Sock It To Me!

I have quite a few balls of  Bernat Jr. Jacquards in my stash.  I like it very much and have knit several baby cardigan/hats/sock sets with it and will likely do more.  I Pulled out a ball and decided to make baby socks for my craft sale stock.  When I make items with self patterning yarn I usually just let the colour changes happen when they want to but after I had finished the first two socks I realized that the pattern repeat was quite large and I wasn't really happy with the socks as a pair as the colour stripes were wide and not even the same colours appeared on such a small project.  But I also do not want to waste yarn trying to match up the pattern, so I just kept on knitting socks (tiny baby socks) and I expected that sooner or later I would have a pair.  Guess what, sock number seven was almost an exact repeat of sock number one.  So I just kept on knitting and as I completed each sock they became pairs.  I got to sock number eleven and was at the end of the ball.  I went back to my stash, checked out a few balls and found one that was almost at the same place in the pattern.  I think I only had to discard about 20 inches of yarn to get to the repeat of the pattern.  Now I have six pairs (matching pairs) of baby socks and one less ball in my stash.  The pairs are not exact matches but very close.  I have numbered them although they are not likely the order that they were knit.

Number 1

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

Number 5

Number 6

I really am a sock nut but I am also working hard on my last sample of Jr. Compass.  When finish I will have four samples, out of the five sizes that the pattern contains.  I will have size 2, 4, 6 & 10 and a couple of hats to match very soon and the pattern will be posted on Patternfish as soon as the photos are finished.

MommaBearKnits on and on. 

Want to see another vacation picture:

Hope so ---- Because I want to show it!!!!!

Awesome Vacation

I toured Banff and Lake Louise over the last 6 days.  My Daughter and I visited my granddaughter who is working at the Lake Louise breathtaking hotel.  We spend our time touring the area, Lake Louise, Banff, Sulphur Mountain, The Ice Fields, etc, etc, etc.  I cannot even remember everything and all the places we visited.  I will have to sit down and study all the pictures to know just how many awesome adventures we three generations of loving women actually had.  Fabulous Fabulous adventure. 

My Daughter and My Granddaughter, I am sooooooo proud of them both.

This it one of the awesome views from the top of Sulphur Mountain, we travelled to the top by Gondola. 

Sunset on Lake Louise. 

These few pictures are just the tiny tip of the iceburg or I guess I should say Glacier. 

I am soooooo happy right now, tired, but happy.

MommaBearKnit on the plane ride home, awesome trip. 

Progress, Even in the Heat Wave!

It is still hot.  There must be another word to describe the temp other than hot!!!!!  But I am slowly making progress.  Finished another pair of children's socks and I finished the size 10, Jr. Compass.  Still have to end the yarn tails and find buttons but the being covered with a Chunky Weight Jacket is done!!!!!!

Here it is, resting comfortably in the grass (more weeds that grass, I am afraid)

but it is my space and I love it in the shade, especially these days.

Now a question:   What is wrong with my Christmas Cactus.  Blooming in the hottest days of summer, what is that all about. 

it is loaded with buds ready to burst.  I guess it loves the outdoors too.  I enjoy my hanging garden.  The cactus will bloom all summer long outside, then it will come in and bloom again

several times in the morning sunshine window. 

Until it cools down, Mommabear will knit small items ---- but she will keep on knitting.

On July 28 I am heading for Lake Louise with my daughter to visit my granddaughter Sarah.  I will enjoy the cool mountains for sure. 

Hot Weather, is slowing me down!

Knitting in a heat wave takes a little more planning.

I had to revert back to little projects to survive

the 35 plus degree celsius/95 Farhenheit very humid temp. 

Sooooooo I did some socks and even worked on a dishcloth.

After all, Mommabear does have to knit, you know.

We also had a nice birthday gathering for Mary,  she is awesome.

Working on a size 10 with chunky yarn becomes a bit of a challenge,

especially when you get to the body, it feels like a blanket,

and that blanket is not needed in this weather, even with a great big cooling fan.

But now with the rain the temperature is getting back to normal and I am getting back to

Jr. Compass.  I am almost done the third sample, just have to work a hat and then

the pattern is ready !!!!! Yeah.

I have to knit about another 10 inches of the body and then I am done! 

MommaBearKnits, even in a heat wave!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Mary, my Mom-in-Law

Celebrating 98 Years, Love you Mary.

Although, she states that She Is Not 98.

What a great lady.

