Sunday, February 8, 2015

Ponchos and Hooded Cowls

Hello, hello, hello!  I feel like I need to apologize to all of my blogging friends out there.  I have not been around regularly to read or comment on your blogs.  I miss all of the news, but I have just been feeling so punk lately, that I haven't even felt like blogging. Today, I am much, much better!   I felt better today, than I have in weeks!   So, I promise I will be back to visit all of you soon.
I have done a lot of laying around, and during that time, I did make a couple of ponchos for my two little granddaughters.  I took these photos tonight.  They were thrilled with them.

I got a Pom Pom maker and boy are those fun!  I bought two different packages, so I  now have 4 sizes to choose from.
Last week one day I was talking to my friend Pammy Sue.  You know Pammy Sue.  She blogs at Scotty's Place  Anyway, Pammy Sue has been wanting to learn to knit more, as she and I are both primarily crocheters.  I learned to knit a little bit a few years ago, but all I can make are dishcloths, and slippers.  Lots of dishcloths, and one pair of slippers.  I made those slippers for my dear Nana, who I miss every single day.
So, Pammy Sue and I set out on a knitting adventure!  We worked the same pattern, together.  We knit, we we purled.  We texted photos back and forth.  We dropped stitches.  We caught them with a crochet hook. We held our breath!  We frogged several rows.  We both frogged an entire piece that we had worked on for many hours.  I threw mine across the room.  There may have been a curse word or two.  But no, we would not be defeated!!!!   Project two was begun with some brand new pretty balls of yarn.  And we were off again.  Saturday and Sunday were spent sitting outside on the patio in some beautiful 85 degree weather, knitting and purling away.  Oh my gosh.....I learned so much!!!!  We both did!  I watched numerous youtube videos.  I used circular needles for the first time.  I learned how to knit in the round.  And how to knit flat on the same circular needles.  I used my row counter that one of my Knitty Biddy friends gifted me.  I learned how to pick up a second color, and leave the main color ON the project, and switched off every few rows, having both balls of yarn still attached.  Phew...I learned so much!!!!  And how much fun we had.  It almost felt like we were sitting across form one another knitting together.  There are so many of you, my blogging friends, that I would love to sit and knit, or crochet with.  You know who you are!!!
So, here it is.  My first REAL knitting project.  There are plenty of mistakes, here and there.  Bumpy rows.  Dropped stitches that had been fished back up to the needles with a crochet hook.  But I was pretty pleased with it.  It is for my granddaughters too.  They can share it now, and I will make another one soon.  I was thinking I would make a red one for Hannah, to match her poncho, and she can be like little red riding hood. No ears on that one.
Oh my gosh, look at how cute she is!!!  She would NOT hold still for photos.  The cowl is barely visible here.  It has a large button closure on the bottom of the hood.  For the next time, I would make the cowl slightly wider, and slightly longer.  I followed the pattern for a child, age 5-8 for this one. It is meant to be loose and drapey.  Pammy Sue is making hers adult size.  Okay...I did cheat a little.  I could NOT for the life of me, figure out how to do the finish work on the hood.  I bound the hood off, and then I crocheted a trim around the face of the hood, as well as made a tab with a button loop and sewed a big chunky wooden button on. I also crocheted the little ears on top.  The pattern is called Rocky Raccoon.  For the ears, I crocheted both the grey and the black together.  I shaped it, and folded in half, and stitched to the top of the hood.   I had an absolute ball making it.  Especially making it together with Pammy Sue.  We spent a lot of time, texting, talking on the phone, and sending photos back and forth.  THANK YOU Pammy Sue!!!!
And this next photo, I couldn't resist posting.  It is a bit blurry, but my Hannah has the most natural smile in this picture.  She usually does this fake smile lately for photos.  And in this, it is her true smile.  She and Claire love each other so much!  You can see their devotion to one another in this candid shot!
Now, I know I am partial, because I am their Grandma, and I am supposed to be.  But I think they are the most beautiful little girls in the world!!
That's it for today.  I will try to be back soon.  Oh, one more thing.....I wish you could smell what I can.  The orange grove is full of orange blossoms.  One full month early!!!!   The scent is intoxicating.  I am sitting here with my windows wide open on this balmy winter night, with the beautiful scent floating in the air.  Dreamy!!!
Night night.
XO  Kris

18 comments:

Teresa Kasner said...

Your little girls are definitely beautiful! I'm glad you helped Pammy Sue with her knitting and that you are practicing it too. I love knowing both skills. I know the girls will enjoy their ponchos so much! What a good grandma. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Betsy said...

I LOVE Pammy Sue and you too, Kris! I want to sit and knit with both of you. Oh, I can just imagine the two of you texting back and forth. Words flying, stitches slipping! I learned to knit by utube videos because I didn't know anyone who knit. It was a few years ago, before I knew about blogland. I'm so glad you two have each other. Your ponchos and cowls turned out so pretty...but not as pretty as those two gorgeous girls of yours. How blessed you's re to have them so close. I'm Very glad that you're feeling better now. That was a nasty bug. Is Greg doing better too?
Blessings my friend,
Betsy

Debbie said...

