The trouble with Big Projects...

and a knitting blog, is that you don't update very often. But luckily I am updating right now!! I have finished the Tilted Duster!

I didn't mind knitting this sweater at all, which is an improvement. My Cardigan for Arwen took forever because after I finished the first two halves I couldn't get through the miles of stockinette on the back.

It took about 5 weeks, which really isn't too bad considering how little knitting time I get nowadays. (My youngest is a climber. Keeps me on my toes constantly.) Unfortunately this sweater, while originally for me, looks HORRIBLE on me. Seriously. I couldn't even wear it to take pictures in. Luckily my sister tried it on and it looks as though it was made for her. So she will get the sweater, and was nice enough to model it for me for the blog and Ravelry!!



Pattern: Tilted Duster by Gaughan

Yarn: Berocco Peruvia in Tobacco

Needles: Size 9



Notes: First off, this yarn, while some of the softest I have worked with and honestly SO soft against the skin was a BITCH to seam with. Seriously I wanted to poke myself in the eye with my darning needle the yarn broke so many times. I honestly think it will be the time I do a sweater in one ply. Also the stitch definition was difficult to see because of the halo of the yarn.



The pattern itself was actually a pretty fun knit. Mostly mindless, with just enough decreases and increases to keep it interesting. Overall, I really enjoyed knitting it. It was my first time with set in sleeves and while I don't think I did that great of a job, I also don't think I did a terrible one. Over all, I give this sweater a B.



The only reason it didn't get an A is because it didn't fit!! :(

Took me long enough...

But here are the pictures of what my Rut Busting Secret Swap pal sent me!! I literally gasped when I saw THIS goodness come out of the box:



How incredibly beautiful is that yarn? The colorway is called "Playing with Matches" and seriously that is the perfect name for it. LOL

And she also sent me a ton of other goodies!!



What you see here is a clear project bag from The Loopy Ewe which I LOVE and have been wanting to try. My hat in progress is in there right now.

There is also an ADORABLE sheep tape measure (thank you, I am down to one of those) some hand balm, a really cute little pink knitting notebook, some SOAK wash (I have been really really wanting to try these, I am so glad I have an excuse) and a sock blocker key chain!!

Thank you so much Crazyknits, you are an AWESOME pal!!

Best mail day in awhile!!

I got goodies from Tink, my SP and from my Sock Swap Pal Petra!!

*warning, Picture heavy post!!*

So first let's talk about the swap from Petra. She lives in Sweden, so we decided to do a yarn swap in addition to a sock swap.

Upon receiving hte package I ripped it open and actually remembered to take a picture:



I laid everything out:



then ripped everything open. I got some Evilla Artyarn which I have been DYING to try. For like a year, seriously. I am so excited to have this in my hot little hands:



That is the rainbow colorway. I also got some Jitterbug that I have been totally jonesing for:



This color is so amazingly gorgeous.

And finally the pies de resistance:



The absolutely most beautiful socks I have ever seen in my life. No joke.



They fit like a glove. I am so impressed, they are absolutely perfect in every way.



So then I also received a package from Tinkerbell, my AWESOME SP.



How exciting is that picture??



Look at all that cotton? I am so excited, I have been wanting to try the peaches and cream, because all I have ever used is the sugar and cream, but this stuff is SO much softer then the sugar and cream.



It is so hot, I am thinking about casting on a dishcloth tonight actually!!

Missing from that photo is the chocolate that little C stole and ran off with.

So thank you so much ladies!! You totally made my week!!

Socks, Yarn and a Sweater!!

So I finished my Sock Pal's Socks!! They are Coupling from the latest knitty. All in all a very enjoyable knit, though I did get SSS and had to take a 2 week break between socks. They are now all clean and blocked, and as soon as I pack up the box, I will be sending them off to Sweden!!

Petra, if you want to be surprised, don't look any further!!



Pattern: Coupling from Summer 2007 Knitty

Yarn: Fleece Artist Merino Sock in a blue color I don't know the actual colorway

Needles: Size 1.5 KP circulars

Start: July 2007
Finished: August 2007



Also, I am getting better at this yarn thing:



And I finished the Tulip Baby Sweater!

Well it resembles yarn...

I went to Lambtown in Dixon on Saturday with my mom, and I got a drop spindle, a niddy noddy and some roving. I learned to spin there, and have been practicing all weekend. I give you, my first handspun yarn:







It looks like yak but it is getting way better now, much more consistent. I made some more and plied it together and it is soaking right now to set the twist. If it turns out halfway decent I am going to knit it into a swatch and see what happens!!

Tinkerbell Rocks!!

I am doing the SP 9 from the Knitty Coffeeshop and we just got our first package today!! My wonderful SP Tinkerbell sent us some stitch markers, delicious smelling coffee, some YUMMY sockotta, which I am planning on casting on asap (after my sock swap pal's socks are done) some gorgeous bracelets for my C and a book for the little man!

Thank you so much Tink, you rock!!

Mystery Stole 3...

I was one of the first 100 to join Mystery Stole 3, not realizing that I was going to be part of something so huge!! Currently there are over 6000 members, all knitting the same design. How freaking cool is that??

Anyway, Clue 1 and 2 are already out, but I just finished knitting clue 1 tonight while the kids and hubbo slept. I am using Zephyr wool/silk in the color Cassis with black iridescent beads. It is turning out really nice I think!

