On the Needles - Free Pattern

 This is one of those "hurry" days, but I wanted to share this cute pattern.  I've only got a couple of rows done so I'll take a picture later when there's more to show. 

 Cropped one-piece jacket























This is worked on circular needles to hold lots of stitches.  It's worked from the bottom up.  The sleeve stitches are held on an idle needle while you knit the fronts and back.  I think it should be pretty easy and similar to the baby sweater I recently finished. I like things that finish quickly since I get distracted when I see a new pattern or new yarn.  This is a free pattern on the Knitting Fever website - link above. 

Check out what others are knitting on Judy's blog . 

What I'm Reading

I read this book a couple of weeks ago and really liked it. I like stories with happy endings and a moral. This one fit that and also had some drama.  At the end I found it was based on the life of a real person, which was an added benefit. 

I have  difficulty reading engaging fiction because I just want to keep reading instead of doing other necessary things such as sleep or housework or grocery shopping. I will speed read to find out what happens in the story.  Later, I go back for more leisurely enjoyment.  I may read this one again tonight. 

Check out what others are reading at Judy's www.patchworktimes.com.


The Preacher's Bride 

On My Needles - Vacation Scarf

These needles are Knitters Pride Cubics from the Comby Interchangeable Sampler Set I recently ordered.  The needles are square shaped and are supposed to be easier on your hands. The cord seems very easy to manipulate so you don't feel like you're wrestling with it. Wrestling and knitting aren't the best combination. (Ha Ha) I ordered this set from a store on ebay called Handsome Fibers. I'll be ordering from them again as they have great service and prices on knitting and crochet needles and yarn. 

This scarf pattern was sent in the email newsletter by Kathleen Cubley, Editor of Knitting Daily (Interweave). She called it "The Vacation Scarf" because she wanted something easy to do while traveling.  The pattern gives a lattice look.  

Here's the pattern as I wrote it down. I'm using worsted weight yarn and size 7 needles. 

CO 24 stitches
Row 1: K1, *YO, K2tog; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 2: K1, *YO, P2tog; rep from * to last st, K1.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until scarf is the desired length.   .

We Got Out First Eggs

Our White Leghorns are 17 weeks old and we got our first six eggs today.  That's pretty exciting. The challenge to make as many recipes from eggs starts now.  We have 23 hens.  If they each lay an egg a day - that's enough eggs to keep a person busy looking for new ways to use eggs.  

 I wish we had the where-with-all to raise "meat" chickens, but ... I don't know.  We tend to make pets out of everything. Although we do have one (meanie) rooster that would be a prime selection to be a special dinner guest. 

The chicken coop was finished just as the weather got cold.  We ran out of paint on the south side and I kept going to get more of the same paint, but it was never available.  It finally came in and then the weather was too cold for painting.  That will be a spring project right after the replacement / expansion of the chicken yard fence. I can't wait until tomorrow to see how many eggs we get.

What's on my needles - Wedding Shawl

I've been working on this project off and on for a couple of months, but alas, the fate of this special garment accessory is uncertain.  The big looming question is "do I have enough yarn?"  I was eager to try the pattern and selected a beautiful colored fine gauge yarn from my collection.   

The suspect but disappointing verdict is appearing more certain with each knitted row.  There isn't sufficient yarn for this lovely piece to grow long enough to wrap around a person's shoulders. Maybe it will have enough length for a ... scarf??  I like the pattern a lot so I'll be procuring sufficient yarn to knit the entire full length shawl.  

Here's the pattern for the wedding shawl.  It's a good idea to check yardage requirements before you begin.  Ha Ha.  

At www.patchworktimes.com you can see what others are working on.

On the Needles

This (12-month size) baby sweater is called "In Threes".  by Kelly without a net.  I haven't learned to seam knitted things yet so I was excited to find such a cute seamless sweater.  Thank you to the person who recommended this pattern (sorry I can't remember who). which I purchased on Ravelry.  It was such a fun knitting project and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  The yarn is common worsted weight.  I used Plymouth Encore which is washable and dryable.  This sweater is going in the mail for a great niece named Kendall Marie.  Judy at Patchwork Times hosts On the Needles so we can see what others are working on and be inspired.