A lot of Castoffs and friends met at Carol’s house on a HOT day in July.  I’m sure it got up into the 90’s that day and, frankly, it was a piping hot meeting.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many projects bandied about at once.  Between Michelle and Marylane alone, I counted 6 different projects that they are working on.

Michelle stares in AWE at Marylane: Master Knitter!

Marylane is holding a curtain that Michelle is making (don’t know why, folks, I wasn’t part of the conversation!) and Marylane is also working on a felted purse, a top-down sweater and maybe more of the little mittens.  Michelle talked about her curtain, a scarf that she wants to knit and a poncho for her little cousin in Pennsylvania.  Michelle introduced a WHINE OF THE WEEK by explaining that she took the little girl to the yarn shop and ASKED HER WHAT YARN SHE LIKED!  Michelle whined, “Why would anyone ask a little kid what yarn she liked?  Of course she picked out the most expensive, inappropriate yarrrnnnn!”  Yeah, Michelle, why would someone do that?

Michelle's poncho pattern and beautiful cotton/tenzel blue yarn

Leslie brought her formerly one-eyed bear.  The first eyes that she knitted out of I-cords, well, scared everyone, even her husband Jim (“They’re just creepy, hon.”)  So she replaced them with some less-creepy, very cute eyes.  I have to admit jumping a little when I saw them – no offense intended, Leslie.  The bear is so cushy-squishy and adorable, however, that I almost wished I knew a baby to make one for.

I CAN SEE! Bwah, ha, ha!

Leslie also brought THE MOST WONDERFUL scarf that we all want to make.  It uses very lightweight yarn plus a big, chunky yarn on a large needle (size 17, I believe)  that makes a beautiful lacy, yet texturally interesting scarf.

The scarf that everyone wants to make

I finally finished knitting my short/sleeved blue henley top-down pullover.  Yippee!!  Now all I have to do is weave in the ends, tack down the placket, sew on some buttons and block it.  Well… at least all the knitting is done.   I also brought some dishcloths that I knitted for my sis-in-law  Sue for Sue’s birthday.  Gee, hope Sue doesn’t check this blog before August 17.  Uh, if you see this post, Sue, these are for my OTHER sister-in-law named Sue.

Marsha and her finished Henley. Well, almost finished.

The dishcloths for 'other' sister Sue.

Now I’d like to say a word about knitting accessories and equipment.  Many of our members take this subject very seriously.  Marylane.   And you, Carol, not so much.  I glanced over to see Marylane checking her gauge and I couldn’t believe my eyes.  This is what I saw:

Say, can I borrow those to measure the door I'm putting in?

“What the…?”  Michelle confirmed the Craftsman tool that Marylane was lugging around in her knitting bag.

Yup, giant tool-guy tape.

It’s not exactly your mom’s dainty little fabric tape, but I guess we’ll have to back down with our laughter because Carol whipped out the equipment that SHE uses to check her gauge and it was the baby sister of Marylane’s instrument.  Oh, well, at least they check their gauges.  Good knitters.

Spawn of tool-guy tape!

I was worried that the weather would keep us inside instead of out on the deck, but the knitting gods smiled and we had beautiful sunshine in between light showers.  We took our knitting bags, toasted baguette slices,  homemade pesto (made by Marsha’s son Eli), ricotto spread, macaroons and two colors of wine onto the deck and started eating, knitting and sharing our projects.

Joan and Marylane knit while Julie pours

Francy brought her felted bowls that we loved.  Francy is a very imaginative knitter and isn’t afraid to jump into a project, large or small, with both feet.   She knitted two felted bowls; one on 10 1/2 circulars and chunky yarn (the blue bowl pictured below), and one on smaller needles and lighter-weight yarn.  We all agreed that the chunky yarn worked up into a more solid bowl.

Felted bowl with chunky yarn

Felted bowl with lighter weight yarn and smaller needles

Francy was a crocheter before she joined the Castoffs.  We forgave her.  Her first project was Christmas stockings and she made several.  Turning heels was a challenge, but once she caught on, she knitted like a ‘house afire.’  Her next project was a stunning jacket for her daughter  – the photos of which will have to wait until later in the fall but she assures us that we WILL see the finished project enveloping her daughter.  We cannot wait.

Marylane showed us her “sister bracelets” adorning the arms of her actual sister, Joan, and herself.  These were felted and beaded and are adorable and clever and perhaps one day I will felt something myself, who knows?  The photo below shows Marylane and Joan’s sister bracelets along with another felted bracelet knitted by a sister from another mother, Francy.  As Marylane says, “We’re all sisters, aren’t we?”  Amen, sista!

"Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters."

Here is an adorable little sweater that Julie knitted using a ‘top-down’ pattern from Knitting Pure & Simple.  I am knitting a similar, short-sleeved, sweater and am loving how easy it is to work with.  Julie made this sweater for a co-worker’s soon-to-be baby.  Can I hear everyone saying, “Awwwh, cute.”??  Yup, I thought so.

Top-down baby sweater knitted by Julie. Lovely painted toenails on the right belong to Mary.

Leslie has knitted the most wonderful bear, but she won’t let us show it until the little guy has eyes – well, it’s only right, I suppose, but SURPRISE LESLIE!  I snuck in a shot while you weren’t paying attention, so here is a preview of Bear.  Next week we will all see him with the full face, and he will see us too.

Leslie with No-Eyed Bear and Carol working on a dishcloth.

Well, our meeting drew to a close, regrettably, but four of us are going on a great hike tomorrow in Glacier National Park (right up the road about 30 miles) and we are meeting next week at Julie’s house in the morning, so no wine.  But maybe a mimosa?  Or two?  How about it Jules?  Here’s wishing you happy knitting.  Keep the tangles out of your yarn!