The Castoffs met at Marsha’s house on a very cloudy day.  The question in my mind was “Should we try to sit outside and risk getting rained on, or should we sit inside and insure that no rain will fall?”  Well, we ended up sitting inside and yes, it didn’t rain.  Geez.  By the time it looked fine, the moment had passed and we were settled in our seats, unbudgeable.  We had a good time, regardless, and laughed and talked and some did some knitting, but not me.  I did get my knitting out and place it on the table before me, but I was too busy talking and laughing and drinking to wrap my head around my pattern.

We were joined today by Elree and her daughter, Liza, my friends who came to town to volunteer at the Rebecca Farms Equestrian Event that occurs every July in Kalispell.  I was delighted that they came to my knitting group.  Elree knits and Liza does counted cross-stitch, and they are both a little warped, so they fit right in with the group.

Elree the sock-meister, er, sock-meistress.

Julie was just chewing, not judging, our guest Liza.

Liza does beautiful cross-stitch and was working on a design from a medieval tapestry (oddly enough, the same tapestry that I needlepointed many years ago) that includes a unicorn.  She is just now working on the border but I got a photo of the finished design from the packaging.  Couldn’t believe that someone actually calls them ‘spectacles’ anymore.  How Harry Potter!

What Liza's design will ultimately look like.

Eli made some lemon bars – gooey, but good – and I put together a veggie plate with dip and threw some rice crackers in a bowl.  Voila!  Snacks.  And of course, we had wine, lemonade and iced tea.  Ah, summertime and the cool liquids flow.

Yum. Snacks!

Carol was knitting some fingerless mitts for her sister and needed help on a question of increasing into a purl bump.  Huh?  Well, Leslie and Carol put their heads together and came up with a solution.  My suggestion was to decide on a method and stick with it throughout the entire mitt – right or wrong.  Continents have been discovered – and missed entirely – using that same philosophy.

Carol's wonderful non-cable pattern for her sister's mitts.

Right in the middle of her fingerless mitt, Carol confessed that she and her friend, at a local restaurant, neglected to pay for their lunch today.  Deadbeat Carol!  She’s trying to make it right, if only the restaurant would stay open past lunchtime.  Personally, I’m afraid that there is an APB out on our Carol.  We’ll bring your knitting to the big house, Carol!

The Julester was working on a market bag that was driving her crazy.  She has worked the faggoting stitch, ripped out the faggoting stitch, worked the faggoting stitch, ripped out the faggoting stitch.  Damn faggoting stitch…not that there’s anything wrong with that.  Anyway, I believe that she overcame her wavering belief in the pattern instructions and will joyfully continue to knit her market bag.  Accept the spiral of the pattern, Julie!  Accept it and don’t try to convert it to your conservative beliefs.  Ahem.  Sorry.  Been reading too much about Michelle Bachman’s husband.

Sometimes you just have to embrace the faggoting stitch without question.

Elree brought up a topic that was both hysterically funny and oddly unsettling – her department at Westminster College bets on a “Dead Pool” – that is, they bet on what famous people will die during the upcoming semester (or quarter – I’m a little fuzzy on that university’s schedule).  I was very amused that Ernest Borgnine has been in Elree’s pool for several years and just WILL NOT DIE!  Funny…I thought he died years ago.  That’s when the website “DEAD OR ALIVE” comes in handy.  Liza suggested that her mother put Michael Jackson on her dead pool several years ago (just a hunch) and to Elree’s chagrin, Michael died that year.  Go figure.  And he wasn’t on her list!

Joan joined us and is still working on her scarf – the mysterious scarf that never really looks like it’s growing.  Hmmm.  Joan, are you sure you aren’t channeling Odysseus’ wife and unraveling what you work on each week?

Ah, Penelope, we hardly knew ye.

Leslie has finished her shawl and is taking a breather between projects.  She bought a book of cowl patterns (because she said she’d buy the book if her daughter Sienna said she liked two patterns from it.  Duh, Leslie.  Should have said five.)  Anyway, Leslie was poring over the book, and showing us the really laughable, lame ones.  There were several.  I’m sure she’ll be on track next week with a cowl project.

Hmmm. Robbie the Robot cowl, NO. Big balls cowl, NO. Hmmm.

Leslie asked about the alligator that I started knitting a looonnng time ago for my brother, so I brought it up from the ‘dungeon of unfinished projects’ – aka my guest room – and we mutually decided that I needed to be shamed into finishing it.

“Does that really work?”  Joan wanted to know.

“No,”  I said.

But if it makes Leslie feel that she is making a difference…Okey dokey with me.

She wants to name it Chomp.  Julie wants to name it Al.  I just want it to finish itself and mail itself to Florida.

You can be my bodyguard. You can call me Al.

