Leopard what?

I've always said I'm not going to knit with the latest 'fad' yarn, and here I've done it again!

I stumbled on to this yarn at Stitches East this year. Once I saw it I knew I ~had~ to knit it up for my sister. She LOVES leopard print. It was going to be a Christmas present, but since I found her something else I decided it was to become a 'just because' gift.

Pattern: Own - CO 5, Knit, repeat
Yarn: Tecido Trico by Circulo Yarns
Colorway: Leopard Print
Needles: Knit Picks Nickle US 7
Ravelry Page

I think my sister likes it, whether she does or doesn't I hope she doesn't kill me for posting this photo. :-)

I'm officially between jobs. So, hoping to get a couple more projects in this coming week. In the meantime I'm enjoying the warmth of the house, putting up Christmas decorations and times with special friends.

What to do with no power for 3 days?

Knit the husband a hat.

Pattern: Regular Guys Beanie
Yarn: Berroco Remix
Colorway: Forest
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony US 8mm
Ravelry Page

I was initially thinking picking a black yarn project to knit while we were out of power wasn't going to be the best idea. However, with the silver needles and the lantern over my shoulder it worked really good.

Now that we have power back it is time for some quick projects to knit up. Then, I'm going on the record that I'm knitting myself a sweater after that. I was originally hoping I would have a new sweater to wear for Thanksgiving...however I'm changing that to Christmas to take the pressure off of finishing a sweater in 19 days.

Booties and a hat

The outfit wouldn't be complete without matching booties and a hat.

Just give an Aunt, who adores her niece so much, a few hours on a weekend to get it done!

My Ravelry pages are listed below.

Hat
Booties

I'm off to work, yes when a hurricane is approaching (they close for nothing!). Here is hoping I arrive home safely!

Lil Miss Surprise Sweater Finished!

YES! I did it and it actually looks like a sweater! I even had time to sew the buttons on. Of course they are bunnies with my love of them.

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Yarn: Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme Batik
Colorway: Pink Lemonade
Needles: Knit Picks Circulars US 8mm
Ravelry Page

I did lengthen the body of it, since Lil Miss is a bit long. Ok, who has a pattern for a matching hat & booties?

Stitches East 2012

Interrupting the sweater news with a post about Stitches East 2012.

The DH was my companion for 3 days. Of course I didn't totally abandon him, I had a good balance of knitting time and vacation time with him!

I did a little bit of shopping Thursday night:

Blocking Roll (have you felt how light these are?)

Polar Fleece kit (*not in photo) & extra skein
The Sassy Skein - hat kit
The Sassy Skein - Jelly Fish Yarn
The Sassy Skein - dress pattern
Circulo Tecido Trico Yarn
Classic Elite Yarn - Verde Collection Allegoro
Valley Yarns - Goshen
Handmaiden Sea Silk - Wine
Handmaiden Sea Silk - Tourmaline
The Uncomplicated Knitting Machine book

Not bad! I mean it could have been much worse!!

The class I took this year was Fixing Mistakes in Lace Knitting by Brooke Nico. I would recommend taking her classes. She is a fun instructor, who explains things a few different ways to make sure everyone gets it. I learned a few ways to fix things. I hope in having learned what I did, I can finally tackle that Ishbel (version 4!). 

The DH and I also ate quite well, there was Salmon, Grilled Chicken, Rotisserie Pork, hamburgers, Chicken wrap, Brick fired Pizza....and who can forget delicious desserts:

Hartford, CT is such a great city to walk around in. We had some great daily walks around the Riverfront area and the bridge. Except for that one night that it was FREEZING!!

We will have to see if we can make it there next year.

Lil Miss Surprise Is It Really A Sweater?

This is where I had to stop today. I am trying to have faith in the pattern that this is all going to work out, since it certainly doesn't LOOK like a sweater.

I just checked out Ravelry to make sure I am on the right track. Time will tell.

I am leaving shortly for Stitches East! I hope be done this sweater by the time I get back.

Lil Miss Surprise Sweater Progress

There is nothing like being able to knit all day...

EZ Surprise Jacket aka Sweater

Like I mentioned a post or so ago, it is time to knit Lil Miss a sweater.

I had previously purchased this yarn from The Loopy Ewe once we found out my sister was having a girl.

To me, the colors say cute little girl.

The next challenge was finding a pattern. I had read much about the Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket I thought it would be a good fit. So, into the shopping cart it went.

The pattern just came a little bit ago and I have to say it seemed overwhelming at first read through.

Until I just decided to put my mind in it and just CO.

Here we go:

I am really liking how the stripes are coming out. In fact, I'm probably annoying my DH with the "Look at this..." "LOVE LOVE these stripes!"

Nicer photos of recent FO's

I had DH take some nice photos of my recent finished objects.

Enjoy!

Finished my Cream of Sugar Cane Scarf

Love this!

It did stretch quite a bit during blocking. While I was disappointed about that at first, I've grown to like it now - as I can wrap it around my shirt collar twice.

Pattern: Cream of Spinach Scarf by Larissa Brown
Yarn: Araucania Ruca Solid
Colorway: Blue
Yardage: 263 yards (full skein used)
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony Circulars US 7 
Ravelry Page

Love how DH's camera picks up the various shades in the blue!

