Knitting hailstorm

I've gone a bit mad with buying yarn and knitting lately. I think it's the knitting circle's influence - but I'm not sure. I started a new baby blanket - i like it, but I don't LOVE it - so I may start over or just begin a new one with different yarn.

I'm making easter inspired knit ducklings and bunnies (pattern from Lion Brand - made from Fun Fur) - They're pretty cute - but I think I may draft Suz to help me with sewing on the eyes, and felt ears, feet, etc.

I bought a bunch of "sale" yarn and I've been testing it - some fun stuff for scarves and other accessories.

And I've made 8 bibs new bibs (7 in 2 days) - They're turning out very nice. I need more cotton (don't worry, I still have the cone of blue ombre - but I want some variety).

Throw is a go!

The new yarn matched - and the throw is finally done! I really like it - and it's a good fit on Suz's sofa. And there is quite a bit of yarn left over, so I'm going to try and make a matching pillow.

Update on the circle

and my new purse project

as I posted on the circle blog...

I'm not really sure what the proper "lingo" is in the knitting circle world - we met, we knitted, we talked, we shared. It was fun!

4 of us showed up - which is a great number, I hope that more can join us in the future, but it's a great start.

Everyone brought a different project to work on - it was interesting to see the different techniques, yarns, needles, etc. that everyone uses.

I knitted a (another) baby bib - add it to the long list of "baby gifts" that I'm working on!

I did bring my camera - but I didn't take any pix - next time!

The folks at Crossroads (especially Amelia) couldn't have been nicer. It's a great place to meet.

I did learn that I need to watch my caffeine intake in the evening - I was up all night (seriously).

Since the "circle" I've started working on a purse made out of Patons Pooch yarn. I don't have a pattern that is specifically tailored to the yarn - so I'm kinda fudging it - I finished the knitting part last night and "basted" it together to get an idea of the form - but I think I'm going to rip it out and start over - as thick as the Pooch is, I think I need to add a second strand (of something; haven't decided yet) of yarn to add more weight/structure. It's going to look very smart once it's all done - I have a busy weekend planned, so hopefully I'll have that to work on at the next "circle".

Bibbity Boo

The next set of bibs have been laundered and finished. Not sure if I mentioned it - but we've added another expectant mother to the already long list of new/on the way babies. So there are more bibs to be made.

Baby afghan #1 - DONE!

Okay, once again, I still have to weave in the ends, of which there are many - only a few done so far. I am extremely happy with the finished product/pattern. I was way too over eager to finish the blanket this weekend - now I have nothing to take to the knitalong - brilliant!

The photo is from when I had about 6 zig-zags to go.

Oh, and the yarn order came - finished Suz' throw - love it. Now I need to devise a pattern for a matching pillow with the yarn I have remaining.

Knitting Circle is a Go

So, we officially have a "plan" for the knitting circle - We're meeting at a local coffee shop - on Monday nights -

It's pretty exciting - we have 5 people so far. And we've started our own blog - to post our projects and ideas. It's http://ridgeknit.blogspot.com/

I hope it's a success - I have great plans for it - charity knits - beginner lessons - knit alongs

It's in Illinois

Or so the tracking information says - that's where my yarn shipment was Saturday morning. Hopefully by now it's a little farther along the way.

I'm still working on the chevron baby blanket - it's coming along nicely.

Finally laundered the cotton bibs and sewed on some buttons. I need to make more - there's been another baby on the way announcement (which also means another blanket - and more yarn!!!!).

The big knitting news is that I'm trying to start a knitting circle with some local people I've met on a city-wide blog (phillyblog.com) - we're going to meet at a local coffee shop - I'm really excited - I think it's going to be fun.

Another order

So, Joann.com is (apparently) my favorite site on the internet - I went ahead and ordered another skien of the suede yarn - My thoughts are that I can make a pillow sham out of the extra. So I'm okay with it - and I'm of course thinking that I now need more.

I tore out the baby blanket - made a mistake - so I thought I'd try another pattern - but then I tore that out - and started the chevron pattern again - so I'm 14 rows into the 2nd (technically, 3rd) "re-do". This blanket is going seriously mess up my sleep pattern - it already has.

I've ordered yarn for the next baby blanket - I went a little crazy with the colors - we'll have to see when it arrives.

Hasn't been shipped yet - but I can't wait!

Throws and woes

Yet again I have fallen victim to NOT purchasing a "buffer" skein of yarn. I'm 1 row and casting off short on the Suede throw and a little disgusted with myself - It's Murphy's knitting law I guess - but you'd think I would have learned by now. So my choices are to "fudge" the one side of the throw or to buy another skein and (again) hope that the colors match up - this case being a little more dire in that they will be knit into each other. Oh bother.

In the wake of this I've finished one of the scarves for my co-worker's daughters - I'm toying with the idea of giving that one and one from my "to be gifted collection" - if I wait much longer, winter will be over.

And I've started baby blanket #1 - it's the pattern from the Creative Knitting magazine - it's supposed to be rippled but it's turning out to be a pretty sharp chevron - Of course I'm using a smaller gauge and needles than the original pattern calls for - but I like it all the same. I started it on Saturday, and made a mistake on the 2nd row (didn't figure it out until row 5, of course) - so I tore it all out; I picked it up again on Sunday evening - I'm now on row 14 and everything is going well. I'm using size 6 needles (132 stitches across) - so it's taking a while to see real "results" - but, as I said above, I like it so far.

