Seamingly simple vest

I picked up this pattern at the Blue Moon Fiber Arts booth at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. It's a really good pattern for a beginner. Someone who has made a scarf, and wants to go the next step. You first knit a really big ribbed rectangle, then pick up stiches along the back, then knit another ribbed rectange. The only seams are the two under the arms. I made a few small adjustments, and will add a button. It feels like wearing a cozy shawl. Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 100% wool.

Holiday cards

The local library hosts adult craft events every month. Here are some holiday mosaic cards I made at their last event. It was interesting to see all the creative ideas from the other people there.

Another one

Another zimmerman jacket. This one is made with a combination of two natural undyed yarns. The dark grey color yarn is from Corriedale sheep, Pit River Wool, CA. The natural white color is from Coopworth lambs, Coburn Creek Farm and Pottery, WV.

I mailed both jackets to San Francisco for the "afghans for Afghans" effort (http://www.afghansforafghans.org/). They collect hand knitted and crocheted wool blankets, sweaters, hats, mittens, socks for people in war-torn (and cold) Afghanistan.

Elizabeth Zimmerman jacket

This kid sweater design is from Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Opinionated Knitter" book. She is one of the knitting greats, coming up with neat ideas, and encouraging each knitter to be creative and not be a slave to a pattern.

To make this sweater you knit the piece of flat knitting that has some increases and decreases in it (top picture). Then you fold it together, sew/knit the top seam, put on a few buttons, and "voila", you have a sweater.

Uncle Jim

My uncle Jim passed away a couple of months ago. My dad and I went to northern CA for the memorial service. Though a sad event, I hadn't seen that side of my family for a while, and I learned things about my uncle I didn't know before. It was also a chance to see all the sheep that my aunt and uncle were raising.

The first picture shows a lot of pregnant sheep. Over 100 lambs were born this year.

The second picture is of my dad (left) and uncle (right) when they were young.

The third picture is a more recent picture of my uncle Jim. He was a pretty happy guy.

Finally, a picture of one of the dogs on the ranch and a feral chicken, coexisting in peace.

Garter Stitch Rug

I knit this rug for my bathroom. Using two strands of thick yarn made it a very quick project. The off-white yarn was chunky Wool-Ease, with a couple of stripes of varigated yarn (can't remember what brand that was).

Water bottle holder

In need of summer-time knitting projects, I decided to try some water bottle holders. First I knit one in maroon cotton yarn with a very basic lace stitch. It looked good, but the strap stretched out with that cotton yarn.

So I decided to try making a felted version. The one pictured here is my first effort - Yarn is Cascade 220. I like it, except that it's a little too loose at the top, so the next one I made (sent to my dad), I put some decreases in the last circular rows, and it turned out better.