Wedding knitting - I'm think a wrap or stole
Time table: I can pretty much pull anything off at this point
Style: something classic and modern
Yarn: something special
Go.
Soliciting ideas
MSWF
MSWF Report.
much fun had by all STOP many cute sheep STOP shearing was 'specially good STOP won three ribbons at the Skein and Garment Competition STOP two 1st place and (ready?) BEST SKEIN of the WHOLE FESTIVAL STOP
BUT could not STOP missing you both STOP
and now, definitely, stop
(more details and pictures about the socks and the yarn at Ravelry! I couldn't get photos to load here and am tired of trying:)
SPOILER ALERT: A.L.M. DO NOT LOOK AT THIS POST!!
I'm talking to you my sister. Stop looking.
Serious Ang, avert your eyes.
Is she gone?
I think so...
Made with KnitPicks Comfy Sport. If I had to do it again, I'd go down a needle size or two.
Also, jeekeehoo...I hear you have some big news from MDSW???? Spill!
Olympic knitting
GOLD! I finished the baby blanket project I cast on for the Knitting Olympics. It was a really easy project but I'm not a fast knitter so it did push me to focus. There were other personal challenges as well but I made it. Cast off as the torch went out and even won a gift certificate and chocolate bar at the Cloverhill party! I did a little victory lap with the blanket draped around my shoulders. Seemed appropriate:)
AND I finally got around to taking pictures of the new green sweater. I'd enjoy the whole process so much more if I could get just one single picture where I didn't look like an idiot:) But there's a HUGE wheel in the background. That ought to make up for something.
second storm, second sock!
It came alright.
So, we've gotten another, what? 15-20 inches today!! BLIZZARD warning extended until 10pm because the storm has just stalled off the coast. 
And me? Knitting like a fiend. I've never done a sock in one day, NEVER. Even when I've had lots of knitting time. I think the primitive instinct for survival has unconsciously kicked in. (must. knit. need. warmth. live. live.)
SNOW!!
I've got finished objects to show but what could compare to this...
Right, right, it's a knitting blog...
see? aren't those boring!
Unblocked Flower Child
The pictures didn't turn out great, but here it is! This is Norah Gaughn's Flower Child. An interesting knit - I am not a fan of seaming so if I knit this again I would probably do the brain work to make it in the round instead of as written. Hopefully I will see my mom this weekend and she'll let me do a photo shoot.
new year, old knits
So these were the toys I made the nephews for Christmas, an alien and a dinosaur (that's the toys not the nephews!). I also finished a pair of brown socks (which I've totally failed to get pictures of) and have all the pieces to a sweater (but the sleeves aren't playing nicely with the arm holes so it's in timeout until I feel like wrestling with it).
We were snowed-in in WV for more days than we had planned on being gone and I had just run out of clean socks when I finished the brown ones. I literally took them off the needles, sowed in the ends, and put them directly on my feet. If I hadn't finished them I'd have been barefoot inside those snow boots!!
I did a spinning demonstration for 1-3 grade yesterday. Favorite question (besides the apparently standard "can you spin squirrel fur?" which I seem to get every time): "Does that take batteries?" pointing to the wheel after I had just explained to them all how it works!
From cast on to complete in 2 days! Having class only 3 days per week is great. Right? I'm using my time wisely here. In my defense, this was supposed to be a Christmas present.From Cbus
I visited Wonder Knits the other day - they have a good selection of organic yarns, but no Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (that's what I really wanted). Instead I got this, which is dyed by the shop:
Thanks to Jen & Mark for the GC - the woman who rang me up remembered talking to Jen because she is from the DC area.
More on the new digs later. I have to brave the 9 degree temps and walk to class! Good thing I have lots of wooooool!!
it just ain't the same
Wanna take a yarn crawl?
yes. yes I do.
Off to The Mannings in PA. (SORRY! Total lack of picture taking brought on by a dozen spinning wheels to play with all in one room.)
Lunch at a great BBQ joint.
You mean I can have mac-and-cheese AND chili mixed together?!
yes. yes you can.
Can Woolstock still out sparkle Liberachi with its novelty yarn collection?
yes. yes it can.
Can you make three garden slugs in a single day if you're high on yarn fumes?
yes. yes you can.
Are yarn crawls the same without Brandy?!!
NO. NO they aren't.
Small consolation...I did finally get my Nantucket Jacket done in time to wear on the trip. Still would have been better with you there!!
Hamburger Dress
Oh my goodness. Check out this dress. Abby, you should totally do this next Halloween.
Haute Coffee
Another excellent pattern found on Ravelry. This one was free. The yarn is Paton's Organic Cotton. The cheap price (less than $6 at Michaels) makes me disinclined to believe the organic claim, but the cotton really is super sofffft. I like it and I imagine I'll make a few more as gifts.
The cup in this picture is from our favorite local coffee shop and their cups don't really need to be insulated, but who cares...it's fun!
