I'm into quilting today

I decided I'd get back to sewing and quilting along with my knitting. While working on my Grandson, Andrew's quilt (age 2) I had an idea. I am going to start making quilts for the men and boys of the family with shirts from David's closet. He won't miss them! I'll put the buttons to good use, sewing them on each of the squares. Haven't decided on what design to use but at least I'm in the "thinking" stages. Shhhhhh, don't tell David where some of his old shirts have disappeared to. I'll have until Christmas eve when they are unwrapped to keep it under-wraps.

I ordered the sock pattern

I have taken the challenge and ordered the calana kilt sock pattern. If you don't know about it go to http://calanacrafts.blogspot.com and see what she has to offer. I think that she just finished a yarn giveaway but I put my name into the hat for the March giveaways (if there will be any).
About the kilt socks. My Father was Scottish and wanting to dive into my heritage I have decided to take up kilt sock knitting. I have one potential customer already. Hurrah!!! Next I'll add knit tams, knitted balmorals, and Aran sweaters. Since I already knit sweaters for people that should be exciting. Now the balmorals, I'll have to find a good pattern as I haven't ever knit one before.
I've taken three photos of my new Harmony needles and such for you to see how nice they are. Remember I just purchased them from www.Knitpicks.com. Kinda expensive for a country girl like me but oh so worth it. These are the Harmony Woods. I think I'll really like them.
It's probably hard to see the sweater attached to a pair of the needles. Nope, not showing the sweater as it is black and won't show up good but hope you can see the needles.
I have told myself that I will quilt some this morning on Andrew's quilt. I'll see them, hopefully later this month and want to give it to him. He'll be 2 years old in June. Charlie will be 4 in April. He is all about trains. I have a pattern that I traced out of a coloring book of a train so will start a quilt for him soon. Lily, age 6 is about pink and Disney so will try to find some beauties from Disney to make a "pink" quilt for her.
Got to get with the day. Enjoy your crafting time!

We're still snow covered and below freezing!

Here's what it looked like outside the front door yesterday. I think it is beautiful but can't wait for warm temperatures. I've outgrown cold, snowy weather.
Sat in the dark for awhile last night as power went out. Everyone in our area sat dark. Donna said she reached on top of the refrigerator for her flashlight and it didn't work. Reached again for the small one and it rolled to the floor "in the dark". So much for light. We didn't even attempt lighting our oil lamps. I rather enjoyed the dark and peace. Did, however, make my way to the kitchen counter to lay my knitting so the dogs wouldn't jump on top of me and I loose some stitches.

Our front door looks out onto the Great Smokey Mountain Parkway. When we go for picnics you can look down at a couple areas and see our home. We do enjoying going up there several times a year. It is peaceful and relaxing (except for the passing motorcycles and other vehicles). The view is something out of a book.
Back to my knitting. If it warms up I'll get in my sewing room and get some quilting done. My Grandson's birthday is April 16 and I need to do him something in a train.

Enjoy your day.

Burrrrrrr!!! It's still cold with snow on the ground

Good day to stay inside and knit socks, sweaters or whatever is on your mind.
I am interested in locating a pattern similar to the one shown here. It is something that I think I'd knit for myself.
Working on the black pullover that will go to Chicago. I am almost to the armholes. Then onward to the neck. This is the second pullover, same pattern, for the young woman in Chicago. Next she'll send me the yarn for the cardigan.
Those Harmony needles that I purchased are very nice to knit with. I'll have to keep them up high when not in use instead of laying them on the arm of the chair while I take a break. The dogs would have a "wood" sandwich.
Well, Carrie decided that she does want her Bichon. She called Saturday night and said she didn't want the 6 month old Bichon and would I keep her. I said, "yes, but...if you decide you want her back she is yours." By morning, the phone was ringing. Carrie hadn't slept all night missing the Bichon. In the snow storm here she came up the driveway to get the puppy. Just as well because the male Coton de Tulear would have bred her in a year and then I would have been in a world of problems with no purebred puppies. I try to keep only purebred AKC or CKC.
I wrote of my snow day. Well, I must confess, I cook way toooooo much. Today, I baked a chicken pot pie. It tasted oh so good. Maybe I'll make another one for knitting on Tuesday night. We ate collard greens with it. They say that collard greens lower blood sugar. Don't know, never checked.
Have a good one.

Snowy Sunday

I bake and eat too much on snow days.

Today I joined ringsurf.com, U come join too!

