Easter Explosion

I've been knitting like mad for various kids' Easter gifts the last couple of weeks! Luckily, Jen came to visit just in time, and helped me wrap up the last couple of sweater/vest combos. Thanks, Jen!!!

First up are my new favorites. . . two little lambs, knit using Barbara Prime's FREE Fuzzy Lamb pattern. Yup, free! These little cuties are quick to make, and a ton of fun! The little felt egg purses came from the One Spot at Target. Love it!


I knit them using stash Lion Brand Wool-ease in fisherman and mushroom, on a size 6 needle. One skein of each color was enough for both lambs. I usually knit them up in a couple of hours, and then spend another hour and a half or so seaming, stuffing, and perfecting eye placement. . . totally worth every minute!

Next up are more bunnies. Sooo cute! Jen took these shots for me (thanks again. . . !) Also a Barbara Prime pattern, these bunnies were knit with white Vanna's Choice acrylic, Lion Brand Wool-ease in fisherman, and Encore Worsted in fox. Their dresses and sweaters are all Caron Simply Soft with the exception of the green vest, knit in Patons Astra.





Thanks so much for visiting, Jen! See you soon for your Yarn Tasting!

Projects, Projects, Projects! (image heavy)

It's definitely official now. . . the grad school project bonanza is in full swing! In keeping with my tradition of crafting up a storm to deal with school stress, I currently have 10 WIPs, and many lovely finished things to show you!

First up is Jaime's 30th birthday afghan. Working almost every day for about three weeks, I was able to finish this one a full five days before the celebration -- a record for me! The pattern is called Trip Around the World, from 50 Sensational Crochet Afghans and Throws.




Next is a baby gift for one of Mom's co-art teachers. This is E. Zimmermann's February Baby Sweater! Love it!!! The yarn is Zitron Ecco, and I used just about 1 1/2 skeins on a size 7 needle.


I sent Hannah arm warmers for Valentine's Day, also from Zitron Ecco, and these babies used less than 1 skein. Fantastic! I modified the pattern to be entirely cabled . . . no pesky ribbing!


On to the WIPs. . . beginning with Barbara Prime's Easter Bunny. Too cute! This little guy is knit from Berroco Comfort, using worsted for his body and dk for the clothing. A pleasure to knit, and surprisingly fast!


Next, a clapotis. You knew it had to happen sooner or later! This one is for Jen's shop, a sample per her request. Yay for sparkley yarn! This is Blue Heron's rayon-metallic blend.


Last, but certainly not least, is a wonderfully warm, squishy-soft scarf I'm crocheting as a pattern tester for my new friend Allison. I'm working it in Encore chunky weight, and I looooooooove it!


See? I'm coping just fine!

Umm. . . no?

Glowing Embers

I really need to be better about updating my blog! Thanks to ravelry, I don't even read other people's blogs anymore, much less update mine!

Many, many projects have been finished. . . some small and unblogworthy. . . and it's only February 6. Is it obvious yet that I'm back in grad school?! Knitting is definitely my coping strategy!

Gusto's afghan is finally done. Here it is, flowing out of the gigundo box I had to find to ship it in. I insured the sucker for $300, and am now secretly praying it gets lost in the mail!

This was one of those projects that sat around just a little too long, getting on my nerves and creating a lot of resentment for the space it took up. With that said, much love to you Gusto, and I hope you enjoy it for many years to come! Red Heart is a little like cockroaches, in my mind. . . they'll both be around long, long after we're gone. This project came out of Home Sweet Home Afghans, a really nice little resource! I made it a little wider and longer than required, per Gusto's request!

I've also finished not one, but TWO Hemlock Ring blankets. You'll remember that it was on my New Year's resolution list, which I'm working through like a champ. I'm psyched to be teaching the blanket as a class at Robena's Trumpet Hill shop this month and next! These babies were worked up in Cascade 220 Heathers (purple) and Cascade Eco Wool, respectively. The purple one follows Mr. Tweed's specifications, using just about 650 yards. The gray one used almost all of the two Eco skeins Robena sent home with me, yielding three additional pattern repeats and using almost all of the 956 yards! It's mammoth!

New Year's Project Resolutions!

A little early, but I can't think of another way to get them out of my head!



1. An afghan for my Auntie Linda's new farmhouse
2. A cabled vest for Grandma Judy
3. The sheep afghan from the Holiday 2007 Knit Simple mag (above!)
4. Hemlock Ring Blanket by Jared Flood
5. Demi sweater from Rowan Vintage Knits

Five seems doable. . . reasonable. . . especially with school and two jobs! Not to mention the endless baby blankets I always end up making ;)

Happy Holidays, all!

Knitting away. . .

Pattern: "Snowflake Socks" IK Fall 2007
Yarn: Wildfoote, in Blue Boy and Vanilla
Needles: sz. 3 dpns
Time: two weeks so far, working on and off!

These socks are a holiday gift for a good friend. . . who'd better not be reading my blog! SO pretty, and going so quickly! This is my second attempt at color work. I'm also working on a sweater for me, ME, ME!!! Yay! See below. . . .




Pattern: "Starsky" from Knitty.com
Yarn: Reynolds Rapture
Needles: Denise, sz. 10
Time: just about a week, and three skeins in!
This yarn was a wedding gift from the fabulous Jen, and we're working on it as a knitalong. . . Jen was smart, and dunked her swatch. It GREW! I might be frogging soon :-P No fun at all. What IS fun is that this yarn spit-splices! No weaving in ends for me!

