January 25, 2014 by Carolyn
Poncho Pattern
My nieces 1972
In a recent post I mentioned the marathon poncho knitting that I did in the mid-1970’s. It wasn’t a Vogue pattern after all….it was Columbia Minerva Leaflet #2520 “In Ponchos”.
My friend Nan wore her “Aran Isle” poncho to church a few weeks ago and I recognized the pattern immediately. It was the same poncho design that I knit about 40 years ago for my sister , her daughters and myself.
I love our neighborhood/church grapevine…..CJ loaned me a copy of the same pattern !
Nan
The details
Posted in knitting | Tagged Aran Poncho, Gifts, knitting | 1 Comment »
January 23, 2014 by Carolyn
You might recall that I mentioned that I had four belated Christmas gifts (headband earmuffs) in the making for Idaho nieces and nephew. I cracked the whip one Saturday in early January and I was able to finish and send the gifts. Check out my nephew’s video thank you! I have a couple tips for you in making gifts for those who live long distance. For the two ear muff/headbands on the left I pinned the adornment on so that the girls could remove/change at a moment’s notice. For the one on the right I left a long thread so that my sister or her mother could crochet the correct length for the loop (so that it would fit around the head perfectly).
It was Susanne and Terry who inspired me to knit these muffs. We saw Terry’s version a couple posts back.
Terry wanted warm ears
Model Diane
Mohair over the ears!
Now here is Susanne’s. She says, “Abbi loves having a grandma that can knit!!! We saw one of these in the store, asked grandma to make it & viola!”
Grandma Susanne
Posted in Christmas, Crafting, knitting | Tagged Christmas, Ear Muffs, Gifts, Headbands, Thank you video | Leave a Comment »
January 14, 2014 by Carolyn
We do cook….and we do knit! Many of us refer to our knitting patterns as our knitting recipes! Here’s a bit of what’s cooking at the moment.
Kimberly – Honeycomb Cowl
Some of us….Kimberly, Jean, PJ and Laurel are knitting (or just completed) the Honeycomb Cowl published by Madelinetosh and featured on Ravelry.com. This simple 4-row pattern, worked in the round, produces excellent results. You have two choices for the number of stitches to cast on…it all depends on whether you want to have a single “wrap” around your neck or a longer cowl that you can wrap twice around. Oh……I have just added this pattern to my “do list”…..will knit with the wonderful yarn that “my personal shoppers” picked for me at Interweave Lab Knit last fall.
PJ has repurposed a merino sock yarn for her version, Jean’s version is a brown wool yarn, and Laurel is knitting her version with Brown Sheep’s Superwash Pride in Mint.
My (Carolyn) Hitchhiker Scarf
I think I mentioned recently that I was a season or two behind (on many fronts)…and that I embarked on knitting the lovely merino sock yarn that was gifted to me by Maurie when she returned from working in Germany a few moons ago. I’ve loved this yarn but couldn’t decide how I wanted to “feature” it. I finally embraced the ever-popular Hitchhiker scarf. My tune now is much like “99 bottles of beer on the wall”…..I am humming “32 thumbs on the hike and only 11 to go”! Who knows why but I had a bit of a “brain freeze” in the beginning and a couple of the thumbs weren’t quite right! I had a knitting melt down and frogged back to almost the beginning. I am quite happy now and will be wearing this soon. In fact, I am now catching up on Downton Abbey and plan to start Season 3 after a meeting tonight. Looks like I will make a dent in “only 11 to go”!
Bonnie recently purchased this lovely colorful packet of mini-skeins of yarn….I think it was at the Interweave Knit Lab last fall. She has designed her sock with her color line-up choices and she is custom-shaping. I love this sock and the custom fitting!
Posted in knitting | Tagged Brown Sheep Lambspride Superwash, cooking, Cowls, Honeycomb Stitch, Ravelry | 1 Comment »
January 9, 2014 by Carolyn
Because of my interest in Quakers and quilters – both part of my heritage – I recently started listening to “The Last Runaway” by Tracy Chevalier. When I heard the words “Signature Quilt”, I remembered that I intended to write about a meeting in Summer 2012. Now I share.
