I'M GETTING READY FOR "THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER"!

Last week I learned the identity of my Secret Pal 10 sweetie, who not only sent me fabulous cards and packages, but also hooked me up with another dishcloth exchange! Yes, I know, Gentle Knitter, Mrs B. has no time to take on yet another knitting project, but I AM POWERLESS OVER THE DISHCLOTH! With that said, let us commence with the Questionnaire!

1.Do you knit, or crochet, or do both?

I knit more than I crochet. However, I am enamored with the Smooth Waves pattern from 200 Ripple Patterns by Jan Eaton.

2.How long have you been knitting\crocheting?

Since the 80's.

3.Have you knit dishcloths or dishtowels before?

Belong to Monthly Dishcloth group on Yahoo. Enough said.

4.What are your favorite cotton yarns?

SNC, PNC.

5.Is there a cotton or linen you’ve been dying to try but have not?

I have some Classic Tahki Cotton I usually knit baby hats with, but I'm tempted to try that for cloths. I have a very nice red and white Ballband cloth gifted from a past exchange knit with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, so I'd like to try that.

6.Are there any cotton yarns you don’t enjoy knitting with?

Not at the moment.

7.What type of needle do you prefer using? (Metal/Wood/Plastic)

I like them all, but lately I adore my Lantern Moon ebony straights #7. I'm planning to buy #6 some day soon because that's the size I usually knit my cloths with as I must confess I am a loose continental knitter.

8.What other projects do you enjoy knitting or crocheting?

Dish cloths, baby hats, sweaters, booties, blankets, shawls for my Knitting Ministry group at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and adult knitwear for family, friends, socks for me! I knit it all! Want to start Lace shawl for myself soon with some of the lovely yarns in my stash.

9.Do you have other hobbies or enjoy other kinds of crafting?

making, needle felting, a little embroidery and small hand quilting. I have a very tall stack of summer reading that I've yet to get to! Also love to go to movies, garden, bake, and teach knitting to others.

10.What kind of treats do you like? Chocolate? Candies? Nuts?

Seriously committed to watching and reducing my weight at this point, so , or sunflower seeds would be the best snack for me, as well as fruits and veggies. How about Altoids and sugar free gum? Water?

11.What colors are your kitchen and bath decorated in, if any?

Kitchen is red, white and blue, bathroom is yellow, white, light green and cream. My ranch was built in the 50's, like me!

12.What are your favorite colors and what colors do you dislike?

Like all colors.

13.Do you drink coffee? Tea? Other beverages?

Decaf and half decaf coffees and teas. Diet sodas.

14.Do you have any kids (human or pet variety!)?

One 12 y/o son, husband , 10 y/o collie, 14 y/o and 15 y/o cats..

15.Do you have any allergies? Hay fever

16.Please share 3 tidbits about yourself that you think your pal and other swappers might find odd or interesting.

a. I'm a Registered Nurse employed in a hospital, working on a Med-Surg unit, who teaches knitting on the side.
b. I 'm obsessed with knitting the ballband Dishcloth pattern from the Mason Dixon Knitting book/ ballband Peaches and Cream cotton yarn!
c. I have a very messy Yarn Room due to an inability to JUST SAY NO TO YARN!-Obsessive Compulsive Knitting, yes, I know!

Now, time SP 10 Show and Tell...

My wonderful SP10 gal is named Katie J over at Maylee Beezir and she sent such lovely goodies again. I am sooo spoiled! Katie sent yarn and a pattern for a beautiful cable poncho. I am in dire need of a quick knit poncho-ie thingy to wear with jeans since I experimentally felted( read shrunk) my blue and ivory poncho last year. I looked like a tent in it with those lovely horizontal stripes so I thought if I could ever so carefully downsize it a bit....Nope! So this pattern is more suitable I believe and my past experience knitting with Plymouth Alpaca Grande tells me this is going to be a heavenly knitting experience!
The Succulent Wild Woman Book...well....Yeah! Right on Sisters! With two XY chromosomes guys in my household this book promises to be just the dose of estrogen this body needs! The soap is chock full of oatmeal and it has a delightful, clean scent, which I love. I'm drinking the tea as I am posting this and it smells like Big Red Gum, which is a favorite of mine, and it is just delicious. Spicy! To go with how Succulent and Wild I expect to become! The other pattern is for the terrific bag below....

Knit with Sunshine Sugar and Cream cotton yarn; just how did Katie know I've been wanting to knit this bag for some time now. Well, now I have one ready made and waiting to make the next trip to the grocery store or yarn shop with me! Great job, Katie! Many, many thanks for all the effort you put into making this exchange so much fun for me!

