Dublin Bay Socks in Regia yarn on Magic Loop

Well I finished them and have made a second pair of Dublin Bay socks for my friend June out of Opal yarn. Love the pattern.
This pair if for me and I think they are pretty funky. These one's matched pretty good but the Opal ones matched perfectly until after the heel turn and then the colors changed. But my friend June just loved them. Had her trying them on to see if they would fit telling her they were for one of my sons as didn't want to tell her they were part of her Christmas present.
But finally gave them to her as she gave me a early Birthday present. Guess what a sock book and a knitting book. Hints or what so finally gave her the socks and she was just so surprised as really believed me when I said they were for one of the boys.
The sock book is one of Charlene Schurch called More Sensational knitted socks. I wanted to learn how to read charts properly so now I have my chance.
The other book is a beautful little book by Mary Webb called Knitting Stitches and it also has charted patterns. So will certainly have lots of fun with these.
Now I would like to buy Charlene's book called Sensational knitted socks and also Mary's crochet stitches book. I think both of them are available.
Whoever said knitting and crocheting was boreing certainly doesn't like hobbies as I love to knit and hope to learn to love crocheting also. Can do both but just feel more relaxed with the knitting.

PINE TREE BOOKMARK WINNING DESIGN FOR MONTHLY BOOKMARK GROUP

	PINE TREE BOOKMARK
	size 10 crochet cotton DMC traditions
	size 1 needles or 2.25 mm
	Cast on 15 stitches
	Borders beginning and end Knit 4 Rows
	Pattern
	Row 1: k2, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k7,k2tog, yo k2
	Row 2: k2,purl to last 2 sts k2 ( repeat this row for all even rows)
	Row 3: k2,yo, k1, s1, k1, psso, k5, k2tog, k1, yo, k2.
	Row 5: k2, yo, k2, s1, k1, psso, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2.
	Row 7: k2,yo, k3, s1,k1,psso, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k2.
	Row 9: k2, yo, k4, s1, k2tog, psso, k4, yo, k2.
	Row 11: k5, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, s1, k1, psso, k5.
	Row 13: k4, k2tog, (k1,yo) twice k1, sl, k1, psso, k4.
	Row 15: k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, s1, k1, psso, k3.
	Row 17: k2, k2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, s1, k1, psso, k2.
	Row 19: k1, s1, k1, psso, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, s1, k1, psso, k1
	Row 20: same as row 2
	Repeat Rows 1 to 20 three more times
	Then repeat Rows 1 to 10 once more
	Border knit 4 rows

This is my winning design entry for the Monthly Bookmark Group Contest. I am just so excited that I won but am sure there were many more that could of been winners also. I had a lot of fun making it and loved the way it turned out. Please feel free to copy pattern for personal use only but please do not post it to your website or sell it as your own. Copyright by Annette Derksen Sept. 2007

Knitting up a dishcloth storm

Been really knitting this past weekend.With hurricane Dean around the Cayman's couldn't get to knit anything that required to much attention.
Are family there made it safely through without any damage to their home. Prayers still being said for all the families and countries Dean did affect.
Started knitting more cloths for gifts. The green one is a Bernat tweed yarn in a basic diamond patten. The orange tweed is another favorite of mine. The ivory one is of my mother's Ivy's cloth which I just love to make. They all feel like great spa cloths. Really like the feel of them when I am washing my face. Never knew face cloths could feel so nice.
Made a total of 8 cloths this past week and finished a pair of socks with the Kitchener heel. Will eventually get them to look right.
On the magic loop still making a pair of socks for Graeme. They are taking longer because of being on smaller size 1 needles. Wow these should be warm. Am wearing my 3rd pair that I just finished and suppose to be for Lauren but think they will be to big as they fit me and I am loving them. Will be making lots more socks as love the feel and the comfort of knowing I actually made them and they fit. Oh yes and designed a bookmark for my group's contest this month.
Hope everybody is having a great week and hope we get more sun like today. The ducks are on the pond and the geese are flying in by 3:30 pm everyday now so that tells us fall is not far off.
We also have a family of 4 pelicans on the pond. Today I even saw a couple of guys in a boat fishing in our pond and it is not a big one. Had to get my neighbour to show her that they were there. It's only a manmade pond and the city fills it with fish every year. I guess we should take our rods out there also but we only cast and throw back in if we are lucky enough to catch anything.
Suppose to rain but it bypassed us again. Fall seems just to close for us.
We love to sit on the patio and barbucue and it will be all over far to soon with winter only a few months away. The summers are far to short here.
Hugs and have a wonderful blessed week everyone.

