

Kevin and Cheryl's Blog

Kevin and Cheryl's Blog

Flexigirl (aka Cheryl from our office) is in France for 5 weeks. We are living vicariously through her photos :)

I NEED to go back to France...

yarnmonkey: Are YOU ready for Sock Wars 2006?

yarnmonkey: Are YOU ready for Sock Wars 2006?

Yes, I've done a mere 2 pairs of socks, and I signed up for this!!! What on earth was I thinking??? Well, perhaps I should take bets on how early a casualty I'll be (or else maybe it's time to take those vacation days I missed due to Keiran's ear infection and my summer cold!!!!)

I'd better get working on my Christmas presents - I likely won't have time at the end of the month!!!!

Socks for ME!

Figured I'd make myself a pair of socks immediately after making Keiran's socks. I finished one and am working on the second - did an 'afterthought heel' (which is underneath the finished sock in this pic) hard to photograph afterthought heels in profile I find...but it does fit my feet, so I'll model them after I finish the second one :)

Sock knitting truly is addictive!!! I have a skein of Lorna's Laces for another pair for Keiran, and another 2 skeins of Paton's Kroy for a gift for 'Grandpa' PLUS I have some Henry's Attic Kona Fingering on its way (and some dharma dyes sitting here just waiting to do some space dying)...how on earth do I find the time to do this???? 

Keiran's socks (my first complete pair!)

So my first try will be frogged and reknit into a baby hat, but I managed to make an actual matching pair of socks that - get this - FIT my toddler perfectly! Unfortunately, they ended up in the wash with velcro bibs (thanks to grandma), but a little bit of shaving of the fuzzy spots make these fine - besides, how long will he actually still fit in these? A month?
Guess I need to get knitting him another pair :) 

Fuzzy caboose

Forgot to show off these photos - did this soaker months ago using CobWeb Woolies 50/50 wool/mohair blend. Used the Punk Knitter's pattern, yet must have forgotten what size I was doing because it came out wayyy too huge, so I felted it - so now lil k has a 'fuzzy caboose'
 

Keiran's sock...

Well, my first venture into sock knitting is becoming 'interesting' to say the least!!! First of all I purchased a pattern that I started with - but it has no gauge listed, nor does it mention # of inches you should have, I thought it looked waayyy too small, so 'frogged' and decided to try the Yarn Harlot recipe...I did my gauge, did some calculations based on what I measured and THIS is what is coming out...
I know it seems to look like a sock, but it's supposed to be for a toddler!!
I'm going to keep going and see what happens...I'm not in the mood for more frogging (and I did pull it on ds's leg, it fit the calf, but not so sure they'll stay up!!!) 

Wool Storage :)

Been reading the Yarn Harlot's "Knitting Rules" book, and came up with a really cool way to store more of my ever-increasing stash of wool...she does note ziplock bags are good for wool fibers to protect from moths - well I have some wire baskets that have eye hooks, so I could hang those in between the rafters of our storage and pop a bunch of baggies in there and not take up any more space on the floor/walls! I even thought I could use thumbtacks to put the little zip baggies up into the rafters and when I need them, pull them down..

Now I can see myself laying on my back in the storage looking up at the ceiling pondering the colours of my next project :) I think I might even add some of the baggies in the roof of my closet - will need to move my stepstool for that though :)

Knit, Knit, Knit...

Knitting up some wraps to try out - got some Aplix from a wonderful sewing coop on Yahoo that just begged to be tried out on some felted wraps - designing as I go along...will have photos shortly :)

Keiran is keeping dry each night with his collection of longies and soakers, still testing my designs out on him - will be moving to testing on others soon in other sizes...

Soaker up for auction!

LLL Canada is holding a charity auction on ebay.
"Breastfeeding gives babies the best possible start in life. Most mothers know this and eight out of ten make the decision to breastfeed their babies. However, by the time most babies are three months old, less than three are still breastfeeding. Yet, the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months. La Leche League Canada can help more mothers to breastfeed their babies but we need your help to support our programs. "

I have donated a punk knitter's soaker cover to the auction - please help by bidding on items posted :)

http://members.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=nfcllc

Direct link to the soaker - http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7758186845

I knit this using bernat lana 100% in the natural colour - then dyed it using a combination of Kool-Aid and foodcolouring in a crockpot (I used a combination of instructions from www.knitty.com/archive.html and http://home.earthlink.net/~skyvieww/sierraspun/crockfinish.htm and http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_4185709,00.html). I then wound the hank of wool by hand (http://www.onceuponapattern.com/custom/pdffiles/PullSkein.pdf) and voila, started knitting the punk knitter's soaker pattern - http://community.livejournal.com/punk_knitters/110889.html.

What did I do before internet???

No rib, no seams soaker

Finally finished my soaker - this soaker was as a result of things that I liked to avoid, and things that I heard from others they didn't like about knitting soakers...I still have to perfect this pattern, but it did work out neat!

1) Ribbing stretches with use - so made a tube and drawstring waistband
2) I hate sewing seams - so knit in the round
3) Grafting/Kitchener Stitch seems to intimidate some - so started at bottom using a conditional cast-on and then knit up the stitches as legholes were done
4) Personally, I don't like knitting up stitches for legholes, there inevitably is a 'hole' somewhere, so did I-cord edges for legholes.

Will let you know the verdict on fit, etc after lanolizing!

Aubrey Doodlepants Longies

I LOVE wool longies!!! I made my first pair and gave it as a gift to a friend...Now we finally made a pair for my son, washed, lanolized and once it dried for a few days, it's first use was overnight and no leaks nor baby waking up upset!!! It was wonderful - we managed to use the same pair 2 nights in a row, let it dry one night, then used another 2 days in a row, for two weeks before it started to have the 'scent'...now washed, dried, lanolized, dried and we're ready to go again!!!