What a ride...

Well, we ended up selling our house in a mere 16 hours. We moved 3 weeks later. I have to admit it was a tough time for me. While I was out straight working, my DH was left to handle the last of the packing, cleaning and unpacking.

We are currently living in a house my family owns. It used to belong to my Gram and Grandpa, so it has so many wonderful and happy memories. While leaving the house I called home for 17 to move into a temporary house was more emotional that I thought it would be, I am grateful we are not in an apartment or worse.

We've been able to fit, into an already furnished home, ALL of our furnishings! No easy task, and we feel cramped and are living out of boxes & off of clothes racks...but again, it could be a lot worse.

Our focus has been on the new house. Every day there is a new development. I went on a business trip for 4 days in early summer and in those 4 days all the framing went up!

The stage we are in right now is the finish stage, painting, molding, flooring then cabinets and counter tops. We hope to be in sometime in early October.

I just hope we both still have our sanity by move in day!

As for the craft front, again glad that knitting can be a relatively small hobby. It doesn't take up much space. I have 99% of my stash in big plastic tubs that isn't readily available, so I preplanned my knitting for the summer.

I kept out the largest single skein I owned out, during our month of staging, and subsequent month of packing up.

That would be Buffalo Wool Sexy, 800 yards. I bought it at the last Stitches East I went to.

Knowing that I wanted to create a shawl and fingerless mitts that matched. I went pattern shopping to find a simpler shawl pattern.

Windward by Heidi Kirrmaier fit the bill!

More details here. It is hard to see the pattern, maybe this weekend I'll ask DH to take a better photo.

Happy Knitting (in cramped spaces)!

Secret Scarf Knitting

So, I have these two really great friends and I wanted to provide them with a little something knitted for the next time I saw them.

Well, doesn't it figure that our lives were so busy (aka work!) that it had to wait a couple of months. Last night we finally met up and they received these:

Which went from this:

To this (in a few weeks):

Pattern: One Row Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Pearl
Colorway: 50 Shades of Gray - Anastasia & Christian
Needles: US 6
Ravelry Page

When Lorna's Laces came out with the 50 Shades of Gray, I had to special order it. Jimmy Beans Wool was great in handling it, as I had requested it in the Pearl base - since I'm allergic to wool. It took a few weeks, and then this gorgeous package of yarn arrived.

These are all 5 skeins:

I mean who wouldn't want to share her 50 shades with great friends! You know the kind, they meet you for drinks, send you text messages for support/encouragement, listen to the complaining, talk you off the cliff, share life lessons...you know the kind!

The same that say "I'll have what she is having!"

Now back to regular knitting...

Mystic & Noank CT with a side of knitting

One of my favorite places to go for the day or a long weekend is Mystic, CT, in fact we just came back yesterday!

I could just sit for hours and watch the boats. It is so relaxing.

In fact I can say I actually knit while sitting looking at the sailboats. I started this scarf last week with some yarn I purchased in Washington state a couple of years back, and managed to nearly finish it while just enjoying my ocean view.

I plan on using a kitchener stitch and making it into a cowl. I will post all the details when I finish it.

My Christmas knitting is officially done, as I only wanted to do a couple of projects. My fall schedule at work is going to be crazy so I needed to keep it light.

Up next, I'm thinking socks...as I'm waiting for an order from The Loopy Ewe. :-)

Stepladder Scarf

This was the very first completed knit of 2013.

Pattern: Stepladder Scarf
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Silk
Colorway: Copperline
Needles: US 7
Ravelry Page

This picture does not do this color justice. It is a beautiful copper orange and the silk is just divine on your neck on a cold winter day here in New England.

Trying this photo for color.

Ahhhh, THAT is more the color.

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.

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.

Last day of winter

YAY! Although I shouldn't be complaining at all. We had one storm the end of October that knocked out our power for 4 days, and another foot of snow on us a few weeks ago that melted quickly.

Today the temps are expected in the 70's. Bring on Spring! Allergies and all.

Let's wrap up winter knitting, there wasn't much;

Pattern: Ruffle Scarf
Yarn: Rozetti Yarns Tundra
Colorway: Black-White
Needles: Knit Picks US 8mm circulars
Ravelry Page

I've also put away my afghan blanket. I just need to knit the border of which I'll do when the weather gets cooler again. I had a couple opportunities to wear it this past month and it was so warm! LOVE!!

Tomorrow we bring in Spring and I've got the start of a lace project on the needles. Details next post.

Goodness that was a long break

So, where did we leave off? Oh yes, the Alaska trip. I did start a scarf on the trip. This was going to be a simple one row repeat, as to not miss any sights.

It was a couple days into our trip that I actually CO. Little did I know that I would have a darn of a time having the first stitch of each row be a YO.

Needless to say I had quite the practice with this - as it took me 7 times of CO and knitting a couple of rows before I would find an error and not have the correct amount of stitches. Frog.

Now in my defense, I did CO when we were in a lounge on the ship listening to a guitar player who could impersonate Gordon Lightfoot fabulously!

So, as you can see I started fresh, yet again, the next day. The lighting was much better and I had the correct stitch counts. Finally!

