My Secret Pal Rocks!

This is just a quick post to let the world know I have the best Secret Pal! She's a secret no longer! Her name is Becca and she lives in the SouthWest. She sent some wonderful yarn and other goodies! I'll post pictures and a whole list once I get home tonight!

Mollys cabled hat finished and a trip to Madrona Fibers Arts Retreat 2007

I like most of how the hat turned out. As I fudged up in a few places and didn't want to frog it, I modified the pattern and completed it. It doesn't look as cute as it could, but for my first cable project is isn't half bad.Here are my newest stash acquisitions and a few photos of projects I'm making with the new yarn. The colorful balls are my stack of Mt Colors Bearfoot sock yarn mill ends. I was able to purchase them for 2.50 an oz from Linda’s Knit ‘N’ Stitch. The yarn is destined to be a wonderful shawl I found on display at the booth. I purchased enough yarn to possibly make two shawls. The pattern is free on the web.
The green -blue-brown ball to the left is Socks that Rock by Blue Moon Fiber Arts. The two in chocolate and pinks is from Angora Valley Fibers. The yarn I chose is called Monarch Sock yarn, sport weight.

This wonderful multi-colored yarn is also from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. It's called Twisted. I was able to purchase this yarn 560/8oz/skein for 28.00. I bought 3 of them. ** After further reviewing this yarn I believe its Henry's Attic Licorice Twist dyed by Blue Moon **. So far their website only shows two colorways available to purchase in this yarn. I hope to see more up there soon. They had 4 at the show. I had intended to make a sweater from the yarn, but came back to the booth and saw this wonderful vest. It was in a colorway not represented at the booth, but still very lovely. It's essentially 2 rectangles that are knit in 2x2 ribbing. One is the back panel and the other is shaped more like a scarf. Since they didn't have a pattern written up I've needed to make up my own. It's attached along 3 edges, leaving room for armholes. I'm currently 2/3 the way done with the back piece. I plan on adding some sort of edging to it. Perhaps a seed stitch or lacy pattern.



I had the best time at the show. I met many wonderful and friendly people. I have been inspired to make the Swallowtail shawl from the Fall '06 Interweave Knits. The gals, Rebecca & Peggy, I sat with had shawls on. Here's a link to a KAL for the shawl.

Molly's first waterbabies class!

Molly is a star swimmer! Isn't she just lovely!

.... and here she is all tuckered out on the way home! She's wearing one of the sweaters I knitted for her too!

Sea Silk and cables!

I finally took the plunge and started a project with Cables. It's a small project, and yes there are some mistakes. I'm sure the recipient will not care, Molly is good that way!

Also, my local yarn shop told me they were going to be getting in an order of Sea Silk, of course I got on the list! They called Thursday afternoon, and I had my much appreciated husband drove me there to pick some up. I came home with two skeins. They're darker than I envisioned my first purchase of this yarn would be. It's still very nice though. There are browns/blues/purplish tones along with bright green that mellows down along the way. I plan on making a shawl from Wrap Style, the Shetland Triangle. If I have enough I'm going to make it larger than the pattern calls for.
I've also decided to go on a modified yarn diet. I resolve not to buy single skeins anymore. I have to have a good idea what project I want to make and buy enough yarn for it at one time. Now, this doesn't apply to socks, hat, scarf projects. I will be attending the Madrona Fiber Arts this month and plan on taking 150 or so with me to spend on yarn.

Now, this is of course with 6 sweater projects researched and several accessories picked out. I've also got a list of projects for "other people". So far I'm doing a ME ME ME ME list first.

For me:

1. Aysmmetrical Cardigan, Knitting Nature, bulky yarn
2. U-neck sweater, Knitting Nature, DK yarn size 4 & 6 needles 22 st x 30 rows, dk weight
3. Poppy, Yarn Play, 11 skeins Silk Garden for the top and 9 skeins Cash Iroha for the bottom.
4. Sienna - Interweave Knits Fall 06, Suggested Blue Sky Alpaca worsted hand dyed (100yd/skein) 13 required for my size, 16 st x 22 rows
5. Ogee, Knitting Nature, Suggested yarn Filatra di Crosa Zara, 23 sts x 32 rows 137 yrs per ball 16 balls for a 48" bust. I'll need to make it 3 inches larger.
6. Glee, Zephyrstyle, in progress.
7. Something Red, KnitandTonic, have the yarn and pattern. I need to cast on!

