A Shawl

I really like this yarn, so every year it is my purchase from Lisa Souza during Stitches East.

This is the one I bought last year and once I found this Raindrops Shawl pattern I knew the two belonged together.

It is funny however, going from knitting socks on a US 2 needles to US 4 feels like knitting with pencils!

Not bad progress for a few days....it does help when you leave the office at a reasonable hour! I love this deep, rich color of burgundy.

Pattern: Raindrops by Irish Girlie Knits
Yarn: Sylvie by Lisa Souza

Back to the needles....

Stitches East 2014 Stash Enhancements

Well, there was a bit of stash enhancements purchased at Stitches.

Each year there is a map released through Ravelry that shows the layout of the convention center with the names of the vendors in their locations. Well, the OCD in me takes this map, color codes the vendors to visit, makes the list of what to get, and off I go.

This year I had ordered, for pickup at Stitches, a Bison/Silk kit from The Buffalo Wool Co. I had heard that you cannot be allergic to bison as you can be from sheep/wool. I was really looking forward to trying this new yarn.

They were easy to spot....as Knitters Universe had allowed them to bring their van onto the convention floor! Very cool!

Within my kit, was 800+ yards of Bison/Silk, beads, shawl pattern...and a little friend:

I also knew if I was going to continue to knit more toe up socks I needed more Hiya Hiya needles. So, here is the obligatory purchase photo:

• Lisa Souza - Bombxy Silk in Bayberry Colorway, 1094 yards
• Fiberlady - Makicot Bamboo/Cotton; Blue Hues, 335 yards
• Fiberlady - Mousou Bamboo; Purple/Rose, 650 yards
• The Buffalo Wool Co. - Bison Down/Silk; Natural, 800 yards
• Cast off Bind off Book by Leslie Bestor
• Hiya Hiya Sharp Needles - US 1.5, 3, 4; All 32" (2 pairs of each)
• Nicholas & Felice aluminum 'Bow' shawl pin
• Michelle's Assortment Straight Pin with blue bead
• Blue Beads, 8mm

 Not too bad!

Stitches East 2014

This household looks forward to a long weekend in Hartford every year. This year was no different.

A 4 day weekend arrived just at the right time from a lot of craziness! We enjoy walking around Hartford, eating at some really good restaurants, taking photos, and enjoying the architecture of the older buildings...and of course Stitches East!!

I usually take one class, this year was no different. I chose Toe Up Socks by Sarah Peasley. She was great and has such a funny personality! It also helped that nearly everyone in the class had knit socks before (cuff down) so the pace was really good. She would give us the next step, go around to make sure we all had it, then go back to those that weren't as familiar with sock construction.

We even make it to the photo section on Knitter's Universe on FB.

I managed to finish mine in no time. It helps that we were to bring worsted weight yarn and I used US 7 needles. It is a great way to be able to use the full hank on your socks, without the worry if you are going to run out. It also doesn't require all those pick up stitches around the gusset.

In having completed, I think 3 or 4 pairs of socks from cuff down, this is definitely going to be my sock method going forward.

By the time we got home, I was itching to start real socks, on a US 2. Much slower construction!

The yarn is Universal Yarn's Bamboo Pop which is a bamboo cotton blend. My needles are Hiya Hiya Sharp, since my Knit Picks interchangeable sets are not available in this size.

As for my stash enhancements. How about a teaser of waiting until tomorrow? I want to get back to my socks!

Vitamin D

2013 was the year I knit my second sweater. I was able to find the perfect yarn in 2012 when I went to Stitches East and visited the WEBS booth.

The linen in the yarn really brought out the stitch definition. I just enjoy the feel of this sweater on my skin. It shows that it is one of my favorite knit items to wear as I probably wear it once a month!

Pattern: Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier
Yarn: Classic Elite Yarn Allegoro
Colorway: Green (although I think more slate blue)
Needles: US 6
Ravelry Page

You really see the short rows I did. I even modified the pattern for more, as I wanted it a little longer than the pattern in my size provided. 

I can't believe I have blogged this much already in January...maybe I have my blogging grove back!

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.

Not sure where the remainder of November went...

However, when I left off I was literally heading out the door to Stitches East 2011.

Since I signed up for a class, I was able to head to the marketplace Thursday night. My list only had one thing on it, a DellaQ Double Interchangeable Case.

I also picked up a few other items;

• Skein of Sylvie from Lisa Souza
  
• Riveting by Kollage
  
• Tundra by Rozetta (Universal Yarns)
  
• Bonnie Jean Pattern by Kollage
  
• Ribbon that says ‘Live Long Laugh Often Love Much’
  
• DellaQ Double Interchangeable Needle Case
  
  
  Funny Story about the needle case. I had received an email from Della Q that they were going to be releasing that particular needle case in the Fall. I kept checking their website and just decided to email them. I received a prompt email back stating they would be bringing a limited few to Stitches.
  
  
  Needless to say I basically went right in the marketplace and made a beeline to the DellaQ booth. (which of course was one of the ones the furthest from the entrance doors!) and basically bought it at 5:10 PM. Miss DellaQ was there and asked if I was the individual that had emailed....I had to confess and she was glad I been able to purchase one in my favorite color!
  
