At the meeting we learned that the daughter of a member had just had a personal tragedy, losing her [...]]]> This morning I thought I was simply going to go to my guild meeting & have lunch with a friend. Little did I know that these simple activities were both going to provide lessons in life’s fragility.

At the meeting we learned that the daughter of a member had just had a personal tragedy, losing her baby at just two weeks before her due date. Sad for the parents, the grandparents, the 3-year-old eager to be big sister.

After the meeting I had lunch with my friend, as planned. We caught up on the many happenings since we’d visited, enjoying each other and good food. Then she told me that the 26-year-old daughter of a mutual friend had died just before Christmas.

I have no idea how a parent ever copes with the loss of a child. I know people have to do it every day of the week, I just can’t imagine how. Regardless of the circumstances, I don’t think there can’t be anything more tragic.

In both these cases, there was no warning, no chronic illness, no idea that death was right around the corner. I don’t know if that makes it better or worse, but it certainly increases the shock of it all. How long does it take your mind to really grasp it? How much longer before you can put one foot in front of the other and move from bedroom to kitchen, kitchen to front door? What kind of colossal effort does it take to buy groceries, bring in the mail, put gas in the car?

I am thankful that I never had to face this personally. I’ve lost people, people I’ve loved deeply and still miss. I am far from coming to terms with the fact that I’ll likely lose more before my own demise. But one’s children? It truly is beyond my comprehension.

I need to go call my kids and tell them that I love them. I just have to stop the tears from running down my face first.

I didn’t really want a hat, I wanted a cowl/hood — something that would keep my chest warm both outdoors [...]]]> After I made hats and hats and more hats for people for Christmas, in my unceasing egocentricity I said to myself, “Hey, I didn’t get a new hat!” So I decided to knit myself one.

I didn’t really want a hat, I wanted a cowl/hood — something that would keep my chest warm both outdoors and in my cold office in the morning, and that I could pull up over my head when the wind was blowing or the thermometer was well below freezing. I went to the Alfred Knitting Studio to return the extra baby lama yarn from Amanda’s hat and bought some wool-angora blend yarn that was on sale. Yum – that would be cozy!

Then I went on an online quest for the perfect pattern. It hadn’t been hard to find free patterns for the seven hats I made for others, so I thought I would have similar success for mine.

Hah! Let’s start with the fact that I didn’t know what to call my desired accessory. Searching for a cowl/hood/warm head/neck thing doesn’t cut it in google. I spent time at my favorite sites, and many more, and saw lots of interesting patterns. The ones I liked visually were only cowls, sometimes called smoke rings, and weren’t large enough to pull up over the head. The ones that pulled up over the head weren’t my cup of tea aesthetically.

So I’d have to modify a pattern. I don’t knit enough to have a good handle on that. But hey, what the heck, it’s only yarn. And time. I deserved it, didn’t I?

I printed off some patterns with feather and fan type stitches and did something I almost never do…I actually knitted up a few swatches to see if that was what I wanted. I figured out how to read a knitting graph (vs. a pattern), and was pretty proud of that, but realized that although the pattern was attractive, it was designed for looks, not warmth. Scratch that one.

How about a cable? I liked doing cables I tried a few modified cables with some interesting stitches in between them, and ultimately nixed them, too.

Then I stumbled on a terrific video of a woman demonstrating the honeycomb brioche stitch. That seemed easy enough, and I loved the way it looked. I tried it out, and I was hooked.

I started out with several rows of ribbing near the face, then went into the honeycomb brioche. It wasn’t difficult translating the flat demo to knitting in the round. All was going well till I realized I need to do some increasing in order to make the cowl drape nicely around my neck. How to increase in this pattern? I went back online to see if I could find directions to do that.

Hmmm. I could find a pattern that told me how to decrease (for a hat), but not one that told me how to increase. And the hat pattern made it so complex to do the stitch that the video had made so easy that I couldn’t make any sense of it that might help me increase. So I simply gave it my best shot. After all, this was for me, not a gift or anything I’d sell, and I sure didn’t care if it wasn’t perfect. The increases went fine enough for me, and I finished the piece with a few rows of garter stitch.

I do like the way it pools around my neck.

I’m less thrilled with how it works when I pull it up. It’s simultaneously too loose around my face and too big on the sides of my head.

If I’d started knitting at the bottom, I’d unravel the last several inches and do some decreases. But I started at the top.

So I thought about it, and decided that I’d wear it this winter and see what I thought. I’d consider making or buying just the right stick/pin to tighten it around my neck if I needed to. Then, if it wasn’t meeting my needs, I could always unravel it and re-knit next winter.

