One Down, Three to Go

Finished seaming Backyard Leaves tonight. I hope my mom likes it!



Pattern: Backyard Leaves from Scarf Style
Yarn: 4 balls Karabella Aurora 8

I really enjoyed this pattern. It went fairly quickly and the chart wasn't too hard to master. I'm glad I got to make this one as a gift, I probably wouldn't have made one for myself. I'm more of a stripy scarf kind of girl.

Progress on Branching Out is going well. I'm at repeat 22 and need at least 22 more to make a decent length scarf. I don't want to make it too long though, it's not exactly a "wrap around your neck 3 times and wear out in a blizzard" kind of thing.

Now the problem becomes what to knit next. I'm thinking about making either the Log Cabin Socks (I have yarn already) or making the Vintage Beaded Gloves from Handknit Holidays for my Grandmother. Thing is, she lives in Florida - though she usually visits for at least 3 month during the winter. This one is a tough call. Any suggestions?

Don't Ya Hate It When.......

Don't ya hate it when you are really looking forward to finishing up a certain leafy scarf on the train ride home and end up running out of yarn with only 30 or so rows to go?? I sure do! I was soooooo close to finishing backyard leaves Wednesday night, but a little yarn shortage squashed those dreams. Luckily, I had some half knit legwarmers at home that didn't mind being destroyed:



So I picked the scarf back up tonight and finished up the lousy 30 rows, wet it down and pinned it to the blocking board. Hopefully it will dry overnight and will be ready to be seamed tomorrow.




Thankfully, running out of yarn didn't totally devastate my holiday knitting plans. Since I had planned on finishing BYL on the train ride home, I stuffed my knitting bag with yarn for Branching Out. I've done about 10 repeats so far and am aiming for 4 repeats a day. I'm using Rowan Kidsilk left over from one of my sweater projects. It might be a little thin, but it seems to be working out OK so far, plus this isn't exactly a scarf that my Aunt will be wearing for warmth. I started out with size 8 needles, but the lace seemed too loose so I ripped it all out after a repeat or two. I went down to size 6 needles and it looks a lot nicer now. It's going to need a nice blocking though.



So it's round 2 for the Christmas gifts already so to help me along and keep me motivated, I've joined the Who Wouldn't Love A Handknitted Gift knit-along. Whew! That's a mouthful.

Progress Report

The Christmas scarf is coming along better than expected. I have been a good little knitter and have done 2 repeats a day, if not more. I only have about 4 more to go on the second half. I might even have it done by Thanksgiving so I can get started on Branching Out for my Aunt.

And I have some news on my second Lucky:

I finally ordered my blocking board with some moola that I got for my B-day last month and starting blocking Lucky last night. I'll tell ya, I don't know how I ever survived without one before! Blocking is so much easier and more pleasant. Finished sweater here I come! The weather is finally just starting to get cold, so my cashmere lucky is right on time.



Now I just have to block my fairisle sweater, finish the neckband, and sew it together and I'll have another FO. That will be my reward after finishing the parade of Christmas knits.

And finally, my knitting buddy Mia found this link online and I thought the concept was very interesting - a completely knit wedding. I don't think my fiancee will go for this though......

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I'm Sorry, But I Had To

I know, I know. I'm not usually one to fall and do what everyone else it doing, but I'm so very curious where all of you guys are from. Please indulge me and put your little pin on the map as you have probably done 200 times before! Or just leave me a comment and tell me I suck for jumping on the bandwagon. I'm just way to curious and I've been debating whether to put it up or not for two days now...........there was way too much time spent thinking about it and not enough time being spent on the knitting of Christmas presents. So to end the dilemma, I posted the map, now it's up to my loving readers to post a pin or not post a pin.





Whew! Now that is out of my system here is some progress on backyard leaves (though it's kind of a crappy picture). I've almost finished the first 11 repeats (10 done - could have gotten one more done if I hadn't thought about the map so long!) I should hopefully have the first half done by this weekend. My goal is to have this completed by next week if not sooner so I can start on my Aunt's Branching Out. Then I've added a pair of socks for my Grandmom and a Knit your own Rock Star - Henry Rollins for my sister. So now that my list has grown, I better get my butt moving.