  
  I was then able to leisurely walk the rest of the floor. Sure enough I round a corner and who do I see, the fabulous Debbie Macomber with Christina Skye. So, I'm marking my life list as having met Debbie 3 times in one year!
  
  
  The class I took was 8 Empowering Edges. I have fallen in love with the wonderfully talented Chris Bylsma. She is so funny! She also explains things very clearly and her handout is quite helpful. I highly recommend taking a class from her. Now having sat through her class I know I can put a good edge on this afghan. I just need to finish these squares!!
  
  
  I have been knitting for Christmas presents - so I need to keep those off the blog for another couple of weeks. I also finished another afghan square, however I need to take a photo. Next time...
  
  
  

Shrek, Macy's Parade, CO

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving!

I was able to watch a couple hours of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and thank goodness during that time Shrek came on!

You know my love of that ogre!

DH ended up taping the rest of the parade for me, so I could watch it later, as we had to leave for dinner.

 

During the parade I was able to CO my next project:

This is the Ripley hat kit from Knit Whits. I found them originally in the vendor flyer for Stitches East 2010. So, in researching my Stitches market day out I was determined to shop there! They had these hat kits in 100% cotton and I was pleasantly surprise that they brought them to Stitches.

I'm currently on the 10th row, which is the ripple row, you can see the difference between the right and left sides in the photo. It is an interesting technique that I am glad to learn, as I can see doing a couple more of these in my future. Although this stitch does make my left ring finger cramp up!

My goal is to finish this within a week...you know how I am with goals.

Who did I meet at Stitches?

The one and only Debbie Macomber! Not only did she sign my Twenty Wishes book (my favorite!), also my Blossom Street pattern book, she stood for a photo.

She is just so cute in person! She has a wonderful personality and even though I'm standing there in complete awe she was so easy to talk with. She even commented that my husband was a 'good man' in coming to the show with me. Yes, I would have to agree! She jokingly said that her husband wished she had named her book 3 Wishes, as she would have been home sooner.

Next on my list of must meet up with and say hello was Carrie aka IrishgirlieKnits. I hold her personally responsible for getting me hooked on Knit Picks needles from the first Ravelry message back in 2008!

I had never met her in person, however felt like I knew her so well. She is wearing one of her latest designs, Pont Neuf.   Also, if you do not follow her blog, you should! You can find it here.

In fact, I purchase two of hers at the show, Bellingrath & Le Petit Pont. I actually started knitting Le Petit Pont that night. Her patterns are so nice and easy to read. I highly recommend them. However that is another story for another time!

After meeting who I wanted to, and hitting those booths I was tired! Off to the hotel and a solid meal!

Stitches Stash Enhancements

This was my first visit to Stitches and WOW! It was very exciting! My DH had provided the opportunity to go, along with an overnight at a local hotel.

Since you have already seen what I was wearing, let us move on...here is the obligatory 'Welcome to Stitches' photos from the Connecticut Convention Center:

It was then off to market! There are no photos allowed on the trade show floor. However, take my word, it is BIG!

Let me get a list of what you see.

Yarn:
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Silk in Copperline, 350 yards
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread 2 in Lenore, 1125 yards
Lisa Sousa Sylvie in Sapphire, 750 yards
Cherry Tree Hill Yarn Organic Cotton in Summer Sky, 1750 yards
Kollage Creamy in Turquoise Sea, 200 yards (2)

Patterns:
Le Petit Pont by IrishgirlieKnits
Rippling Water Socks
Bellingrath: Shawlette & Sock SEt by IrishgirlieKnits
Fairhope by Dolce Handknits
Blossom Street Collection Book 2

Misc:
Sassafras earrings & keyring
Signature Needles US 6, 24 inch circulars
Biased Knitter T-Shirt
Knit Whits Ripley Hat Pattern & Yarn
*Christmas gift for someone who reads blog!

Stay tuned next time to see who I was able to get my picture taken with!!

On the road to Stitches

I needed something to wear. I'm not talking clothes, since if you talk to my DH, I have plenty...I needed a knitted item to wear.

My prior hand knits had all been worn previously. I really wanted to wear something new...however, time to Stitches was ticking!!

Off to the stash...nothing was really striking my fancy. However, I found a cake of beautiful Periwinkle Sea Silk from Handmaiden on my craft table. I thought it would be perfect!!

The problem....this cake was attached to my Ishbel. Remember it's last state of being:

It wasn't going well. I made the decision to cut the cake from the Ishbel. Somehow the black cloud over this project vanished.

This yarn was meant to be turned into my new project for Stitches.

Off to Ravelry. The pattern I had in mind was Icing by Samantha Roshak.

I had a few days to pull this pattern off...it was going to be so close. I decided to take the day off before our trip to Stitches to make sure I would have plenty of time to finish and block it.

As you can see I finished it!

Off to Stitches I go.

Stay tuned for stash enhancements tomorrow!


Pattern: Icing by Samantha Roshak
Yarn: Handmaiden Sea Silk 150g
Colorway: Periwinkle
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony US 7
Mods: Added ~75 rows to center section