I'm Baaaack!

I'm married! I'm back in school! I'm working another new job! And yet. . . I'm still knitting. John and I had a total blast at our wedding -- so many of our friends and family were able to make it that it was a little overwhelming. Here's a shot of us at the end of the night, tired and happy (and wearing glow bracelets! Don't ask!)


We honeymooned in Toronto, where we saw Chinatown, Asiatown, Lettuce Knits, and Evil Dead: The Musical. What was that? Oh, Lettuce Knits? Yes, it was awesome :) Oh, and Evil Dead was a zombie musical. Yup. We were 1 row away from the splatter zone. Yup -- splatter zone. Blood, guts, and brains. Zombie. Musical. Check it out:


That's Lettuce Knits, not Evil Dead. Sorry, no shots of me with the zombies! But seriously, it was a really (strangely) good time!

Now, for the good stuff. . . the KNITTING! I finished the Bliss baby blanket, and it came out beautifully. This is the blanket I want to make for every special baby forever. It's a-m-a-z-i-n-g in person! Enjoy, baby Lela!

Pre-blocking. Don't unravel on me now!

Soaking away in the sink. . . mmm. . . yummy. Not.

Ta-da! Blocked out in all her glory. So cool!

Wedding Shower Shots!

Life has been extremely busy, what with our new jobs and the wedding only 20 days away! To help make up for it, here are some shots of today's bridal shower!

Many thanks and much love to my bridesmaids, Hannah and Jessica, and to all of our family and friends!

Arwen Update

My Cardigan for Arwen is almost done! I've been working along on the baby blanket and so many other little projects that it's been neglected for the last month or so. I blocked it yesterday (on my bed -- what a pain!), but still need to stitch it up. Here's a fun little peek at the miles of cabling:


The stitching itself went very quickly, I just got a little bored with it. I've had serious serial project starting this last month, due in no small part to the opening of a new lys here in Sch'dy. Maureen's Yarn Boutique doesn't have a website up and running yet, but she does have a mighty good selection of Patons Kroy Sock Yarn. Perfect for Eunny's Endpaper Mitts, and washable! I'm going with the flax and whitecap colorways, but can't cast on until Arwen is officially finished. One good little motivator is Maureen's Sit 'n' Stitch session next week -- I'd love to wear it there, assuming it fits me and all! Argh, row gauge! It hates me!

In other news. . . I treated myself this week! Both books are must-buys, and both were available my local Barnes & Noble (despite Socks being listed with a release date of April 1). Happy early birthday to me!

Money is GOOD!

John got a job today! Life is good again! He'll be working as a cable technician for Time Warner, meaning that our internet and tee-vee will now come with free tech support 24/7. Mom and Dad are very happy about this particular point, as our tee-vee is currently their tee-vee. That's right, we're living at home right now. The wedding is in July, meaning that we can save money like crazy people to buy a place of our own, a place to fill with fibery goodness and spinning wheels. This place is just a little closer now that he's gotten his job! Yay, yay, yay! Congratulations sweetie :)

This really is a good day. Vogue's spring preview is out, and the forecast is a lacy one. Here are a few of my favorites:


Gotta love the cover. It looks like a recycled pattern from Knit.1 a few seasons ago, but I love it just the same. Joann's has great lace insert material for .99 a yard. Can't beat it!


So cute. I love the nautical theme. Bikinis, sweaters, bags, jewelry, undies -- bring it on! Keep 'em coming!


This piece would be great for work, especially in the summer. I'm really enjoying the "braided" necklines Vogue's featured in these last few issues! I have yet to try one though. . . gotta rectify that ASAP.


As always, I love the baby stuff. Look at that embroidery!

New year, new projects. . . and a 2006 surprise!

John and I are back in NY (note the new, Arizona-less header!), living closer to our families and planning to return to school in the fall. In the meantime, I've been knitting up a storm!

My fave ASU professor and his wife are expecting their first baby in April, so I've been working away at the Debbie Bliss Alphabet Blanket from The Baby Knits Book. The pattern calls for super-spendy Bliss Wool-Cotton, so I substituted Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in Cotton Ball. At about 50% complete, here's a peek at the project:


Every row has a letter that I like to watch grow, and for the first row it was Y. How pretty is that?!


I'm also beginning work on the Arrr! Baby Set from the Winter 2006/2007 issue of Knit.1, but with a twist. . . I thought that pink and white would be just perfect for Abby.


I finally have photos of the last big project of 2006, my mom's holiday gift. I made Breezy Cables from the Spring 2006 issue of Interweave Knits. Instead of Lion Cashmere, I went with Cascade 220 -- talk about savings! The cost was less than half of what it would have been with the cashmere, and I honestly prefer the sweater in the darker, gray shade.


My favorite part of this design was the plan for the pockets. They're knit into the front so seamlessly!

Arwen Along Progress!

Finally, a sweater for ME. ME, Me, me!!! I spent most (all) of the day yesterday watching Ugly Betty on abc.com and knitting on my beautiful Arwen sweater. It's progressing along pretty rapidly:


The back is finished but still in need of blocking, and the left front panel is well on its way!