Hello:
I just foined the Knitters Ring. I hope that you consider joining also. Go to http://ringsurf.com. sock knitters
Powered By RingsurfLooks like it is going to be a wintery day today and tomorrow so hope to get a lot of knitting done.
Oh, yes, my friend moved to another home. Didn't want to take her Bichon, Lacy, so guess who has her now? Yelp, 14 4 leggers now live with us. Oh, no, only 4 in the house. We built an apartment for our dogs. They love it and so do I. Have them an RV tub, waist high so that I can bathe them, a grooming table and put in their own washing machine. Didn't like the dog hair in mine all the time.
The dogs have a 14x40 ft. inside with stalls, and a 40x8 ft. attached run and then that leads down to about 1/2 acre of fenced in yard for them to romp.
Well, going to work with those new needles from www.knitpicks.com. They came yesterday. Oh, so very nice. They are Harmony Wood Interchangeable Circular set. I think I'll really like them a lot. The color looks bold on their website but it isn't. I'm knitting with black yarn at the moment and neither over powers the other.

THEY ARE HERE!!!!!

I got them in the USPS mail today. I am so excited. My new Harmony Wood needles from www.knitpicks.com. I ordered the set of circular needles. It cost more money than I ever thought I'd spend on a set of needles but oh so worth it.
They are very pretty. I thought, seeing them online that they looked almost too brightly colored that it would be a distraction. But no, it is not. And they don't blend in too much either to make them hard to distinguish against black yarn. Well, black is what I have put on to see how they work.
I'll photo them another day but right now you can find them at www.knitpicks.com . I am pretty sure that I'll order the double pointed needles in a few weeks. Probably not a set but pick out the ones that I would use most often.
Well, it's rainy here and promises of snow all day tomorrow and yet the next day so I'll have plenty of time to get comfortable with the smooth feel that they have.

Here's a little Bear Tam

Just a little sample for Sandi. Will try to get it to the USPS today. It's raining and need to go out in it for a few errands. Will look forward to returning and curling up with a good pair of needles. Speaking of needles. I have ordered, due here today, a set of the wood needles from Knitpicks.com. I can't wait! I have never owned a complete set, always just bought the size as I needed it. My next purchase will be the double point needle set.

Enjoy the weekend and give me a little tug lickstone@gmail.com, be safe.

Here's the Fair Isle for April

Here's the Fair Isle hand knit sweater for April. She really likes it. Says she looks at it and cries. Noticed one on a lady in the grocery store one day and decided she just had to have one.

I'm not a photographer but think you get the general idea.

Hey, here's my bear beret (Tam)

Thought you'd like to see the tam I knit for a bear. It's the one that's going to Sandi in Colorado. Hope she enjoys it.

Phat Fiber here I come!

Just signed up to be a member of Phat Fiber. I think I'm going to love it because I love to knit and love to chat.
Finished a bear beret last night. Cute! Will send it to Sandi in Clifton, CO. It isn't anything acceptional but will give her an idea of my knitting. And who knows, maybe she can use it. But...can't wait to knit her hubby's Kilt socks for his Scottish attire. Argyle. She's buying the yarn, I'm doing the knitting.
Well, I'm out of here. Need to check on my dogs and birds.
Have a terrific day.

Fat Tuesday and Knitting

Today is Fat Tuesday. When I lived in Detroit Michigan I found out about Fat Tuesday. We'd rush to the bakeries and buy the filled donuts. YUM!!! But today, want to loose weight to attend my Granddaughter's graduation. My first Granddaughter, my first Grandchild. I can't wait! I am so very proud of her and my other 4+ grandchildren. Yes, another one on the way for my son, Rich and his wife, Shannon. HURRAH!!!!! Can't Wait!!!

I worked on the Elite Classic sweater last night for the lady in Atlanta. Pictures above is the Luxe by Classic Elite Yarns cardigan version. We are making it a pullover with sleeve pattern from a christmas 2007 magazine. The sizing comes from the Japanese knitting book. She is a petite woman and this sizing fits her perfect.

Here's a glimpse of a cabled sweater that I completed

Thought some of you might enjoy seeing some of the items that I have knit in the past and am currently knitting on. Boy, do I wish I had taken photography! The dog, well, he's real! He's our AKC Champion Armed n'Dangerous (Dillian to us). He Father's our puppy litters. Dillian is so cuddley and passive. Nothing seems to bother him. We have 3 litters of purebred Cockers due around Easter and ready for new homes by Mother's Day, 2009.