The meeting…… Barbara, a friend from church, shares my interest in family history and she suggested a meeting with her friend Lynda Chenoweth, who is a quilter and a researcher. We met at Lynda’s home in Sonoma and poured over the history of Philena’s quilt as well as Lynda’s two published books, and her library of genealogical resources. Whoa! Who is Philena?
In 2001 Lynda and her husband attended the Annual Petaluma Antique Faire. It was nearing the end of the day when they entered a shop and spotted a Signature quilt in a hutch in the back of that shop. Upon closer examination she could see many names on the quilt and that it was stitched in 1853. The search (which took her back east a couple of times) was on! She became a genealogist of Philena’s family and friends as she learned whose names were on the quilt. It’s a fascinating story which Lynda chronicled in Philena’s Friendship Quilt Quaker Farewell, published in 2009. Lynda blogs about Quaker Quilts.
Philena’s Friendship Quilt
Philena’s Quilt
Philena’s Quilt
Philena’s Quilt
Story of Pilena’s Quilt
Another Signature Quilt
Another Signature Quilt
It was a beautifully sunny day …. we continued our conversation over lunch at Della Santina in Sonoma. The last two photos are of another Signature Quilt that Lynda is researching.
Posted in Friendship, Quilting | Tagged friendship, History, Quakers, Signature Quilts | Leave a Comment »
December 31, 2013 by Carolyn
At the midnight hour around the world we will be hearing the familiar Scottish tune Auld Lang Syne. For me it always evokes memories of those who are near and dear to me…..and who may be near and far. Grateful for the memories and the friendships. Some of those memories……..
Its Bonnie’s birthday!
Cameron
Jim and Betty – when their daughter Honara married April 1990.
Terry
Susanne and Diane
Kimberly
Nephew modeling his college bound scarf
Debbie
Larua
Bonnie
Marsha
A knitterly morning!
Jean and Karen in background
Jean looks charming in her new sweater!
Katie…the scarf is almost done! It’s going to be long enough for a double wrap!
Ellen and her version of the Shaelyn Shawl
Carole’s top down cardigan with zipper.
A gift of love
Baby Surprise “folded/molded” into sweater!
Grandma’s knitting book
Kimberly (acting silly) Steven and Bonnie
My grandma and me (Jr in High School)
Silky Wool Scarf – a “heart felt” for friend with cancer
Ellen with a gift of love for Baby
Jean loving her mittens!
Jean “loving” my pup Lucy March 2009
Merle’s gift of love!
Cathy with her gift of love!
Natasha’s mother with new grandson! A blessing!
Jean and Sarah with their gifts of love!
Nina and her granddaughter!
Susanne – a gift of love for her grandchild Zoe!
Terry and her Heart Design Afghan
Jan’s Summer Flies Shawl
Janie and her Summer Flies Shaw
Sheri – The fingerless gloves – Pluviose
Janie in her jeweled mini poncho
Some of our Saturday Knitters
Some of our Friday knitters…sending their cheer!
Sarah in her knit Santa hat!
Me and Lucy and the “Fan” Bolero
Beth is reading next steps for her hat
The Three Twirly Skirts
Terry and her Feather and Fan Afghan
Maurie and the Rose Heart Afghan
The Shawl
Helen – in her Round Shawl knit with Noro Silk Garden
It’s done!
Katie – The model!
Betsy graduate – her cloche
Five Wounds Cross Web
The children!
The back of the “Pinstripe” Sweater Jacket
Kimberly and Jan “modeling” the blanket and hat!
Shari and her first sweater!
More showing of the jewels!
Showing the jewels!
Heleb
The group sans Karen
Carol and Peg
Afternoon knitting
PJ
Terry’s needles are really clicking…it seems that she just requested yarns from her fellow knitters stash…and magically she appears with an almost finished afghan. She has a lot of fun putting the color and fiber combinations together. Check out the link below – Afghans for Afghans.
It’s finished! And it’s stunning!
Margaret and her afghan
Debbie and her lovely green sweater
Karen – Alaca Stole
Susanne
eek!!!!
Another Mason-Dixon inspiration
Natasha so enjoyed the booties from Susanne!
