Finished: On the Grass & Arrow Cape

I have been terrible at updating lately.  For one, I started a new job and am a little mesmerized by my new duties and my wonderful four day work week.  I wish I could say I have been knitting up a storm but thanks to Phillip, I have been trying my hand at riding my bike a lot more and trying to quit being such a lounge about.  Our apartment is beginning to get hot inside, so it is almost worth going out and getting a little breeze these days.  In the meantime though I have finished (maybe?) an On the Grass Sweater by Joji in Malabrigo Rios.  I finished the body and then became convinced that I wanted/needed another tank top.  A dear knitting friend, Vanessa politely questioned whether I would wear a wool tank top... well, that probably doesn't seem very practical to the average person but put me in Malabrigo and I will sweat in it until the death.  I still need to do a simple crochet edging around the arm holes (Phillip coyly told me they look raggedy for the time being), but I am still very happy with it.  The way I see it?  I could add those ribbing sleeves later in the year when I actually need them :) 

Also finished was a test knit for gorgeous knitter Courtney, and her Arrow Capelet.  This is everything I needed: quick, easy to carry and made in the softest alpaca.  Hopefully she will release the pattern soon so everyone can get in it on the cape thing.  I was hesitant at first thinking I would look  like a psych patient but I am actually quite happy with it. 

Happy Knitting!

Finished: Dovetail III & Toast III

What is with me repeating patterns so much lately? Normally I just can't wait to start something new and can't be bothered to remember the details of a particular pattern (unless it drove me crazy!).  This week (actually, today) I finished a pair of toast gloves for myself in Plymouth Boku and another Dovetail Cowl in Berroco Vintage to go with the State Street of my last post for my boss. 

Both were easy, both yarns dependable as always.

And as it is just now midday, onto another project.  I can't stop dreaming of wooly sweaters as the weather warms to summery temperatures :( Happy Knitting! 

Finished: Lots!!!

I have been terrible about updating lately.  I have been knitting--duh.  I just haven't been able to find the time to sit down and talk.  

Added to my 2013 roster: 

Romney Kerchief, in beautiful Sweet Fiber sock--Fossil colorway.  I acquired this on my birthday at Loops. Couldn't be happier with this; it is dreamy and soft and the pattern was a breeze.

Odile, an easy cabled cowl made from the Malabrigo Worsted I bought at Mockingbird Moon in Arkansas. This pattern was well written and Malabrigo worked at a loose gauge is always begging to be next to my skin.

And finally, a State Street Cowl for my the niece of my boss.  I don't feel quite in touch with what young girls would like, but hopefully she will appreciate it in some way.  

The niece is one in a set of twins, so I have another cowl to make, this one a Dovetail in Berroco Vintage. 

And in other news, still growing the stash thanks to Webs summer sale.  Just when I say I am done for a time, I receive an email with deals I absolutely I can't pass up. 

Soon to come, an On the Grass sweater of Malabrigo Rios, Barbara W in Cascade 220 straw colorway, and for Madmay (YAY!) a Henslowe shawl in merino light, striped fingerless gloves in pashmina, 

and many other wooly concoctions that I just can't stop dreaming of! 

Happy Knitting! 

Finished: My Favorite Sweater

About ten days ago I started My Favorite Sweater by Fancy Tiger Crafts.  I am not sure there is much to say.  The pattern is really great for beginners and has plenty of ability to be customized.  Luckily for me, not much needed to be done UNTIL  I was finishing the last sleeve the other night and noticed a hole that looked like a rat had chewed threw my knitting.  The hole was near the raglan increases on one side and there is absolutely no way I could have missed it previously.  Perhaps I ripped it as I was pulling it out of my zippered backpack (the one time I don't use a project bag)? Who knows. Either way, still happy with this and would highly recommend this pattern for knitters like myself who like to be guided along the way.