The following day we spent cruising through Glacier Bay, by this time I was on a roll.

Oh yes, nothing like a glass of Riesling and knitting with that kind of view. That is something I'll remember forever!

When I arrived home, I had my scarf looking like this:

A long way to go to finish this.

...and as you can see, finish it I did. As I was then, out that door to Stitches East 2011 minutes after this photo was taken.

Pattern: Lacy Brioche Scarf by Kirsten Hipsky
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread II
Colorway: Lenore
Yardage:  I still have about half of the skein left, however, I really need to weight it for accuracy.
Needles: Signature Circulars 6mm, 24"


Details on my trip to Stitches next time.

Summer Wind

I really LOVE this pattern! Although I keep typing it out as Summer Wing...not sure why exactly.

I've finished the border and I'm just starting on the middle section. I originally cast on for the smaller size, then realized I had not 400 yards of this but 600, so I added the additional CO's to make it the larger size.

I can not wait to wear this!

If you want to join in on our KAL. The details are here.

FO Winter Wonder

Well I did it. I finished my Winter Wonder in record time.

This is my first completed cable project. I'm officially

Pattern: Winter Wonder by Irishgirlieknits
Yarn: Berroco Remix
Colorway: Strawberry #3960
Yardage: Skein and a third (still need to weight it to be exact)
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony Circulars US 8

I quickly took this photo in between downpours here today. I tried it on and I hope to order a pin from Designs by Romi that will compliment it well.

The bigger decision is being that it is my first cable project I'd really like to keep it. However, I know someone that it would look fabulous on.

Isn't this always my dilemma with all my finished objects? Is it yours?

Cranking out cables

I can't believe how fast I'm knitting cables.

Someone suggested that I could be going even faster if I learned to knit without cable needles. I've tried it on this scarf and I just can't get comfortable with it.

Even with using the cable needles I feel I've been really knitting alot this past week (both in speed and time spent). I've been able to knit every night this week and it has helped my stress level tremendously. I'm trying to enjoy it now, as my busiest time period is almost upon me at work and when that happens I barely make it home for supper.

I originally purchased 2 skeins of this Berroco Remix, I'm still on skein one although I'm hoping to make a cowl out of what is left after this project.

Back to knitting...

Winter Wonder in Remix

I cast off this past week on a pattern by Carie (aka IrishGirlieKnits). You may remember the Le Petite Pont I made from her pattern and yarn purchased at Stitches East 2010.

Well, I bought another pattern from her. This is the Winter Wonder. I originally wanted to knit this up in a dark blue yarn, however the yarn store shipped the incorrect color (black instead of nightfall). I decided to keep the black and CO with the red.

The yarn is Berroco Remix. It is made from 100% recycled fibers, Nylon, Cotton, Acrylic, Silk & Linen. Once I picked up a new cable needle (instead of using a DPN) I was able to cruise right along. This is what it looks like now, after 2 nights and a Saturday of knitting:

As you may be able to tell I did a pattern modification, as I'm doing a smaller border. Another 4 repeats and I'll be done! Now just to be able to have some large amounts of knitting time....

Finished Mini Scarf

This took no time. Actually it was less than a day!

I'll have to take a better photo when the weather is better - maybe this coming weekend with daylight hours. Until then all I have is this:

Pattern: Mini Scarf
Yarn: Artyarns Beaded Pearl & Sequins
Colorway: Burgundy
Yardage: 80 yards, 4 inches left over!
Needles: KnitPicks Harmony US 7, 24" circulars

It does look very beautiful on!

Mini Scarf

I couldn't help but start a project with this fabulous yarn,

I found a nice pattern called Mini Scarf on Ravelry.

I love this! I do not expect this to take long, rows are so fast when you only have 10 stitches in them!

FO Le Petit Pont

 (pre-block photo!)

Pattern: Le Petit Pont by Irishgirlieknits purchased at Stitches East 2010
Yarn: Kollage Creamy purchased at Stitches East 2010
Colorway: Turquoise Sea
Yardage: only 2 grams left from 2 skeins
Needles: Signature Circulars US 5, 24 inch
Ravelry Project page here

I can not say enough about this pattern as I loved it! It is a 8 line repeat, works well for tv knitting! I look forward to making another one!

Now the bigger question, do I keep this for myself, since I'm so in love with it, or give it to someone I could see wearing it? Decisions, decisions...

Life events = slow progress

I imagine a day without having to work crazy long hours so I'm able to knit as I wish. Until then, I really shouldn't make deadlines, like the last one I made, as it was to finish the Le Petit Pont by this weekend.

I failed and I can't stand failing.

So, I'm not telling when I hope to be done by this. Hopefully soon. Until then, I'm enjoying this yarn just gliding over these needles.

A better photo of my Le Petit Pont

It really says a lot when I'm knitting a project exclusively! This yarn is just sailing over my Signature needles. I hope to finish this scarf this week. Stay tuned...

Le Petit Pont Progress

I've made some great progress on this beautiful scarf this week. This is after one skein is used up and I've just paused to add the second skein.

Of course, I was not at this stopping point during the best weather of today...you know the nice bright sunshine that adds so much natural color to photos to help make them look not so dark!