Ellen and Lucy
Peg’s Log Cabin: Joseph’s Blankie of Many Colors
Jean with scarf in the making!
Natasha: the soon-to-be mom in her soon-to-be Annie Scarf Stole
Some of the Friday Group
Terry’s Stole – Annie’s Scarf Stole
Sarah – The Truck Sweater – It’s Done
Modular Garter Stitch Vest
Grandpa, Johnny and me
Lap Afghan
Debbie – Tunisian Crochet Afghan
Kimberly and Jan knitting!
MaggiKnits – Stitches 2011
Noro Silver Thaw Prayer Shawl
Natasha: the happy mom-to-be!
Sarah – The Model
Nina and another lovely design
A knitting afternoon
Sheri with a close up!
It’s finished!
Connie, Karen, and Carolyn at Stitches West 2010
Jean and Patricia
The Four
Linda in her beautiful Irish knit sweater.
PJ – Happy Knitter!
Susanne was inspired….her cable scarf became a cowl
Great-great grandma Miles (1845 – 1929)
A proud giftee – Kevin’s son!
Mom 1945 – Martha aka Marty
Twirly Skirts
Shari and John
Bonnie
Nina
Gifted by Debra
Her latest hat…more details to follow!
Check out the buttons!
The trio
Karen – her pink sweater jacket
Margot – It’s done
Lily
Monticello tour
Reunion
We’ve begun to gather
Rachell showing her works!
Betty and Carolyn – February 1954
Diane – a cowl scarf present
Diane and Susanne
Claire “jeweled” her jacket
Dad – Navy 1941
Rosa learned to knit!
Iron chain sheep in Sonara
Betsy – Gauntlet
Enjoying Connie’s gift
Cameron’s gift
Ellen – Beautiful scarf
Christmas/Holiday 2013
Patricia and Rachell
Laurel – her first sweater
More food!!
The early Pugh cousins
Grandm and Grandpa
Jean and Debra
More love affair!
Some of our family!
Margarita Toasts
Ellen and Jean
Margot – It’s done!!
Phyllis – Cowl
A reunion
A wedding
It’s Hip to Knit
A young knitter in our midst
Janie and Kimberly
Some of the Sat group
Carolyn…me..modeling
Helen with knitted gifts of love!
Almost done!
Mary and her Tomten Jacket
Grethe’s Version
The Sock
Bathing Beauties from Fiber Trends #215X
3 – Merle’s w/Abel’s Piglet
Merle started the playful sweater!
First meal in Hawaii
Nephews
Carolyn and Dana
The girls were here
Don and Pat
Prayer Shawl in the works
Cousin Mick
Bill and Carolyn – July 2011
Mary, Peg, Carolyn
Peg, Carolyn, Mary
Friday Morning KW Memories
Cousins – 2013
Gathering with the Aussies -1990
Ice Skating – 2009
Shelby Graduation – 2012
Posted in Christmas, Crafting, Friendship, knitting, Wheat weavings | Tagged Auld Lang Syne, friendships, knitting, Memories, New Years | 1 Comment »
December 25, 2013 by Carolyn
Memory: ’twas the night before Christmas. My nieces and nephews were young….14, 12, 5, and 2….something like that. We came home from midnight mass at St Leonard’s in Fremont to my sister’s home. I think my sister and her husband were busy playing Santa behind the scenes. The girls and I were with oldest nephew Michael. He was always full of energy and wasn’t having anything to do with going to bed until I said, “Wait Michael, I hear Santa’s reindeers on the roof. You must go to bed or they won’t stop.” If only I had a camera for that moment. That young boy’s eyes grew bright with delight and fright! He quickly ran off to bed. There is another Christmas memory to share along with this one….a few years later when my youngest nephew was about five I gave him an in-progress knitted vest. That young boy opened the package and said, “I think there has been a mistake Auntie….this looks like your present.” haha
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Santa’s coming!
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Knitting vest for Christmas!
