Spring must be here – Michele’s yard is ice-free! We didn’t have any problem walking to her door without clinging to the other parked cars. It was never really that bad, but dry land is much better.

Carol is back from her month in Arizona. We were all glad to see her and to see her latest wavy squishy blanket. This pattern is harder than the other one she made – the one with straight stripes. No yarn overs on that one. This blanket is stunning, however, and I love the waves and the contrasting black stripe.

Squishy, wavy blanket.

Michele had finished her scarf that we saw two weeks ago and has started another one that is knit on the bias. Very interesting pattern. I think it’s for Erica. The other one turned out beautifully – in an assymetrical line.

An assymetrical scarf could be calling my name.

Bias scarf.

Francy is knitting monster pants! Grrrrr! These cute pants have a monster’s gaping mouth and eyes on the butt area. Very funny looking, but adorable.

Here’s the pattern.

The eyes and teeth are made with duplicate stitches, so that’s the last part of the process.

This is as far as Francy has gotten.

I am about halfway through a half-linen stitch cowl. I needed a break from the neverending poncho. This pattern isn’t difficult, but interesting enough to make me forget (for a while) the endless poncho of knit, knit, knit.

Alpaca cowl.

Leslie finished a darling sweater for her grandson, Jett. He’ll be born in May and will need to grow into this. She also knit a matching hat. Seems like she used sock yarn on this sweater.

A sweater for Jett.

Marylane needed to see Michele’s vest to compare to the one she’s knitting. This is the second go-round for this vest, so she wants to be SURE she gets it right this time.

Michele’s blue vest next to Marylane’s gray yarn.

That was it for our meeting, Castoffs. Next time we’ll be at Carol’s house. Guess she got back in the nick of time, didn’t she? In the meantime, enjoy our spring weather and keep those needles blazing!

We met on a sunny, warm day. Woohoo! Spring might actually be here! Several of our members were out of town or otherwise engaged. Our condolences go to Julie on the death of her mom. She was a lovely lady and we always enjoyed seeing what Jules was knitting for her over the years. Condolences also for Julie’s mother-in-law who passed away just as Julie was heading to her own mom’s funeral. We are all so sorry for your loss, Julie and Bryan.

Marylane felted her Christmas stocking and although SHE thinks it’s too big, the rest of us didn’t. We would love to have that stocking full of – whatever – on Christmas morning.

A really big stocking!

Leslie suggested that Marylane turn over the top to make a cuff and add some jinglebells. Good idea!

Leslie, pointing out potential embellishments.

Marylane had knit a vest from a pattern that she got from Michele, but sadly, it turned out  – well, awful, according to Marylane. She got rid of it – don’t ask where. But, hope springs eternal and Marylane has started a new vest with different yarn. We all hope this time everything goes better.

Big yarn, same pattern.

I am – groan – still knitting the never-ending poncho and I didn’t want to put another photo of it on the blog. But, here is the pattern to remind you, and myself, just what it may someday look like. The crocodile pouch is a vintage handbag that I found at the Conrad Mansion gift shop. I’m using it for my knitting paraphanalia.

Pattern, yarn and very cool bag.

Leslie finished her slippers – she isn’t sure what she’ll do with them. A lot of us have a shopping bag full of prospective gifts that we periodically add to  when we finish a project. I love to knit but I never need nearly all that I finish, so I have a stash of gifties for Christmas or birthdays or fundraisers. Leslie tried these slippers on and decided that the garter stitch ridges were not very comfortable to walk on. Maybe a leather sole is in order?

Slippers.

Michele sat in the sunshine and worked on an assymetrical scarf. The sun was so bright that is was hard to get a good image of its color. Next time we meet, I’ll have another chance. It’s at my house and the sun will be behind the trees at the time of  our meeting.

Now what color is that?

Ah, goldish-green. Or greenish- gold.

That’s all for this week, Castoffs. See you next time at my house but in the meantime, keep those needles blazing and have a wonderful, wet week.

The last time we met at Leslie’s house, we were in the middle of a blizzard that dumped two feet of snow on Kalispell. This time, the snow was falling again, but fortunately, we only received an inch or two. It was pretty, though.

The view onto Leslie’s deck.

Inside, we were cozy. Marylane finished knitting the Christmas STOCKING — not hat — that she will felt and give to her daughter. Pre-felting, this was a pretty hefty stocking. So hefty, in fact, that Marylane could’ve been a Christmas morning surprise. After felting, it’ll be smaller (I hope) but still large enough for a lot of treats – and  maybe a small dog.

That’s one ginormous stocking.

Michele had sent her completed jumper to show us. She is planning to offer it to A) Her daughter, Erica or B) Deb. One way or the other, she is giving it away. Boohoo! I’m glad she let us see the completed project, though. Wonderful, Michele!

Love the cables!

Closeup of the bodice.

Speaking of Deb, she joined us and is still knitting Glen’s top-down sweater. Because of their move, she told us that she hadn’t knit a stitch since last week. That’s okay, Deb. Neither did some of us.

She’s so adorable.

I’m still working on the same old poncho – seems like forever – but I wore a scarf that I made a couple of years ago, so Leslie took a photo of it to put in the blog. I love this pattern and am thinking about making another one in lighter shades.

Very artsy, Leslie.

Leslie is knitting the other slipper in a pair that I showed you last week. The pattern is from an Interweave Knits Accessories magazine. Love that Interweave Knits.

Holiday Gifts by Interweave Knits.

Linda started all over on a scarf that uses metallic yarn. She got the repeat wrong somehow on the first go-round, so she ripped it out. This time, it seems to be right.

Love this sparkly yarn.

Next week, the forecast is for 60 degrees! Will we be wearing our shorts! Maybe not, but we’ll feel like doing it. In the meantime, Castoffs, keep those needles blazing and I’ll see you at Marylane’s house.