The Castoffs met at Carol’s house on a cold, cloudy afternoon. I was late because I dropped in on a baby shower at the other end of town. I had knitted some booties for the honoree and this was a first for me…the booties, I mean. They were cute and a challenge to make with double-pointed needles. Completing them made me more confident about knitting socks, a prospect that looms largely on my horizon. Not sure why, just one more thing that I haven’t done and that I’d like to conquer.
Baby booties!
When I got to Carol’s house, there were six Castoffs busily knitting, perhaps with the realization that Christmas is only three weeks away. Gulp, three weeks? Can that be right? Yup. Better get that tree up.
Julie was knitting her mother’s shawl with a cat on her lap. She, and the cat, looked so content. Ahh. Makes me wish I wasn’t allergic. I wanted to take that little kitty home with me.
"Knitting woman with cat"
Francy was working on her granddaughter’s sweater and stretched it out to show me. Julie was in the way, but she peeked over anyway. I don’t think the cat was amused.
Glad the sleeves weren't any longer...
Mary was the third little Castoff on the couch and she is at the bill of the newsboy cap. Linda, the newsboy expert, helped her with the tricky part of attaching the bill.
Oh, my. Doesn't she look angelic?
When Linda is working on a small project, she brings it in her little satin knitting bag. I think she looks very Jane Austen with her pretty little bag and her double pointed needles. She’s knitting beaded fingerless mitts. I wonder if she has a big satin bag for big projects?
Jane would approve of that bag, Linda.
Carol has finished the cowl for her sister’s Christmas gift and is almost ready to attach the buttons. She showed them to us and will sew on three of the four that are in the photo. I love this cowl. Hmmm, one more project to put on the list? Maybe. That list is getting longer than Santa’s.
Beautiful pastel cowl.
Michele is almost finished with her daughter’s scarf and it is gorgeous. Just after I snapped the photo of the scarf, I noticed that she was wearing her directional triangle scarf that she was working on a few weeks ago. I love this Annie Hall look!
Pretty scarf for Erica.
Great scarf...uh, tie...uh, scarf, Michele!
I brought my half-finished sweater vest – well, it’s about 75% finished really. The pattern is very challenging and I’ll be glad to start on something that doesn’t require my undivided attention at Castoffs meetings. It’s hard to knit and talk at the same time!
The end is in sight!
Deb came in late with good news about her husband. His heart appears to be fine, but he’ll have one more test next week. We’re thinking about you, Glen! Deb is still working on his sweater and Michele helped her some with picking up stitches. It’s looking good.
Deb's top-down sweater for her husband.
We missed Marylane and Leslie this week and look forward to seeing them next week.
I’ll leave you this week with a candid shot of us all working and talking and eating and knitting. Next week, we have our Christmas party potluck and white elephant exchange at Marylane’s house. I’m really looking forward to it! Good friends, good food, good fun. Until then, keep those needles blazing and maybe they’ll keep you warm!
And to all, a good night!