Today’s memory: Oh, this is short and sweet! Have been on the fly today….have more personal creations to share from our knitting circle….but guess what? I am out of time. ’twas the night before Christmas tune just came on! Today’s current memory photo is that of annual family Christmas ice skating gathering….we gather to share and celebrate. Other photos of creativity that are in the line-up will be appearing later this Christmas week.
Some of our family!….ps check out my knitted scarf!!
Merry Christmas and season’s greetings to all.
Posted in Christmas, Family, knitting | Tagged Christmas, family, Memories, Santa | Leave a Comment »
December 23, 2013 by Carolyn
Memory: There were two Christmas seasons way back when I was once again “possessed” to knit, knit, knit to meet the Christmas gift deadline. I am sure that many of you can remember/place the timeframe of the afghan. Yes, it was the early 70’s when I decided on Thanksgiving to my knit my grandma Elizabeth an afghan. I calculated how many rows I could knit in an hour, how many days until Christmas, and how many hours I needed to knit a day. I recall that it was at least 2 hours a day and I got it completed two days before Christmas – squeezed in some more late hours on some of those days…thus the early completion. I believe it was the next year I decided to knit matching cable ponchos for my sister, her two girls and myself. I started in July and was finished by Christmas. Alas, I don’t have a photo of those, but I did google and came up with a sample of photo of the style. It was a Vogue knitting pattern…..I am sure it is somewhere in my very large knitting collection, but oh where is that somewhere? Okay for now….visualize….two rectangle pieces knit with cables and bobbles, joined together to create poncho effect, and the resulted opening is filled with a 1 x 1 rib neckline. These ponchos were a fun knit.
Click, click memory of today: Last week I mentioned that Susanne visited us from Chico and she inspired some of to knit ear warmers as presents. (The pattern comes form Ashlee on Ravelry….Susanne used a Nicky Epstein pattern to knit the flowers.) How much fun to see this past Saturday three ear muffs in the works. Nina is knitting one with a thick and thin wool for her granddaughter. Terry finished a different version that looked great on many….well not me…with my “wild” hair I looked like was Phyllis Diller’s look alike! True to form for me I changed the pattern that Susanne used to incorporate some bling and I am half-way done with my version of Terry’s. Note: Terry added mohair in the ear area to create more warmth….quite clever.
Yes….I won’t make the Christmas deadline….but darn close! It will be a special “delivery” for those gifts. This collection of photos includes some of my treasured craft pieces.
p.s. time to start clicking those needles again….so “to press” we go!
Grandma Susanne
Susanne – ear muffs
My grandma made this tree
Nina’s version
Nina’s version
Model Diane
Terry wanted warm ears
Mohair over the ears!
Ready for bling and fleece
Half-way there
Gift from Grandma
Gift from Grandma
My ceramic ornaments
Some treasures
One of my ceramic pieces
Posted in Ceramics, Christmas, Crafting, knitting | Tagged Ceramics, Christmas, family, friendship, Gifts, knitting | Leave a Comment »
December 21, 2013 by Carolyn
Memory: When I unpack this little German Christmas candle treasure every year it takes me back to my early days of living in my first apartment. It was in the building across the street from Safeway on Solano Ave in Albany, CA. I flash back to great times spent with my neighbor Sue …. we were always crafting something. It was during this same time that my nieces spent a lot time with me. 
Christmas Candles
My nieces Sundee (l), Honara (r)
New memory: Our Friday morning knitters continue to celebrate and then some. Rachelle brought us homemade breads (one was a gluten-free banana bread)with the freshest of butter. You could find cards crafted by Kimberly (check out her Etsy store), jewelry in the works by Rachell and Sheri, as well as the sound of laughter and chatter while the needles were clicking! Sheri was wearing her stunning “All the Shades of Truth“ scarf and Karen K was back with us. You might guess we met the newest addition to Jean and Bob’s family. Quincy came home to them a couple weeks ago….all because Jean saw Debra, Quincy’s foster mom, at the recent jewelry show hosted here. Quincy had a date to meet and indeed he did. As we nearing the end of our time together, we were treated by Patricia to jelly beans (all blues) from the Jelly Factory!
p.s……someone, named Jean, not only left my Lucy dog with Christmas treats but left me a wonderful Christmas CD….you can glimpse the title in the photos. Many thanks Secret Santa Jean. xo
Sheri
Surprise gift!