Accessories:

1. Calometry - head wrap from Knitty.
2. DIY tote - have pattern got some some misc site or book, can't remember.
3. Fetching - knitty.com, fingerless gloves. make slightly longer than pattern calls for so 2 balls of Cashmerino Aran or Cash yarn from KnitPicks.com

For others:

1. Huskies crocheted blanket, for Lyle. It's been in progress since spring of 06.
2. A sweater for my best friend Martha. I haven't decided on the pattern or yarn.
3. Grandma's sweater.
4. Lyle's fingerless gloves in Lambs Pride in a Dark Blue.
5. Hat for Michelle
6. Mittens - just for fun.
7. baby booties
8. Surprise baby jacket by E. Zimmermann.
9. Sunflower Tam, Knitting Nature.

Is it really cheating to go to a different knitting group?

I went to a different knitting group this past Monday night and it felt like I was cheating. I usually attend a group that meets close to my work, however because it was MLK Jr Day we had the day off. This gave me the chance to meet up with people from another knitting list I belong to. Boy of Boy what a change. Don't get me wrong I like my original group, but wow what a difference. This new group meets at a "cafe" which really has a great bar and good food. We sit in a back room and talk up a storm, share projects and chat about movies, patterns and blogs. I loved it! I will certainly make and effort to visit with these gals again!

I also was able to go to The Fiber Gallery, near Woodland Park zoo. This is a great place to buy yarn. The people were so friendly and understanding about my indecisiveness! I do have some yarn on order so technically I didn't leave without making a purchase... okay it's an intended purchase. I can't want to be called to pick up the yarn. It's RYC Cashsoft Aran in Burst. Burst is a dark coral-ish shade. It's so yummy soft too!

I think I'll buy some more, in sale colors at Yarn.com. On another note, it's still snowy here in Seattle. We were the lucky recipients of approximately 1 inch on our balcony.

Somewhere along the way yesterday I wrenched my neck, and its hurts. I called in sick to work because I can barely turn my head let alone pick anything up heavier than my yarn bag. Since I've had some great couch time along with my trusted heating pad, I was able to complete the GOD DAMNED LEG WARMERS. I just love how they turned out, don't you!

It's freaking cold here! I wasn't meant for 28 degree temps!

Okay, so it hasn't been 28 degrees the whole time, but I'm in Seattle of all places, near the water. We shouldn't have snow quite this long! Luckily I haven't had too difficult of a time getting work on our buses, but some people have! My mother in law wouldn't drive so we had to come pick her up and take her to work. The parking lot where she works is a complete mess. There is ice 2-3 inches thick in places and snow everywhere else and she lives just 30 minutes from us.

Due to the fridgedness I've made some "God Damned Leg warmers"! * Since it's so God Damned Cold here I thought the name was appropriate! I don't have any long underwear and do not plan on aquiring any so... I guess I need them! I was determined not to purchase any new yarn for them, so they're made from yarn I had on hand for other projects. They're made out of Lambs Pride in 3 or 4 shades, KnitPicks Wool of the Andes and some left over Noro. I deliberately didn't want them to match exactly. The same colors repeat in both, but in differing amounts. I find these colors especially appealing with all the white/grey we've got this time of year. I cast on 72 stitches using a size 8 16inch bamboo circular and knit them in an 2x2 rib the whole way down. I've got larger calves so they're roomy.. they can fit over my pants.

This weekend was also a Seahawk football game. Lyle and I drove down to a friends house to watch the game... it began at 10, and since we had to drive his mom to work, we left the house at 7:45. It was waaaaaaay too early for me. I've had a cold since 12-21 and usually don't wake up until 9:30 or 10. Thank God I wasn't expected to keep up a lively conversation. K2P2 ribbing and a few rows on my Glee sweater was all I was able to accomplish on the drive down. During the game however, I did spin some roving I dyed the night before, then I nearly passed out asleep.. okay that was probably due to the fact that I had 3 very large screwdrivers. Lyles buddy sure can make a mean mixed drink!

