The first one looks just like my mystery plant we identified earlier! Isn't that funny? Looks just like it, and it was concluded that it was Miss Jessie (See Mysterious Barb Posting). No clue about your second...

mirren & Clare, yes, the yarn did all the work! I'm to lazy to do my own striping and have to finish in all those ends. Donna, we spent a lot of time on vacation this summer. While my husband drives, I knit. I had to pull out at least 2/3 of the skein on the pair I am currently working on for my sister-in-law for Christmas to get them to match. On the pair above for my daughter, I pulled out about ½ the skein. Your yarn is not lost, just wind it in a ball and work with it later in the socks. That is one reason I work on both socks at one time. That way I am sure I have them both started at the same place. Socks are great take along projects, since they fit easily into a mid size purse (even my small one with seperate compartments!) My favorite pattern is Ann Norling's Basic Adult Socks. I have almost memorized it, I've made so many socks this summer!I am almost ready to start the heels on my sister-in-laws socks. Deb, The first pair are named "MINE"! Out of all the socks I've made, this is only the fourth pair I get to keep. And that's only because I made the tops 8 sts bigger around for my fat leg, so they are to big for my daughter to claim! The second pair I guess are "Smiles" cause the ladies I knit with said they would make you smile every time you looked at them during a dreary winter! Ann's pattern is pretty simple, and gives you a choice in 3 different yarn weights. Working with double pointed needles takes a little bit of practice, but is worth the work to learn. Start by casting on 30 sts on ONE dbl pt. then even distribute them on the other two needles, keeping the fourth as a working needle. Join the beginning and end and just keep working round and round until you get comfortable with working with the dbl pts. Use scrap yarn and strait knit until you do. Then play to your hearts content with the socks! I use one long circular now to make my socks with. I have heard of doing them on two, but haven't gotten the book and tried it. I just do one sock on each long circ. Obviously, I have several sets. Mostly because I have so many projects going at one time! Tami

I tried pressing after washing then found out just folding selvage to salvage and kinda pressing with my hands worked just as well. I have noticed that the flannel stretches alot more when washed am thinking thats because I washed the sizing out. Last time I was at my LQS they have some nice Rag quilts and they didn,t wash first they did tell me to use a small stitch around the edge it helps with the raveling. The fabric coming this week is in 5yd pieces I really don,t want to try washing that. I,m learning as I go found out when I start washing the finished quilt I just run it through the rinse cycle twice without drying then run them through a complete cycle a couple of times drying in between I use no soap in the washer. Gillian.

Next time I come for a visit ... ... I'll be sure to leave my shirts ... ... in the suitcase ... ... in the car! Great job, Danielle! ole joyful