Fun with Knitting (and Quilting)

Christmas time is Here..time for

madness and late nights and parties..and crafting...and...wait that isn't how the Peanuts Christmas song goes!! LOL

Christmas is less than a week out now, and panic is setting in a bit...I really shouldn't stress so much about it. But every year I do!

Here's what I've been up to:

First off Cleveland Knits West(the best knitting group ever BTW) had our Christmas party. Trish hosted and everyone brought food...it was a great day of knitting, eating, eating, talking, & knitting. We did secret santa and stocking stuffers...so much fun! Sadly I forgot to bring my camera....

I had planned to make the adorable Stackable Catsfor my niece this year for Christmas...but was distracted while listening to Yarn Craft podcastand they mentioned that they had free amigirumi patterns for aLady Bug and Weiner dog (among many other cute things) and well Olivia loves lady bugs and weiner dogs... Plus I already made her a box bag with weiner dogs on it so..I made those..I had a crazy thought of making the cats too, but then let it go...they will be for her birthday.

I still want to crochetthis little guyfor me! LOL

I have also been crocheting about a billion (ok really like 30 some) of these nifty cat toys for all the cats in my life. They are very fast, easy, cute, and very well received by the cats who have received them so far. I'm sure the fact that they are "marinating" in catnip after I finish them helps. LOL

And last of my craft endeavors..are dish scrubbies...not really following a pattern just kind of made one up. I bought a couple of these at a craft show several years ago and I love them. They are pretty sad and gross right now so I decided that I needed some new ones as did everyone else. I love they way they work on everything-dishes, on my flat top stove, in my microwave, etc. But man I find them a pain in the butt to make! I have 13 done as of right now...with probably 20 more to go...

NO baking or wrapping has occurred yet...and well I still need to finish my shopping..so off I go...better get myself going!

So I leave you with a few picts of the dogs! (mom why are you embarrassing me like this?  At this point Abby had managed to get her "halo" off already! So much for getting a picture with both of them in their holiday gear!
 

A of little this and a little of that

So where on earth has summer gone? I can't believe I go back to work in a week and a half! Wow..I guess it's that the weather has been really cool this summer(not that I'm complaining-cause I'm not). We did finally have 2 days above 90!

So I've been working on many things...I did finish my ultra cool "laptop bag" to use for school. It really came out cute. I still am looking for a button that will work for it. The yarn is Lion brand Wool-Ease in Sea spray. The pattern is loosely based on The Aran Laptop Cover. But mostly copied frm my good bud PKJewelry.  Oh and by the way all the awesome row counters you see here are hers from her etsy shop! Check them out! If you do tell her I sent ya.

Also socks...I finished my Oatmeal socks awhile back and started on a Blueberry waffle sock. I'm just over 1/2way done with the 2nd sock. I also cast on for the Summer Lovin sock my friend Dawn designed. The yarn is Malibrigo sock...and it is yummy!

I'm moving along now on the Favorite Cardigan. I did knit it longer than the pattern and am going to make the sleeves 3/4 length. It is really coming out pretty. I love the Dream in Color  Classy it is so pretty!

Then yesterday I drug hubby to Soft n Sassy a LYS I'd never been to and I saw the "lace-panel cardigan" and needed to make it RIGHT now..so I bought they yarn for that and cast on right away!

 the yarn is called Jeans and is a weird cotton tape yarn  but it really knits up nicely! and feels a bit like well jeans

Oh yeah..I also dyed some yarn...It was Oatmeal Fisherman's wool by Lion brand..now it's this... a lovely teal! Destined to become a cardigan of some sort probably!

Well I guess that is the catch up...

Webs Winner

OK so this post is a few weeks overdue!

Back in June I entered a contest on the Webs & Berroco blogs to win some lovely new Blackstone Tweed yarn and the pattern book to make Nuss.Well can you believe it (I still can't) I won!!! So I got to pick the color yarn I wanted I of course went with plum island. I was excitedly waiting on my package to arrive and then it did (Kathy was waiting on some Addi turbo's to come in). Oh boy was I ever surprised!

When I opened the box I squealed! No not just yarn, the pattern book and needles but a Lexie Barnes bag!! (I get compliments on it all the time) and a bunch of fun little goodies too!! I just love the little leaf measuring tape! Look at all this fun stuff!!!! So much more than I expected! It was wonderful! There are several patterns in the book that I love! Look at those little sheep magnets! They are leaping over their fence and my Whirlpool logo on my fridge!