****
p.s. If I make any more I might adapt the pattern to be done on dpn's to avoid a seam.
Cable Jumper Part 2
This was a fun project. Just the right level of difficulty for me. The Debbie Bliss Fair Trade Organic cotton was a little bit splitty but usually only after being excessively handled (ie ripped out/tinked). There really is a mistake in the pattern though. When you bind off for the neck the number of stitches she says are left on the straps doesn't add up. But it was fine. Cabling on the straps was difficult too because you don't have enough stitches left to do the full cable pattern. But I improvised. The armholes are a bit big but she will wear a shirt under it during the winter anyway.
The project took about two months. In the back of my mind I thought it would be neat to give to her for her birthday but I didn't pressure myself. I did finish it a few days before and wrapped it for her (even though she had already tried it on). I'm planning on doing her 3 year pics in it.
Cable Jumper
Okay, better pictures in better light when she wears it this Sunday. But for now, here she is wearing it after I gave it to her tonight. And, after ice cream sundaes, birthday cake, and an afternoon with friends, which explains the frantic behavior and funny talking. For the record she does say it's a wedding dress and it's sooo cute.
The Mind Eraser
I spent the day at Six Flags getting beat up by rollercoasters. The wooden ones were especially rough, but the worst was the Mind Eraser. It was like being in a boxing match against Centripetal Force. I was completely exhausted until I got into bed (strange how that happens sometimes). Blogging is a great way to encourage sleep, so I give you: progress. 
This awesome, fall-inspired yarn was purchased almost one year ago at Rhinebeck. The foliage was spectacular and it definitely influenced this choice. I'm making the Pimlico Shrug from Knit 2 Together because these aren't colors I will wear all the time, and a shrug is definitely something I only wear occasionally. Since I took this photo, I've added about 5 inches. Only 29 to go for the body, then I have to do sleeves and an edging that I don't quite understand. And there is some seaming involved. Complex piece of knittery, this. You can see (if you click on the photo for more detail) some of the other patterns I considered before choosing the shrug.
Next, I give you the remnants of the Sublime after I finished my little cardigan.
See that long piece? That's for the button. Now to find a button...
I tried to take a photo of me wearing it, but it just ended being a lot of camera flash and a little bit of the bottom edge of the cardigan. Perhaps some action shots will come once I find that button. I'm thinking big, black, and shiny. Who wants to go button shopping?
to twist or not to twist?
Gosh I'm so behind. I shouldn't even try to catch up but here goes...
I've some spinning to show. First, the light green, a three ply light fingering. I had to drop down to a zero needle for the socks I'm making and it could probably take a 00 but I don't have any. They'll just have to be delicate little socks. The purple, green, blue is a two ply lace weight. More pics at ravelry, including the socks wip.
Then, from the "they made me do it" department, a somewhat bulky single. Single?! Yes, single! What in the world!?! There is NO SUCH thing as a "stable" single. What will become of all that lovely twist energy in there just waiting to spring?! OK,OK, I understand there are "usable" singles and I did my best! This was a project for my spinning group and it really was a VERY good learning experience for me. My motto is always that the only right way to spin is the way that gets you the yarn you want, and there is a time to have a lofty usable single yarn. Got. it.
AND, duh duh duuuuh! The shawl that never ends continues to never end. So I decided to dye the thing, assuming that it would instantly dissolve in the dye bath or turn out splotchy all over. IT DIDN'T. But it also isn't completely black. At least Mark says it's blue. I'm convinced on the black but I think it's wishful thinking. Regardless of color, I just love what lace does when you block it. Couldn't believe how big this became (that's the entire length of our KING size bed and my blocking board) and how lovely the pattern. Also couldn't believe how many pins it took!! Too big for Lily Chin's Blocking Wires!! Here you go...
AND! To twist or not to twist? That is no longer the question! You can do both.
(insert cheesy late night infomercial announcer here)
Don't you hate that second sock syndrome? Hate trying to remember what you made up for that first sock or glove? Now, with the revolutionary new method of "who cares,make it up again" you too can avoid that unpleasant sensation. The freedom! The whimsy! All yours for only $19.99.
I've also made another Russell the Sheep for a new baby cousin AND my brother and his wife had their second baby a few weeks ago. I made that little guy a sweater and a little elephant but totally failed to get pictures of the projects or of him. I'm going home this weekend and will try to rectify that and with the way I post, you'll see those pics around Thanksgiving!!
Next thing you know she'll be asking Santa for yarn...
Right at this very moment, girls, Ellery is lying on the floor kicking and crying, "I want my knitting noodles, I want my knitting noodles!" What she is actually referring to is her Lace and Trace animals. But still, it's important progress I think.
And to answer your previous question, the baby vest was made of mercerized cotton by Plymouth Yarn. I think it was the only non-wool yarn in the store.
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