When I saw all the Santa hats everyone here in the office knit with our new free pattern, I couldn’t resist trying them on.

After I picked my favorite, I invited Sheldon, the Fosters, Lumpy, and all my other friends over for a little tea party.
It was really fun…until Chaos showed up. He is so uncouth. <

I grabbed a few extra balls of Simply Cotton Worsted from our office stash a few days ago. I was determined to knit up a couple of washcloths for myself. I wandered around in Ravelry and found a few examples based on my beloved Log Cabin garter stitch pattern. Who knew that the Mason Dixon Knitters would have such a positive influence on the humble garter stitch.
After a nice wash and dry, the cloths became wonderfully cushiony! If you want to give it a try, cast on 15 stitches and knit 14 garter ridges. Then work the strips with 7 garter ridges each.
I am having a Knit Buddy giveaway to go along with my little bit of simple knitting. Just add a comment to this blog post and you will automatically be in the drawing. Next Thursday, October 29th, I will draw a …

Summer is definitely over here in the Northwest. The leaves are changing colors, the rain is starting up, and we’re dipping into the 40’s and 50’s at night. It doesn’t get super cold here in the winter, but I know I definitely wouldn’t want to spend the night out in the dampness, especially not without a scarf, hat, or gloves to ward off the chill.
We’ve been stockpiling all the hats, scarves, socks, and mittens you’ve seen featured in our catalogs, and yesterday we dropped them off, along with some men’s sweaters, at Operation Nightwatch, a local group that “offers respect, dignity, and friendship to to the street population of downtown Portland”.
We hope that the hand knits help keep someone in need a little warmer this winter. <

I’m ready to show you how to knit the heel flap, make the heel turn, pick up the gusset stitches, decrease the gusset and then head on down the foot! Next week I will show you how to decrease for the toe and do the Kitchener stitch. There are 6 videos in this segment because I wanted to be sure I presented everything in a clear, and empowering, way.
Just like I did with the first videos, I am going to start a discussion for each video in our Sock KAL.
Enjoy! <

As you know, I went a bit crazy at the Sock Summit this summer! I am industriously knitting my way through the collection of yarns I could not resist!
Gail Smith from Windsor Farms Rabbitry is an evil woman! Her booth at Sock Summit had skeins and skeins of lovely angora yarns just hanging around begging to be pet. But, that is just the bait to draw you into Gail’s clutches. Once you get close enough, she pounces and thrusts a hand knit sock into your hands. You think, “Not that special”. Oh, you poor innocent creature! Little do you know that you are trapped!
Gail then gives you an identical replica of the first sock but this one has been hand-washed and air dried. Wow! So soft!! Of course, I immediately asked, “Can the yarn be machine washed?” Her comes Gail’s wicked smile as she …

I had forgotten how energizing it is once you have joined the sleeves of a sweater with the body! My cardigan is now my constant knitting companion! Remember, it is football season so I have lots of time to knit! 🙂 <