I have a couple of projects I'm trying to finish up before casting on but will soon!!!

What an awesome prize!! Thank you so much Kathy, Steve, & Webs as well as Berroco!

Now for something Non knitting!

So I have indeed been knitting. In fact, I finished my market bag! But more on that later!

Today a little morning dove was hopping around on my deck railing and I went to investigate, and this is what I found.

This little willow tree is right next to my deck. Now We have to keep an eye on the pups so the don't mess with my little friend here!

Then since my camera was out I decided to snap some picts. of the flowers I planted last weekend!

My chives I really love this picture! I believe these are called torenia. Some of my snap dragons. And some Pansy's

Even Abby is intriqued by the birdy! Happy Spring!!

OH yes FIBER is good for you!

So I just got back from the Great Lakes Fiber Festivalin Wooster Ohio. And can I say...SOO much fun? This is my first Fiber fest event and man was I excited!  A bunch of us Cleveland Knits West gals met up there and shopped and knit a little, and spent lots of money on lots of yarn, ate some fries, and had an all around fabulous time! We had such a good time shopping and encouraging each other!

So here's a full picture of my haul!

I got 2 skeins at Creatively Dyed yarns. The colors are so unique and pretty.

I also got 2 skeins of sock yarn and then 5 skeins of worsted weight yarn at KnittingKnotions. I could have bought so much more their her colors were beautiful.

I snatched this skein of sock yarn at Black Locust Farms (and am so glad I know where their shop is now!)

I may have ODed on sock yarn!

I also go these 3 skeins of wool and hemp for $2.50 a piece for a market bag.

Then I got 6 skeins of Lamb's Pride bulky in Avocado. Can you see the subtle variation in it? It's ands so got a great deal on it! (I wanted to get more in other colors but I exercised a WEE bit of self control! LOL Then I also got 6 skeins of I believe it's top of the lamb sport weight (which I will most likely double strand for something) for $4 a skein! Couldn't pass that up.

And there was some Eucalan purchased too, to wash all my new fibery goodness, and a couple cute stitch markers and some yummy smelling hand cream!

I can hardly wait till next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lest I forget hat my parents got me this  for Miley for my b-day (along with some of the cash that funded my day!) That is now wound and ready to be cast on!

Spring Break..what break?

So here it is Saturday night already, where did my spring break go..Oh lets see. I had hubby's family all here for Easter so that took up most of my first 3 days! Then oh lets see Monday morning hubby and I left for Vegas till Thursday. No pictures of that 'cause you know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. LOL Except for maybe the germs, because apparently I now have a cold. Yesterday was mostly spent doing the mountains of laundry we seemed to have accrued over 4 days of being gone! We did do some shopping while there and saw the Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian which was outstanding!

I did almost finish my first spring forward sock but it is too tight across my foot so I have to rip back to the heel and adjust. Not a biggie as I knit the whole leg on the flight to Vegas. So since it was a wash I went back to my Ocean Bolero I started wayyyyy back in August last year when we went on vacation to Florida. I put it down because the weather got cooler. So yesterday while doing laundry I finished it up! I can't believe how quickly I got it finished. I can't believe I let it sit around so long! I really think it came out cuter than I expected!

So here are the stats:

Pattern: Ribbed Lace Bolero

Yarn: Cot'n Corn by Bernat. I love the colors on this yarn, but it was very splitty. Not Bad, especially for the price. I used just over 3 skeins.

Needles: Knit Picks Options in 8 and 10

I pretty much followed her pattern exactly as she wrote it. I did the lace pattern for 13" instead of the 12" called for. and I'm glad that I did. It makes the bolero hang down a little more in the back.

Over all this was a fun and easy knit. It really zipped along on this and wish I would have finished it sooner.

I've also been working on my 2nd Ingenue which is coming along great, but I'm worried that I'm going to run out of yarn! (see Pam's really cute row counter! It's awesome) I may have to get some more! I've already used 7 skeins and have 11. We'll see I'm holding my breath! I'm trying to get it done before the weather turns too warm to want to work on it.  So because of that my steeked cardi is languishing..I will get back to it soon, I want to finish it so I can wear it on chilly spring evenings.

