Lace Tea Towel

Before . . .

Blocking once again makes a huge impression on me! This is the linen tea towel that I've been working on for a few months. It is not perfect, but I do like the way the linen worked up. It softened and, of course, looked totally transformed after the blocking.

After . . .

                                                                        
I have duplicate stitched a monogram on the lower panel , but not  happy with the results so far. Will post picture once that issue is resolved. Details on yarn, etc. can be found at my ravelry project page.


WATER FESTIVAL

Once again the festivities of the Beaufort Water Festival arrived. Philip, Jr. brought several friends to share the weekend and we had fun spending some time with them at the river.


                                                                                 

Crabs on the dock . . .

Still smilin' . . . after a long day on the river

                                                                                          

                                                   Time to clean it up . . .

We're already lookin' forward to next year's gathering!!                                

It's a Wrap

One skein of Noro Sock Yarn has evolved into this lovely lacy wrap.

The pattern is One Skein - a Stole by Katja Jordan. I used colorway S184 which is bright pinks, oranges, and peacock blue.

I am always amazed at how fibers transition with blocking. This is the stole drying on the blocking board.  My version is this interlocking foam puzzle with blocking wires and many T-pins to hold it in place on the foam.

It dried really fast, so I had to give it several sprays with the water bottle.

It is difficult to see the texture change as much as you can feel it. It is less "puffy" with more discrete stitches and the lace "holes" are more open and obvious. It is also longer after blocking . . . my stole is at least 10 inches longer after blocking today. Total about 64 inches long.

The cast on in the pattern calls for 50 stitches. I cast on 75 to make more like a wrap than a scarf.

So what's next you ask???

Check out this beautiful softness from Tess' Designer Yarns. I purchased these 3 skeins of this hand-dyed Angora and Merino at Stitches South in 2009. It seemed I must use it before starting on stuff I got in 2010.

This is the humble beginnings of a poncho-wrap for Baby Annette - who will be a toddler by winter!

It is from a pattern from the Tess website. This is a beautiful website just to explore. The  rainbow of colors is lovely to behold.  This yarn is so soft . . . I think I will have a difficult time putting this project down. I expect it to go very fast. . . More pictures to come!! 

Great Grands Visit the Twins

Last weekend, before I ended my visit in Aiken, Momma, Daddy,and Aunt Cathy came by to see Annette and Lee. They were driving back to Ridgeland from the Clemson football game.

Daddy holds Lee. . .

Aunt Cathy takes a turn with Annette. . .

Everyone agreed . . . they are beautiful babies!!

Fall Breakfast

Earlier in the day we made a yummy breakfast. So many wonderful friends were bringing great things for dinner, we had eaten light breakfast all week . I decided to splurge a little on Sunday morning: we had sauage casserole and pumpkin muffins. It was a nice treat!

The sausage casserole was a recipe from food network. One of those things you can make the evening before and refrigerate until time to bake. I used regular white bread and left out the green onions.

Then there were those yummy pumpkin muffins with cream cheese filling. I only changed the type of oil. I used canola oil instead of olive oil. After the recipe is completed . . . fill muffin cups about one-half full.

Then add 1-2 teaspoons of cream cheese mixture.

Then top with a little of the brown sugar - cinnamon crumbs.

Voila!! The finished product . . . I'll definitely be making these again.

Knitting Babies have to sleep sometime . . . I was finally able to finish Annette's and Lee's baby blankets. Here is Annette's being blocked.

Here is Lee's after blocking.

I have enjoyed these long projects for the babies, but have to admit that I am REALLY excited about being done with these special blankets. I can't wait to get started with a few shorter projects I have been eyeing for quite some time.

My visit to Aiken would not have been complete without visiting Barbara Sue Brodie's wonderful knitting and needlework shop on Hayne St. She was having an October birthday celebration for the shop and there were just a few things that I couldn't resist! Here is the ingredient for my next knitting project . . .

Any idea what this might turn into???????