The Castoffs met at Michele’s house on a cloudy, drizzly day, but the CAKE that Michele served us made coming out in the weather all worth while. Poppy seed cake with lemon cream cheese icing with more poppy seeds in it than I’ve ever tasted. After the first bite, almost everyone said, “Don’t take a drug test tomorrow!” As if the Castoffs, bastions of respectability, would ever worry about a drug test. Ha. We laugh in the face of authority.
Francy knitted a darling pumpkin hat for her little grandbaby that’s due in the fall. So cute…it’s hard to find something on which to display an infant sized hat, but we did manage.
Little punkin head
Our other grandma-to-be, Carol, was working away on a blanket for her granddaughter. We all really liked the pattern.
Baby basketweave
Carol showed us the other blanket that she’s making for her grandson. It’s coming right along. Confusing for her to know which one to work on first!
Busy granny
Along the same pattern lines, Marylane is creating a dishcloth using the ballband pattern, similar to Carol’s blue baby blanket.
For a teensy weensy clothespin baby
I think we’ve all used this pattern at one time or another because it’s fun to knit and it’s practical as well as pretty. Makes a thicker washcloth AND baby blanket.
Michele’s kids at school have finished knitting the blocks for their afghan to be donated to a senior at the nursing home, and it’s time to connect the dots (so to speak). Michele laid out the blocks and they made a pretty pattern. Francy helped her begin to sew them to gether. This is going to make a very personal gift for someone. Good job, kids! And good for you, Michele, for teaching your kids a skill as well as a project to help someone else.
The blocks laid out on Michele's oriental rug
Closeup of the afghan blocks...psychedelic!
Francy and Michele putting the blocks together
Mary was still working on her polar bear scarf, but she showed us the yarn for her next project and seemed pretty excited about it. Knit faster, Mary!
Project in the chute
I think it’s a dishcloth…to be. We all have projects in the ‘chute’ that we start dreaming about before we know when we’ll be able to start them. I have patterns and yarn for at least three other projects, even though I’m still working on two projects now. One is my boucle sweater and the other is my ‘magic loop’ socks.
No magic for me in the 'magic loop'
I did successfully turn the heel
I’m not overly crazy about this method, but I might like it better on the next sock. I’ll push on, dreaming of my next projects.
Julie, you scamp! You got away before I photographed you! And you didn’t even bring your knitting today. For shame. Next week we’ll be meeting at Marsha’s house. I was hoping that we could use the deck, but I’m a real dreamer, huh? The forecast calls for rain and clouds…again. Ahh, springtime in Montana. At least it’s not snow! Keep those needles moving, Castoffs, and I’ll see you on Thursday.
