For Me?! KAL

I've joined a KAL to make something for myself. The first project is a shawl or scarf. I won 10 skeins of Noro Silk Garden in the 245 colorway on eBay and have my pattern all picked out. I'm going to make a Lady Eleanor shawl for myself. I love the look of entrelac and can't wait to get started. Tomorrow is our cast-on day and I'm ready to go!

Mother's Day

I can post this picture of my Mom's Mother's Day gift because I found out yesterday that my Dad doesn't share the things I send him via e-mail with my Mom! I just assumed, and I know I shouldn't assume (the ass out of you and me adage), my Dad would share the family news about the grandkids and such with my Mom...I was wrong! Talking with Mom last night on the phone I found out that she knew nothing about DS#1's grant writing project or the resulting award...wonder what else she's missed out on recently. Note to self...after I send the e-mail to the rest of the family with news, call Mom personally...

I made the Moss Grid Towel from Mason-Dixon Knitting for Mom for Mother's Day. I used size #5 needles and Knitpick's Cotlin yarn. The towel took 2 1/2 skeins, leaving me with just enough to make a small moss stitch washcloth. They still need to be washed and blocked, but posed for this pretty picture this afternoon.

Mom also FINALLY retired! Yesterday was her last day and she and Dad left on much needed vacation to the east coast this morning. It's Dad hope that there will be many more trips in their future. He's been retired for almost 8 years and he's been after Mom to follow suit since day one. At 74 I think she's earned her retirement....it's been a hard decision for her though...she's one of those wonderful people who is happiest when she's helping someone else. She's active in her church, her philanthropic and education sororities, civic organizations and I hope they all appreciate the amount of time and love she puts into everything she does.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

I'm addicted to dishcloths

Once you start on dishcloths, you can't stop! They are quick, fun, you don't get bored before you finish one and the gratification you get from finishing a project comes often and quick! Remember my WW group that did the scarf exchange (and does the prayer shawls)? We did a dishcloth exchange and I was hooked! I now belong to two dishcloth KALs and am always on the lookout for cotton yarn on sale! This is one of my favorite patterns. The garter ridges make a wonderful "scrubbing" surface for the dishcloth.

Just to let you know how nuts I really am...In addition to the dishcloth KALS, I am also participating in the International Tote Exchange IV, I am currently working on some Mother's Day gifts (can't tell too much...certain people read this blog!), I am also participating in the ForMe?! KAL and have my Noro Silk Garden and needles ready to start a Lady Eleanor shawl for myself. Not to mention the aran sweater I have on the needles for my dear brother to go with his kilt. I'm sure there will be more projects added to the WIP list before long!

Knitting helps keep me sane and calm, just ask my kids! Things are getting busy around our house. Our oldest son (14 yr old) plays baseball, so many evenings and Saturday mornings are spent at the ballpark. Both boys are usually on the run from one friend's house to another, back to ours (one of the perks of living in suburbia...my kids can run around the neighborhood like I did when I was a kid). School will be out in another 5 weeks and I'm sure that will only increase the busyness! My DH is in the National Guard and has two weeks active duty starting in a week and half so I'll get to be a single parent for a couple of weeks too! Think of all the knitting I'll have to do to stay sane then!?!

I'm going to try to be better about posting more regularly and Tote Exchange and the ForMe?! KAL will help hold me accountable for that.

See ya next time!

It's been awile and I've got to brag!

I know, I know...I haven't posted in a while...I've been negligent in taking pictures of knitting projects, writing, just about everything (except laundry, I can't be negligent about that!)

I've finished numerous dishcloths and have become addicted to dishcloth knitting...thanks to a dishcloth exchange with my wonderful WW friends....I will try to post pictures tonight!

I made a simple aran sweater for my nephew to go with his kilt (my family is very Scottish) and of course, forgot to take a picture...have to see if I can coerce dear brother into taking one of nephew in kilt and sweater?!

Now onto the bragging...DS#1 (the one in the striped shirt) is a typical smart mouth 14 year old and drives us crazy alot of the time. But....he was part of a team that wrote a grant to get $$ for their Teen Leaders group at the YMCA's community service project. They had to present to the local YMCA Board, the United Way Board and received the grant! Yesterday was the award ceremony. The adult leader for the group couldn't attend at the last minute so DS#1 volunteered to speak. He got up and described their grant project with no notes and no preparation...we were very proud and he really surprised us with his confidence and maturity!!! We are doing something right as parents!!!

Scarfs!

I've managed to knit quite a bit the last few days! Of course, 12 inches of snow and ice didn't hurt...managed to get the car out this morning and the kids finally had school today! I'm having serious withdrawl issues after having two full days of being able to pick up my knitting whenever the fancy struck me.

My WW online group organized a scarf exchange amongst ourselves. Everyone had their secret pal they made a scarf for and as the deadline approached we all got downright giddy trying to figure out who was making a scarf for us. Packages started arriving prior to the deadline and it was very difficult not to peek until the "open date"! I received the most beautiful, cream-colored basketweave scarf. It was accompanied by a lovely note and some wonderful hand lotion. The note revealed that the middle part of the scarf was knit on the beach in Florida so there were nice warm beach vibes included in the stitches. It was a lovely surprise, especially since it was opened on the day we were stuck in the house under a blizzard warning.

Our next exchange is going to be a dishcloth exchange and I can't wait. It is such fun to knit for someone who really appreciates every stitch. We've all noticed that knitting for our online friends is helping us to "push our own envelopes". We are all trying new patterns and new techniques and learning and having such fun!

Tomorrow - baby gifts to share!

Laura

Prayers

My best friend is having surgery today...she has cervical cancer. I'm saying lots of prayers and thinking about her alot. When we found out about the cancer I immediately started a Prayer Shawl for her. I've made several of these and they are just as cathargic for me as they are for the recipient. The hours spent knitting and praying give you wonderful insight into life and the person you are.

This is shawl I made one for my dear sister-in-law when she was dealing with her husband passing away and my WW knitting group (my wonderful online friends!) has made three (now working on 4 and 5) shawls for members friends and charities. I'm sure they'll be more shawls in my future and while sometimes it's hard to deal with the reason you're making one, while your knitting one you feel like you can get through anything!

Please keep my wonderful friend in your prayers (and three kids and family)...

Laura

Why Knitting Frenzy?

Very proud of my ability to start this blog myself, I showed my "product" to my dear husband. He patted me on the back while saying "why Knitting Frenzy, you claim knitting calms you down?"...

Good question! The act of knitting does keep me calm and nothing is a better sleep aid than a few rows before bed. The knitting frenzy is the ideas and the projects and thoughts about knitting that run around in my head every day. I could spend the entire day knitting, shopping for yarn and patterns and be perfectly happy. Unfortunately the family, the house and my checkbook would suffer greatly! So, I knit when I can and put up with my mind going a mile a minute most days with knitting thoughts.

What better place to start then the beginning. My dad taught me to knit. His mom taught him. When I was kid growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, my dad rode the "IC" (Illinois Central Railroad) downtown everyday. He had his mom teach him how to knit so that he could pass the time on the train commute everyday. Of course, once he learned and was making beautiful aran sweaters (the first one he made me was a beautiful cable pattern in a subtle rose color), I just had to learn. I didn't knit much in college, but once I was out and working on my own, I picked it up again. I was so pleased the first time I made a sweater that actually fit and I could wear it (everything they say about gauge is absolutley true!!!). Cleaning out the spare bedroom closet the other night, I found that first sweater...here it is. All I can say is I was young and adventerous when I made this...perhaps I should be adventerous again?!

Laura