New knitting trick

So I picked up this book . . .

. . . having read reviews about it in two different knitting magazines. After I paid for it, I sat down in the coffee shop part of my favourite local book store and did a quick scan through. The first thing that caught my eye was this cool trick for casting on stitches . . . a perfect way to begin a sock from the toe . . . with NO SEAM!  Pix not the greatest as I took them with my cell phone while Mizz Bootz was doing her best to HELP, so bear with me, please, while I try to explain this great new trick.

First, you cast on 1/2 of the stitches you want in your first circular row . . . in this case 6:

 Then you knit once in the front AND ONCE IN THE BACK of each stitch across . . . thereby DOUBLING the number of stitches on your needles:

 Then you PULL OUT THE NEEDLE!  Scary, I know, but it's part of the magic . . . with a little squeeze, 6 of the stitches will magically line up in one direction and 6 of the stitches will line up in the other direction:

 Then you re-insert your knit needle in the 6 stitches lined up one way . . .

 . . . then insert another knit needle in the 6 stitches lined up the OTHER way.

 At that point, you can start KNITTING IN THE ROUND . . . around and around and around without changing direction.  I increase 1 stitch at each end of each needle every second row to shape the toe of my sock.

 After a couple of rows, you can divide the stitches on each needle onto 2 knit needles so that 4 needles are holding your work.

 That's my favourite way of knitting socks . . . 2 needles for the front and 2 needles for the back.  I keep increasing 1 stitch on each side of the front and increasing 1 stitch on each side of the back until I have a total of 64 stitches . . . or 16 stitches on each of the 4 needles.  That's my calculation for fingering weight yarn on size 2.25 mm knit needles to fit my size 9 feet.

 Eventually, it turns into a sock:

 Well, there is the whole HEEL TURNING thing, but that's a different post!  I had so much fun with this new trick that I knitted a second pair of socks in less "spring-like" colours (it's still winter in this part of the world).

Good way to entertain myself last weekend, eh?  Now . . . WHERE ARE MY NEW SOCKS???

(In Mizz Bootz bed!)

There's a Bear in my office ....

We have been fundraising for our very own mascot for 3 years or so now, and it finally arrived at our centre today.

It's a PAW!  A big furry bear paw!

All of us were like kids on Christmas morning as it came out of the shipping box!

As you can see, our new Conference Room is still under construction ... 2 x 4's and stuff on the floor!

One of our volunteers tried it on and wandered up and down the hallway giving everyone Valentine's Day "bear hugs".

Yours truly gets a bear hug.

But we won't be OFFICIALLY introducing it to the community until our official Grand Opening Celebration next month, so SHHH!  DON'T TELL ANYONE!

We also had lots of fun dreaming up possible wardrobe ideas for it.  So far, we have determined that it needs a pair of bib overalls as well as a tuxedo vest and bowtie (for when it's a "Grampaw"), and a zany floral apron and kerchief (for when it's a "Grammaw").  And then there are all those SEASONAL events ... like Valentine's Day (something with hearts), and St Patrick's Day (something with shamrocks), and hockey games and ... and ... and ... I have a feeling my sewing machine just found itself a new job! 

Construction Ahead!

Moved my work site last week ...

Wall for new Conference Room going up

It's a bit chaotic around here!  Would have been nice to have the renos done BEFORE we moved in, but no such luck.