Here’s how big the whole thing is laying flat, with a ruler for scale.

After the cowl-hood-head/neckwear, I decided it was time to finish the socks I’d started last winter. I had a sock and a half knitted – it wouldn’t take long to finish.

I did finish, and ended up giving them to Margaret. They were a tad short for me, and I knew that as a result I’d wear out either toes or heels too quickly. They weren’t so short I couldn’t put them on for a photo shoot.

I started knitting another pair for me. Maybe I’ll get them finished next winter.

Your turn: what should I call that thing that keeps my neck & head warm?

Amanda saw a pattern she loved for a 16-cable hat. While international issues made getting the [...]]]> I know that the old saying is really warm hands, warm hearts, but for my Christmas giving this year, I modified it to hats. Starting with Rusty’s three hats, I was in the hat-making zone. And enjoying it.

Amanda saw a pattern she loved for a 16-cable hat. While international issues made getting the pattern an interesting challenge, I was ultimately successful in doing so. I bought some really lovely baby lama yarn for the hat. Since my yarn was finer than the pattern called for, I had to use smaller needles. I thought I had the gauge all worked out, but when the hat was completely finished, I wasn’t happy with the shape. I completely took it apart and added another set of 26 stitches (1 cable pattern) to make it be right. Amanda & I were both quite pleased with the results.

Her sweet hubby rarely wears a hat, but I decided he needed one anyway. After much deliberation (and Amanda’s input), I selected a reversible hat in dark colors for him.



I used Patons Kroy sock yarn for the multi-colored side, and was pleased with how the variegation worked up. I also really liked the pattern‘s method for decreasing for the top – a very clean look. I didn’t get a picture of Ryan in the hat.

I sure didn’t want to leave Michael out of the hat gift, but had to think about fiber. He’s had plenty of opportunities to wear a hat made of a wool blend, and has always declined – too scratchy for his sensitive pate. I settled on a microfiber (what is that, really? Just a nice-sounding way of saying completely man-made stuff?) Deborah Norville variegation in colors that I thought he’d like.


This is also a sock yarn. It worked just great for this hat, giving me just the look I was going for, although I can’t imagine making socks out of it — way to slouchy & shapeless. I got another free pattern online for it. I had taken a picture of Michael in the hat, but the lighting was all wrong.

I was really thrilled when Amanda told me a few days later that she’d received compliments on her hat when she was running errands, and that both Ryan & Michael were wearing their hats without any encouragement. It made my little heart sing!

Your turn: did you give gifts this Christmas that pleased both you and the recipient?

Back in June, before Rusty was even born, Amanda told me that he needed hats for Christmas. She even sent me a link to an Etsy seller who would sell me patterns that she liked. I went ahead and purchased the [...]]]> Now that the gifts have been given, I can do the Christmas gift reveals.

Back in June, before Rusty was even born, Amanda told me that he needed hats for Christmas. She even sent me a link to an Etsy seller who would sell me patterns that she liked. I went ahead and purchased the patterns, even though they were all crochet and I prefer knitted garments. Being busy weaving, I sat on the patterns for months, finally getting the yarn I needed in October.

The first hat I made was a monkey. I don’t have a model of a baby’s head at home, finally settling on a roll of paper towels to approximate the size of Rusty’s head.

It’s nowhere near as cute on the paper towels as it is on Rusty!

I’m really happy with the way this hat fits, if not its crocheted stiffness. And the earflaps will keep him nice and warm.

I didn’t want to crochet 3 hats, so I did some online searches for knitted baby hats. There were so many to choose from I had a hard time making a decision. I settled on a white duck hat with a pattern from P2Designs.

This one is definitely something Rusty will have to grow in to. I’m guessing by the time it fits him it will be the totally wrong season to wear it.

Santa was also bringing Rusty a little sled for Christmas, so I wanted to make him a knitted cap with earflaps for when he went sledding. I liked the concept of the top-down hat,so when I was buying the yarn for the duck’s bill, I bought a coordinating variegated yarn. I added the earflaps, making them from the variegated yarn.

This one fits Rusty perfectly right now, so will barely last the winter, I’m sure.

As you can see, Rusty is a very willing model. This little boy has many hats, and surely didn’t need three more for Christmas, but I enjoyed making them, nonetheless. I also enjoyed learning new knitting techniques – German twisted cast on, Magic Loop knitting, and knitting an I cord.

That’s enough of my knitting for now – stay tuned for more Christmas creativity in a few days.

Your turn: did you give any gifts you made this Christmas?