Kimberly’s Cards
Jean and Debra
Quincy sees his foster mom
Jean and Debra
Debra and Sheri
More love affair!
Love Affair with Quincy
Posted in Christmas, Crafting, Dogs, Friendship, Jewelry | Tagged celebrations, Dogs, friendships, knitting | Leave a Comment »
December 15, 2013 by Carolyn
Memory – the seed was planted early! So many of you have heard me say over the years that my grandma Alta’s love of her quilting communities was a driving force for me. I knew that I wanted our knitting communities to have the same vitality. It’s near the end of another year and time to shout out how blessed I feel that “our” knitting communities have the same character that I remember from my grandmother. Our crafts are wonderful and the binder for such wonderful friendships! Knitting brought us all together! What great friendships!
Celebration Memory for December 14, 2013
Our Saturday morning knitting workshop group (SMKW) celebrated with a potluck brunch. I whipped out Grandma’s party plates for our meal which consisted of egg casserole, baked oatmeal, fruits and cheese, pumpkin pie, ginger bread, chocolates, salt and pepper chips with clam dip, crackers and cheese, and MARGARITAS! What a great way to start the day. The morning was made even better because Susanne, recently moved to Chico, was able to attend. A reunion and a celebration indeed. We missed PJ, Shari and Carole C. Looks like we will need another celebration!
Margarita Toasts
Grandma’s party plates
Margarita Toasts
Margarita Toasts
Margarita Toasts
Diane and Susanne
More food!!
Nina, Katie, Susanne, Terry
Laurel – her first sweater
Susanne -Oregon Vest
Grandma Susanne
Nina, Katie, Susanne, Carolyn
Posted in Christmas, knitting | Tagged celebrations, Christmas, friendships, Kniitting, tis the season | 4 Comments »
December 14, 2013 by Carolyn
Family Gathering at Grandma and Grandpa’s
Memories: My love of gatherings started when I was young. We cousins would be seated at our card table / dining tables. In this photo, taken in the living room of Grandma and Grandpa’s basement house, there were seven of us cousins and two of our aunts. The age range in Dad’s family is interesting to say the least! One of our aunts was born a couple years before the arrival of the first two grandchildren and our youngest aunt was born in the midst of the next three grandchildren and a couple years before cousin Diane and me .
Memories just created from Friday, December 13, annual celebration. We, the Friday morning knitting workshop (FMKW) group , have celebrated for years and this year our group numbered 17 sans 1 who had dental emergency…we missed Karen K. We dress up, we toast, we eat, we enjoy the years of friendship, we gift special gifts and we “white elephant” gift. Our “white elephant”version allows one to bump once during a round….everyone wanted Jan’s gift choice but it was so beautiful no one wanted to be “mean”…although I really thought about it. The gift that Connie received – a capricorn lobster stuffed with a skein of sock yarn caused much laughter.
We met at a new venue for us this year, Solano Bar and Grill on Solano Ave. There were many things that worked well for our size group….we preordered a few days from a banquet menu, we had a semi-private room which really accommodated the wonderful noise that we create, the service was great….. we all had a great time. Cheers to this wonderful season!
p.s. tried to present photos in order of happenings!
Karen – Handknit sweater jacket
We knit
Wetoast
Party Shoes…on our way to lunch
Ellen – Beautiful scarf
Ellen and Jean
Christmas/Holiday 2013
Janie
Debra’s gift
“Let me enterain you”
Cameron’s gift
Cameron’s gift
Connie’s gift = much glee
Connie’s gift = much glee
Enjoying Connie’s gift
Enjoying Connie’s gift
Connie
Ellen
Patricia and Rachell
Patricia
Sheri and Sarah
Sarah, Karen H, Ellen
Karen H
Sheri
Bonnie
Merle and Jan
Cameron and Kimberly
Purple Mohair
Jean
Posted in Christmas, Events, Friendship, knitting | Tagged celebrations, Christmas, Cousins, Family Gatherings, friendship, friendships, Holidays, knitting, The Season | 2 Comments »
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