baylie bear cowls

I normally make most of my family hats for Christmas.  The Tall Short person said no to that this year.  Then she pinned Baylie's Bear Cowl.  She rarely asks for me to crochet her something.  She has liked things I have made her but actually ask?  That is far and few between.  I bought the pattern.  And I made myself one!  

This is mine.  I put it in my work bag and get the oddest looks.  But it makes me smile and it is smaller then carrying a wool shawl around.

I have four more Baylie's to make.  The Tall Short Person's is purple.  My Best Friend's is the blue.  Small Mister gets his favorite orange.  My Beloved gets a different brown from mine.  They are easy to make and perfect for sitting in front of videos.  I just have to count because I have a tendency to drop and add stitches.  Oh well.

I am confitting duck right now as I write.  Drinking tea and eating cookies too, but I hope the duck turns out well so I can write about it.  It is another one of those things that takes much time but is simple to do.  I think that is the story of my life.  

Time to start sourdough!

homespun, crochet hood

My best friend works in Colorado, both indoors and outdoors, in all kinds of weather.  When I was putting her hat together this year, I was wondering what I could do differently.  I used yarn I spun.  Some is dyed.  Some is natural.  I decided on a hood because I thought she could hide in it from the wind.  And it would cause the people she worked with to smile.

See how it looks on my model?  Small Mister had fun.  I hope she does too.  It might end up in her work someday.  The blanket I made for her might!

mobius strip cowl

All I wish to do currently is sleep.  The crud has still not gone away.  And I am moving like a little old lady due to a foot injury which is also playing with my hip and knee on the left side.  I know it is a message to slow down but I do not do that very well.  

I had a friend post a pattern for a knitted cowl on Facebook.  I really liked it and it is something that I can do in my chair, feel productive but not over due.  I got the yarn, which was one sale.  But then I got five skeins.  I also got knitting needles.  I tried.  But after three rows, the crochet hook came out.

And in no time at all, I had a mobius strip cowl/scarf made for the Tall Short Person. 

That is what it is:  a mobius strip.  I used a M crochet hook with one skein of homespun yarn from Lion's Brand.  I chained 20 and the did single t back and forth until the skein was gone but I had enough yarn to "sew" the ends together.  I twisted the strip and "sewed" the ends together.  I say sew because I did a flat seam with my crochet hook.

I figured since I have not sent all the Christmas packages yet, I can add some cowls in. There is one for the Tall Short Person (when she picks it up off my workbench), one for my Aunt, one for my Mom, one for my Best Friend, and one for me.  

It does keep me in one place.  Off the skateboard.  Off the surfboard.  But I have a wet suit to repair to get on the surfboard.  Sigh.

for my mom

Tihs is one of the bits that is going into my Mom's stocking.  She walks outside in all weather, at home and at the beach.  I try to make sure she has a warm hat.  She also has a tendency to put them on grandchildrens' heads.  I carded and spun the brownish goldish yarn in this hat.  I just spun the blue.  My spinning is getting better because I was much more pleased with this yarn then the yarn I used the last time I spun.  Steps at a time.  There is still much to do for stockings and such.

But there is one person I do not need to worry about anymore.  My Beloved has been looking at violins for over a year, and thinking about them longer.  I got him one for his birthday and Christmas.  He is so excited.  His first lesson is next week but he has alreayd started practicing.

green forever shawl

I finished my most current "forever" shawl.  I started this on the trip to Pennsylvania in May/June.  I am surprised that it is actually already done.  But I think that may tell you how the summer colds have been around here.

It is a lovely weight to throw around your shoulders while reading or watching picture shawls.

On that trip I actually bought more lace weight yarn.  I love the name of the color:  frog's back.  It is a silk and merino blend.  I have already started the next forever shawl.  It does make me smile!