Graeme's Socks my 2nd pair finished July 31.2007

Here's Graeme's socks in progress.
No I didn't do the 2 pair on circulars yet.
Just 4 old dpn's size 9 Canadian or 3.50mm.
Used Patrons Classic Wool in Olive green with a burgundy stripe. Wasn't sure if 1 ball would do it so had to cut yarn and get to the centre of the foot to make sure I had enought yarn.
Had a little more burgundy left from making afghan squares so just encase I had to do the toes in the burgundy I had to finish one sock and rejoin and yes I made it. Have finished them today. Only problem is lots of ends to sew in.
Even had 25 yards left so maybe will be able to use it for stripping sometime on an other pair. Will post my other picture of completed socks when Hubby able to download the pics off his camera. Graeme's socks would fit me so would be approximately a size 9 sock.

MY 1ST Pair of socks finished July 27, 2007

Well here they are my 1st pair of socks in 36 years. They actually turned out quite well and match pretty closely. Most importantly they fit.
Made on size 9 Canadian or 3.50mm
They actually were fun to make and great to see how the stripping would work. Pretty funky socks might be for me or someone very close to me. Can't say right now.
Used the Red Heart worsted weight yarn and just a very basic pattern

Yeh! I did it ! Finished my first pair of socks in 34yrs

Well I finally did it. Made my first pair of socks in over 34 yrs. Kept thinking it was longer but remembered making them for my youngest son and he is just 36 now. I am so excited as they actually fit and the colors match pretty close. Made them with a size 9 Canadian or 3.75 mm.
I used a Red Heart self striping yarn. Only had to rip the 2nd sock 3 times back to the heel to get the colors to match better. Would not use the sl at the the beginning of the heel and the heel flap.
Prefer to knit or purl all the stitches. Felt when I picked up my stitches to join the front of the socks they were not as tight as I would of liked them to be.
Now I have challenged myself to make more of them for my children and grandchildren. Will check out the sock yarns when I go to Minneapolis next weekend. Am almost ready to start knitting sweaters again for all my family.
I have a bond knitting frame but haven't used it in 15 years so will be like starting all over again with it. I really like the feel of knitting by hand as it is my time to mediate and find it very relaxing.
My mom bless her soul was the one who had been knitting a lot the last few years for the family.
It was always very special for my grandchildren when they would get a homemade Christmas present from Grannie. So for many years I wasn't able to do this for my children and grandchildren. Now with retirement I am going to do this for them.
One of the most precious things I received from my mom this past Christmas was a sweater she had made of sample patterns. She also made me a pair of light blue socks because she knew how much warmer they are in winter.
Well it's midnight so better call it a night. Tomorrow have to get working on Rachel's Kal and also the mini Kal. I just love working with the smaller needles and will try knitting lace one of these days also.
Hugs everyone and hope you all have a wonderful blessed weekend.

Annette better known as Nana

My Chevron Bookmark designed for Monthly Bookmark Group July

Triple Chevron BOOKMARK

designed by Annette CHOOSEN BY Monthly Bookmark Mid Kal July 2007

I uses 2mm needles or 12 Canadian #10 crochet cotton Blue color

Triple Chevron Bookmark

Cast on 21 stitches and knit 4 rows for border

Row 1 and all odd rows (WS): k2, p17, k2

Row 2: k5 , yo, ssk, k7, k2tog, yo; end k5

Row 4: k6, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, end k6

Row 6: k5, (yo, ssk) twice, k3, (k2tog, yo) twice; end k5

Row 8: k6, (yo, ssk) twice, k1, (k2tog, yo) twice, end k6

Row 10: k5, (yo, ssk) twice, yo, sl 2 as if to knit, k1, p2sso, yo, (k2tog, yo) twice; end k5

Row 12: Rep Row 8

Row 14: k7, yo, ssk, yo, sl 2 as if to knit, k1, p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, end k7

Row 16: k8, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, end k8

Row 18: k9, yo, sl 2 as if to knit, k1, p2sso, yo, end k9

Repeat Rows 1-18. - 4 times

I repeated Row 1 again before doing the border

Knit 4 rows for border and then cast off.