Full circle...

It's been a great week off work, and I still have one more.

We went fishing... as you can see Mr. D is always happy when he's in his boat.

We had a perfect dog. She loves watching the water splash by...and she got a swim when we went back to shore.

This baby had to go back until bass season opens at the end of the month. Too bad!!!!This little beauty was keeping a close eye on us.

And I did get a little knitting done....this is the baby blanket I've been working on, and I'll tell you about that one another day!

I finished this one yesterday morning, and it feels like I've come full circle. I made this hooded jacket for my daughter when she was born, it was my very first knitting project. And now that I've made several over the past 30 years, I was thinking it was time to re-vamp the pattern. I like the top down method so much that I took lots of notes and I'm going to try doing it backwards with alot less sewing.Pattern: Jacket with Hood--Patons Beehive for Baby #150

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly DK 3--50g, 1-50g ball for contrast.

Needles: 3.75mm

Modifications: I took the idea from the Tulip sweater and did a seed stitch border and an I-cord bind off, and crocheted ties.

Now I'm off to start something new.

Summer Knitty.........

Summer Knitty is up.......I'm lovin' this issue........look out sock stash!!!!!

I've been busy......

{Edit:Maria: To purchase the pattern (link below) just add the pattern to your cart, continue to check-out and that will take you to the paypal site. Click on the paypal, put in your password, and after the purchase has gone through you will get an instant download of the pattern. There is no shipping cost. }

Well, I ended up having two extra days off work this week, but no I didn't get a lot of knitting done. Miss P came to stay with gramma because her new baby sister decided to show up Thursday.

We painted grampa's rocks, we hunted for bugs,and generally turned gramma's quiet time topsy turvy.

But look what we got...... Baby Rowan Gail, 5lbs. 3oz. Mommy and baby doing fine.

I did manage to finish Rowan's new cardigan. I found this pattern while reading some other blogs, but I can't remember which one. I thought, what a great idea to use up a ball of sock yarn. I have a few balls of Opal cotton sock yarn, but decided that cotton socks were not my favorites so what better way to use it up.

Pattern: Yarni Cardigan

Yarn: Opal Cotton Sock Yarn 100g

Needles: 3.25 mm

This was a very nice pattern, knit in one piece to the armholes, 3-needle bind off at the shoulders, pick up sleeve stitches around the armholes and knit down to the cuff, pick up and knit the collar. I can see myself doing this one again and maybe switching up the pattern.

Miss P and momma picked out the buttons from the button stash, and this project was done.

Now I've started a new blanket for the wee one, and I'm making her a new little hat. (wasn't impressed with the one the hospital ladies gave her, but that's just the knitting snob in me coming out!)

Gramma's love....

When Miss "P" saw the blanket momma was knitting for her new baby sister (no, she's not here yet) she also wanted a matching blanket. So Gramma stepped up to the plate and knit one for her too. Pattern: Heart Blanket-- Leisure Arts leaflet
Needles: 5.5 mm
Yarn: Pingouin Pingostar # 4 8--50 gm balls
The only thing I modified was the size. I knit this one 5 blocks across and 6 blocks long. Perfect for snuggle time.

Like a bird....

I keep falling in love with lace over and over again....... I give you Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark. First published in Interweave Knits Fall 2006, but is now available as a free download here.
Before blocking!I love the magic....after blocking

I knit this with 100% Alpaca lace weight from Vineyard Alpacas. This ones name is Juno.

Arggg......

Do you know what the worst part about being a letter carrier is?

Having to deliver a parcel from Knitpicks to one of your customers and not being able to find out what's in the box!!!!!!!

Another one done......

Beribboned Eyelets: from Kids Kids Kids from XRX.
I love this pattern, it was quite an interesting knit. You start with the back and sleeves, then put them all together, and then you knit the rest of the cardigan in one piece, then knit the bands. Minimal sewing up!!!!I knit this for our new granddaughter, who should be here in a few short weeks, but seeing as we're coming into warm summer weather, I'm knitting things at 6 months and up. I used Sirdar Tiny Tots from my stash, 3--50g balls. The pattern shows ribbon through the eyelet rows, but you don't have to if you don't want to. I will probably be making this one again.