I fear Margaret bears the brunt of my nagging. She puts up with it gracefully, knowing that sometimes she’s in need of [...]]]> Hello. My name is Peg and I’m a nag. At this age, much less so than previously, and of course only when I’m right (grin), but still, I’m a nag.

I fear Margaret bears the brunt of my nagging. She puts up with it gracefully, knowing that sometimes she’s in need of nagging.

When I awoke this morning, I was greeted by a beautiful scene Mama Nature had painted overnight, laying down a brand new layer of fresh, wet snow. It outlined every branch. It was still dark so I needed to turn on an outside light to see it.

I called Margaret and made her look out her window, too. Gorgeous, we agreed.

After an hour or so, the sky was a solid gray, the lighting just perfect to make a lovely holiday scene on this Christmas Eve eve. I called Margaret back and told her that she should hang up and get out her drawing paper and pencils. Then I left for my walk with little Red. It was STUNNING outside!

As I walked I realized I gave her the wrong message. Drawing was great, but what she really needed to do was use that brand new digital camera that’s been in a box in her living room since June. There was too much beauty to pass up, and if this wasn’t enough motivation to do it, I didn’t know what would be.

With the two of us at our respective homes so I couldn’t point to things and say, “push this” it took some time for her to figure out how to get the batteries and memory card in, more time to figure out how to snap a photo, and longer to figure out how to look at the pictures she’d taken, but ultimately, we got it done. YAY!! I’m sure she’ll do some experimenting now.

At least I hope she will. It may take more nagging on my part.

I’m heading for the shower now so that I can leave in an hour to celebrate my first family Christmas of the season. So looking forward to it!

I found the pattern here, and modified it to make it longer and put a bell on [...]]]> Amanda told me Rusty needs handmade hats for Christmas. And that he needs a Santa hat. I figured I’d better knit up the Santa hat by Thanksgiving, otherwise by Christmas time there’d be less chance to wear it.

I found the pattern here, and modified it to make it longer and put a bell on the pom pom.

I thought the hat was adorable. Till I saw Santa Rusty. There’s no comparison between a hat and a hat on an adorable baby. Not that I’m at all prejudiced about my grandson, mind you.

Shhhhhh! Don’t tell him he’s getting more hats for Christmas! I won’t show you till he gets them so he can’t peek at his presents in advance.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

But then [...]]]> On Monday evening I returned from a really terrific visit with some dear friends in West, by God, Virginia. It’s beautiful country, and I had a great time. We pressed cider, visited with friends and family, had two bonfires, watched a meteor shower, took a nice walk, and ate (too much) delicious food.

But then on Tuesday morning – Uh, oh! Red was doing a lot of licking so I checked, and he brought home fleas from WV. While I was down there my friends warned me that they’d been having trouble with fleas on their dog for a few months, although he was currently flealess; by that time there was nothing I could do about it. Red hasn’t had fleas in several years.

So I broke out the flea remedies. That meant first distributing a fine white powder (totally non-toxic to pets and people, but it kills fleas by breaking their ‘shells’), then spraying Red with a repellant that would make the fleas want to jump off. That’s followed by what I call monkey grooming twice a day – laying him on my lap and searching through his fur for any unwanted critters and squishing them. BIG PAIN IN THE BUTT. Plus, now my rug and floors look like it did outside yesterday morning.

heavily powdered rug

light powdered snow

(We had way more snow over the course of the day – a total of about 2″ – so everything was beautifully coated with white. Beautiful, even though it’s still October.)

Then on Thursday afternoon I found a tick on him. I used the old match trick to get the tick off.

While I hate ticks, at least once they’re off, they’re gone. Fleas – they take much longer to deal with. I’m not happy about this. It takes quite a bit of the bloom off the rose of the great time I had while visiting. I didn’t want that to happen. I just need to take it all in stride, I guess. And be thankful that I hadn’t yet gotten myself another cat or dog – two animals is twice the work of one in these instances, for sure.

Then, serendipitously I popped into the V7N blog, and saw that Cricket has posted a photographic challenge. This is week one, and we’re each to shoot at least 5 photos that fill the [...]]]> Fall has such gorgeous colors. And last weekend the weather was stunning, so I couldn’t help but go outside with my camera.

Then, serendipitously I popped into the V7N blog, and saw that Cricket has posted a photographic challenge. This is week one, and we’re each to shoot at least 5 photos that fill the frame. The first and last photos of my last post fit this bill, but I really like some of the nature shots I took over the weekend, and now had a reason to share them with you.

