Sunday, September 20, 2026

A baby gift done!

 I have knitted this blanket before and it has always turned out well. This is a really easy pattern and doesn’t take long to knit up.  A corner to corner pattern.  Cast on 4 stitches, work up to 95 stitches and then cast down to 4 stitches.

https://www.yarnspirations.com/en-ca/products/bernat-corner-to-corner-garter-knit-blanket?variant=45485448266043

I opted to use two balls of yarn from Patons Canadiana, winter white and oatmeal with a 6.5mm needle. 


 I changed the yarn because I can’t knit with bulky yarn and 8mm needles.  I have arthritis in my fingers and the larger needles cause a few problems.

No idea how long this took but I did cast on up to 125 stitches so my blanket is a bit bigger.  The baby is due the end of January so the bigger, the better.  My philosophy anyway.  It ended up to be 26" x 29"




A while back I bought the best thing for knitting I have ever bought.

A yarn bag.  It holds two balls of yarn and there are pockets around the edges to hold your needles.  It is made by a small business here in Ontario called "bytheyard"


As I write this I just ordered more yarn from Mary Maxim.....a Canadian company based in Paris, Ontario.....more yarn to make hats for this wee ones older brothers.


Apparently, one loves blue, the other red.  I found them and they are "perfect" according to Dad. 
                                                  


In the meantime, I think I'll design a child's scarf in apricot!!  Why not!!

Just in case you are wondering I use bamboo needles made in Japan.  I find they are easy on the hands and honestly, I hate the click, click, click of metal needles.  It interferes with my television watching.  LOL

 
This has nothing to do with the column
I have left ALL social media.
No Gander, no Instagram, no Facebook
I just got tired of everything.
The politics, the negativity, the harassing of people they don't know,
the glorification of overpaid athletes and actors/actresses.
I'm back to the old ways.
I'm living for me, the chief and the family and not doing what
the rest of the world tells us to do.

Sunday, September 13, 2026

Time for a “freebie” knitting pattern…….

I was really busy with so many things  last winter and then I picked up the knitting needles, started cross stitching and quilting bits and bobs. 

This is one of many I designed and will be donating this winter.

This is the first one I’m offering to all of you.  (More will be coming)  It took three tries but I love this one.  They are child sized unless you are a particularly short person.  Which I am.


This is the pattern.  Please remember this is copyright and you do not have my permission to share it.  You are more than welcome to knit it up and donate the scarf and hat to charity be it a church bazaar, a hat/mitten/scarf drive.  


This will take you to the pattern outside the blog.  You must download and then you can print it off.

I order all my yarn from Mary Maxim in Paris, Ontario.  Someone on social media posted that they had moved everything to the United States which is very wrong!  They are still Canadian owned and still at their location in Paris, Ontario.
Here’s the link:
                              Mary Maxim
Do you prefer to crocheting?
Here’s a link for you




Friday, September 11, 2026

Thank you Canada

Today could we all take a moment to thank OUR country - the entire country - for what WE did 25 years ago. WE stepped up!!

Halifax International Airport – 47 planes Gander International Airport – 38 planes Vancouver International Airport – 34 planes St. John's International Airport – 21 planes Winnipeg International Airport – 15 planes Toronto Pearson International Airport – 14 planes Calgary International Airport – 13 planes Greater Moncton International Airport – 10 planes MontrĂ©al–Mirabel International Airport – 10 planes Stephenville International Airport – 8 planes Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay – 7 planes MontrĂ©al-Dorval International Airport – 7 planes Edmonton International Airport – 6 planes Hamilton International Airport – 4 planes Whitehorse International Airport – 2 planes Deer Lake Airport – 1 plane Yellowknife Airport – 1 plane

33,000 people!! Let that sink in.
                                                        Halifax Stanfield International Airport

Search This Blog