I also held myself back from buying yarn.. I know... *gasp* what a thought! I'm trying very hard to not purchase yarn just because it's "on sale". I have 3 sweaters that I want to make, not including the one I'm currently working on. No.. I've miscounted, really its 4. I have the yarn for 1 sweater already and the pattern purchased. It's Something Red from knit and tonic. I'll be using a light sage/grey color of yarn from Cascade - a wool cotton blend. I'll also be adding longer sleeves and enlarging the pattern a wee bit. Then there's the Asymmetrical Cardigan, Poppy and the Turbulence U-neck Pullover. That isn't too many is it? Poppy was the sweater I nearly purchased yarn for too. However, I needed 10 balls of Silk Garden and they only had 8.. what a bitch it would have been if I couldn't have found the other balls I needed!

All in all it has been a nice weekend. I don't really mind the weather, it's just fun to bitch about it! Here are the snapshots:

Last but not least, some knitting content!

I neglected to take a photo of the felted purse I made for my Secret Pal for the Secret Pal 9 exchange. She was kind enough to email me one after she'd received it.
I have also been working on a red sweater. It's Glee from Zephyrstyle.com. I'm using a baby Alpaca yarn from Knitpicks in the shade listed as "Embers". It's a dark red tone that is heathered with a charcoal/black fiber.(row 40ish shown here)
I can't begin to express just how yummy and soft this yarn is. I want to rub it all over! I've even promised to make Lyle a pair of boxers out of the same yarn, it's that good!

I finally counted the rows, and I'm only on 72. Once I reach 106 I can do something different. Right now I'm in stocking knit hell! Other than a KFB before and after each of the 4 stitch markers on each knit row, it's sooooo boring! Keeping that in mind, I plan on making another one with a few modification. I plan on using the same yarn, color either "Woods" or "Granite". They're both a lovely shade of brown. I also plan on making it a long sleeved cardigan and add edgings from one of Nicky Epsteins books. She has a terrific collection of edgings. I'm leaning toward a picot or lacy finish. Now keeping those things in mind, I can't do a plain knit. I think I'll knit in stripes of moss or ribs, just to make it textural.

I have to admit, I have atleast two other sweaters I want to make. They're both from Knitting Nature by Nora Gaughan. I've recently found out that there are also several errors in the patterns and errata information is on the web for many of the patterns.

The first one is the Asymmetrical Cardigan using a yarn that is just so far out of any persons budget, I can't believe they used it. It's like $28-30 per ball and I'd need like 29 of those suckers! Yeah, like I'd ever use that! None that I've seen online have been made using that yarn either.
I think I might use Debbie Bliss merino chunky if I can find it in the color and quantity I'd need it in. It's been discontinued, so I don't know if that will be an option for me. I wouldn't have as may problems locating a substitution if I was open to a different color. Right now, I want to stick with a light blue or a dove/pearly gray.



The second sweater is from the same book. It's called the Turbulence U-Neck Pullover. I found a great picture of it made out of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Dk on thedailypurl.com
I've found the merino on Knitpicks to be a nice option too. I haven't decided on a yarn for this one yet though. It might end up as a gift for a friend though, I haven't really decided yet.

v

Molly, beer bottle and the Holidays!

Well... that title really says it all. I had to post some more recent Molly pictures as well as this picture of a funny bottle. The beer wasn't half bad either. The caption that is blurry reads "Tempered over Burning Witches". What did you expect, it's a Monty Python Ale!

I've finally got a good picture of Molly and her Aunt Michelle, Martha's sister. Since Molly is teething she loves to gum bottles and cans. She doesn't limit her self to alcoholic beverages either. Diet Coke and water bottles work as well. However, since there is always some one with a bottle during these get togethers, I nearly always get a new picture of her with one in her mouth!

Updates on the Dr Who Scarf

So as my readers and I say that with a smile, would recall, I'd been working on a Dr Who scarf for a Holiday present for my friends Dad. It turned out quite well if I do say so myself - even with out the fringe. Due to the fact that I didn't follow the pattern exactly when it came to the suggested yarn, I came out with a scarf that was 10 inches wide and between 13-14 feet long but with only 2.5 of the 4.25 columns of pattern. When I was looking for the yarn I didn't notice that the suggested yarn was perhaps 1.5 or a 2 vs. the 3.5-4 that I ordered. Needless to say it's a friggin' long ass scarf. Here are some pictures of my darling husband modeling it as well as pictures of the happy recipient, Jim, on New Years eve.