The red cable piece is the back of a sweater that I knit for a lady in NY. This sweater turned out very elegant. And the grey socks, they are just plain. I have knit every thing from lacy to bobbles and all that in between. In 2008, I knit well over 40 pairs of socks and sold them all. Some on ebay and a few other pairs online.

Mom is 84 year young. I say young because she drives herself to Florida, to Michigan and to Texas to visit relatives. She knits and sews and dresses Victorian dolls. Sells her items at a little craft consignment store in Dillsboro, NC. Yes, she gets a savings on her monthly selling fee because she works there about 20 hours a month. They keep telling her she is old enough not to work, she keeps telling them she enjoys meeting the people. I think her biggest seller are the pairs of socks and dishcloths. She is leaving in March for a doll show in Florida.

Tuesday nights is knitting class. Some of the local women come here at 6 pm. They eat dinner with us and then we craft. Well, it started out knitting and now we have a quilter who brings her hand sewing and a rug braider. I bought the braiders for rug braiding but haven't gotten that far yet into that craft.

I have knit for so many years that it is hard to remember what I have even made over the years. My first big project at 9 years old was a pair of mittens, a hat, and a neck scarf. Only to loose it at school and then see a girl from my class wearing them later. Lesson well learned....

Now I make sure that when I wear something handmade into a restaurant I remember to pick it up when I leave.

The red sweater went with me to the Doctors office one day. My husband and I sat in the examing room and I knit while waiting for the doctor. Once finished he ushered us out and towards the payment station. Suddenly I heard my name. The nurse was calling me. She pointed to the yarn I was dragging from my knitting bag all the way out of the examing room and down the corridor. I turned redder than that yarn! I haven't lived that one down yet so finally knit the doctor a pair of wool socks to hush him about the red yarn dragging behind me!

Love those knitting and quilting blogs

I want to say that I really enjoy reading blogs. Seeing what others are doing and creating. Looking at scenery where people live and travel. And not only do I enjoy looking at the items but I love the looks of so many blogs. Some people really take time to add their creative sides of themselves. Those are the "computer" buffs, those are the ones that know what to click on and where to drop and drag. Thanks to all of you who make my quiet time enjoyable. Those of you who blog.

I'd love to sit and read knitting blogs today but.....

I have been busy knitting on 2 sweaters this weekend. Need to finish the thumbs of a pair of mittens and get them into the usps on Monday.
Will work on the GA. sweater this afternoon. Who knows might get it in the mail in the next couple weeks. It is absolutely fantastic!
I just saw a blog featuring the Japanese knitting book that I have. Who knows maybe once I get the hand knit sweater coat finished I can knit something out of that Japanese book. It really has some beautiful patterns in it.
Must go eat breakfast. I made homemade bread yesterday so will toast it and spread on the cream cheese and jelly. Collard greens for lunch and who knows what else will be on the menu.
Have a peaceful week!

Socks for Hannah are finished

She'll wear them to school on Monday. She was so happy with them. A gift for Valentine's. They sure looked awefully long to me but then her feet are like boats. I didn't have them finished by the time she got here. We took her out for lunch so I knit all the way there and back and before we got home I had finished.

Hannah picked out 2 more skeins for pedicure socks. She'll wear them with flip-flops to school

Sold the last one of our cocker spaniel puppies today. He was a little doll. Went to a little boy for his birthday. I think they will give it a nice loving home.

Have 3 more litters to be born and all around Easter. They will be ready for their new home by Mother's Day. Nice gift for a Mother especially since now Good Morning America had that article on about people living longer lives thanks to a dog! Yes, I too believe it. David says he and I will live to be about 150 then with all the love we give and get from our dogs.

Hand Knit Mittens for Adults

I'm knitting a pair of mittens for a duck hunter (waterfowl hunter). Just finished a pair for a man in Canada.
I am surprised at the number of adults that want 100% wool mittens to keep out the cold air this year. The mittens sure seem to be popular not to mention the hand knit wool socks. I knit 11 pairs for one lady and over 40 pairs for other persons. Now those are the thing to have on these cold wintery days.
Maybe the toeless socks will kick in for spring. You know those look terrific with a nice shiny pedicure.
Get in touch with me through this blog and you'll be glad you did.