I been using this as my blocking board for years. This is actually the second one. It's a large piece of foam, about 3' by 3', and I drew on a 1" grid. The cats think it's a scratching board, and it's been well used. So I decided to get myself a new board, and have been scouring the fabric stores for one. Finally, I started looking on the Internet and priced alot of them up(all in the States, it was hard to find someone in Canada who sold them). But with a little perseverance I did it!

Whoo hoo! I found Prairie Knits. Great price, great shipping, and fast delivery. Thanks Sian.

Tuscany....

What can I say? Tuscany(ravelry) from No Sheep for You!.....I loved every minute.I used Cherry Tree Hill Supersock, colour Loden. It was a millend I purchased from Linda.
Perfect for those cool spring days and evenings.....sitttin' and knittin'!

I LOVE IT!!!!!!

Mojo's back....

Looks like I'm on a roll again.... Tuscany (Rav link) is done and blocking, I'll post some pics when it's dry. I started the Beribboned Eyelets Cardigan (Rav link) for the new baby coming (soon). I'm using Sirdar Tiny Tots from my stash that I purchased at Julie's tent sale last year. Don't forget this year's tent sale is at a new location on July 8, 9, & 10th. Check out her blog for more information.
And I also dropped off Leslie's sweater this morning and it looks great on her. I have more of Condor's yarn to design a new sweater for her. My thoughts are all over the place right now. Design? Oh no, Me? Really? I know what she likes and wants and now I have to put it in yarn.
Back to the needles!

It's done...

Well, I finished the Shannon Pullover last night, after ripping out the collar and redoing it. I definitely found alot of mistakes in the pattern that I don't remember the first time I made this one.

This is the true colour, a beautiful shade of periwinkle. 100% Alpaca, I used approximately 545gms. I think there's about 250 meters per 100gms.

There were too many stitches on the collar, and the pattern said to use the larger needle. That just made it too floppy and looked terrible. So I decreased about 12 stitches and used the smaller needle and now it's perfect.

I put in side vents, a suggestion from the customer, and I really like them. I reversed the pattern on the bottom and the sides of the sleeves, just because I like the reverse better.The cable work was quite easy, but unfortunately the seed stitch panels are lost in the alpaca. I'm sure they would show up in a smoother yarn. Edit to add: I just heard from Leslie and the farm is just moving around the corner. NOT out of business!! Whoo-hoo!!!

I'm bad too....

Well, I guess I've been a slacker where blogging is concerned, but I just haven't had much to report on.
I have all the pieces for the Shannon Cardigan blocked and ready to sew together and knit the collar,(which won't take long), but I just haven't been in the mood. I just found out that the farm for which I'm knitting it for, is up for sale and she's selling everything. So I'm not sure if I'll be getting paid or if I've just gained a sweater and a big bag of alpaca yarn.
So I started my first baby knit for a friend, his first grandson. One of my favorites, the Button cardigan from Cabin Fever. It's moving along nicely, and I'm almost at the point where I start the sleeves. Still knitting from my stash.My other project is getting close to finished too. My Tuscany shawl from No Sheep for You. I've just been working on this in the car, and I can't believe how much I've got done on it. Only 2 more pattern repeats left to go. Stash yarn, Whoo-hoo!

And what the hell is with the Knitter's Summer issue. I have been so disappointed with the last couple of years that I won't be renewing my subscription. I've been a loyal patron pretty much from the beginning, but the designs are really lacking. The only patterns I actually got excited about were in the advertising.

Sooooo long Knitter's.

OH no....

Not one but two. I blew two holes in my favorite Cherry Tree Hill socks. Can you hear my crying?Don't have to buy this dog expensive toys.....plastic water jug...99 cents!We took her down to the lake last night for a walk....you can lead a dog to water, but you can't keep her out of it.

Mr Tibbs and his first spring bug. I am knitting, really I am!

Swan Lake? or maybe field.......

I had to share these pictures. We were driving around last Sunday and saw several fields of Tundra swans....on their way back north. What an awesome site.

Stash.........................

Alisha asked to "Flash your Stash"!
This really hurts. I gotta knit some of this!!!!!!

Knit night....

It's knit night tonight and Sally Melville's coming........................