"The Gator ate your granny. Chomp, chomp, chomp."

OK, enough of the musical themes.  Elree brought me a bag from her local yarn shop – “Blazing Needles.”  When she told me about it last year, I made it my tagline for this blog.  Here goes again.  Keep those needles blazing, Castoffs, and I’ll see you next week at Michele’s house.

The Castoffs met in Marylane’s beautiful backyard on a blustery, sometimes cloudy/sometimes sunny day.  Francy brought her beautiful daughter Betsy and Betsy’s beautiful baby daughter Grace.  We were happy to finally meet Grace who is perhaps the cutest baby in the universe (especially according to her grandmother).  We all passed her around and she was very sweet and gracious to put up with us all.

A relaxed day in the yard.

Happy and busy Grace.

I’m not sure how much knitting actually got accomplished.  Marylane served us root beer floats and then wine to those who wanted it, so we were happy just to be catered to.  Thanks, Marylane!

Grace was the big draw.  I don’t know what it is about babies that make grown women go all gooey, but we were a big mess of goo and Grace was the goo-meister.

Mary and Grace had to have sustenance before continuing.

Sue joined us, and as I’ve discovered after living in a small town for twenty years, almost everyone knew Sue from some connection.  It was fun to see her and to see the beautiful scarf that she is knitting.

Beautiful scarf that Sue is knitting.

Lisa and her sister Lynn (from Alaska) walked up from a block over and joined us.  Lisa told us that she was looking forward to being a granny in January and she practiced a little with baby Grace.

Lisa getting in some baby time while Grace poses from Francy's lap.

Marylane modeled her wrap and we loved the colors in the sunlight.  Hey, Castoffs!  Ya did good!

Beautiful!

Michele brought her birthday present from Joel and we all drooled with envy over the bamboo needles set.  What a great gift!  I want one!

Michele's new set of needles.

Several of the Castoffs have these sets – some difference in all – but I hear nothing but raves about the convenience and ease of use.

Joan had to buy more yarn for her Bobcats scarf.  Keep knitting (not purling), Joan!

Looks pretty in the sunshine!

Francy brought a finished needlepoint canvas that a friend didn’t want, but it found a home at Marylane’s.  She’s going to use it as a seat cover on a chair that is in need.  It’s so pretty.

Needlepointing. Another craft heard from...

We all had a lot of fun even if we didn’t get a lot of knitting done.  But, that’s what summertime is for, just enjoying being outside with your friends. Here are some more photos of Castoffs enjoying the sunshine, and enjoying Grace, of course.

Deb and Julie loving Grace.

Michele chatting with Betsy.

Just having fun.

On Monday we all went to Francy’s house for lunch and a jewelry show by Betsy.  Oh, what beautiful things she made for us to buy!  And we did buy, and order more in some cases.  I didn’t get any shots of the jewelry because I was too busy snapping up pieces that I wanted.  I did get a photo of Leslie’s finished shawl.  It turned out beautifully.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

But, wait!  I’m a liar.  I did get a photo of Leslie the hand model with one of Betsy’s bracelets.

Ooh, copper bracelet.

We thank Francy and Betsy for the great jewelry show and for lunch.  It was so much fun!  I’m putting a link on our blog for Betsy’s jewelry designs on Etsy.

Next week, we’ll meet at Michele’s house.  I am leaving for Canada, but hope to be back in time for the Castoffs meeting.  Until next week, keep those needles blazing and enjoy the summer days!

We met at Carol’s house on a hot, muggy day that promised thunderstorms later that evening and, boy, did it deliver.  We had a huge windstorm/thunderstorm that blew a lot of leaves and branches down around town.  But earlier in the day, we had a quiet time at Carol’s.

The big news was that we were all together in one room – quite a rarity for us – and we were finally able to make the presentation to Marylane of our gift of a wrap that we have been working on in honor of her son, Walker.  It was a touching and emotional time for everyone and we send all our love to Marylane in hopes that she will feel that love whenever she wraps up in her shawl.

Finally we get to give it to her!

Leslie found the perfect box to wrap it in and Marylane loves boxes so I’m sure she’ll use this one for something!

The perfect box to express our love.

Here is Marylane draping her new wrap around her shoulders.

We were all getting a little weepy by now.

It really turned out beautifully.

Each of us knit a square and Michele and Leslie worked on joining and knitting a border.  It was blocked out perfectly.

Joan and Marylane holding it out for our enjoyment!

After the crying and hugging was over, we got on to knitting.  Carol served us lovely snacks and lemonade – yum.  Carol is researching her next project, so she was online looking for recommendations about the sweater that she wants to knit.

Linda and Carol - searching online.

Linda is still finishing up the baby sweater for her great-niece and Carol has a pattern that looks fabulous and kind of difficult.  Can’t wait to see what she does.