Christmas Gifts: Round 1

Started knitting Christmas presents this weekend. Started with "Backyard Leaves" by Annie Modesett from Scarf Style. This one will be for my Mom. Luckily I had 4 balls of Aurora 8 in my stash left over from my college thesis project.



It started off a little bit shaky. I got through 1 1/2 repeats and decided to rip it all out. I was knitting a little too tightly and had made several mistakes in the chart. I should have really frogged after 1 repeat, but somehow I thought it would get different. I asked my finance several times if it looked OK and he said it did. Then he fell asleep and when he woke up, the scarf was no more. He seemed a bit more disturbed than I was. I started over, and things are well on the way. I figure if I do at least 2 repeats a day, that should leave enough time to knit my Aunt "Branching Out" in Kidsilk Haze.

Leaving for Minnesota Tuesday night for a business meeting with Target. Not really looking forward to flying - I get MAJOR anxiety attacks. I hope I'll be able to keep the nerves under control with my knitting. If security even thinks about taking it away from me I'll be in tears! Backyard Leaves is at least involved enough that I have to pay complete attention to the chart and counting. The less room I have to think about other things, the better.

Update 11/14: Trip to Minnesota is cancelled! What a relief! Though I don't get away totally clean - it's been rescheduled for 12/5. Oh well. At least I will be able to go to SnB tomorrow. It's our last night at Ten63 before they shut their doors. Sniff....

First Pair is a Charm

Yay! Finished my first pair of socks tonight. The second one fits a bit better than the first, but that's not a big surprise.



Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple - Beginner's Mid-Weight Socks
Yarn: 1 ball Lana Grossa Meilenweit 70% Virgin Wool 23% Polyamid 7% PBT

I was thinking about why it took me so long to knit my first pair of socks and I came up with one conclusion. When I was in college, my knitwear professor brainwashed us into not ever wanting to knit socks. She went on and on about "Why would anyone want to spend so much time knitting something they can go buy 5 pairs for $1?" For whatever reason this stuck in my mind for 6 years. I was even offered money last year to knit a pair for a girl I used to work with - I turned it down! Yes, I turned down knitting for money! So sad.

I'm not even sure why I listened to that professor, she was a bit weird anyway! "Why would anyone want to knit socks!?" Well, for one, this is the most comfortable, warm pair of socks I have ever owned! No more sock phobia here! Thanks again Secret Pal for the great sock therapy!

Sock progress

I've made a bit of sock progress over the past couple of days, though not as much as I would have liked. I finished the first sock last Thursday and the second is well on its way (turned heel tonight! woo hoo!). I hope to have a complete pair by tomorrow, but you never know.



The second socking finishing party might be put off until I put away all the junk in the background of the pic. It's been sitting around in my apartment for about 2 months now. Guess it's about time that I put everything away, I'm sick of looking at it.

Bought Handknit Holidays this weekend in preparation for Christmas knitting. I don't usually like Holiday knitting books, but this one is so cool I couldn't resist. I especially love the tree skirt made from Manos - however I'm not sure I would like the $ total after buying 22 skeins to complete it! Maybe next year after I win the lottery..............

Thank you so much to everyone for your engagement wishes! It is so nice to have such a warm community to share our happiness with!

Socks and Big Announcement

Yay! Socks! I am almost finished my first sock and I am so very very happy. How could I have missed out on socks for the past 5 years? I just don't know. I have about 2 inches of jersey left before I start shaping the toe. They have gone very quickly considering that I am knitting on size 3 needles. I should really be starting my on Christmas presents for the fam, but I just can't put my sock down. And don't even mention poor butterfly. She has been neglected for a week now.



Today I found a new online knitting magazine through Fig and Plum . It's called anticraft. It is very anti-cute and anti-pink. It's nice to see a different kind of knitting mag pop up. It's not for everyone, but it's one to watch for sure. I loved the little blurb on theCurse your Boyfriend sweater. And I definately must have the Snowball's Chance in Hell armwarmers!

And now for the big announcement.......

I'm engaged!!!!!!!

The big day happened on our birthday in New Hope with the sheep cheering him on. I would have mentioned it sooner, but I didn't want to ruin the surprise for my Tuesday night SnB girls. Next fall will probably be when everything goes down. He is so excited about planning the wedding. I am soooooo glad I will have help and won't have to do everything myself.

The Happy Couple


The Goods!