Christmas visit

Matt and family came up over the weekend for a visit. While Matt, Marian, Russ, and Cara went to the temple, Nana and Pop and the 4 Richmond kids made a gingerbread house, 2 batches of cookies for a cookie exchange, and put up decorations. Nathan's family and Russ's family also came by for a visit. We all went together to the Frederick 1st Ward Christmas party. I couldn't resist adding this picture of Charlotte. What a doll!!!

One of the things we did while they visited was to make a gingerbread house. They did a great job, don't you think? Dean made the stained glass windows. We baked the little chocolate bears that used to be all around the house but several were EATEN by Pop before I got the pix.






Just found out Ben and Susan are coming up Christmas Day - woohoo!!!

The DaVinci Shawl

At the beginning of October Kalinumba (Anja of Germany, who also designed the last shawl I made) ran a KAL in which participants had to solve riddles to get into the files with the pattern parts for the shawl. It was a lot of fun but really hard (the riddles, not the pattern). I worked with people from all over the world for 2 days figuring out the clues. I finally just finished the shawl yesterday. It was supposed to be done in lace weight yarn but I had some beautiful fingering weight that I wanted made into a shawl or stole so that's what I used. The pattern was very versitile so I was able to not do all the rows and still hav e a pretty design within a reasonable size.
As we begin................





When all is knit and ready to block into shape, the livingroom sofa seems the best place.



To see the patterns I hung it from the drapes and pinned it at the top to the sheers. It doesn't really have those 2 pointy things on the top edge. The little things on the bow window sill are part of my bell collection with assorted dust bunnies.

The Rector Blocking Method

OK somebody else may have thought of this first but since I had never seen it, I'm claiming it as my own.

I just finished a test knit for a girl from Germany. I needed to block it last night and decided to try something on my own. I knew Yarn Harlot did straight edges with string on the top edge of a triangular scarf but still pinning it down to get the points. I had 4 straight edges and had another idea. Why not stretch it between heavy dining room chairs to dry? It could dry faster by not sitting on top of something wet but still dry out naturally . So I did it. Nothing to lose; if it didn't work I could just wet it and start again. But I love the way it turned out. The ends are stretched a little more than the center. I guess I could have avoided that by putting 2 more chairs in the center and pulling the strings to them; but I like it the way it is. More pictures to follow of the stole; a marvelous history of the pattern but I'll wait until she is published and you can buy the pattern yourselves. BTW the color is not right; it's really Spruce Heather, a dark green.
OK so here is one of the pictures that she used to advertise the pattern. And here's another of a friend wearing the shawl. Anja calls it the Historical Stole.

I'M PUBLISHED

For several months I've been doing test/sample knitting for designers and a couple of yarn companies. Here is my first published project for KnitPicks (they make great yarn, BTW). They are called Negative Space Mittens. I learned to do I-cord binding on these. No, I didn't design anything here....and my name will not appear anywhere; but, I DID get paid to knit up the sample.

Emma's Blessing

Friends and family attended church Sunday, September 7, 2008 for the blessing of Emma Lynn Rector.

An informal dinner was held in the family's home after the service.


With both grandma's there, we had to take turns holding her.

Oooooh, So Delicate

I finally finished my lacy stole that I had started in April then put into hibernation. The yarn is soooo tiny, it's like knitting with thread. Well, it's done and blocked. About a billion mistakes but if you see them, you are looking entirely too close. It's a lace sampler; there are 13 sections of different laces and then there's the outside edging that took 3 solid days to complete. Never again. I'm more the peasant shawl made of big bulky yarn type anyway.

More Parking Space

Dad decided that we need more room for parking the trailer so he got a guy to come put in an extension behind the apron. They got it paved in one morning.
But to get the room for them to work, the Fiero had to go into the garage. Pop enlisted Nathan's help to move it. He already has some of it taken apart. I'm suggesting a lot of Baggies and a list of where the parts came from.

Stitch 'N Pitch at the Keys

Keyote and friends at the game.

August 20 was the first annual Stitch 'N Pitch at the Frederick Keys. 38 knitters and crocheters had our own section to watch the Frederick Keys play the team from Lynchburg.
That's me crocheting on the edging of a knit wrap. I am wearing my YARRRRN tee shirt and hand knit socks.

Some of our group from Frederick Folks group of Ravelry.
Miss Frederick came by to meet and greet and our own Princess Stephanie, the birthday girl, got a photo op.Cinnamon got a special treat at the top of the 9th by becoming Queen Cinnamon of Burgertopia, complete with crown and coupon.
And Veruca made a guest appearance.

Family Reunion 2008

August 17th we gathered to check out the changes and happenings in our families in the past year. Lotsa great food and fun.

THE CAR!!!!

Pop has finally picked out the car project he is going to start on.
He found a 1987 Pontiac Fiero that he's going to change into an Aldino K/O.
He got the Fiero donor chassis from a yard sale in Thurmont and had a guy haul it here today. The car runs but isn't licensed or insured yet.

Here's what the kit looks like when it's done and painted red which color Pop may or may not choose. The body kit is made by a company called Aldino Car Company that you can see at www.aldinokit.com They say it has a "European flair" - Ferrari, maybe?
He'll be re-doing the engine, etc. too but we'll learn more about that as we go along.

SHE'S HERE!!!!!

Emma Lynn Rector - 7 lb 4 oz - born July 21, 2008 8:50am


Blessing gown and booties made by Nana Rector