Joan’s scarf is getting longer and longer.  I guess she’ll stop when she runs out of yarn…unless she buys more.  This scarf could stretch from here to Arizona!

LONG, LONG, LONG!

Leslie was working on the traveling mittens for Marylane’s husband, Dick.  They will be made out of the leftover yarns from Marylane’s wrap.  We’re passing them around so that everyone can knit a few rows before they’re felted.

Dick's mitten.

Leslie also shared her new pajama purchase with us.  Seems like it’s been a LONG time since she bought new PJs and she found a wonderful fabric that wicks away the, ahem, moisture that we mature women experience on occasion with the onset of menopause.  The fabric is modal and is made from beechwood.  It’s similar to Michele’s yarn that she’s using to knit her daughter’s sweater.

The MOST wonderful fabric...ever!

Speaking of Michele, she is speeding along on the sweater for Erica.  She’s about finished with the back and is starting another section.

This must be the front

Carol brought a little kitty home with her from Alaska.  She took pity on the kitty that couldn’t go outside without the threat of freezing his ears off.  Poor kitty – with no name – who is delighted to be in Montana.  We really should help her come up with a name for the kitty, shouldn’t we?  It’s a very sweet kitty.  How about Lollipop?

Cat with no name

I started my blue vest and have stockinette stitch on the back.  I can’t wait to get the back finished and move on to the lace and cables on the front.

Stockinette's a little boring.

Julie’s still working on a sweater for Brian (I think – sorry if I’m wrong, Jules, it wouldn’t be the first time) and Marylane is on the second felted slipper.  It’s so much fun to just sit and knit with friends.

Looks like a sweater...

I bet she'll have these felted soon

Francy wins the prize for farsightedness.  She’s working on CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS!!!  For heaven’s sake, Francy, it’s JULY.  Anyway, I get it.  She wants to get her presents finished.  Maybe I should’ve started in April.

Hey, Merry Christmas...in July.

I’m going to leave you with a progression of photos that show the evolution of Marylane’s wrap.  By the way, we’ll be meeting at Marylane’s house this week.  See you there!  Keep those needles blazing!

And in the beginning, there was Leslie and her great idea.

We all got together to select some colors and yarn and started experimenting with gauge.

Thatsa whole lotta balls

Gradually started coming together

Could this be the final configuration?

Putting it all together

Draping beautifully!

Carol trying it on for size.

Exceeding our expectations!

Home at last.

The Castoffs went on our first ever Road trip!  Yay!  We met and drove up to East Glacier, MT on a beautiful, cloudless, sunny day.  The weather couldn’t have been more perfect and we enjoyed this first blush of summer.  We drove in two cars – Marsha and Michele drove – and had a good drive up until we got to about 10 miles from East Glacier when we hit ROAD WORK, or as some put it, Montana’s other season.  Fall, Winter, Spring and Roadwork.  After at least 30 minutes in a very long line, we were allowed to go the rest of the way and went directly to the beautiful, historic Glacier Park Lodge, found a shady spot on the big lawn, threw out our chairs, food, cooler, bags of yarn and started to knit.

HEAVEN.

We had so much fun.  Julie brought her new camp chair that looked so much like a howdah that all she needed was an elephant.

Princess Ridesanelephantforfun

Here is Princess Ridesanelephantforfun holding court over all us knitting peons.  But it was okay, because she needed help setting up the howdah .  Howdat, Jules?

Oh, peasant, peel me a grape...

We all brought our ongoing projects and had no trouble at all relaxing into our knitting.

Ah, shade. Ah, bliss.

Can't get better than this.

Leslie was working on Dick’s felted mittens that we’re making for him out of the leftover yarn from Marylane’s wrap.   We will be passing them around at our meetings and putting in our two cents worth by knitting several rows of love from all of us.  Leslie modeled the left one…no, the right one…no, the left one.  Oh, at this point it doesn’t matter much.  No thumbs yet!

Hot hands.

Michele is working on Erica’s sweater – so pretty.  She and Leslie looked pretty darn comfy in the grass.  With needles.

It's amazing how much stuff we brought!

Carol finished her dad’s slippers and attached the pom-poms that she made from the two knitted baby blankets for Mabel and Waylon (her grandbabies).  Great-grandpa will be so proud of these slippers!

Pom-poms of love.

Our Carol!

I wanted to get a shot of the lodge and happened to get one of Linda – she was tickled about something – just happy to be there, I guess.

Funny!

Finishing up her great-niece's sweater.

Linda was getting to the end of her great-niece’s sparkly sweater.  It’s going to be so cute!

I started a blue lace vest to wear over summer shirts.  So far I’m working on the ribbed waist in the back.  It’s Tonic yarn – acrylic and wool – and very nice to work with.

