Hello again, hello.

It's been awfully quiet on this blog for a long time, but that's not to say I haven't been busy. My camera bit the dust...what more can I say? Well, here's a look back at some of those undercover, summer knitting projects. Poor quality photos included.

I just love Elizabeth Zimmerman's Moccasin Socks! I have knitted 2 pair so far and have plenty more in the planning stages. For this colorful pair I used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride in a monochrome and a solid. The sole is completely replaceable, so you can just wear these to your heart's content and not care a hoot about any holes that might develop! During the awful cold spell we had in October, I wore a pair of these everyday, all day! This pair was for Bette; Happy Birthday, Sis!

Another really fun project was this hat, on the cover of Fall 209 VogueKnitting. I used Brown Sheep NatureSpun, sport weight, and size 4 needles. In fact, this pattern turns out so cute that I knit up two!

Another Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern, Baby Surprise Jacket, was finished up just in time for the birth of little Georgia. I used Brown Sheep Lanaloft in a sport weight. This is an infant size, for sure. Changing the yarn weight and needle size allows you to make just about any size. An ingenious pattern!

I finally...and I mean FINALLY finished this pair of socks which I've had OKN for years. I really love them! I don't know what took me so long...just wasn't inspired, I guess. Anyway, they are a great fit and the yarn feels so toasty.

Oh, and did I mention that I did more than knit since August? Oh yea, I've got some fun stuff coming up. Until next time.

Mitten Accomplished

Knit up in July, these mittens will be warm and cozy this winter. The pattern was fun, and I plan to knit another pair in a different color combination sometime soon.

I also finished another pair of socks on two circular needles. These are knit with Plymouth Galway wool yarn. I'm itching to start a pair using sock yarn and size 1 or 2 needles. They'll just have to wait their turn in the queue.

Meanwhile, something taking shape

that will be finished in time for a special birthday, I'm sure!

Blog Filtering Instead of Knitting

Out of knitting bliss and into the real world: Just a note to mention that I have removed a couple of blogs/websites from the list that I was following. Victory Garden Revival was successfully hijacked for the promotion of the leftist political agenda, of which I will not be a part. Also, The Distributist Review has taken a turn towards the embrace of what appears to me to be "redistribution of wealth" and one world government, which are totally contrary to the actual philosophy of Distributism.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson, 1816

Wake up, America!

Mittens and Minutemen

Ah, July arrives. Summer just sneaks up and takes me by surprise every time. (Wasn't it just yesterday that I was looking out upon a bleak winter landscape?) If you're like me, you just love to sit outside in the morning for a bit and bathe in the luxury of summer. Hmmm...nice.

Odd as it may sound, July is the perfect month for knitting mittens. While they are small, portable projects, that's not the best part. For me, knitting mittens in July is a soul thing; it lets me connect with the history of generations of Scandinavian women, pioneers and Revolutionary heroines who knit mittens in the warm months to keep loved ones warm during the coming winter.

Latvian Mittens OTN, just waiting for summer days under the shade tree.

I recently discovered some great mitten kits at this company in Wisconsin; Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill. Two patterns in particular tugged at my knitting-heart strings: Victorian Inspired Mittens and Bosnian Mittens. Kits are nice once in a while because you don't have to second guess on which yarn will work best with the pattern. Besides, I love the chance to try yarns that I would otherwise never come across.

The Victorian Inspired Mittens kit came with a silk/wool blend of red and green yarns which I just couldn't wait to get my fingers on. ( Sorry for the inferior photos.)

The cuff is turning out beautifully and is so fun to knit!

As the 4th of July approaches, don't forget to consider the true and great history of the founding of this nation, the United States of America. The Founding Fathers were men of faith, stamina and extraordinary honor. It was regular citizens who formed the militia then as well as now. The Minutemen were vital to the success of the Revolution. This country is presently under siege from within, friends. True patriots are still the Minutemen, still vital to the Revolution. "Let us not be deceived; the political whining for universal health care, gun control, forced equality through governmental redistribution of wealth, and the removal of religious beliefs and expressions from our public institutions, all come directly from the Marxist platform." Sheriff Richard Mack (The County Sheriff: America's Last Hope).

Wake Up America!

Twirly Skirt Saga

Finished Twirly Skirt.

Hemming the skirt...for some reason I like this part.

The second Twirly Skirt was knit on circular needles with reverse colors. This eliminated the bulky side seams and I'm also putting in an elastic waistband to avoid the bulky I-cord on the original. With 4 skeins of Cotton Fleece you can make two of these skirts in size 2 by reversing the colors used in the 4 tiers. It's always nice to use up yarn so efficiently. Photo of finished skirt to come. Hopefully on cute little model!

Twirly Skirts and Tomatoes

I've been wanting to make a few of these Twirly Skirts for a while now. They are so dog-gone cute!! The pattern is designed by Christine Schwender and was printed in INKnitters Magazine.

I used Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece and the colors the pattern called for since every little girl likes pink! The big draw back to this pattern is that it is written to be knitted on straight needles and then seamed together. Such a simple pattern should be knit on circular needles and do away with the seams altogether. I've already started the second skirt on circulars and will post that info here. In the meantime, the pattern can be found on Ravelry here.

Amidst knitting tiers of pink cotton/wool yarn, I had to get my tomatoes planted. A bit leggy, but they sure have been fun to grow and are very healthy.

Honey built special tomato trellis for me out of recycled wood. Really, when was the last time you saw handmade wood stakes?!

Here's what they look like put together in their upright position, ready for tomatoes.

And how about these special screened cages to keep the cabbage moths away from my cabbage and cauliflower plants! I saw these in our old book, Build It Better Yourself, and....viola!

Socks End

Are these little tomato seedlings cute or what? Five different heirloom varieties planted indoors under grow lights on April 24. They've tripled in size since the photo was taken, and will be transplanted into the garden when it stops raining. I'm not complaining about the rain!

Meanwhile, the socks were a quick knit using the worsted weight yarn. They fit okay, but I'll make them a bit longer next time.

Finished socks before blocking. Then, away they go into the cedar chest to rest during the sweltering summer!