Collection of Chemo Caps

When we got home from Texas, I was happy to make some Chemo Caps from a beautiful teal-coloured wool I had received before we went. That done, I got a collection of yarns from the “donations” bag and made a few more. THEN I got a lot of grey yarn and bits and pieces of bright colours, also from the donations bag, and made another batch. That makes 18 Chemo Caps (so far)!
I still feel a little sad when I knit these caps, but I also feel that it’s important to do this work. I also love to find amazing patterns that are stylish and just might make someone feel better.
So, here’s the latest collection!

What I knit

First, I got back in to the swing of knitting after five weeks on the road. These are what I made:



At the back on the left is a Pacific Garter Rib with a Twist and a Bulky Waffle Hat is on the right. The front two are Ribbing and Lace Chemo Caps.

It was nice to have a variety of coloured yarns for the next three:



The pale pink is in the Graham pattern; the darker pink is a Diamond Head Beret; and the blue is an Opium Slouchy.

Next was the mix and match “collection”:



Clockwise from the top right, here are the patterns I used: Ryan, Newfie Hat, Bellezza, Hello New York Hat, and (my favourite, I think), a Beluga and Firefly Hat.

What I read

Since I got home, I finished three good books. In keeping with my Civil War obsession, I read Lynn Austin’s “All Things New” about Southern women trying to recover post-war. Then I switched to modern-day Orthodox Jews in “The Marrying of Chani Kaufman” by Eve Harris. Finally, a lovely story about 1930’s “Gold Star Mothers” who were sent by the U.S. government to visit the graves of their sons after WWI: “A Star for Mrs. Blake” by April Smith. This eclectic mix of books is why I love Goodreads and Bookpage.

What I watched

Oh, I love Netflix these days (and friend Heather who recommends the best things). I have been watching “Orange is the New Black” but then binged on the Swedish series called “The Bridge”. Oh, my. No knitting to this series, not only because it’s subtitled but also because it is SO compelling!

GREAT Knitting

Well, the knitting may not be “great”, but the kids that I knit for sure are!

What an exciting visit we had in May. My niece, her husband, and their three children came to Ontario. My Dad got to meet his latest, his GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER!

Here are four generations of my family:

I, of course, had to mark the occasion with a couple of knitting projects.

What I knit

I really do love Social Media. So does my niece who posts some great photos. Because of that, I was able to discern that the boys were interested in trains and dinosaurs! Of course, that meant new hats!

I made the Choo-Choo Toque first then used the same pattern and this Dinosaur chart. Tried for pictures of them in their hats, but too much excitement!

I am not to sure yet what interests my Great Niece, so I thought I would finish a project I started before Christmas. Actually, I had begun this for a newborn (she was born January 1), and must have made a big mistake somewhere, because it was looking way too large (I found a different pattern and made a newborn sweater and hat you can see again here).

So she now has two sets in this beautiful raspberry wool (Sirdar’s Snuggly DK I got at the great Aberdeens Wool Company in Lindsay. It turned out well and she will look sweet in this Basket Weave Sweater and Hat. I was able to find and use five matching buttons from David’s Mom’s button box. That was special for me, too.

What I read

Big knitting meant little time to read, but I did snag Janet Evanovich’s “Takedown Twenty” (guilty pleasure) and “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” by Jennifer Chiaverini. Both were interesting and easy reads.

What I watched

I had avoided “Downton Abbey” for its entire run so far on TV. BUT Netflix got Season 1 and 2 and I was hooked. Then Season 3 came just in time. As did Season 4 on DVD via my friend, Pat. Saturation! Loved it.

Tweesta Treats

Usually I wouldn’t be knitting at this time of year or even thinking about it. But my obsession continues. So I have a few projects to share with you.

Before we headed to Texas for our winter tour (which you can read about here), I finished two projects for two of my Tweestas (you’ve already met the other two, Deb and Maggie).

Keeping in touch with friends through Social Media is very powerful. Some may not agree. But, if you’re like me and love to communicate with words (though not on the telephone), Twitter and Facebook – and blogging, I guess- are wonderful tools. I keep my Tweestas close that way.

What I knit

We love the East Coast, especially Newfoundland, and we love to visit there. My Tweesta, Alana, loves PEI; it’s where her parents live and her future “summer home” is. So I decided to knit her some Maritimes-inspired mitts.

These Newfoundland Mitts were fun to knit (and they are much easier than the Thrummed Newfie Mitts I still will create THIS WINTER):

Now, Alana has a daughter who is a Tweesta-in-training and who, among a million other things, loves frogs! So I couldn’t resist making this little hat for her. I found the Frog Chart on Pinterest and used a very basic hat pattern:

BTW, as predicted, she looks adorable:

My other Tweesta, Susan, admired some slippers I had made. So, of course, she got a pair! Notice how there is a colour theme in these last three projects?

What I read

I always think I will read a lot when we’re away, but the sights and sounds usually prevent it. But, I did read three great books.

I was able to buy the two Sandra Dallas books I was missing: “Buster Midnight’s Cafe” and “The Chili Queen”. Oh, how I love this woman’s storytelling. And, yay, a new one coming in September!

I also read “The Book Thief”. This one was compelling and I wept and wept. A sign of a good book?