But what I've really been wanting to start is Liesl by Ysolda Teague. I got some Knit Picks Shine worsted in Laurel and want to start it. I saw Alanna's version and now I have to have it! But I'm trying to make myself finish up a few projects first! I'm also wanting to start the Knit Picks Classic Lines Cardigan.

So today I'll leave you with a picture of Toby. He says "Hey it's spring lets go play ball!" He would play fetch all day if I would let him!

I should really blog more often then I could do shorter posts!

A few FOs

So Yay I have a FO to post about! it is my Gathered Pullover from Hana Janson in Winter 2007 Interweave. I LOVE it! It is so nice to feel like I really love my recent FOs! (I must be becoming a better knitter! LOL) The sweater has been mostly finished for a few weeks I kept looking at and telling myself I need to set in the sleeves! So since today was a "Cold Day" off of school I figured I ought to get it done!

Anyway here are the specs:

Yarn: Malabrigo Silky in Nocturnal. I originally bought 7 skeins from River Colors in Lakewood and then worried I wouldn't have enough so I bought 2 more skeins on-line. It wasn't thesame dye-lot so for hte body of the sweater I alternated between 2 different skeins. In the end I have 2 left over so I wouldn't have needed to do that OH well (I think the extra skeins will become a darkside cowl since this yarn is so scrumptious!)

Needles: size 8 Knit Picks Options

Size 36 1/2"

Mods: Not many really..I did make the body and the sleeves a little longer than the pattern and I think the length came out great. I probably could have lengthened the sleeves by another 1/2' or so, but since the yarn is a silk blend, they may grow anyway!

There's a bit more over on my Ravelry page if you want to check it out!

Here is another sweater I've had done since like August but the weather hasn't been cold enough to wear it. So now that the temps are like -10F I'm finally getting wear it and finally got hubby to take a couple pictures!

The pattern is Marianas from Webs

The Yarn is Berkshire Bulky from Valley Yarns (I really love how soft this yarn is but it pills like crazy!

Needles size 10 1/2 Knit picks options.

The construction of this sweater was really unusual but I enjoyed knitting it and I really think the style of it came out  cute!

Puzzled

How does me saying "Honey let's take down the Christmas stuff." turn into

Hubby "OK I'll go rip up the bedroom carpet so we can put down the laminate  we originally bought in March for the closet!"

ETA Pictures. 

(doesn't Toby look puzzled too?)

We got a bit further than this last night...It is about 1/4-1/3rd done..up to where out bed is. I don't know who we can do anymore without taking the bed and my gigantic dresser out.

Success!

Well I debated about the bunny but my niece loved it (almost as much as Elmo-and that i saying ALOT!)   She also liked her sweater. Though I haven't seen it on her yet! She had too many gifts to open yesterday to get her to try it on! Here she is showing me her knitted goodies!   Here is my brother in his natural goof-ball state!

We've done 4 of our 5 Christmas celebrations! One left on Saturday! It's always like such a whirlwind. I didn't get any yarn but lots of books! Here's a picture of all the knitty/quilty books I received!!! (oh I'missing the the new Kate Jacobs book-that's already on my nightstand!)

 

I do have one last FO for 2008, it's blocking now..Hopefully it will be dry for a photo shoot soon!

Overwhelming...

Ok so the pictures are still not working. I think I need to go try to find my card reader somewhere in the basement tomorrow... I'm taking tomorrow off..As a teacher yes I get alot of vacation time, but not at a choice that is mine...except for 3 precious days (it's taken me 14 years to get to 3 days). I usually take my b-day off..now that I'm to my 3rd extra day- a day at Christmas, and then another day with a teacher friend, in the spring.

Anyway...I'm already starting to feel overwhelmed! I think I've got to many things started and nothing finished!  Olivia's stuffed bunny- started, ornaments- started, decorating-mostly done but I need to get the empty tubs back to the basement (hubby didn't do that today when I asked and knowing him if I don't do it they'll sit around for 2 weeks), baking-ahh I'm going to try to not over do it this year, Christmas cards-I've thought about them, shopping is well on it's way, but nothing is wrapped! Ahh I think I need to just step back and take a deep breath and say finish something! I'm hoping to get a bunch done here tomorrow since I'm off and hubby will be at work. I can never get much done when he's home it seems. Hopefully I'll get something accomplished tomorrow and feel a little better!