Monica Knits

The lily of the valley pattern is a little trickier to knit with lace weight yarn than fingering weight because it is easy to miss picking up one of the 5 loops or to accidentally pick up an extra loop. The middle of the 5 stitches in the nupp is sometimes tight or hidden behind the other loops. The other potential error is to accidentally pick up 6 sts, since for many of the nupps, the next stitch is a yarn over, which is easy to unwittingly pickup with a 3.25 mm needle. The use of a small diameter, contrast colored is used to ensure that 5 and only 5 loops are picked up. Read more ... for additional photos and discussion.
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When my husband first saw this friendly fellow, the dog was sniffing along a busy street and crossed the road during heavy traffic. Dogs seem to sense that he will help them, and when this yellow lab saw my husband, he came to him. While my husband was googling the dog's address from the name tag, the dog played energetically with a makeshift toy.

My husband has an innate and uncanny knack for finding the perfect game and toy for each dog and the dog was having a blast with the toy. After a too brief visit, my husband put a leash on the dog and returned him to his home.

The tropical style weather has done wonders for the flowers, which are more lush and have been blooming longer than in years past. These echinacea just started blooming last week. The contrasting lilac colored flowers are purple liatris.

I have to smile whenever I see this cat sleeping on a cozy chair in my parents' kitchen.

Pompoms can be used to decorate clothing, accessories and home decor items. They can be made in custom sizes and in single or multiple colors. Although you can purchase pompom makers, it is easy enough to make your own. Read more .... for instructions

I was returning from the post office and looked northwest towards my home and noticed the storm clouds. If you look closely you will see a vertical wall of dark clouds. The clouds actually were in a mushroom shape centered over our subdivision; I just couldn't get the whole picture in the viewfinder. By the time I got home, the rain was torrential and the lightening spectacular, even mid-day.

The Rochester Public Library has a collection of amazing sculptures including four of children at play. The "Wings" sculpture is one of these.

These cuff-down, knitted ribbed tube socks, evocative of refreshing rocket popsicles, incorporate, a round toe and melon colors. Shown in size 6-12 months. The pattern provides instructions for sizes 0-6 months and 12-24 months as well and includes an optional waste yarn (peasant) heel and Kitchener toe. If you've never knitted socks before, tube socks are the quickest to knit and baby socks less intimidating than adult socks.

Pattern Information: Two Toes Tubes Baby Socks
Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Two_Toes_Tubes_Baby_Socks__D10417220.html This pattern lets you choose from 2 toes, 2 heels, 3 patterns and 3 sizes using Comfy Fingering^TM cotton or or Palette^TM Peruvian Highland wool yarns--over 12 sock combinations.

These adorable pink and white picot socks, shown in size 0 - 6 months, knit up quickly in fingering weight Peruvian wool. These full-featured cuff-down, knitted socks incorporate an optional picot edge, 1 x 1 ribbed cuffs, a heel flap, and a Kitchener toe.

Pattern: Picot & Infant Windmill Socks
Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Picot_Windmill_Infant_Socks__D10416220...
The pattern gives instructions for 3 sizes: 0-6 months, 6-12 months and 12-24 months in both fingering weight wool and cotton yarns.

These cuff-down, knitted socks incorporate, 1 x 1 ribbed cuffs, bias lace, and a round toe. Shown in size 12-24 months. The pattern provides instructions for sizes 0-6 months and 6-12 months as well and includes an optional peasant heel and Kitchener toe.

Pattern Information: Two Toes Tubes Baby Socks
Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Two_Toes_Tubes_Baby_Socks__D10417220.html

Cotton Blend Yarn: Knit Picks' Comfy Fingering^TM Semolina (24819), 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic, Fingering weight, 50 g (1.5 oz), 1 skein