FO's and UFO's

 The OddBalls are a tangled yarn with new balls showing up and projects in various stages. 

 The group project/Downton Hat update ; 3  finished and 3 or 4 about to be finished making a total of 6 completed hats! I saw them last night and all are on the last leg and looking SO good!   Keep working gals.  I sure hope we can all get together for a toast and photo op of us all in our very cool hats!

 This shawl I finished  in the pinks and magenta's  is from Ravelry - a pattern called Peruvian Central - yes it was easy.  Garter stitch and purl - can't get much easier than that!  This yarn is Madeline Tosh Merino Light in Oxyblood and Vintage Sari.    So luxurious to knit with and even better when blocked out. 

I hope eventually to get everyones Ravelry name so we can be friends on Ravelry.  If you look for me there I am Timelessdog! This is where its happening with advice, free patterns and so many yarn ideas - maybe we need a class or a short 10 minutes on how to use the site to your benefit!  I use it constantly to see what others have made with a particular yarn and how it looks knitted up!

 Your overworked leader Vicki aka: Ripley has this pattern waiting for the group to begin.   Its called Multnomah.  Super simple shawl, again a free pattern download on Ravelry - hint its http://www.ravelry.com
search  Multnomah - The shops yarns that would work nice for this might include Pagewood Farm's Denali sock yarn.   I happened to use KnitPicks Chroma (color impressionist) fingering yarn for mine, but Poems Sock yarn from the shop would yeild a similar look in a amazing colorways too.

Several Multnomah shawls are in progress, you can use scraps on this too for stripes or whatever your heart desires.  Take a  look at how the hundreds of others have knit this up to get ideas over on Ravelry!

 Part of the fun of finished a project is taking a photo of it to share.  WE NEED PHOTOS ladies!   Even if its just the start of something, we are here to encourage you to get from UFO which of course is Unfinished Object to a FO a Finished Object.   Phew, I am exhausted with all this encouragement.

Don't feel bad  if you frog something to the curb either, because its just what happens sometimes, and a good yarn to tell.  I just  frogged some very cool siberian slippers I started. I fell in love with the patten and they looked so incredibly amazing at first, only to hate them at the last.  They have left in the trash!   Seriously, not every project is a winner!   Don't expect it, just enjoy the journey.

Do you remember the Summer Waves Cardi!   I knit two of these this year, love it and Oh hey  - the pattern is on Ravelry!
Three cardi's  have been finished by OddBalls and 3 more are on the needles by others in our group.  Lets plan a photo op!

Besides my push to get you on Ravelry I want to mention Craftsy.com.   The workshops they offer are really amazing.  I am currently taking the toe up sock workshop and next post I will share with you some of the fun.

Last but not least ~ The Odd Balls split  into a Friday Morning group 10AM to Noon and has kept our original Tues evening gathering from 5PM to 7PM.  The OddBalls have grown!  The tables are overflowing with projects and yarn, new people and foundering people, seasoned knitters and new knitters, young and old - My format for sharing our knitting experience will probably be changing to more general news, yarn and pattern updates and education of your craft.   Till next time ~

Comfort Afghan

 OK gals, I had to share this with you.  My hubby works with Heart Made Blessings http://www.heartmadeblessings.org/
and we just received this COMFORTGHAN to give to a family who just lost their daughter.  I wanted to share it with you not only because of the lovey artisan handcrafted work but because you might enjoy this as its crochet and just another great way to play with lovely yarn.

 These squares are crochet, they are made by individuals all over the United States and each one has a tag on it from the person who made it, where it came from and sometimes a short message.  Each square is different and to understand what its all about you just need to visit the little link I provided above. 

 When the finished blocks are sent in for construction, a carry bag is made to match the color of the comfortghan which is presented to the family and a lovely documentation enclosed.

Normally we see these in patriotic colors for our veterans.  This one is quite different in its colorways and so pretty I had to share it.

Enjoy!

Down to Business - March BOM

OK knitters, here is your image of the March Heirloom block and the pattern will be at the bottom of this little chat.

I have a link that you might enjoy so check it out and keep growing those brain cells as you add more techniques to your yarn basket.
Knitting Tips - this link was not working earlier please try here. http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips

Remember to also check out Ravelry and join.  Tons of free patterns, people log on and share the same projects, its a nice opportunity to see one pattern in so many different color ways.  Raverly

Sampler Afghan Block of the Month

March  2013

Six Stitch Cable

Cast on 78 stitches

________  Row 1:  P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 2:               (Right side) K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across

________  Row 3:   P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 4:   K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across

________  Row 5:   P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 6    K1 * P2, slip 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work,

                            K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K1; repeat from * across.

________  Row 7:   (P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 8:   K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 9:   P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 10   K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across

________  Row 11:  P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 12   K1 * P2, slip 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work,

                            K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K1; repeat from * across.

Repeat rows 1-12 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.