Finished: Cecily's Shawl

After returning from our long weekend, I cast on my Cecily Shawl.  I am convinced there is not much to say about it, easy garter, beautiful Rowan Felted Tweed, and stripes.  Many of my favorite things all together. 

Against my better judgment, I cast on My Favorite Sweater by Fancy Tiger Crafts.  This is an easy (but customizable) raglan, which I am using Berroco Vintage Chunky for.  The odds of me having a new sweater before next week are high, if only I were not actually sweating in my apartment today! :( 

Happy Knitting!

Vacation Yarn

I had an incredibly yarny weekend.  Before we pulled away from the front of our apartment on Thursday, I was anticipating two small packages of yarn from Ravelry destashes.  I have become a little nervous about my stash getting out of control, not financially, so much as running out of space to house it all.  But with these two small packages (4.5 skeins in all--1.5 of Rowan Felted Tweed in Clay for a Cecily's Shawl and three more skeins of Ella Rae to go with my Tea leftovers so I can make another, in the right size, for me), came the delight of already knowing that I had big plans for them. 

Phillip and I went to visit a gracious aunt, whom we have visited on many occasions.  She is delightful to spend time with and even better, there are a number of yarn stores on the way--some that I have visited and loved, some that I have only stalked with the help of the knitmap.   

While in Little Rock, I visited one of my favorite Arkansas yarn stores, Yarn Mart.  This store has always impressed me because not only does it have beautiful hand dyed skeins but it also always has medium range work horse yarns like 220 and Eco+, so while I may have something in mind that is "cheap" (like two extra skeins of Vintage for Beauborg) I can also oogle beautiful things like Shibui sock, which I just had to have.  Also being added to my roster, a sweaters worth of Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton (at a great price!), for something that will hold up to the sweltering Oklahoma heat. 

I also had the pleasure of going to Mockingbird Moon, which is a relatively new shop from what I gathered. Not only did they have a great selection of completed projects (including a finished and beaded Jeweled Cowl), but they had colorways of favorites that I can't seem to find in my neck of the woods.  Picked up there were a few skeins of Malabrigo Worsted in Chapel Stone. 

Making a short trek to Fayetteville, I landed at Handheld Knitting, which was a delight to visit.  Not only do they house an amazing selection of beautiful things I had never seen before, but they have a cute little shop cat, whom I was able to pet ((and fall in love with)).  It was obvious the women knitting there were having a regular knitting date, which was really nice to eavesdrop on, but I fell in love with a beautiful skein of Manos Fino, which I had never even seen before. 

The trip was a major knitting success.  I was able to get about 10 hours worth of Rectangle completed, two swatches for Beaubourg and I picked up a printed copy of Knit.Wear, which I have been fawning over since the first issue but can't seem to find in person anywhere here.  I also accidently picked up a Jared Flood pattern (thinking I had Guernsey Triangle in my hand), Romney Kerchief, so I have lots to work on, including a thank you gift to our gracious host whom made my knitters dream possible. 

Finished: TGV

Ever get in that mood where you have to knit? I noticed myself getting into a funk late last week as I had finished my, well, Phillip's Tea sweater.  I needed something, and I needed it fast.  And about 24 hours later I had a finished TGV Shawl in Noro Silk Garden Sock for my dear mother in law.

Once finished, and thanks to daylight savings time, I woke up at 4:00 am ready to cast on my Rectangle sweater by Shibui.  You can imagine my horror when I realized the pattern is only sold in print and the only store in my state carrying it is about 30 minutes away and I had just visited them the week before.  I ended up making the trek, and coming home with pattern and new yarn in hand (duh.). 

Also new to the stash, a skein of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine (Oats) to be a Guernsey Triangle. 

A skein of tosh merino light in Norway Spruce for something unknown...

And a beautiful skein of madelinetosh finger 80/10/10 in Fog, which I can't stop drooling over.

I have decided after this tremendously long round of stash building, this is it for me...at least for now.

Happy Knitting!