They Say Its Your Birthday! Feb's BOM

 Our fun loving leader celebrated her milestone birthday at Hearts N Twined Quilt shop with the OddBalls on Tues evening even with a big storm and rain raging outside!  Happy birthday Vickie with your tiara, you hauled in the big loot, cake, flowers and bags of  little gifties...Now you do know you do not get to do "60" again!  There is no do over!

 Rebecca had a pretty bouquet with some really great cake we all devoured, more food arrived all evening.  Pretty soon we will be known as the eating odd balls instead of the knitting odd balls.

 Are these not the most fun accessories for knitters - tiara and Elton John Glasses - He would love this, Little Dancer!

 OK back to business - January's blocks are coming along so pretty, and the blocks are all so different in colors and yet they are all knitting up perfect!  Its really fun to see them as they are finished. 

This is a picture of Feb's block of the month.   Its a Daisy Stitch.  There might be a little boo boo in the directions, please check with Vicki on this but as I recal from last night one of the rows has a little correction:  Here is your pattern!  

Sampler Afghan Block of the Month

February 2013

Daisy Stitch

Cast on 55 stitches

________  Row 1:  Knit (k) all stitches (sts)

________  Row 2:   Purl (p) all (sts)

________  Row 3:   k all sts

________  Row 4:   p all sts

________  Row 5:   k all sts

________  Row 6    p all sts

Work Daisy St as follows:   Insert right needle in st 3 rows below second st on left needle and pull up loop.  Knit 2 pull up a loop in same st as first loop twice

________  Row 7:              (Right side):  (K6, work Daisy St) 5 times, K5 

________  Row 8:              *P5, P2 tog, (P1, P2 tog) twice;  repeat from * 4 more times, P5

________  Row 9:   k all sts

________  Row 10   p all sts

________  Row 11:  k all sts

________  Row 12   p all sts

________  Row 13   k all sts

________  Row 14   p all sts

________  Row 15:  K11, work Daisy St, (k6, work Daisy St) 3 times, K10

________  Row 16   P 10, P2 tog ( P1, P2 tog) twice,*P5, P2 tog, (P1, P2 tog) twice:

                            repeat from *2 more times, P 10.

Repeat rows 1-16 until square measures approximately 12 inches from cast on edge, ending with a wrong side row.  Bind off all stitches leaving last loop on needle. 

Edging:  Drop loop from needle, insert crochet hook in loop. Do not turn; work 3 single crochet in each corner and 48 single crochet evenly spaced across each side.  Join with slip stitch to first single crochet.  Finish off.

Hooray Its Knitting Day

 Holy cow, the rain sure didn't keep any of the Odd Balls away!  It was like we never missed a beat and I am guessing two weeks away from the shop over holidays really got the juices flowing.  I was going to take a count of how many started socks and I think there were 10 at least!   I am so excited so many took the plunge into insanity.  The biggest challenge was met, casting onto 4 needles and then connecting that first stitch to create your first round.

Well played!  By the time my hour was up and it was time for Vicki to start her block of the month Heritage Afghan, everyone had gotten at least 2-3 rounds knitted on their first sock.  Next week, we start the heel flap!

After sock hour the long needles came out and I am sorry my images did not come out good enough to post, but there was quite an array of colors for those blocks.   In comparison to the sock challenge the afghan block should seem like a cake walk!

Out came the long needles, fresh balls of yarn, and another project started.   When Vicki showed off her finished sample block she reminded everyone that later in the course of time she will also teach us how to block our work so those blocks are nice and square and beautiful!  

See ya next Tuesday, where everyone knows your skein, and we are all glad you came!

A Word On Socks

See ya Tues evening!   Vicki has a pretty straight forward Heirloom block to start on the afghan Block Of The Month, but the socks need some discussion.

I know I have eyed some of the cool bulky yarns thinking how lovey they would be in socks.   Let me just say NO do not try this.  First off the bulky appears it will have enough yarn in a skein but one ball will just give you one sock..you would need two skeins for a pair!   Here is an example I did and I did not make the second.  This one was MORE work than you can imagine.  Its gianormous and I could not keep the stitches on my needles it became so big when adding the gussett!   You need to use the recommended worsted weight - the shop has lots to choose from where ONE skein will make a pair.   Remember these are your first socks, and you want to like and wear them even if they are not perfect!

I did manage to finish a pair over the holidays -

Till Tues!