I can’t believe how beautiful the fall colors are becoming!  The Castoffs met at Linda’s house on a crisp, pretty day during a two day break for the teacher types.  We waited for Mary to get there with the treats – ravenous us – but we loved the rice crackers and cheese, chocolate covered pretzels, Riesling and Cupcake merlot.

While we dug in to the treats, Michelle told us her harrowing tale of a car accident while she and her husband were driving to Utah last week on a camping trip.  We were so relieved to hear that she and Joel were unharmed, although their little Scamp trailer sustained some serious injury.  It’s in Idaho Falls being repaired.  Close call, Michelle!

Whew! So happy to see Michelle unharmed after her accdent.

Leslie, our lovely hand model, brought one of a pair of fingerless mittens that she made.  The pattern calls for beads to be knitted into the cuff of the mittens and she swears that it is easy.  I printed off the pattern (on Ravalry under Melody Fingerless Mittens – it’s a free pattern) and am gonna do it – after I finish at least one of the three projects that I’m working on now.  Leslie says that she knitted the  first mitt in about three hours.  Very impressive!

Melody Fingerless Mitten in sock yarn with beads.

Linda made an announcement!  She is taking back her maiden name and giving herself a middle name – Whitney – so it’s like having a new/old member in the Castoffs family.  Now we just have to remember what her name is now…In the meantime, Linda is using lovely mohair to make a hat.  Is this the newsboy pattern, Linda?  I really must start writing things down.  Didn’t have a pen…or paper on this day.  But I did have two glasses of wine!  That, I remember.

Linda Who? Oh, yeah.

Mary’s newsboy hat is coming along nicely – I noticed that she decided to take a little break from the second sock…well, this hat IS a Christmas present.  Right, Mary?  I love the pattern’s cables and the yarn is straight from the sheep (via Canada).  Looks great.

Mary's Newsboy hat.

A closeup of the cable stitch on the Newsboy hat.

Marylane wore her sweater that she knitted last year (she took it off before I snapped a photo of it) – I love it!  She is knitting HER Newsboy hat.  Boy, is this a popular pattern or what?

Yet another Newsboy hat. Can't wait to see all of them together.

Francy is still working on Grace’s Christmas sweater and it’s so cute.  I’m not sure what merited this look from Marylane, but I thought it was funny.  Well, Marylane, you need to have at least one photo to complain to me about!  The other one is great, though.

ML isn't real sure about something...

I’m about halfway through my shawl and it’s going to be so fluffy and warm!  I love it.  It’s bothering my asthma a little – must be all those Scottish fibers flying around.

I love this...wheeze...fluffy yarn!

Julie was a little late, but we were glad to see her.  Michelle had to retell part of her car accident story.  Julie is almost finished with the mauve baby blanket.  So pretty!

Julie, Julie, Julie.

When I left, Leslie was advising Linda about paint color and wall art arrangement.  Leslie is so talented with the visual arts.  She sent us all an idea about a Christmas charity project to knit involving Noro yarn and a log-cabin patterned shawl.  From the responses that I read from the Castoffs, it sounds like a GO.  More info to follow…

Next time, we meet at Deb’s.  Deb wasn’t at the meeting, but I think she had offered beforehand…I hope.  So, Deb!  Let me know if we’re all wrong.  Until then, keep those needles blazing, Castoffs, and have a beautiful fall week.

The Castoffs met at Marylane’s house and Marylane served us a lot of wonderful veggies from her garden, cheese and crackers and wine.  We all ate and drank and talked, talked talked.

Julie eating and drinking and talking - not necessarily in that order.

Carol had to leave early, but she showed us her boo-boo.  She is knitting a hat for her son Duncan, but cast on too many stitches – oh, dear.  Before she ripped it out, Marylane was kind enough to volunteer as a model.  Yep, the hat really should have been a little smaller…

I know Marylane is in there somewhere...

Speaking of Marylane, she had her beautiful shawl.  We all enjoyed making this shawl for her and pitched in to make mittens for Richard, Marylane’s husband, out of the leftover yarn from the shawl.  Leslie and Marylane felted Richard’s mittens while he was at home.  I got a photo of ‘before and after.’  Here is ‘before’:

My...what big mittens you have, Richard. You could store your lunch in those things.