Vogue Knitting has arrived!

The package from Joann's arrived yesterday - the yarn is a perfect match - no problems there.

And the "book" is here too. It has nearly every stitch pattern you could imagine. I'm quite pleased. There are a few full patterns - all by designers - fancy pancy.

So now I'm back to working on the Suede throw - I have a busy weekend planned - but I should have it finished in a week or so.

So...

I'm still waiting for the additional Suede (and Vogue book) to arrive - I've scraped the dream scarf because I'm using the yarn as an accent on the Suede Throw. I was so excited when I ordered the yarn - but this waiting this is torturous - Of course I have plenty of other yarn to keep me busy. I have 5 bibs finished - they need to be laundered and have buttons sewn on. I started a scarf out of the Bernat Boa - fun bright pink and purple - it's for a seven year old; I'm nearly half-way done.

I've been knitting while watching the olympics - I'm finding it a bit distracting (the olympics, that is) - you really don't get much out of winter sports, I'm finding, by causally watching - the audio commentary on figure skating is a bit lacking for the visually impaired and those of us trying to count stitches.

New "throw" project and updates

I've begun the Lion Suede Throw project - Coffee colored throw for Suzanne's new decor. I think I cast on too many stitches for the amount of yarn I have - and I should have cast on with larger needles because this yarn has little "stretch" - but I just ordered more yarn (to double what I have) - hopefully the dye lots won't be a problem. If they are I'll improvise, and maybe start over.

The bib project is underway- the first 3 have been gifted to (reported) rave reviews. Suzanne bought a pile of adorable buttons. I think I'll work on making a few more soon - they just go so quickly!

I've "tried" the Lion Fun Fur Stripe - it's great - very much like the German eyelash.

A co-worker has asked if I will knit scarves for her daughters - put 'em on the list - I'm lucky that ground hog saw 6 more weeks of winter!

I should probably start the dream scarf first - that poor yarn has been sitting for a while.

So, I made an "investment"

today. I ordered the Vogue Knitting book - a huge majority of the blogs I've read say that it's a "must have" for stitches, techniques, etc. I got it for ten $ off the msp and free shipping. I'm pretty excited about it - of course now I have to wait 7-10 business days for it to arrive.

I actually used the vogue knitting website as my main reference when I was "re-teaching" myself to knit a few years ago - The website alone is a great tool - hopefully the book will be even better!

Baby Bibs

The baby bib extravaganza has begun. The first 3 have been gifted - Suzanne gave them to a co-worker and, reportedly, they were a big hit.

Suzanne bought a pile of cute buttons (the fastener for the adjustable strap).

L'afghan c'est fini!

Okay - I still have to weave in the ends - and decide if I'm going to put on a fringe - but the knitting is complete - I finished it after the Super Bowl - I got a little distracted during the game.

It's huge - it's big enough to be a bedspread.

now I have to decide what to work on next - I got MORE yarn over the weekend. I found some nice baby yarn for one blanket - now I just need a pattern.

I got a huge (1lb) spool of cotton - blues and white - It'll be great for the bib projects and tailgating items. I'm very pleased. We shopped at a Joann Fabric Super Store - it really was super - it was like a Michaels and a Joanns got married and had a really big baby - they had all of the crafty stuff and ALL of the sewing items - most notable were the designer and home furnishing fabrics - they had an amazing selection.

I love this cartoon

I may post it on each of my blogs!

Afghan nears completion

I have not been working on the afghan as rabidly as I had before - I'm very close to being finished - but not quite - I think it's making me anxious to be finished. I have, approximately, 64 rows to go (out of 352) - and I want to add a fringe. So maybe 6-8 hours of knitting?

of course it's the fringe that will take the longest (and the weaving in!!)!

I may put it (the afghan) "down" for a night or two and do some smaller projects - I started (yes, I feel guilty) the Lion Fun Fur Stripe - It's gonna be pretty cool.

We'll see.

Afghan update

So I'm halfway done with the afghan. As I said below I've been using odd balls - so the color combinations are a little crazy - but I think it still works.

The Unfinished Sweater

Last year I had the great Idea that I would make my mom a sweater for her birthday (it's in March) - I knew that she wanted an aran style cardigan so, I found a fancy pancy pattern and got started.

Everything was going fine (well, kinda fine, I did have to rip out a bunch of rows on the back due to a mix up of rows) until I got to the sleeves. I've always been told, and regularly do, stitch both arms at the same time to ensure uniformity. Well - these arms were very heavy and I decided to risk it and do one at a time - OF COURSE they didn't match - and OF COURSE this didn't become evident until the 2nd one was nearly finished - SO, I burned out - I put it down and I haven't picked it up since. In fact it turned me off of knitting for quite a while.

Now I'm feeling a little guilty - like I guess i should just start over with the sleeves - and maybe I will - it just seemed so daunting, just a little while ago.

I pulled it out of the "bag" this weekend - here's a picture of the back - it really is lovely....

The Family Aran

I found this on a clanaran.com - a website that has the different arans of the Irish clans (or what they claim to be) - Now I know that my grandfather would bristle at the mere mention of the emerald isle - but I think it's pretty cool. The website sells sweaters and kits - but I'm going to (along with, hopefully, some help from my aunts) try and recreate the pattern. it's, basically, a trellis flanked by cables and what they called "blackberries" -