Ooh, cool!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 72 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Yes, I am that crazy!

In keeping with my recent cable fetish, I made Daisy a sweater. Why would she need a sweater in Arizona, you ask? Because my dog shivers when the temperature drops below 70. Seriously. Oh, and because she's really, really cute in it!
The Necessary Details:
Pattern: Knit Simple Fall 2006, "Fit for a King(Charles Spaniel)"
Yarn: Red Heart in Burgundy, 1 skein
Needles: Sz. 8 straights and dpns
Time: Umm. . . 10 days?
Modifications: Many! This sweater is about 50% larger than the one in the pattern. Daisy only weighs 23 pounds, but she's built like a horse! I cast on 74 sts and then fudged from there, adding about two inches to the overall length and width.

Can I just say that I love KnitSimple? The patterns are very well written, and the mailing time is great -- I was able to finish two full patterns before the winter issue arrived yesterday! In other news, I'm checking out new blogs (love AJ's!) and picking up new techniques and yarns. I'm shamelessly copying her gorgeous entrelac scarf, as it would be a PERFECT gift for at least two people on my list this year!

Published!

Hooray, my copy of the 2007 Crochet-Pattern-a-Day Calendar has arrived! My City Girl Cap is featured from January 2-4! Thank you, Annie! It looks great! Check it out below:

Birthday Bashes and Needle Cases. . .

So it doesn't quite rhyme. . . but they are related! This month is full of birthdays, namely Jen's, John's, and John's! In honor of Jen's quarter-century celebration, I whipped up my second knitting needle case ever. Admire it here!
All rolled up. . .

Beginning to open up. . .

Security flap to keep everything in place. . .

Ultimate Knitting Needle Case!

Holiday knitting continued

I recently began working on Abby's christmas sweater, done in green just like her brother's. The yarn is Plymouth's Royal Bamboo, a gift from Jen. It's super smooth and has a pretty sheen, but will probably need to be blocked quite a bit before piecing everything together -- note the roly-poly edges! The pattern is from Rowan Babies, the Daydream sweater (model in pink). The book is full of lots of cute patterns, and the directions are really simple! Of course, my copy is from the library. . . but I've seriously considered buying it! So many patterns, so little time.

I've been organizing my knitting books and magazines lately, and came across last year's holiday issue of Vogue Knitting. The issue featured the winners of a scarf designing competition in support of breast cancer research, sans patterns. How frustrating! I'm trying to chart out my favorite ones, but it's a little slow-going thanks to the artsy, completely un-helpful photography. Has anyone else tried making a scarf inspired by these? If so, I can't find you on google!!!

Squares, squares, squares

This year's square swap has seemed neverending. . . yet it's almost over! I finally sent out September and October this past Friday, to Paula and Robin from Crochetville. Enjoy, ladies!

In other news, I'm moving along on John's afghan (this is neighbor John, not fiance John. . . there are too many Johns in my life!) and should have it done by the holidays. John-Michael's (see what I mean? Another John!) afghan is also progressing, but a bit more slowly as it's too big to cart around with me. So many gifts to finish, so little time!

Holiday Projects!

The first of many is finally finished. . . completely, totally, utterly finished! No more ends to weave in, no blocking to be done! What is it, you ask? A sweater for Nathan, Johnny's 4 year old nephew! I started working on it a little less than a month ago, right after receiving the fall issue of KnitSimple (Vogue's version of Knitting for Dummies, I guess you could call it!) I'm proud to say that I actually managed to complete a project from it before the next issue arrived -- I'm still waiting on that next issue, in fact! How often does that happen?! I think I might press my luck and try to knit a sweater for Daisy from it, too. Is that asking too much? (image is clickable!)

The Necessary Details:
Pattern: Vogue KnitSimple Fall 2006, "Boy's Sweater" Size 6
Yarn: Plymouth Encore, Green #45, 2 1/4 skeins
Needles: Sz 8 and Sz 9 16" circs, cable needle
Time: 4 weeks, working on and off