Knitting is a lifesaver.  Since the end of September, I have made 3 pairs of socks and 5 baby hats.  Just easy,  thoughtless knitting that keeps my hands busy doing projects that I can complete.

I was just knitting socks of various sizes for really no apparent reason and with no clue what would become of them.  Then one day on Facebook, I saw some local friends posting about the Library Holiday Craft sale.  I donate crafts to it every year. When the girls were little we would make ornaments or I would Mod Podge something.  Last year, I donated hand-dyed yarn and scarves I think.  Perfect, I thought.  I have  socks!!!  So I just need to print up some labels as to sizes and care instructions and off they go.

At the library where I work (which is in the next town over), we are knitting baby hats to donate to a hospital as our Wednesday Night Knitters charity project.  They are not preemie hats or anything, just regular baby-baby hats.  According to Knitting Rules, baby heads have about a circumference of about 13 to 14 inches, but I think they can be as big as 18 inches so this is a pretty easy task. I have knit 5 in a variety of sizes.

It is fun and easy – I’m using left over sock yarn and knitting them on 2 circs like I knit socks.  And the same as when I knit socks – as soon as one is done,  I immediately cast on for the next hat.

It has been a rough fall here at my house. Thank goodness I have knitting.

2 Handspun Hats (meets summer knitting goal #4: I will knit some things with my hand spun yarn.)

Tango Hat:

Roving: BFL in Tango from The Painted Sheep
Yarn: Navajo 3 ply, 11 w.p.i.
Pattern: Improvised – child’s size hat

Blue Epona Hat:

Roving: Superwash merino 64 ct lambswool hand dyed in the color Blue Epona
Yarn: 2 ply, 9 w.p.i.
Pattern: Improvised – child’s size hat

1 Market Bag (meets summer knitting goal #3: I will knit one market bag.)

String Bag:

Ok, so actually this is crochet…

Pattern: String Bag by Lily
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Linen Isle
Thoughts: I improvised the bottom to make it more “gussetted” but because I have a very difficult time telling where the ending of a crochet row is, the bag is slightly lopsided. Have also only successfully used it once at the grocery store. The baggers keep ignoring its existence.

1 Pair of Socks (meets summer knitting goal #1: Since I did sign up for Summer of Socks, I will knit one pair of socks from beginning to end.)

Spring Foward:

Pattern: Spring Foward by Linda Welch
Yarn: MadelineTosh Sock in Vermillion
Thoughts: Cool pattern, just very time consuming!

Some More Squares (meets summer knitting goal #2: will knit 20 more squares on my Sock Blankie.)

Sock Blankie:

Pattern: Sock Yarn Blanket by The Heathen Housewife
Yarn: Various
Thoughts: I currently have 35ish squares. I don’t know how many I knit this summer, but I did knit some. Now that the blankie is getting bigger and warmer to knit, it is good that the weather is getting cooler.

So what is new on my needles now, you wonder…

Back to School Cardi:

Pattern: Hey Teach by Hélène Rush
Yarn: Cotton Ease by Lion Brand
Thoughts: I have the back done and I’m almost done with the 2 front pieces. This is very fast knitting and the lace pattern is easy and intuitive. Surprisingly, I’m really enjoying this yarn. It is a cotton/acrylic blend so it is elastic and soft and it doesn’t hurt my fingers like 100% cotton.