Good morning! Well first I am glad you are finally feeling 100%! Goodness that was a nasty, nasty bug. And how fun to learn to knit this way! I am loving both the poncho's and the cowl hood. Soo cute! And the girls are getting sooo big. They ARE just beautiful...both of them! Now stay well and enjoy the rest of your week!

priscilla said...

Such cuties ! Love the ponchos and the hooded cowl .. I applaud you for being able to knit ! I think it is the hardest thing ever :) Glad you are feeling better Kris!

podso said...

I'm glad you're feeling better too. I have not been well for weeks and weeks, This stuff really hangs on. I am so impressed with your tenacity in the learning to knit escapade. And it sounds like you did a lot more than basic knitting. It is encouraging how much is available on line to help us perfect our skills or start them. I am stuck in a crocheting rut and need to branch out! Love the ponchos! I used to make them for gifts in College~

Gloria Baker said...

Im glad you feel better!!
These lovely girls look amazing in ponchos!! They are lovely!
xoxox

Pammy Sue said...

The girls look so sweet in their ponchos and the hood! How fun to be able to make them things like this. It's been a blast knitting with you the last few days. It's the only knitting orochet I get to do with anyone, the "virtual" kind. Let me know when you start the red one. I'm pluggin' along over here. Looks like another beautiful, sunny, and warm day here.

Between Me and You said...

Beautiful results on both the knitting and crochet fronts. Those girls are just beautiful too. Glad you're feeling perkier. Keep going with the knitting.

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

What cuties Kris! Love your creations. They really are beautiful girls! I wish I could smell your grove...I am sitting in 2 feet of snow and smelling wet dog!
xoRobin

Linda said...

Those girls are so sweet!♥️
I know hot to knit....took a course about 30 years ago....
One Christmas I made everybody sweaters....
Even made an Argyle sweater once!
Guess I should pick a simple pattern, and try it again....
I have trouble casting on!
That cute hood looks like the ones I made Vivian....
Enjoy your week my friend...
I am dying with an awful sinus cold.....YUCK!
Cheers!
Linda :o)

Susanne Tyree said...

I think you did a great job on the knitted/crocheted hood for your darling granddaughter. The ponchos are cute too. Always nice to have a friend who shares the same things with you and since I know who Pammy Sue is and follow her blog also, I know she has been trying so hard to master the art of knitting. She is a good crocheter. There are a lot of patterns that are knitted that incorporate crochet too. I have seen it many times. Right now I am knitting a 5th or 6th ribbed cap on the round, and by that I mean on circular knitting needles. When using that kind of needle there is no seam to see or to sew up. A circular needle is always my first choice when knitting, no matter what I'm making. I knit all my long scarves on one of those, it just seems less cumbersome than straight needles. I have a whole mess of them and recently trying to find some sort of storage thingy to put them in. Right now I store them in a plastic case and it is annoying to find the right size. The caps I am making are tricky, when decreasing stitches one has to switch over to DP (double point)needles, like what you would use to make socks, or fingers in gloves. What a pain in the butt, lol. Well anyways, have missed you, glad you are feeling better and yes, I bet the breeze smells heavenly with the scent of orange blossoms. You are blessed.
Susanne :)

Susanne Tyree said...

Also forgot to say I have a pattern similar to the racoon hood only mine is a red one for an adult and the yarn is in a bag and the pattern is downloaded to my iPad which now has a dead battery. Today I go to see about a new battery....I'm sure that will be about $100.....grrrrrrrr!
Susanne :(

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

What fun you had making something for your beautiful girls. Knitting is a skill I would love to learn if I could pick it up in my sleep! Too many other things I want to learn first, so you can be my proxy.

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

So glad to hear you are feeling better, Kris! Fun to see your projects...I love the ponchos and the cute knitted hat!. You really DO have adorably cute grandchildren!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Your granddaughters are so cute and it is so nice that they get along so well. The ponchos you knitted are very pretty--they are perfect for your warmer climate, and I'm sure your grands will get lots of use from them.

I wish I could smell your orange blossoms, Kris!

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Kris you continue to amaze me! I love all that you did and how much fun to knit with Pammy Sue!Your creations are adorable!

If you ever want to start a little crochet/knitter club, count me in! How fun to gather, crochet, chat and snack together!!!

Sorry you have been not feeling your best and glad to hear you are on the mend. Continue to do so and enjoy this beautiful California weather and your orange grove!

Hugs,
Maryjane
xox

Pam said...

The ponchos and hooded cowl are adorable and so are your granddaughters.

Glad you are feeling better!

Taci simmons said...

Your granddaughters are so sweet and so pretyy. They are adorable and look so lovely with the cowl you made. It looks like she likes it also. I'm so glad you are enjoying your beautiful oranges.