And ‘after’ along with Marylane and her shawl:

Beautiful colors. Warm thoughts.

We all wish you both comfort and joy whenever you wear the mittens and shawl that were knitted with such a lot of love from your friends.

Francy is setting a good example by knitting Christmas gifts already.  Geez, I haven’t even thought about Halloween, much less Christmas, Francy!  But your stocking look great and the sweater that you’re knitting for little Grace is adorable.

A Christmas present from Grandma.

Stockings for Josh and Heidi.

Mary has finished one of her socks.  All she has to do is to graft the toe and Voila! one more to go.  We all bemoaned the fact that once you finish a sock, you have to turn right around and do another one just like it.  Doggone feet anyway.  I think I have a sock at home that has been waiting for its mate for over a year.  Hmmm.  Perhaps I’ll use it as a phone holder.

One down, one to go. A great sock, Mary!

I’m making good progress on my shawl.  I bought the yarn in Scotland and it looks like I’ll have enough to make a good, long wrap.  I love this yarn.

Looks like the hills of Scotland, doesn't it?

Deb is still working on her sweater for Glen and she wore the lovely vest that she knitted herself.  You have become a good knitter, Deb.  We’re happy to know ya.

And it looks like she's a happy knitter, too!

Linda has just about finished her newsboy hat for her daughter and is trying to decide whether or not she wants to add a buttoned band to the front.  I’m sure she’ll make a good decision.  Love the pattern and so does Marylane because she’s making one too.  And so is Mary!  All for their daughters.  Lucky girls.

Get your news here!

Julie is still working on the mauve basketweave baby blanket that is so soft.  Pretty!

Pretty project by a pretty knitter. Ahhh!

Leslie whipped up a wonderful cowl that she modeled for us.  It’s made from chunky wool using several different stitches and can be worn several ways.  Leslie showed us a couple.  She is all about versatility.

Ooh - not only a hand model...

...but a neck model too!

I think I need one of those, Leslie.  Not sure I’d model mine with such elan, though…

We were happy to see our crochet friend, Kerrie – sorry I didn’t get a photo of you, Kerrie.  Maybe next time.

And next time we’ll meet at Linda’s house, so until then keep those needles blazing and enjoy the fall colors.

The Castoffs met on a crisp fall day at Marsha’s house.  Marylane brought two big boxes of veggies and fruit from her garden.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, plums – yummy.  We were an exuberant group, talking and catching up from our last meeting.  Eli whipped up a baked dip with spinach and artichoke hearts, mozzarella and Parmesan.  It was delicious.  I sliced some peppers, cucumbers, and carrots to dip.  It was quite a spread.

Wrong spread.

I said “What a spread” and two unidentified Castoffs immediately mooned me – my bad for mentioning it.  At least they didn’t take down their pants.

What a spread!

We all settled in with our knitting and started sharing our projects. With winter  – and Christmas – coming on, we all have gifty projects in mind.

Ah, Castoffs in their natural habitat - surrounded by friends and food.

Seems like there are a lot of hats being knitted.  Linda is still working on her newsboy hat and Marylane realized that she was knitting the same pattern for her daughter, Kendra.  Where Linda is nearing the finish, Marylane is just beginning.

Newsboy hat - with a hard bill.

Marylane - just starting her newsboy hat.

Carol is making a hat as well – it’s a 4×4 ribbed hat that I’ve made.  An easy pattern with a turned up roll at the bottom.  She’s using a very chunky yarn and it looks great.

Hat, hat - everyone has to make a hat.

And then there’s Mary.  Not a hat but a sock.  Her sock is coming right along despite the expression on her face.  We are beginning to make out a turned heel – you go, Mary!

Go on, I dare you to knock this...sock...off my shoulder!

Michele is working on her blue sweater – I love this pattern.  It’s a cropped swing jacket – or at least that’s my interpretation.  Can’t wait to see it completed.

Pretty blue sweater.