Hand Knit Swing Coat

I am knitting a Swing Coat for a lady in Pa. It is just about ready to be photographed. Will have her own created design down each front panel. A Ring of Fire Cable around the whole coat and then topped off with a Ring of Fire Cable mandarin collar.
The coat itself is done in a rich gold with 9 other colors in the design. It is absolutely georgous.
You can't imagine the number of people that want hand knit coats. They are bound to be a great hit!
You want one? Contact me lickstone@gmail.com or just inquire through this blog.

Fair Isle Sweater is finished!

There, it's finished. Loved the Fair Isle pattern and knitting but would never buy a kit. I'd much rather choose my own colors.

It isn't blocked yet but will go into the USPS to April. Then will wait to see how she likes it and how it fits.

I did like the way it all matched up.

On to the other sweaters sitting all around me in the "finish up" mode.

Let me know if you want a sweater knit and I'll get r' done for you cause you know I do this for a living.

Happy Holidays!

I can't begin to tell you how wonderful 2008 has been to us. We are proud to have God in our lives. We have, for the most part, good health and so much to be thankful for.
I have met so many new "friends" online. Since I am actually a homebody it has been good for me to 'meet' everyone. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to email me. I truly appreciate you kindness and words of encouragment.
So to all of you out there, welcome in 2009 with the courage to begin new creative ideas and to finish what you started in 2008!

The Dark Knit: Knitting on an angle..

The Dark Knit: Knitting on an angle..

I love knitting! So much so that I custom knit sweaters, coats, leg warmers, mittens, socks and hats for people just like you. No more buying off the rack and it doesn't fit because I knit to your exact measurements. See a sweater in a magazine, I'll knit it. Want to turn heads when you walk down the street, or feel warm and cozy while looking terrific? I'll knit it.
Here's how I knit.
First, you design on the design you want.
Second, you and I decide on the yarn that you want to feel warm in. Go ahead, choose the color you want.
Third, I do the knitting to your measurements.
Fourth, you wear the sweater.
How much simplier could that be?
Contact me at lickstone@gmail.com and we'll discuss the sweater you've been wanting but couldn't wear!

Socks - Hand Knit for Men, Women and Children

Well the cool weather is fast approaching. Time to get my hands and joints moving. Everyone in US and Canada will decide that this is the year for a pair of warm, soft and cuddly socks. Last winter I knit 30 pairs of socks every month. It just didn't let up, first the cool weather, then hunting season, Christmas and cold, cold weather. Didn't matter whether it was a gift or shear comfort everyone was ordering the socks in the color that suited them. And best of all they fit. Fit because I had them measure their foot from back of heel to tip of toes. That's what it takes to get a pair of socks that fit.
Got the "fit" idea because I have small feet. It is hard for me to go into the store and get a pair of socks that really fit. Not any more. And best of all I can get any color I want and the type of yarn I want. Love those wool socks. Keep my feet so snuggly.
So if you want to walk on a cloud and keep warm contact me for a pair of "heavenly" socks.
Suzanne
lickstone@gmail.com
Ravishing Knits

Sweaters

I've really been knitting some beautiful sweaters for people in the US and Canada. It is exciting to see the soft, warm yarn unfold from a ball into beauty. Just to know that one day someone will wear it and receive many compliments.
The lady from Portland, Oregon wore hers to a seminar a few weeks ago. She reported that she got a lot of compliments. She must have been a real eye catcher in her warm pink alpaca with mohair pink trim. It was stunning!
Hand knitting isn't hard but time consuming. I am sure that many of the sweaters now days are machine knit. I read somewhere that they hand knit the seams so that it passes for "hand knit". Now isn't that something. Machine knit with hand knit seams. That just doesn't seem right, does it?
Well back to my knitting. Love to make people happy because Not All People Are Created Equal. Takes the full measurements of a person to make the sweater!
Suzanne
lickstone@gmail.com
Ravishing Knits

Take my vitamins

I am trying to remember to take my vitamins every day. I think the calcium is helping me the most. Feeling much better now, more and more every day. Maybe part due to the weight loss.

These Golden Years Aren't What They Are Cracked Up To Be!

I thought that when I got older I'd feel good! I don't remember my Grandparents every complaining about aches and pains. About 8 weeks ago I started with Gout. Oh my, what a pain. After 4 prescriptions I think I can now control it myself. Or at least I hope so. I am only eating meat about once a week and taking some vitamins. Have tried the cherry extract capsules. It's a good thing I like salads, and vegetables. Got any suggestions or ideas of what to try next?
Now to get off some of this extra poundage. Any suggestions?