This is a leaf from my sycamore tree. I found it stunningly beautiful. The insects had left an interesting lacy structure which was nice in and of itself. The leaf, against the green grass, was a rich, coppery color. It looked like the metal itself, like those gilded leaves you can buy in some stores, only huge, since sycamore leaves are big. I was pleased that the metallic-ness of it showed up in the photo.

The wet fall has produced an amazing array of mushrooms. I have never learned enough about wild mushrooms, so I don’t pick and eat any of them. So even though this group, marching toward the tree, looked just like grocery store mushrooms to me, they stayed where they were on the ground for birds and insects to enjoy.

In addition to liking the ‘shrooms themselves in this shot, I also like all the really skinny, light tree trunks in the background. Usually in a shot that’s filling the frame they’d be gone, but when I cropped them out, the photo wasn’t as pleasing to me.

This flicker landed on the branch right near the road during my walk. I stopped to see if I could get a shot. Since my little dog kept moving, I was afraid the bird would fly away. It hopped around a bit, and then was kind enough to show turn his head and give me a nice profile and still show his little shock of red. I liked the contrast of the yellow leaves to the bird’s feathers. From even a short distance away flickers look quite plain; up close, especially from the front, there’s lots of lovely color variation.

I decided to leave this last picture unexplained for a few days to see if any of my readers can identify it. Check back by the end of the weekend for a full explanation.

Your turn: what do you think that last photo is?

You’ve waited long enough – here’s the info on that last picture. This is a Japanese dogwood in my yard. Their fruits are so interesting – to me they are somehow reminiscent of brains. (Not that I’ve ever seen a real brain, mind you.) I read in a book that they taste rather like mangos, which I love, so I did taste one. It was sweet and fruity, but so tiny that I wasn’t inclined to continue.

One of those is that for years he and my dog Red [...]]]> Last month my very old cat died. Magic was 19, and was, indeed magical. He’d made it through any number of serious health crises, and had a good long life. We were sorry to see him go on a lot of levels.

One of those is that for years he and my dog Red were best buddies. They wrestled and played, both indoors and out, admittedly not much in the last 2 years. (How did I not get a picture of that?!) They rested near each other outside,

and often slept together in the same little bed indoors.

So now it’s just Red & me. Coming to me at 3 years old, Red was never one to play with toys, fetch, play tug of war, etc.; weaving & making jewelry are incredibly boring for him. Red’s always been a bit timid, and that may be getting worse as he ages – he’s now 11.

Before Magic passed, I’d assumed I’d get another cat. But now I’m really hesitant. For most of his life, Magic was an indoor-outdoor cat; he came inside whenever he wanted (most of the time), but didn’t use a litter box – he did his business outside. As he aged and became more frail, a litter box in the basement was critical, and while I didn’t resent doing it for him, I REALLY don’t want a litter box as a constant.

Probably more troubling, however, are the potential problems with my work and a cat. How many cats do you know that wouldn’t find all those strings involved in weaving, or those little beads involved in making jewelry, the perfect playthings? If most of what I made was jewelry, it would be a relatively easy thing to always cover what I was working on during time away from the table. But yarn? I have dozens of cones of yarn on the great rack my son made for me, yarn in bags (often a kitty favorite), yarn on shelves. There’s no way to put it all inside something that’s kitty-safe.

So I’ve been playing with the idea of getting another dog. However I’ve tried two dogs at once a few times out here in the sticks, and it’s always a problem. Without a fenced yard, two dogs will invariably leave the area and get into trouble of one kind or another, or in my experience, several kinds of trouble.

Invisible fence initially seemed like a good answer, but now I think not. Red really hates beeping, so would be easy to train, but would it make him crazy? I think that’s likely. Plus, with a second dog (and I wouldn’t get a puppy, only an adult), there would be that training period before Dog2 knew about the fence, and that might mean keeping that shelter-dog longer than we would like to. (Interaction between the two dogs is critical. If they’re not really liking each other, I’ve made the situation worse, not better.) Additionally, given my yard configuration, the odds of placing the fence in a way that will both provide shade options for the pooches and not have a high likelihood of getting jabbed by my garden tools are quite low.

So what about something more like farm fencing? Galvanized, with 4″ x 4″ (or similar) openings, green metal posts driven into the ground. More than twice the cost, and visually not so appealing. Yet it has no training period, and will provide more security – nothing can get in, including dead stuff that Red loves to roll in.

That seems reasonable. Then I think about how much touching Red needs to be happy and secure. If I had to divide my available pooch petting time between two dogs, will that make him jealous & unhappy? Or will having a full-time buddy totally offset that, and even make him more confident and happy?

Too many unknowns!

So I’m seeking your input, readers. What has your experience taught you? What are your suggestions?