Here you can see the lace work better:



And here you can see the contrast of the beads:



I love it!! Even though it is hard and I can only knit it when my kids are asleep, I am loving it. :)

Rated G...

I guess my blog isn't even spicy enough for a PG rating. What did I expect though? It is about knitting and my life. All a bit rated G LOL!!

Mingle² - Online Dating

The Koigu Shawl

For Mothers Day, my mom got me a gift certificate to take a lace knitting class at the LYS because she knows I was loving knitting my Garden Path Shawl. I am so glad she did because I a) got to know the yumminess that is Koigu, and b) really really enjoyed knitting this pattern!!



Originally this was called the Gypsy Shawl by Koigu, but my instructor basically had to rewrite the entire thing, as the original shawl pattern basically made no sense.


Closeup of Top

It was such a joy to knit!! It starts out with a bunch of stockinette, which I modified to add the little "raspberries" you see above.


Close up of bottom

Then there are 3 different lace patterns for the bottom. The first is trellis lace, the second is feather lace and the third is little arrow lace. I don't know where my instructor got the stitch patterns, but I love them all.



And of course, my three year old had ot get in on the action again while photographing. She loves to model of my shawls!! She also helped me block it, and then proceeded to tell her dad exactly how to block things. "you get it in the sink and put water on it. Then you put lots of pins on the black thing that the cats scratch. Then you leave it alone and DON'T TOUCH IT or you get a time out."

Oh and I am well aware of the glaring error on the top of the shawl, but seing as I was about 6 inches past it and I had already ripped the sucker 5 times I decided to leave it.

Thanks for looking!

Garden Path Shawl

It's done!! FINALLY!! Frickin A I thought this thing would never end. But it is and I am extremely happy with the results!



Pattern: Garden Path Shawl by Elann.com (free pattern)

Yarn: Pure Alpaca from Elann.com in the Forest Path colorway

Needles: Size 9 Lantern Moon

Start: March 2007
Finished: June 2007



Modifications: This shawl is huge. I mean HUGE. I omitted the last repeat of the pattern and it is still down past my rear. I adapted the edging pattern to fit without the last repeat of the round flowery things and steam blocked it. I didn't block the edges aggressively enough so they aren't as pointy as they could be, but I was so excited to wear it that I didn't feel like redoing it!! LOL


This is my younger sister modeling it.


And my 3 year old.





Would I knit it again? No way. Did I enjoy knitting it? Definitely. I have however decided that I prefer stockinette shawls to garter stitch shawls.

I made my first sweater!!

You have to ignore the dorky poses, I was playing with my kids at the same time.

Anyway, here are the specs:

Pattern: Cardigan for Arwen from Interweave Knits Fall 2006
Yarn: Knit Picks Andean Silk, Cornflower, 16 balls
Needles: Lantern Moon size 7 and 8
Started: January 1, 2007
Finished: May 4, 2007
Modifications: I didn't do the hood, because I don't wear hoods. Instead I did a single crocheted border around the neckline after I seamed everything together. I really like it.

The only downside to this sweater is that when I started it, I was 21 lbs heavier, so it is a bit big on me, but I don't care, I like it all slouchy.

Blocking was a BIOTCH though. Apparently because of the silk, it stretched out soooo much while blocking it. Originally the wingspan was 6 feet long, and I was totally freaked out. But thanks to all the lovely knitty heads, I squished all the stitches together and then left it alone for 5 days and they are still a bit long, but waaaaaay better.

So all in all I am really proud of my very first sweater!!

Woohoo!! My first Lace!

I finished my first lace ever!! I made my mom the Shetland Triange from Wrap Style, and she loved it!! I gave it to her for her birthday. It was much easier when I ran lifelines, and it was actually a really quick knit. IT took about 10 days from start to finish, and I have two small kids and a house to take care of!!

So here is the details:

Pattern: Shetland Triangle from Wrap Style
Yarn: Elann.com Peruvian Baby Silk, 3.5 balls
Needles: Addi's size 6
Started: April 1
Finished: April 10
Modifications: None. Now I wish I would have done a few more repeats of the fir cone pattern and made it bigger, as on my mom it is more of a scarf then a shawl, but oh well.


Here is my 3 year old modeling it:





Unblocked:



Blocked:



Close up of fir cone pattern:



and the obligitory side view:



Up next is this gorgeous skein of yarn:



It is 1100 yards of Claudia handpaint 100% silk and I am making this with it.

It's been awhile...

But I have been really busy!! I don't have a lot to say, last week was our 5 year anniversary, Oliver's baptism and Easter, which were all amazingly awesome. Then my kids got sick again so we have been taking it easy around the house etc. then I got sick so now I really haven't been doing much, LOL. But here are some pictures of the top down bonnet from Helloyarn.com. I used 2 strands of STR lightweight in the colorway Lucy. Size 3 needles were WAY too small so I jumped up to size 5 and it is still too small, so I may make another one in the child size.







And then, I finished my craft room!! I am very excited about this!!

Mine and Crystal's scrap space:


Shelf:



Yarn Dresser:



Target Cubes:



Woohoo!!

Next up: I am almost done with Arwen, and I have started 2 shawls, plus 2 pairs of birthday socks. I also finished the Shetland Triangle, just have to upload the pics. Phew!!