In this case, a pictures certainly is worth a Thousand Words.  Ain't she cute? 

Baby Hats Are Coming Out My Ears!!!!!!

At this time I have 26 newborn size hats. (trust me, I have many many hats in all sizes in my stock).   Hopefully some of the newborn hats will be selected by a Barrie area Baby Portrait Photographer who I am meeting with tomorrow morning, the others will accompany me to the Oro Medonte Arts and Craft Tour November 12 & 13, 2010.

I will be set up at the Shanty Bay location. 

Oh my Gawd, how can I think about Christmas Craft Shows on the hottest day of the summer.  It is sunny today and the temperature is 29 Celsius/84.2 Fahrenheit at 9:00 a.m. 

- What will it be by Noon?

Ruster Cruster and I have already finished our daily 2 killometre/1.24 mile walk

before it gets any hotter. 

Back to the needles and string, sitting in front of a large fan.

That can't be all bad, right?

- MommaBear

HAPPY CANADA DAY EVERYONE!!!!!!

"Jr Compass" in the LimeLight!

I have been working on the Jr. Compass Pattern.  I have decided to call it "Jr. Compass" as it is the toddler/child version of "Baby Compass".   At first I was calling it Jr. "C" but feel that it needs to have that special "Compass" Conection.  Below is the size 6 sample.  Jr. Compass will be more of a jacket than Baby Compass which is worked in DK weight yarn. 

Next, size 2 and 6 are just hanging out together, enjoying the nice summer day. 

Both samples are knit in Patons Shetland Chunky.  I still have to knit at least one size of the hat, for the photo that will be placed on the front page of the pattern.  Watch for it, it is almost ready to go.  I predict that it will be up and running early in July 2010.  Have a Happy Canada Day everyone.

I have one more sample to finish shown below. 

This sample is size 10, also worked in Patons Shetland Chunky; colour is Blue Jean Varigated.  I have to admit that the texture of the pattern shows much better in a plain shade, but I do love Blue Jeans so here it is in varigated.

Keep on Knitting, MommaBear will knit on into the future. 

Oh, I have also finished my DK socks and a pair of Kroy Socks;

also still working on Photo Prop Baby Hats.

It's been a week.

I promised pictures from our road trip.

Didn't get any.

We car pooled to Huntsville, and when we got to Knitting Three Together, we put our purses in the trunk of the car so we could just concentrate on knitting and not have to carry anthing but our knitting bags.  It wasn't my car, so I didn't have the keys. 

Guess what, the camera was in my purse.

We had a great time

---knitting, networking, knitting, and buying more yarn---

Oh, yeah, when I am in a yarn shop, I always carry a little cash in my pocket, just in case I touch a ball or two that I cannot resist.  Yes, I confess, I added to my stash.  What else is new.

MommaBearKnitsToo.

At present, I am working on some Photo Prop Baby hats, and I have finished two samples of "Jr. C" in sizes 2 and 6 yrs.  I need to get buttons and then work on one more size before I actually send off the pattern to Patternfish.  - MommaBear

Poll Results

The poll is done.  While there was only 6 votes, I learned something.  All six of the votes stated that they were followers.  That is good, as I can expect them to return to my blog on a regular basis.  One of the six also stated that the visit was the result of a designer search.  One other (or the same one) stated that the visit was the result of a referral.  Hopefully, my followers will grow in numbers and I look forward to more comments.  I don't mind suggestions for improvements as well as compliments.  After all, suggestions will help me to make changes and be better at my craft.  I am going on a Knitting Guild Road Trip later today --- Will be a great networking event.  This will be our guild's last meeting until September.  We are going to meet for dinner and then spend some quality time, at Knitting Three Together in Huntsville.  It is a great yarn shop and the owners are great.    .......MommaBearKnits. 

Pictures of the evening will follow tomorrow. 

Poll!

Please answer the poll.  I love feedback and comments on my blog.  Suggestions are welcome too.

Still At It!

Huggy Bear Sample is complete.  At the top is the sample for a baby boy and the second one is for a baby girl.  I will download some new pictures onto the pattern and re-submit for sale on Patternfish.  There is absolutely no pattern changes just a little upgrade to the sentence structure and also a schematic is added.

And here is my DK weight socks.  Heavy and warm, very warm - 100% wool.  These will have to go to someone who understands that you hand wash and lay flat to dry.  But they will be super comfortable and very very warm.  Will be good for outdoor guys in the middle of the winter.

As always MommaBearKnits and Designs.