The highlight of the past week has been the annual Grand Desserts Night fundraiser for breast cancer. This year's event was the biggest yet. Our table's theme was "Cruising for a Cure." We had a new hostess this year, Stephanie, who is carrying on the tradition of her mother with the help of all her friends.
It's hard to believe that almost a year has passed since I lost my good friend Donna. Her absence was noted by the evening's emcee. Also, recently the hospital honored her on their Pink Day, a fundraiser she initiated, and hung her portrait in remembrance in the department where she worked. One person can make a difference.
Moving on to the knitting. I am trying not to give in totally to the lure of new yarn. I have been knitting from the stash. Stephanie was the recipient last year of the Peace Out Earflap hat, and there was enough yarn left for some mittens. I started one during the summer (yeah, knitters are kinda crazy that way) and decided I should get the pair finished for her. They're a little big, she's so tiny, but they should be very warm for yard duty and might even fit over a thin pair of mitts or gloves if desired.
Next, the mitts below were knit not too long after the publication of Sally Melville's garter stitch book, but never gifted because I had two more skeins of the Colinette Skye yarn to make something else to match. I considered a hat and cowl.
However, the lucky combination of finding the Knitting New Scarves book on sale and learning to knit and purl back backwards led to the choice of this scarf. The new technique made knitting the short-row side ruffles on this scarf much easier. I wanted to relax the garter stitch a bit, but I left the scarf soaking too long so that the ruffles flattened out more than I would have liked. Lesson learned for next time, and there will be a next time - I do like this pattern and can visualize it in a lot of different yarns.
Then, browsing Ravelry one night, I found the Mustikka pattern and couldn't wait to try it out. I grabbed some old Pingouin Tempo sportweight acrylic and wool blend yarn, and voila, new fall hats for the boys.
Which reminded me that I had promised to make my daughter a Brattleboro hat from the remainder of my Misti Alpaca Tonos Worsted and had even bought the buttons for it. Done, in one evening with a bit of finishing time the next morning.
Back to the boys, to complete a little pair of socks from Patons Kroy.
Now, I'll have to do another pair too, but I won't bore you with an identical photograph when they're done. Instead, I'll sign off with the highlight of the boys' week - Halloween! They went to the mall and chose costumes which reflect their age difference and current interests: Thomas the Tank Engine and Optimus Prime, Transformer. (Note the Little Dude has his Mustikka hat on backwards. He'd lost the Thomas headpiece at daycare already.)
You have been busy. Cruises on your mind this fall, eh?
Posted by: Brenda | November 06, 2011 at 05:49 PM