Vegans do it

This just in ...
It's Only Natural Restaurant is forming a Stitch 'n' Bitch With Amy group on Thursdays at 6 p.m., beginning Dec. 4.
Co-owner Renana Magee, sporting a hot-pink big knit shell, and my server, who says she's addicted to knitting, told me the good news.
For information, stop by the restaurant at Main Street Market, 386 Main St., rear; to pick up the December menu.

And - happy knitting!

Stop and listen

Nov. 28 is the National Day of Listening.
I've been hearing about the StoryCorps project for a while on on NPR radio, so I decided to check out the sample list of questions.
The idea is that you sit down Friday with someone important in your life and record a conversation as you ask questions - any that you'd like to, or the Web site has an extensive list of sample questions at http://www.storycorps.net/record-your-story/question-generator/list
So, I thought it would be a neat idea for me to select some of the questions and give them to my family members and close friends, asking them to answer which every they'd like, since I'm not seeing many of them for the upoming holidays.
I thought it would be more evocative for them to handwrite the responses, and I'll compile them into a binder and give everyone a copy.
Here is a sample if you'd like to try something similar this Friday.
Happy listening!

Great questions for anyone
What was the happiest moment of your life? The saddest?
Who was the most important person in your life? Can you tell me about him or her?
Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did they teach you?
Who has been the kindest to you in your life?
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?
What is your earliest memory?
Are there any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to me?
What are you proudest of in your life?
When in life have you felt most alone?
How has your life been different than what you’d imagined?
How would you like to be remembered?
Do you have any regrets?
What does your future hold?
Is there anything that you’ve never told me but want to tell me now?
Is there something about me that you’ve always wanted to know but have never asked?

Coveting luxury

Ever wish you had all the leisure time in the world to knit?
I wish I could knit a sweater a week and my entire wardrobe would be lovely handknit items — for all seasons.
Alas, I’m still knitting my Tomato short-sleeved sweater — a months-long project, probably because I only have about 20 minutes a day to knit and the needles are a size 8.
So when I was flipping through my InStyle magazine this weekend, I happened along an ad for 525 America sweaters (www.525america.com) and found chunky knit bell-sleeved sweaters, cardigans, dresses, tunics, motorcycle jackets — Help!!!
I am in love.

Oh, but they’re so expensive.
Overstock.com has them cheaper — with a small selection.
My budget can’t justify a $125 sweater. Even for Christmas.
So, I’m on the prowl for patterns that’ll satisfy the 525 America ones whirling around my cranium.

Icy fingers no more

I was beginning a project — a bulky cap hat for my husband, when my mother asked me to make her some fingerless gloves. She’s a diabetic and suffers from cold extremities, so naturally I started her project forthwith.
I chose to make Fingerless Mitts, from a Farmhouse Yarns pattern by Ann Ameling.
I made a pair for myself last year that I’m still using now in Farmhouse Yarns’ Lumpy Bumpy Yarn by Charlene (99 percent Merino, 1 percent nylon).

It calls for bulky yarn and I found a Plymouth Yarn Yukon, which is 35 percent mohair, 35 percent wool and 30 percent acrylic, in pale pink. I am using size 10½ double-pointed needles. The gauge is 3 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch. I am making a size medium for my mother.
Cast on 24 (28, 32) stitches. Join in the round. Place marker for beginning of round. Work K1, P1 ribbing until 4 to 6 inches long. Thumb: Bind off 4 (5, 6) stitches. Continue working in pattern to the end of the round.
Next round: Cast on 1 stitch. Slip cast-on stitch to left needle, knit into front and back of stitch. *Slip last stitch just knit onto left-hand needle, knit into front and back of stitch. Repeat from * 2 (3, 4) times. Work ribbing until end of round.
Continue knitting in round in K1, P1 ribbing until work measures 2 to 4 inches from thumb opening.
Bind off, weave in ends.
Repeat for other mitt.
See www.farmhouseyarns.com and www.yarnandwool.com.