I still can’t believe it’s 2012! We met at Michele’s house and commented that the days already seem a little longer. That and our lack of snow this winter is giving us a premature hope for spring. Michele kept her Christmas tree up and we enjoyed sharing her stories of ornament chains from her family’s past Christmases.
Michele baked us TWO pumpkin pies – one with coconut in the crust and on top – she says that it’s an old Pennsylvania Dutch recipe. All I know is that it was delicious. We all attacked the pies and, belatedly, I tried to get a photo of the table. Too late!
We devoured the pies!
Mary had some exciting news! Her daughter, Larissa, is expecting a baby in July! Her daughter-in-law, Rebecca, is expecting in February, so Mary is in a flurry of knitting baby stuff. Seems like she’s been hinting for a long time…looks like she doesn’t need to do THAT anymore. Congratulations, Mary! She finished the Newsboy cap for Larissa and sent me a darling photo of it on Larissa’s head. Well, I think she still had something to finish, but she had it with her at the meeting and will take it to Larissa in February when they go to Arizona for a month of warmth. We’re a little jealous of that.
The mother of Mary's second future grandchild.
The almost finished newsboy cap for Larissa.
Leslie was wearing a great circular scarf knit from fun, textured yarn. She explained the pattern to us, but I didn’t catch it all. A good result, though.
Leslie expounding on the patten for her scarf.
Leslie brought along her new project – a hat. I took a photo of the pattern to eliminate any future confusion on my part – believe me, there’s always confusion on my part!
Leslie's new project - another great asymmetrical style.
Carol is back from her Christmas trip to California and told us that her gifts (cowl and mitts) to her sisters were a big hit. She did a little shopping in Marin and brought back a fabulous tote and some tres expensive yarn. We can’t wait to see what project she comes up with.
Tote and yarn!
Linda’s little baby hat is adorable! She is knitting with some mult-colored sock yarn that makes great pattens as she knits. It looks planned – the secret is little dashes of color on the yarn. Makes me want to knit another pair of socks! Maybe.
Loved the pattern that this yarn makes!
Francy is almost finished with the pretty red sweater for her granddaughter, Grace. She is edging it with white and then, I think, it will be ready to mail.
Grace's sweater.
Michele is knitting the most beautiful hooded vest knit in big, chunky yarn with big, chunky cables. I got a photo of the pattern and a closeup of the vest itself. Great pattern!
Hope you can see this pattern!
Great big cables.
Thanks to Michele for helping me look for a cardigan pattern that I was SURE was in one of her Interweave Knits magazines. Turns out that I had the name of the sweater pattern wrong AND it wasn’t in that magazine. Duh. Guess I’ll buy the pattern online.
I finished my socks – knit with worsted weight yarn and size 6 needles. They’re almost too bulky for shoes, but will make great house slipper/socks. With the leftover yarn, I knit a hat out of a pattern that I really love.
Sorry about the hairy legs, Marylane.
Didn't want to stop eating that pie!
Julie and Marylane were sitting together on the couch – sometimes our meetings are more like comedy shows – we have a lot of fun. Julie is knitting a watch cap for her brother-in-law and Marylane kindly modeled it. Budding hand model, Marylane? Gonna give Leslie a run for her money?
Watch cap.
Marylane is trying to decide on a new project. She wants to use some bulky yarn that her son, Walker, gave her several years ago. Of course, we all had suggestions. The Castoffs are full of…suggestions. Hat, socks, mittens? What’ll it be, ML?
Bulky yarn will take a special pattern.
Marylane was saying that she doesn’t take photogenic photos. Au contraire, Marylane. I think this one of you and Julie is very good. Not sure whose giant hand that is, though…
Two cuties and one giant hand.
Next time we’ll meet at Leslie’s house. January will be half over by then. Half over!!! And no snow!!! Hmmm. Wonder what that means for the fire season? Should we start worrying yet? Nope. Let’s just enjoy the weather and keep those needles blazing, Castoffs!