I nominated Katie for Best SP10 Pal and hope she wins!

Lest you think all my time has been spent answering lengthy questionnaires and opening SP10 Swag, I'll have you know I've been knitting my fingers to the bone too!
My friend Winnie from the St. Joe's Knitting Ministry motivated us to knit some slipper socks so I experimented with 2 stranded Red heart Camouflage I had on hand to knit this pair in baby size. That's my 2 toe up socks on one long circular needles OFF the needles FINALLY! No second sock syndrome! Ready to cast on for the next pair!h

Lastly, I completed my house warming gift long ago promised to my co-worker. I know such peace now, however temporary! Just need a bit of blocking and some ribbon and they're outta here!The alternative Log Cabin cloth was a nice change of pace for me, and it used up some scraps at the same time!

Have a terrific knitting week!

AND THE KNITTING CONTINUES....

My favorite thing is to sit on my back porch and lazily knit away at the one project or another. Of course, this means I am neglecting my duties as a Domestic Goddess! There's always something that either needs doing or I THINK needs tending to around our house, or, at this time of year, outside work. I have several outside painting projects that I have on hold until I'm confident that we won't get rain. The garden desparately needs weeding. I have seeds and flowers to plant. Laundry to put away. Cards and Secret Pal 10 packages to send. My summertime reading collection keeps growing while I've yet to finish the Kite Runner. So it goes...


I finished one of the 3 House Warming Ballband Dishcloths for my co-worker last night and and have a good start with the second. I think the third will be a Log Cabin type dishcloth using yellow and black, white and maybe a little green.

Lord Almighty! Almost finished with the never-ending Bobble Block for our Knitting Ministry's Aran Afghan. Then on to the last two Blocks. Several Gentle Readers have asked that I post a photo of the afghan when it is all done and I certainly will do so, given you can tolerate my continued rants about bobbles. Yep. The next block has bobble stitches also, but the design is not nearly as bobbly as this one! Thanks for the interest!

My poor Nurse Babe is slogging along at what seems to be a snail's pace. I decided to knit on the white "sneaker" portion of her leg rather than knit separate shoes for her, as the patterns in the book do. Just too extraneous for me right now, as I want my time to be spent embroidering details. I really should give this poor girl a face, shouldn't I?

Almost finished with my 2 toe up socks on one long circular needle too! I'm itching to start a new pair on the spare zeros that I got on our NYC trip, but I'm resisting.....so far! My son's been eying them since I cast on, so I'm thinking Christmas stocking. SSSSH!

Since I knit on the back porch all summer while my son and his friends swim, I like to surround myself with shabby chic-ness! Our family likes to "rescue" the discarded and sad refuse of our local community.

Like this. Old worn fabric and paint. What a great chair, one of a pair, actually! I see new life in her! ( PSSST! See the concrete? Next painting project!)

Why, with a little spray paint, and fabric from the stash.....

Meet my 2 not so new but not too shabby club chairs! Not perfectly upholstered but good enough to last the season. I first covered the cushions with a white vinyl shower curtain from the $ Store and protected the wood against water. The fabric has little cherries all over with a light blue and white background.The big, red buttons secure the material around the chairs and came from my button collection. Thanks Patty! I think some were from your Gram's stash.

Knitters welcome anytime!

That's not all ......
I also was motivated to clean out all the yarn from this cabinet in my family room and stock it with my sewing supplies. Been bit with the organizing bug so I am working it as long as it lasts!
Just don't open my door to my Yarn Room! That room needs a serious make0ver!

I LOVE SURPRISES!

My very own Secret Pal 10 person surprised me with a delightful package of goodies on Friday! I was so excited I couldn't unwrap fast enough! Look at the adorable soap she made just for me! Vanilla-Lavender. YUM! I'm squeaky clean!

So, I poured myself a cup of 3/4 decaf-1/4 regular coffee into the ol' X File mug and snapped a photo to share with everyone.


My Pal knows me well. Yes, I do knit those dishcloths for others and keep precious few for myself, so her sweet little dishcloth is most welcome in my kitchen! See the chocolate bunny on the left? One word. Gone!The chocolate covered strawberries are in the freezer for later attacks!
Love the watermelony tin and teensie book. And, oh how I love buttons!
Best of all was the warm note she included in my package!
Thanks so very much, Dear Secret Pal! This is such fun!

Which reminds me! Must get MY package to My Pal out in the mail TODAY!