This has been the project that doesn't want to be completed. I had difficulty with the straps because I have never done a lace pattern before. I had to email Elsebeth Lavold because I thought there was a problem with the chart, and I was right. She emailed me within a couple of days with the correction, so I kept going, and then realized I had the wrong number of stitches in the broken rib section, so I had to start all over. I finally have both the front and the back to the lace part. Surely I can do it now because I have tried it three times already! 

Here is the result of a trip to a yarn store - I haven't been to a really yarn store in a couple of years. This is from the Shaggy Sheep in Lubbock, TX. What a great store - lots of interesting yarn and a very knowledgable owner. I was strong however, and only got the Rowan Calmer that I had come for. The color is Amour, and it is a much darker red than it appears. I am making Audrey from Rowan 35. 

Here is a sampling of the Silkroad that I managed to get from Elann. It was really a frenzy - one of the colors I wanted sold out before I could get to checkout - about 30 seconds! I did get 8 balls of Merlot, 3 of Opal and 16 of Venetian. I have a cabled cardigan pattern for the Venetian, a scarf pattern for the Opal, and I have no idea for the Merlot - I just really love the color. 

This is Mable, modeling the coat I made. I don't think she is exactly thrilled with it. 

The college graduates!! 

This is the Kittyboy, the furry tyrant who rules this house. We think he is some or maybe mostly Ragdoll, since he seems to have all the characteristics of the breed. He loves my husband's mowing shoes! 

Here was a lovely May surprise. Local weathermen had said this storm would go east of us, but suddenly we had about 15 minutes of hail, up to golf ball, and a tornado warning! 

For those who would like to know, the pattern for the coat was in Family Circle Easy Knitting, one of the Winter issues, I think around 98. I used WoolEase and FunFur for the trim. I had to adjust the size, since Mable is so small. I used an Astrakhan stitch on the back, bordered with a cable and seed stitch for the sides.

This was kind of a silly project, but great fun to do. This is a coat for a Maltese named Mable. Never thought I would be knitting for a dog! 

Socks

Socks have been my newest obsession in knitting. I started my first pair January 1st and finished my sixth pair Monday, March 14th. I have used mostly yarn from elann, except for the very bright striped socks, and I used KnitPicks Simply Striped for those. The blue were simple 2X2 rib.

I am working on the Broadribbed socks from Knitty, using the cotton Esprit yarn from elann, and I really like them also. Although, I am using Brittany Birch needles and have already broken one. Thank goodness for their guarantee!

I'm not sure what to do next. I have accumulated enough yarn for 26 pair in my stash - elann, KnitPicks, Opal, Regia. I am looking at patterns in Socks, Socks, Socks, and Knitting for the Road. I think I will use a solid color and try the Denmark cables next.

and Arwen, the dimmest cat I have ever been around, probably trying to figure out where she is. 

Frodo again trying to figure out why he is on the floor instead of in a lap. 

Okay, here are the grandcats, helping to display the socks I knitted. Ginger and white is Frodo and long haired is Arwen, a Maine coon. 

My knitting, my favorite OU shirt, my rocking chair - the only thing missing is the cat. 

So Here We Go

All right, here goes the new blog. My purposes are:

1. To display my knitting projects and received comments from other knitters
2. To let my family/friends see what I am working on
3. For random ramblings on various topics.

I especially want to hear from other knitters. I live in a knitter deprived area; most of the knitters I know are my students that I taught to knit - that has been great fun, but most of them are 12 years old and don't have a lot to add to my knitting knowledge. I know I really enjoy looking at other knitting blogs, and I hope to get comments to help me grow as a knitter.

Of course, there are the other topics such as OU sports (Yeah Boomer Sooners), cats, daughter, books, etc.

I will post pictures as soon as I figure it all out. I also hope to customize this blog more, but again, I am new to this stuff and will have to research. So, more to come.