I think that is the shortest chair in the universe.

My thanks to Mary for sharing some of the photos that she took.  It was great to see things from a different perspective.  And I returned the favor and got a shot of Mary knitting a SOCK!  Not very big yet, but we have high hopes, right Mary?

Teeny, tiny little sock

Mary and Marylane were pretty serious about their knitting at first.  We all started thinking about the meal we were going to eat later at Serrano’s.  And, of course, the margaritas that we were going to drink because it was Tequila Tuesday, after all.

Dreams of margaritas?

Deb has started a top-down Henley for her husband, Glenn in a maroon Paton’s yarn.  Several of us have used this yarn and this pattern (or a similar one by Pure & Simple) and we love it.

Deb in the sunshine.

As it got closer to 4:00, Leslie gave us the high sign to adjourn to the front porch of Serrano’s to wait for the opening.  We wanted to get a good table, because this restaurant gets very crowded!  The food is wonderful and let’s not forget the margaritas!  Yummy!  Serrano’s is a great place to eat after a hike and we all highly recommend it if you’re in East Glacier.

Leslie was cracking the whip and giving us the finger (well, not that finger).

Anyway, Leslie herded us all over to the seating on the front porch of Serrano’s where we continued knitting for about an hour while we waited.  We looked pretty cute all in a row.

Pretty knitters all in a row.

We got some funny looks, but we are professional ‘Knit in Public’ knitters.  We laugh at ridicule.  HA!  We knit fearlessly because we have sharp, pointy sticks and we know how to use them!

Wow, there were a lot of us, eh?

We finally got in and ordered our margaritas.  Carol knows the owners very well, and the bartender brought her a special mango margarita that Carol passed around to give us a taste.  It was good – and had a LOT of tequila.  Our Carol also ordered a regular margarita and, if I’m not mistaken, nodded off on the way home.  Perhaps that’s just a rumor…

It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it...

Marylane enjoyed her margarita, as did we all.  The Cadillac Margarita was superb and a lot cheaper than ones that we had last week at Tequila Tuesday.

Hey, where's my margarita?

Of course it was a longer way to go, but well worth the effort.  And, you can’t beat the scenery from the front porch.

Hey, mountains!

We all ordered either the Veggie Dish or the Enchilada Especial and everyone raved over their meals.  I got a quick photo before they were devoured.

Makes me hungry all over again.

After we ate and talked and laughed and drank our fill, we started on the long drive home, hoping that all the roadwork would be finished.  Ha!  As if the roadwork is ever finished while we have warm weather.    We didn’t have to wait nearly as long as the trip over, but here is the view of Michele’s car waiting, waiting, waiting at a roadwork stoppage.

Hello, up there!

We had so much fun, we decided to do another road trip.  The choices were bandied about: ocean trip, lake trip, tour of yarn shops trip.  We’ll have to wait and see what we come up with for the next one, but in the meantime we can hold wonderful memories of our knitting road trip to East Glacier.   Great fun!

The Castoffs met at Mary’s house down on Flathead Lake for a lunch get-together. I wasn’t able to attend because my sweet whippet Lucy died and we were at the vet’s office. I want to thank all my knitter friends for the lovely card of condolence. They all knew Lucy and knew how much she meant to me and to my family.

We'll miss you, Lucy

Mary served an undoubtedly delicious lunch – wish I could have been there to taste it, but Michele looked like she was enjoying it!

Yum!

Julie looked to be in good form – working on her purple shawl.  Everyone got a kick out of her t-shirt.  Those who have sisters got a bigger kick than those who don’t.  We are, after all, sisters under the skin.

"And then I said to my sista..."

Just ask, Jules. I'm sure your sister would tell you.

Julie and Deb got amused over something – something sisterly or knitterly, no doubt.

Heeheehee!

Leslie was on the edge of her seat over some tidbit.  I sure wish I knew what it was!

what? What? WHAT?

Perhaps she was just in awe of Marylane’s truly huge slippers.  These are almost done and ready to be felted, right Marylane?

Big feets

Michele is coming right along with her daughter’s sweater.  Such an beautiful stitch – such a beautiful color!

This is going to be a gorgeous sweater!

Deb, Joan and Linda were working on their works-in-progress that are shaping up nicely.

Top-down Henley for Glenn

Bobcats scarf getting longer.

Sparkly sweater for great-niece.

I missed you all so much!  Just sitting around laughing, sharing knitting patterns and looking at all you do.  I can’t wait for our first ever Castoffs Roadtrip next week to East Glacier!  Woohoo!  It’s gonna be fun, fun, fun!

Here we all are - except for me. Boo-hoo. And Mary who took great photos!

Many thanks to Mary for taking photos to share.  I think they were excellent!  And they made me feel like I was there with you all.  See you next time, Castoffs!