Been Knitting :)

Does that always work? I've got small hands, but big feet for someone as small boned as I am.

I'm going to have to try that and see if it works.

Lucille

Once you've knit enough for your family, here's a good place to send your extras.

CHRISTMAS-AT-SEA The Christmas-at-Sea program of the Seamen?s Church Institute brings hospitality and love to deep-sea and river mariners with Christmas gifts containing handmade scarves, caps, vests, helmets or socks, as well as other useful items such as stationery kits, sewing kits, magnifying lenses, mirrors, combs, etc. These items are knitted or crocheted by more than 3,500 volunteers across the country. Each year, more than

If you can't afford yarn, download the "order form" and they will send you some.

Knitting is good because it keeps the hands busy so I can't put anything in my mouth at Christmas.

I visited family for Xmas and so took my 'travelling project'. It is a counterpane knit in squares using fine cotton, so it is very compact, and repetitive so I don't get cranky. Very important when visiting family in close quarters. I get a lot of 'You're still working on that!", but I only work on it when I'm travelling.

Guess I better go shovel the walk. There was a dump of snow yesterday/last night. Dora

"Lucille" ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

Let me know, I have always found it to be true.

I got myself a handy card that equates men's, women's, infants & children's shoe sizes to inches from heel to toe. This information is also in Charlene Schurch's sock books, I used it for a friend's brother who wears size 12 shoes. The friend said the socks fit him excellently so I'm happy though it felt like that foot would never end! (I start the heel 2 inches short of the full length.)

Alison

Bernat Sox has a camo version (it's cotton/acrylic I think.) It's nice and soft for people who can't wear wool.

Alison

That sounds interesting. It would be kind of nice that a scarf of mine was out roaming the seas while I'm here at home. :-) I wonder if there is anything like it on the West Coast. Thanks for the link, I have plenty of appropriate colored yarn to use up. I'm partial to seamen. My dad graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy in 1944 & I've always suspected that, though there is chicken manure on my boots, there is salt water in my veins. :-) Liz from Humbug

While back home, I found Mom's old stash of knitting needles (haven't been used in at least 30 years) so they are now mine. Now if I can just figure out where the ignition switch is on the blasted things....

Get your self some really yummy yarn and a good pattern and I think you'll find those needles to be self-starting. *grin*

Elizabeth

The yummy yarn can be enough! Scarves are simple!

If I dig around enough, I know I have bookmarked a site with the pattern for the various Dr. Who scarves and I know someone who would love to have one! I think that one is plain stitch-wise so not necessarily a bad beginner project. Just long ... very long!

Maureen started crotcheting for the very first time several years ago. But she got a bit carried away and what was supposed to be a placemat ended up as a very heavy bed-spread.

What's so bad about that? Many years ago I started what was supposed to be a crocheted bedspread and wound up to be a couple of throw pillows.

Lucille

I suppose the wool just "knows" what item it is meant to be and just needs a human to help it out a bit.

Just lots of stripes!

I like the "new Who" - he's sexy!

Exactly! My yarn talks to me on a regular basis and none of the serious knitters I know think that is at all crazy.

Elizabeth

Not only does it talk but sometimes it gets stubborn and insists on one particular pattern. Then try as you may, it won't cooperate until you do what it wants.

Lucille

I think you may be back a Who. Goofy is probably the term I would use, goofy but endearing.

Tara

I'm starting to think some of mine even has a particular recipient in mind. The scarf I started for Sarah went missing. I knew it had to be within arm's length of the couch, but couldn't find it when I wanted to go back to it. So, I hunted up the yarn I had for Heather and used that for Sarah instead. Sure enough, as soon as I put that one in the mail, the original turned up in a place that I had already looked. So, Sarah has Heather's scarf and Heather's going to get Sarah's.

And, really, now that I think about it, the Universe was thinking better than I was. This shade of lavender is a little too pale for Sarah's coloring, and would be much better on Heather.

Now if only the Universe would cough up where it hid the power cord to my scanner.....