Now that I've knit something for me, back to knitting for Lil Miss! Since Fall is upon us she needs a warm sweater!

September 30th? Seriously?!

I feel like this past month has come and gone in the blink of an eye.

Yes, I am still working on my Cream of Sugar Cane scarf. I want to use up a full skein (it will leave me with one for something else), so we keep knitting and knitting....

and after 7 tries to rotate the photo, I give up. You can see I just have another few inches to go and it will be done.

I really like this pattern, as it is easily memorized and makes for good TV knitting.

I'm calling it Cream of Sugar Cane

The original pattern name is The Green of Spinach Scarf. However, I'm knitting this with 100% sugar cane yarn, hence my name for it.

I purchased this yarn last year from Debbie Macomber's yarn store in Washington state.

Just a few inches in, this yarn is dreamy!

It is hard to see in the light today, but it has different shades of blue that add some great depth.

Stay-cation = much needed knitting time

You know, this thing called a job really puts a damper in my knitting. It has been amazing how much knitting I've accomplished while having 5 days in a row off!

Unfortunately, there are bills that wouldn't be paid if I was to stay home permanently. I mean I would need a roof over my head to knit.

I was able to complete my Circumnavigate:

Pattern: Circumnavigate by Heidi Kirrmaier
Yarn: Cascade Ultra Pima
Colorway: Blue
Needles: Knit Picks US 7mm
Ravelry Page

I'm so glad I finally knit this up. I can't wait to wear it around a white button down shirt to work. IF I do go back to work! (just kidding DH!)

Circumnavigate

I have such problems spelling that word. Great pattern, just not an easy word to spell out yet it sounds just like it is spelled.

Nothing like the start to a stay-cation to get some real progress going on this.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it is coming along!

Circum-what?

My wrist has been feeling so much better. I'm now in the habit to wear my wrist brace while I sleep and it seems to be doing the trick.

So....I can knit more!!

I had a fellow Raveler message me a little bit ago and ask if I had about 10 yards of a particular yarn she desperately needed to finish a sweater. I didn't need all I had and set up a trade. If she bought me this pattern I would send more than she needed (just to be sure!).

This is my Circumnavigate. I fell in love with the pattern a year ago, added it to the queue, bought the yarn and well a year later I'm finally casting off.

This is starting to be a great knit as it plays well into my OCD tendencies as it is symmetrical and made up of 4 sections that are mirror images.

Pattern: Circumnavigate
Yarn: Cascade Ultra Pima (can you tell I love this yarn? for those keeping score 4th project)
Needles:  Knit Picks Circulars US 7
Ravelry Page

Ravellenics Conclusion

Did you guess the last project? It was a monster. Or as DH has named him the 'Monstah'.

I was getting really nervous that I wouldn't be able to finish the monster, as I developed wrist pain last Thursday. I went back to wearing my brace at night and stopped knitting for 2 days.

So, today was a race to the finish, considering what it looked like a few hours ago:

I had to knit another 2 arms and a foot, whip stitch the pockets down, attach arms/feet, stuff, eyes and mouth.

Oh yes, I was determined to finish, pain or no pain.

Pattern: Leila from The Big Book of Knitted Monsters
Yarn: Knit Picks Simply Cotton (leftovers from my afghan)
Colorways: Prussian Heather & Blaze Heather
Needles: Knit Picks US 7 mm
Ravelry Page

I am so glad I was able to prove that I can knit 2 projects in two weeks. So, my plans for tonight are to watch the closing ceremonies with ice on my wrist.

I wonder what I shall knit next?

Better photo and Ravellenics Project #2

Ahhh a beautiful picture by DH and the fancy camera! I just need to find the perfect button.

Pattern: Lilianna by IrishGirlieKnits
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima
Colorway: Purple
Needles: Knit Picks Circulars US 8
Ravelry Project Page

Like I mentioned in my last post, I started my second Ravellenics project.

Guess what it is?

Lil Miss' Sweater for Ravellenics is DONE!

I finished this last night during some severe weather. I had every light on in our living room at 5PM! (and due to that, the color of this beautiful sweater is really off).

I just need to find the perfect button and block it. I'll wrap up the project later, with a better photo after it has been blocked.

No rest for the weary, I've already cast on for the next project I hope to complete by the end of closing ceremonies.

Lil' Miss' Sweater for Ravellenics

Here in the Northeast we are having quite the heat and humidity. So, when DH and I left the house this morning at 9AM, it was 75 degrees, when we returned less than 2 hours later it was 90 and very humid.

The kind of humidity that you flip a coin with DH to see who is going to make all the trips from the car to the house with our shopping bags.

Then, it was knitting time....

How is your head tilt?

One more repeat to go!!

Sweater for Ravellenics

Work really puts a damper on my knitting time. Then again, without the job I would not be able to purchase the yarn...vicious circle.

Well, this is all I was able to get done the past few nights:

The color is accurate more in this photo than in previous. The DH was gracious enough to take this for me tonight, with his fancy camera. (thank you!) It is a beautiful purple for a beautiful little girl!

Considering how fast lil miss is growing these past few weeks, I'm glad I am knitting a small 12 month size. It should fit her nicely come spring.

My plan for the weekend is to finish this, then start my next project that needs to be finished by the end of the closing ceremony.