We met on a cold, cloudy afternoon. This winter is dragging on, but we are all glad to see February! Deb’s Yorkie, Izzy, met us all at the door, sniffing and wiggling. She is a little dynamo zipping all over us and the furniture.
Izzy the greeter
Carol was so excited to show us her new pattern! And we were excited to think about the ambitious projects that some of our members are beginning. I took a photo of Carol’s project and of the yarn that she’s planning to use. Looks fabulous!
A great jacket pattern
Oh, Grandma, what big balls of yarn you have
This happens to be the same yarn that Roxanne is using to knit her poncho that she started last week. It’s a wonderful chunky wool that will work up nicely, I think. Can’t wait to see how it goes for both Carol and Roxanne.
Fledgling poncho
Here is a perfect picture of a happy knitter. Yarn and needles – check – pattern – check – tea – check – fireplace – check – pillow to rest your weary back – check!
Ah, the happy knitter!
Deb graciously fed us chocolate chip cookies, wine, tea and crackers and dip. Have you noticed that the deeper into winter we go, the more we seem to need chocolate? Hmmm. Thanks, Deb! Oh, and Happy Birthday! I didn’t realize that we had two birthdays so close together – Marylane and Deb!
Speaking of Marylane, she brought her scarf that she’s knitting. And another happy coincidence – her yarn is the same as the yarn that Francy is knitting her slippers. Great minds think alike, eh?
Great ribbed scarf, Marylane
Francy's slipper from the same yarn as Marylane's scarf
The Castoffs are covered with slippers, by the way. Francy, Mary and I all had one giant slipper (pre-felting) at the meeting. Linda was starting her slipper today and Marylane started hers but didn’t work on it at the meeting – too hard to concentrate. We are really in slipper mode. Here is my slipper and Mary’s slipper. They look so funny and so HUGE before they are felted.
Marsha's slipper in Cascade 220 heather and solid
Mary's slipper in Cascade 220
We are all using the same pattern – Fiber Trends – and it’s a good thing because it is not an easy pattern, so we need some support and someone to kvetch with over the mistakes we are making. Between ‘make 1’s’ and ‘wrap & turns’ we have plenty of room for error. Thankfully, felting gives us a lot of wiggle room for error. The goofs can’t easily be seen after felting. Yay!
Francy wasn’t working on her slippers, she was knitting a baby jacket (the same pattern that Linda used a few weeks ago) for her granddaughter, Grace. So cute. She is putting on the edging now and has already crocheted a little flower and attached it to the shoulder. She’ll see Grace next weekend, so maybe we’ll get to see a photo of the finished product on the little angel.
Little jacket for Grace
A closeup of the crocheted flower
Deb was working diligently on her lace vest – well, she was ripping out a row, so she wasn’t quite as happy as when she goes the other direction.
She still looks happy even though she ripping out a row!
Michele was knitting her shrug. Leslie is knitting the same pattern, but she couldn’t be with us today. We missed you, Leslie! And we missed Julie, too, who is sick. Wahhh! Get better, Jules! The shrug has a very complicated pattern of cables and other stitches designed to drive a knitter mad, but Michele has a very relaxed attitude about this project. “See, I left two mistakes in the shrug. I’m trying to not be so perfect!” Oh, Michele, you are pretty darn perfect in our eyes. But thanks for leaving the boo-boos in.
Do you see the boo-boo? Nope, didn't think so.
I’ll leave you with a couple of candids of the Castoffs in their natural habitat. We were busy little bees. Next week we’ll be at Julie’s house. Until then, keep those needles blazing and stay warm!
Carol, Linda, Roxanne and Francy
Marylane, Deb and Michele
