Social Knitting February 23

Social Knitting meets 10-12 in the morning and 7-9 in the evening. The morning group tends to be knitters who are retired, not working or have a day off. On this day, someone remarked that everyone came some distance--Frederick, Shepherdstown and Martinsburg.

Kathy McClung is a fairly prolific knitter. She has worn this lovely sweater a couple of times lately--it's soft and warm during these cold winter days. Kathy knit the sweater last year in a sweater class.

Sandy D'Onofrio is a sock knitting maniac! This week, she tried this sock with a spiral stitch. There's no heel or defined toe so the sock can be rotated to reduce repeated wear in one place. I like that idea as I am tired of darning socks!

A take away from today's Social Knitting: check under your seat cushions when you need to find stitch markers!

I recommend attending Social Knitting for great restaurant reviews.

Stuffed Cat

I couldn't resist sharing this pic of Abigail. She loves containers and really wants to sleep in this one, which usually is holding a small knitting project. She can't stay in it long - it's just too cramped, but she does try it out about once a day. I guess its kind of like those pants we've outgrown--maybe this time they'll fit!

Home Projects

Warm temperatures and wind are finally melting the snow. Last week was definitely a knitting week! For the most part, many of the customers aren't really interested in hats, but last week many of us were knitting hats. Cold weather really makes you appreciate what another layer of wool can do.

I wore my alpaca socks on the coldest days and found myself dreaming about leg warmers, maybe even alpaca long underwear! I have to say that having warm feet really does make a big difference in how warm my body is.

However, I did not knit long underwear, rather focused on some entrelac, getting some ideas out of my head and onto needles. I'll be working up a pattern for "Entrelac Home" - vessels, baskets and pillow for home decor.

This is the scene outside Y2Knit today. It's been snowy all day--good thing the fire hydrant (imprinted with "Darling" on the front) has a warm hat and scarf to wear!!

Vice and Corruption

When a group of knitters gets together on a regular basis to knit and chat, you begin to learn things about each other. Last night we learned that the ever pleasant, talented and easy going Marge has a serious vice. Kim confessed to sharing this vice, though she seems to be on the edge, while Marge has clearly lept.

So, anyway, during our lively knitting discussion, Marge shares enthusiastically about how she likes to go to Krumpe's and indulge in what she considers to be something just this side of heaven. Kim joins in, as do others, sharing descriptions of these tender morsels that one acquires by driving down a dark alley late at night and standing in line with others partaking in this seemingly sacred ritual.

The virgins in the group became curious and somewhere between talk of what we were going to put into the Ag Fair, the latest on charity knitting projects, and speculation about Anna Nicole Smith's demise, we formed a pact: we would follow Marge to Krumpe's after Social Knitting.

As often is the case, everyone was reluctant to leave, which may have had something to do with how cold it was outside but is probably more related to what a good time we have together. A few small purchases were made, Abigail got some more attention, yakking continued...finally, I clapped my hands loudly at 9:30 and announced that I had a mission to fulfill.

Lights out and doors locked, Marge and Sue got in a car and headed down the road. Kathy and I got into Kim's car and we drove the short distance to Krumpe's. At Krumpe's Donuts, donuts are for sale Sun - Fri from 7 pm to 2 am. This family business is housed in a building (converted garage?) behind a home in a residential neighborhood that appears quite safe and sane. I fully expected to be the only ones nutty enough to be out in the cold at 9:30 at night seeking a holy donut experience.

We managed to find a parking space and squeezed into Krumpe's, lining up behind the others at the counter. Those ahead of me did not appear to be novices. Orders were placed and filled, currency exchanged and customers quickly exited the small service area. (A few minutes later, after my first donut hole, I realized why everyone left so quickly--to get outside and have a few silent moments while savoring that still warm, amazingly fresh and delicious pastry.)

This is a serious digression from knitting, but I believe it says much about the connections that happen between knitters. I have certainly turned many onto the fiber arts and contributed to more than my share of fiber junkie habits. Last night it was my turn for corruption and introduction to another vice. Thanks, Marge and Kim!

Cosy Tea

I make tea several times a day using a French press. Lately, however it's so cold in my kitchen that the tea is cold almost before it's steeped properly. This morning while my class was putting their 1x1 ribbing on their hats, I knit up a cosy! It's even got a button, closed by a loop, under the handle. I just poured tea that had been sitting for 2 hours and was still lukewarm.

Lilah - Finished

I love this argyle vest, a new Y2Knit pattern, Lilah. From the picture you can see that the back is striped. The yarn is dreamy--merino cotton 135 from Skacel. It has great hand and the colors are fabulous. I bought a long sleeved cotton knit shirt in the pumpkin color to go under it.

Now I just need the weather to warm up a bit so I can wear this! Today was a high of about 15 degrees. Brrrrrrrrrrr