Francy brought her sister-in-law, Jane to visit our rowdy group.  We always like to have visitors and relatives come along.  Sometimes it’s nice to show off our projects to someone who isn’t used to us.   Francy is working on her green/yellow shawl and Leslie was just finishing up her maroonish second shawl.  Because they used the same pattern, we were curious to compare them.

Welcome, Jane!

Leslie's finished shawl - love the assymetrical shape!

Francy's shawl on top of Leslie's.

Francy has made a few alterations to the pattern, so her shawl is probably going to be larger than Leslie’s, but with the same general shape.

Leslie demonstrated various different ways to wear the shawl – this is only one of them.  She wore it tied in front, tied on her shoulder, worn as a scarf, turned around and tied behind.  Whew.  It’s a very versatile shawl.  Leslie loves it and so do we.

"And you can turn it around and wear it like this..."

Julie, Julie, Julie was a little late, but we were glad to see her.  The baby blanket she is knitting is so soft and the color – a mauve – is beautiful.  Julie must work with a lot of younger women – she seems to make a lot of baby blankets or baby gifts.  Those are some very lucky babies and mommies.

Baby gifts R Jules.

We had a wonderful time this week.  Lots of talk, laughter, eating and drinking.  And thanks to Marylane, we all left with loads of fresh veggies – even those who have gardens at home.  Next week we’ll meet at Marylane’s – no doubt we’ll eat more fresh veggies – so have a good week and keep those needles blazing, Castoffs!

The Castoffs met at Julie’s house on a warm, sunny end of summer day.  I was a little late, having gone with a friend to look at a house that she was interested in buying (she later had her offer accepted – yay!).  When I got to Julie’s house, things were hopping.  I don’t think I’ve felt the energy or heard the level of noise with our group in a long time!  Wow.  Is it the beginning of a new school year?  Is it the enthusiasm of new projects?  Is it the cheese and crackers that Julie spread out for us?  Or is it the Cupcake Merlot?  Well, a combination of all is probably the correct answer, but in my case, the merlot comes in first.

A whole lot of talkin' and eatin' goin' on.

Mary was happy to show me her sock.  She admitted that she hadn’t had time to work on it a lot – you know how busy retirement is – but it’s coming right along and I am impressed.  Well done, Mary!

Starting to look very soxy!

Francy is allowing her shawl to be what it wants to be – yarnwise.  She decided not to rip it out and I think it will turn out great.  Still, the skein of yarn doesn’t really resemble the worked part of the shawl.  That’s the thing about variegated yarns – you don’t really see the big picture until you are well into the project.

Green? or yellow?

I was home and glad to be working on a shawl using some of the yarn that I bought in Scotland a couple of weeks ago.  It’s mohair and haloish and very pretty.  And easy to work with unless you need to rip out some stitches.  In that case, it’s very clingy to itself.

Julie looking on as I show off my shawl.

Julie wanted a closer look, so I obliged her and we played at peekaboo.

Not large enough to snuggle up yet.

Julie was really more interested in her own project which is a baby blanket in a beautiful Berroco yarn.  I’m beginning to appreciate Berroco more and more.  They have a wide variety of yarns in different weights and types from sparkly sock yarn to chunky wools.

Love the basketweave pattern of Julie's bb blanket.

What Julie seemed MORE interested in was the Cupcake merlot and her little wine mug that she got at Camas Creek Yarn.

"Likes to knit while slightly lit"

Michele preferred to take her wine naturally rather than pre-fermented.

It was a very good year - 2011!

Linda was knitting a Newsboy cap for her daughter Laura – cute pattern.  She just got back from Chicago for a visit to Laura and looked tanned and happy.

Linda and the Newsboy cap and Michele and her sweater.

Linda's pattern and yarn.

Carol had just finished her sister’s fingerless mitts and is considering her next project.  What will it be?  What will it be?  Deb is knitting on her husband’s top-down sweater.  Hope the school year is going well.  It’s been a wild year in the district so far.

Carol and Deb thinking knitting.

Next week we’ll meet at my house.  I would love to see this sunshine continue into October.  If not, I know we’ll have a lot of fun anyway.  Until then, keep those needles blazing and have a great week!