G is for Garter and a bit of a Game

UPDATE: I got so many good ideas that I couldn't make up my mind. So I'm letting BDE pick. Results very soon. I want to thank all of you so much, this has been enormous fun!

BDE got married last week and I wanted to make her something but the wedding was in Antigua and she gets itchy from wool so that leaves out a shawl. So after wracking my brains and looking at yarn, I finally bought a skein of Seduce by Berrocco in vintage white, a color that is as close to her gown as I can get, and decided to make a garter. Now there were a few patterns on Ravelry but none were exactly what I was looking for. So I designed my own. I found a stitch pattern I thought would work, well actually I tried a bunch of them, and picked this one. It really didn't take long at all when I actually got down to it, but designing something myself is much more time consuming than I had imagined.










Materials:

Yarn: Seduce by Berroco one skein (I used not quite half of it)

1/8 inch elastic 14" or to fit your leg

1 yard 1/8 inch ribbon

sewing needle and thread

Size 3 needles (or size to obtain gauge)

Gauge: 25 sts = 4 inches/10 cm

Cast on 8 sts
Set up row: Knit
Row 1: Slip 1 st, k2, yo, k2tog,k1, yo 4 times, k2
Row 2: Sl 1, k1, k1 p1 k1 p1 into the 4 yo's, k3, yo, k2tog, k1
Row 3:Sl 1, k2, yo, k2tog, k7
Row 4: Sl 1, k8, yo, k2tog, k1
Row 5: repeat row 3
Row 6: BO 4 sts, k4, yo, k2tog, k1

Repeat 24 times
Bind off
Seam edges together
Thread elastic through top loops and sew together
Thread ribbon over elastic and make a bow.

Based on Petite open points from Knitting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein

So now that I'm a designer, I need a good name for the garter. Any ideas? We'll have a little contest I think and I have two skeins of Berrocco Geode for whomever comes up with a catchy name for my first, and maybe last, design.

F is for Fun in the Sun

And that's what we had in Antigua. We stayed at the Jolly Beach Resort and it has the best beach in Antigua. It was beautiful and warm. The water is the most amazing blue and warm enough even for me. We brought home shells and even some sea glass for my collection and we rescued a starfish. We swam and lounged and drank a bit. We saw shows with singers and dancers and ate a lot. I knit a bit on a sock, too. And best of all, we were all there for BDE's wedding which was so beautiful. And now we're home, but I do believe we'll go back because four days just wasn't enough.

March Socks or Why Is Red So Hard to Photograph

I've been thinking that I need red socks, I don't have a lot of red clothes but sometimes I wear red and I have no red socks. Now all reds are not the same and I like a red that isn't orange, more of a blue undertone, a rich red. So when I visited a new to me lys not too long ago, this red jumped out at me. A little variegated, a nice red and I knew which socks I wanted to make with it: Leyburn Socks. But they're toe up and I like the way top down fits my funny feet better. But, it seems that those that knit before me have just turned the pattern upside down and it works just fine. Although I had to use my incredibly poor math skills. I ended up with 60 sts on the cuff, increasing to 61 for the leg and back to 60 for the foot. My problem is taking a picture that shows the color well. I had them in the sun, in the shade, in the morning, in the evening, on the porch, out in the yard, on the porch in good light, on the porch in lower light, in the house near a window, well just about everywhere I could think of and it still isn't quite right. Close, but not quite right. Any tips on red yarn pictures?









The yarn is Plymouth Happy Feet. I wish you could see the color.

And we're off to Antigua on Friday morning for BDE's wedding. I have all my knitting packed and extra needles in the suitcase just in case. Actually, the knitting is all I have packed right now. But I know what clothes I'm taking. I got my hair cut and a pedicure and I've been using that tanning cream so I don't look quite so pale. Mr. Truck bought new shorts. We're all ready. I'll be back next week with a tan and some pictures.

E is for Evan

He just turned seven and he just started wearing glasses. He was such a tiny baby, he scared us all just holding him but he's a tough one. We call him the class clown and we despaired of his ever being good. But he's a sweet, funny little boy and I can't remember what life was without him. We tell him he's our favorite grandson and he hasn't figured out that it's because he's the only one. But he loves coming to Grammy and Opa's house for sleepovers and he goes straight for the fridge when he gets here. I've never read a complete book to him, he would never sit still long enough and now he can read all by himself. He likes tools and cars and burping and annoying his big sister and he is very gentle with babies and once when he was very small he dialed 911 and the police came to our house. We love our little man.

Yesterday I Wore a Sweater

Well that's not exactly what I mean, I always wear a sweater. But yesterday I only wore a sweater. It was the first time since the fall that I only needed a sweater, no coat. Such freedom! Spring is finally in sight and my flowers are starting to bloom again. One little crocus




and the little snowdrops.




I'm so excited!