It's coming for you, Jen

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!

Ahh Grad school

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.