Just a little yarn thoughts.

I recently purchased Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s daily calendar for 2010. It’s called Never not knitting, a year of wit and wisdom from THE YARN HARLOT. If you haven’t read her “blog”, you are missing out. Even if you do not knit, her blog is very entertaining.


Each page of the calendar has something to make me smile. Since I can’t knit at work, I took the calendar and put it right next to my computer monitor so I can see it.

Example: “Knitting is good for you. Among a multitude of other benefits, it lowers blood pressure, helps teach you to relax and decreases the stress hormones that can make you sick and aggravate illness. So far, however, I haven’t been able to get my doctor to write me a prescription for yarn”.

This one made me laugh as I’ve often said that I’m addicted to yarn and I don’t want a cure.

Yesterday Tom picked up two packages (One from Yarn Barn KS and one from KnitPicks). As soon as he brought the boxes in the house, I was like a madman ready to tear into them and see what wonderful items I would find. I love Yarn Barn KS and KnitPicks as they have no problem shipping to APO (Military Overseas address). Sending packages to me requires the company complete customs forms and ship with the US Postal Service. Can’t use UPS or the like. Some companies aren’t as willing to ship to APO addresses or they send it through FedEx or UPS. If you send something through FedEx and UPS, it ends up going through New Jersey and sitting in a black hole for weeks. Items sent that way take at least 3 weeks longer to get to me. I know I’ve tested it. I ordered from Yarn Barn KS and KnitPicks and another company that insisted on sending with UPS. I got my Yarn Barn KS and KnitPicks orders 21 day’s before the other package arrived. So lesson learned, order with a company that’s willing to spend the time with the custom tag and US Postal Service.

The packages I got were busting out with yarn. I immediately started a project.

Retro week

My daughter just told me it's "retro" week and I needed to post some old photos.  So here they are:

Snow and knitting go together

It snowed most of the weekend, so I spent lots of time knitting.

So I designed and knitted a scarf using:

Herringbone lace pattern (multiple of 6 stitches)

For scarf, I used 30 stitches and fine yarn, but any multiple of 6 and yarn could be used.

All Odd number rows: Purl all stitches (wrong side)

Row 2, 4, and 6: *knit 2 together, Knit 2, yarn over, knit 2 – repeat from * to end

Row 8, 10, and 12: knit 3, *yarn over, Knit 2, knit 2 together, knit 2 – repeat from * until last 3 stitches. End with yarn over, knit 2 together, knit 1

Starting with row 1, repeat these 12 rows until length desired.

So now what do I knit?

I have been knitting

Here's the proof!

Well 2009 is over and we're starting a new year.  The past year has been a busy one for us.  Tom accepted a job in Germany; packed up and moved to Germany; shipped two cars and sold the house. 
In the past year I've worked for 6 months in the Air Force Personnel Office and recently transfered to a position with the Army Regional Personnel Agency.  Lots of changes in less than a year.
I've knitted lots of items and traveled in Europe, including Paris. 

Last night we went to Tom's supervisors home for a little while (we both have colds and didn't feel much like partying).  While we were there, Tom met a German who had been part of the Africa Corp and part of Rommel's army.  He became a POW and spent time in the US waiting for the end of the war. 

When we got home the entire neighbor hood was busy setting up for fireworks.  Over here it's legal to set off your own fireworks in your yard.  We had lots of fireworks going off at Midnight. photos here