WIP Wednesday ~ Black yarn

Even after living here in Georgia for 16+ years I still feel guilty knowing how terrible the weather is up north.   Michigan is where my mother and most of my family still lives. They are bracing themselves for a mega ice storm.   Everyone is safe and warm in their brick Homes for now.  My only hope is that not too many electrical wires are downed causing power outages throughout the state.  This has been heaviest on my mind since last night.  Thank goodness I have my knitting and chocolate to calm my nerves.

I hardly ever meet anyone that ends up with the exchange of telephone numbers but I met a woman named Bea at my doctor's office over a week ago and it was very pleasant.  I was knitting and had the attention of most everyone in the lobby when she initiated the conversation.  She talked about being a crocheter for over 50 years but couldn't knit to save her life.  You've probably heard this before. It always makes me giggle.  I was surprised when Bea invited me to join her quilting group which she's been a member of for 17 years.  First of all that's a long time to belong to any type of group and secondly who knew that my little town was a town of mostly quilters !  I'd love to join just for the social aspect of it but I am not a quilter... yet.  Before Bea was called into the doctor's office I told her I would make her a hat.  I was really excited to gift a hat then she said she wanted the hat in black.  Hmmm.  Did I have any black yarn ?  Had I ever knit with black yarn ?  What would it do to my eyesight ?  Kidding.  A couple of days later I found a skein of Patons Classic Wool in my stash.  It was marked at $1.99 on clearance which explains the purchase.

I've chosen the Barley hat by Tin Can Knits since it's a quick and simple pattern.  I think Bea will be pleased.

My second WIP is a pair of ribbed socks.  There is no pattern just a vanilla sock with ribbing.  I'm enjoying the color.

Have a Great one and enjoy your week !

Happiness in My little Crafting World...

A Short Post

This isn't the best photo of my sock-in-progress (bad photo color contrast).  I am happy and pleased with this combination of Patons Flax and the Lion Brand Lemon Drop.  The Flax colorway picks up the Browns in the Lemon Drop.  The pattern chosen is Vanilla Latte.

One sock down and one to go. 

I discovered on August 13th that Instagram has been having a Granny Square Day for the last three years or so.  Did any of you ever participate ?  I hardly ever crochet but found myself madly searching for the perfect yarn that would photograph well and move smoothly over my aluminum hook.   I have plenty of scrap cottons and bamboo yarns but I chose a Noro Kureyon  colorway 102.  A nice simple square and the best thing about this square was I didn't need to change colors.  

I've missed Granny Square Day the last few years but next year I'm there!  Check out the #Grannysquareday, #Grannysquareday2017, #Grannysquareday2016, #Grannysquareday2015 tag's on Instagram.  They're all so pretty.

Have a Good Day.  Talk to you soon !

Knitting and Gardening WIPs

August already can you believe it.  Four months and 2017 will be no more !  Speaking of August I've chosen this Patons Kroy in the colorway Flax as a trimming for my August socks.  Patons sock yarn is a guilty pleasure of mine.  Some of my knitting buddies snub it but it knits up really nice.  

I was compelled to choose a nice cable pattern but decided to do another vanilla pair.  I've chosen Yellow as the main color and the pattern worked will be Vanilla Latte.  

In between working on my socks I'm sneaking in a couple of holiday gifts.  I don't need a pattern.  This is a 2X2 rib done on US 6s.  I will make two or three with little cousins in mind or for other relatives in case I need extra gifts.  I learned this trick a few years ago.

It's interesting going from US2s to US6s.  Feels like I'm knitting with oars.

Now about my garden

My pink hydrangea have taken a few steps backwards.   Not only was it not thriving in the garden but it caught something so the leaves were covered with spots.  I cut off the diseased leaves dug it up and planted it in a large pot.  It actually looks brighter and happier.

I mentioned a few posts ago about purchasing the half dead Bee-balm (Monarda).  It is thriving somewhat but not at all how I'd hoped for.  There are new leaves which are bright but the plant hasn't grown much.    I'm getting the feeling the Bee-Balm doesn't like Georgia clay. 

When I lived in Michigan Bee-Balm was one of my favorite plants.  It was hearty and invasive  but not in my Georgia garden.  I'll dig it up and pot it this week.  Everything else in my garden is doing fine.

The snippets of blue hydrangea are coming along slowly but surely.   They've done so well I'm sure I'll be gifting them to neighbors

Have a Happy rest of the week.  Back to my knitting...