Half Way Through

I don't have a picture to go with this post. I thought about taking one, but I was too busy knitting and forgot. Today I am halfway through with my chemo. Four down and four to go. I have finished what everyone said was the hardest of the four rounds. I didn't find it to be too bad compared to what I expected. I hope this means the next four will be a breeze.

Fingerless Mitts

I have been on a fingerless mitts craze. I don't know why I like them so. I have never made a pair for myself, but they look so comfy. I was playing around with a pattern I found on Ravelry and did a few modifications of my own. I plan to send several sets of fingerless mitts to Cathy so the Austin German Shepherd Rescue can sell them and raise a little money. This will be one of the pairs.

Fish Hat, Fish Hat, Funny Funny Fish Hat

These fish hats have been a hit. Tessa and Robyn wanted one. What can I do? I cannot refuse!

Sleep Tight

And yet another knitting pattern created my yours truly. I don't know why they hit me all at once. Must be the chemo talking :)

Since I am currently without hair, my head gets cold at night. If I put a hat on, it sometimes gets hot and off it goes. I wanted to knit a hat I could sleep in. This one works great. I knit my initial hat using a cotton blend yarn. It stays on most of the night.

Sleep Tight

Needles- US size 7
Yarn- Worsted weight (model knit in Knit Picks Comfy Worsted- Marlin)

CO 90 stitches. Place a marker to denote the beginning of the row. Be careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit 3, purl 3 rib for 2 inches.

Row 1- * YO, k2tog, k13; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 2 & 3- *k10, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 4- *k5, YO, k2tog, k3, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 5- *p2, k1, p2, k3, YO, k2tog, k5; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 6- *k10, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 7- *p2, k1, p2, k5, YO, k2tog, k3; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 8- *k5, p2 k1, p2, k3, YO, k2tog; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 9- *k10, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 10- * YO, k2tog, k3, p2, k1, p2, k5; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 11- *k3, YO, k2tog, k5, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Repeat rows 3-11 three more times. If you are counting all of your rows, the last row you will work will be row 38.

*k10, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.
*k5, YO, k2tog, k3, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.
*k13, YO, k2tog; (repeat 5 times), k5 (this will be row 41 if you are counting all rows)

Begin the decrease for the crown-

Row 1- *k8, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 2- knit
Row 3- *k3, YO, k2tog, k2, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 4- knit
Row 5- *k6, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 6- knit
Row 7- *k5, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 8- knit
Row 9- *k4, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 10- knit
Row 11- *k3, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 12- *k2, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 13- *k1, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 14- *k2tog; repeat to end of row

Cut yarn and run through the remaining stitches to close top.
Weave ends in.

Houston

We loaded up the car and headed west on I-10 to see Mom and Cathy. It was so good to see them since we had not seen them since Christmas. Houston was smoking hot and not in a cute, attractive way. It was dripping sweat hot. Seriously hot. We decided in this lovely heat to shop for guitar picks (for Cara) and college stuff (for Robyn). This was the temperature reading when we left the Container Store. Yikes. We could fry and egg on the ground.

As we got ready to round the final turn in the subdivision and pull into the parking lot, we saw a family of ducks playing in the water at the edge of the curb. Lot of neighbors were watering their grass and the run off was an excellent swimming pool. As we got closer, the ducks waddled off to find other enjoyment. I love the ducks in Mom's subdivision. They are always in for a good time.

Ollie

Well, I haven't done much this month other than knit. I don't have the energy to be active and you know I love me some knittin. Here is another pattern I came up with. The name comes from the eight ribs that come down from the crown of the hat. Click on the following link to download the pattern. download now


Ollie

Needle Size- US size 7
Yarn- Worsted weight (model knitted in Moda Dea Washable Wool- Plum)

Ollie stitch pattern

Row 1- *k1, yarn over, slip one knitwise (yarn in back), k2, pass slipped stitch over the last two knitted stitches; repeat stitches from * to the end of the row.

Row 2 and 4- knit all stitches

Row 3- *k1, slip 1 knitwise (yarn in back), k2, pass slipped stitches over the last 2 knitted stitches, yarn over; repeat stitches from * to the end of the row.

CO 80 stitches. Place marker to denote beginning of row. When joining, be careful not to twist stitches.

Knit k5, p5 rib for 2 inches.
Knit Ollie stitch pattern once.
Knit k5, p5 rib for 10 rows.
Knit Ollie stitch pattern once.
Knit k5, p5 rib for 10 rows.
Knit Ollie stitch pattern once.
Knit k5, p5 rib for 10 rows.

Decrease for crown-

Row 1- *k5, p1, p2tog, p2; repeat to end of row
Row 2- *k5, p4; repeat to end of row
Row 3- *k5, p1, p2tog, p1; repeat to end of row
Row 4- *k5, p3; repeat to end of row
Row 5- *k5, p1, p2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 6- *k5, p2; repeat to end of row
Row 7- *k5, p2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 8- *k5, p1; repeat to end of row
Row 9- *k4, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 10- Knit
Row 11- *k3, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 12- *k2, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 13- *k1, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 14- *k2tog; repeat to the last stitch, k1

Cut yarn and run through the remaining 8 stitches to close top.
Weave ends in.

Oil Spill

Sometimes Big Business is all about making a buck. They cut corners and don't worry as much as they should about safety issues. I think this is what happened with the BP oil spill in the Gulf. I don't think BP was looking at anything other than to get the oil in the quickest way possible. It was about quantity, not quality. No thought to safety, following standard procedure, or accountability. Their shortsightedness has changed this area for a very long time, probably for at least my lifetime. I am the daughter of a petroleum engineer. I grew up knowing a little about how drilling works. I don't have a problem with drilling in the Gulf, IF procedures are in place and followed. They were not in this case. The management will never know the full effect the spill with have on this area and in some cases, they might not even care. Sad and tragic.

Checkmate

I have been on a knitting roll and another hat pattern came to mind. I hope you enjoy it.

Checkmate

Cast on 72 stitches. Be careful not to twist stitches when joining first row. Place a stitch marker to note the beginning of your row.

Knit in k4 p4 rib for 10 rows.

Purl 2 rows.

Knit in p4 k4 rib for 10 rows.

Purl 2 rows.

Knit in k4 p4 rib for 10 rows.


Decreasing for crown

Row 1- *k1, k2tog, k1, p1, p2tog, p1* repeat to end of row.

Row 2- *k3, p2tog, p1* repeat to end of row.

Row 3- *k3, p2tog* repeat to end of row.

Row 4- *k2, k2tog* repeat to end of row.

Row 5- knit

Row 6- k7, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 7- k6, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 8- k5, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 9- k4, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 10- k3, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 11- k2, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 12- k1, k2tog; repeat to end of row.



Cut yarn and thread through the remaining stitches to close hat. Click on the following link to download that pattern. download now