Stuff and more stuff

Can you believe that it's almost 2009? WOW. Again another year has flown by. Actually I'm looking forward to 2008 being over and getting a new beginning in 2009. But for now lets talk knitting ;-)

Since the picture below was taken I've just about finished the toes on my Monkey socks. Yes, they are my first pair, but they won't be my last. I love making these socks. If you haven't made these socks before OR it's been awhile since you made a pair, you have to get these on your needles.

And this, well this is the beginning of Bamboozled. It's a wonderful headband, and just the project that I needed right now. Something that takes my attention and yet I can knit for 10 minutes put it down and feel like I got my knitting fix for a little while. LOL. Click on the above link and check it out. I've seen several in all different types of yarn and it looks great. I just really needed to grab this purple yarn and do something with it. It's not my favorite brand of yarn, but this color is where I'm at right now.

On a more personal level. I've posted several times about my mom and her health issues. Yesterday I got a call from her that she has seriously injured her left knee (the one that should have been replaced years ago) and is pretty much confined to her couch. She has managed to get enough help from her neighbors until I can get up there (Sevierville, TN.) next week and take her to the doctor. She has pretty much got her mind set to going ahead and getting the surgery done which means for me another 2 months away from my home, family, dogs and life here in Georgia. Since I've been looking for a home up there anyway, I guess that I need to step it up and maybe not be so picky about what I'm looking for. Anyway, please keep my family in your thoughts and I'll keep you posted.

I hope and pray that each person who reads my blog will have a wonderful New Year, and that 2009 will be filled with opportunity for you and your loved ones, and that you will find love and peace in every endeavor. May everything your set your hands to do be blessed.

Saundra
aka Knitting Satori

Merry Christmas

To all of you wonderful knitters, spinners, crafters and friends,
I hope that you have a very blessed and
Merry Christmas.

My Knitting Students

I have to say that I'm truly blessed with some of the best knitting students in the world. They are great knitters and great women. Last night at one of my private lessons Victoria brought me a beautiful shinny green bag with a couple of goodies. Victoria is the same lady that when my mother had surgery in Aug. she fixed a huge bag of items that we would need while waiting at the hospital. She was right, we needed everything in that bag. It was perfect. And like that bag, her Christmas gifts were perfect.

Here are some pictures of the book she got me, well I have to share it with my daughter, but since it's my blog and she's my student it's my book. LOL. (just kidding) I've also picked out my first three projects I want to do. The hunt for the perfect yarn is on... Victoria, thank you again for the wonderful gifts and by the way, GT has the Starbucks gift card and wouldn't let me get a picture of it. I guess he's afraid I wouldn't share that either. hahahahahaha.

Neck Warmer Pattern

Materials:

1 skein Boucle yarn of your choice (Bernat Soft Boucle)
Needles: size US 13
Yarn Needle
2 – 4 buttons. Chose a size that will fit comfortably through the stitches.

Finished size: approx. 24” x 7”

Stitch Abbreviation:
K: knit
P: purl
Sl: slip
CO: cast on
BO: bind off

Directions:
CO 17 st.
Row 1: Sl 1, P1, K across until there are 2 st remaining on the left needle. P2.
Row 2: Sl 1, K1, P across until there are 2 st remaining on the left needle, K2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until desired length. Approximately 24”
Bind off
Weave loose ends
Attach Buttons: Space buttons out evenly across the edge. Make sure the buttons can slip through the knitted stitches.

*This pattern was made for my beginning knitting students. There maybe some bugs in this simple little pattern. Feel free to fix and pass on the pattern. I would love to see pictures of what you do with it.

I've been busy

I'm a few minutes from leaving for a long weekend in Tennessee but I wanted to post a few pictures of what I've been doing. (when I'm not on Ravelry, LOL)

A neck warmer pattern for my knitting students. As they finish theirs I'll post pictures of them.

I LOVE these socks. If you are like me and think that you are the last knitter on earth to make a pair of Monkey socks (found on Knitty.com) go ahead and start a pair. You will wonder why you waited so long.

This is Cindy. She is modeling her "Beacause I Care" shawl I made for her.