Oooh, Bamboo....

Another one finished for Julie. Pattern: U-Neck Top #FC68 by Naturally
Yarn: Atlante DK 100% Bamboo 9--50g balls
Needles: 3.25mm , 3.5mm
All can be purchased at The Needle Emporium!This yarn is lovely to knit with. It feels like a silky cotton, very light weight, and I had no problems with splitting.
Perfect for spring.
It drapes beautifully, and the colour variegation didn't pool or swirl. It looks amazing. I give it an A+!The other plus with this pattern is the construction. The body is knit in one piece to the armholes, the the yoke is knit and joined with a 3-needle bind off. The sleeves stitches are then picked up and knit down. NO SEAMING!!! Then the bands are done.I also forgot to take it with me to the button store. But I think I found the perfect ones. They have a lovely mother of pearl shine to them. This will be delivered to the store tomorrow, and maybe Julie will let me knit something from Norah Gaughan's new book.

Satisfaction....

More quick knits for the Alpaca Farm.
Pattern: Chu'llu (rav link)--Knitting with Balls
Yarn: 100% Alpaca (locally spun)
Needles: 4.5mm
Not a pattern I would pick, but a very enjoyable knit and fast too. I added extra increases to 104 sts, just to make it a little bigger. 20" for a man seemed small to me.


Now this one, was fun. I doubled the yarn for gauge, and knit Thorpe. I'll definitely be making more of these. This is the large size and I did a shrimp stitch (single crochet in the opposite direction) for the edging instead of half-doubles.

Looky, looky.....

Perfect timing for the 2009 Sock Club. Lovely book! A definite must have.

Again....

And this is why there is no knitting getting done around here........


But tonight there will be knitting!!!!!

You Are Buttermilk Pancakes

Your prefer traditional, old fashioned foods. You shy away from anything fake, and you like meals with simple ingredients. It's not likely someone would find margarine or diet soda in your kitchen. Instead, someone might find a loaf of homemade bread baking or a soup simmering.

What Kind of Pancakes Are You?

One more sleep...

before I have to go back to work. And trust me, I'm going to use it wisely! I'm getting of this damn computer and going to knit all day (and maybe wash the kitchen floor).

But before I go, I did manage to knit up a pair of socks this weekend for Leslie too. (and the coat fit her perfectly)

Pattern: Plain old 3-1 rib cuff Boot socks

Yarn: 100% Alpaca 2 ply light worsted

Needles: 3.5mm

I almost feel like I cheated because of the heavier yarn, but they knit up in 2 days. I needed a quick fix.

I have about 250yds of this left and I found the perfect pattern for it.

But you'll have to wait, I have to get back to Julie's sweater, I just passed the 11" mark.

Finally.....

I got this monkey off my back! For Leslie at the Farm!


Pattern: Winter Wonderland Coat from Inspired to Knit--Michele Rose Orne
Yarn: 100% locally milled wool, worsted weight 20--50g balls size 40"
Needles: 4.5mm Addi turbos

Things I did not enjoy about the project:

• Double yarn overs
• Gussets (don't like the way they pop out at the sides)
• Bobbles
• Took way too long to knit. (probably cause I was knitting other stuff too and kept putting it down)
• Front band (should have slipped the first stitch in each row I think)
• In general...the whole design.....not my cup o' tea.

But it is done and I can move on!

Knitting interuptus...

The first weekend of my week off work was totally interrupted by this.....

but who can complain! We had a bit of a fussy night because of two new teeth, but all in all Gramma and Grampa survived and slept in till 9 am this morning. I haven't done that in awhile.

But I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have all the pieces of Leslie's coat knit, and the last 3 pieces are blocking. This will be done this week!!!! Details will follow.

Now back to Julie's project!

Book Review....

Mr D. and I headed off to Chapters yesterday to use our gift card, and before I could find the knitting book section, he had 4 novels in his hand! Egads!

I picked up 2-at-a-time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes.

You see Jeanne had this great idea to join, The Personal Sock Club 2009 (rav link) on Ravelry.

You take 12 brown bags, put in a pattern and yarn you already have, close it up, and then you get to pick one every month and knit them up. This way you're knitting with yarn you already have( and you like it, cause it's in your stash), and a pattern of your choice, not someone elses. There's no monthly fee, cause you already have it. So smart.

So I thought I would probably try for 6 pairs, only because I'm usually busy knitting for others.

I'm hoping this book will help. I love the way it's written out, the spiral binding (so it lays flat), and the patterns are pretty nice too. Now all I need is a circular needle long enough.

Bah...

So my next project that was done in Dream in Color Classy....

Meret by Woolywormhead.

I've been looking for the perfect hat pattern for dog walking, but although this is a perfect hat, it still looks crappy on me!!!! My search continues.

As with my last project, this yarn is a dream to knit with and it blocks splendidly. I still have 145 yds left so I may end up with some fingerless mitts.

But back to work... the next project for Julie. ( I borrowed her picture)

This one is 100% bamboo, very silky.

And I'm off to block the back of the sweater coat for Leslie. I have one more front to knit and the side gores. I'll be so glad when this one is done.

Knitterly gifts and such...

A lovely pair of dog walking gloves in a light blue angora. Knit by my daughter. I'm in shock that she actually knit with 4 needles in the round, she must have been desperate with no money to spare. But I'm totally impressed that she actually made fingers instead of mitts, there may be some hope for her yet.Next, from my faithful sidekick and walking partner, Ladydog, Franklin Habit's new book. She told me there's another book coming but it's on back order and I'll just have to wait for the surprise. I really have to keep her away from the computer and Amazon.

And from Julie, (which was a total surprise, because I told Mr D. this was what he was getting me) is the new Buddy Case from Namaste to match my bag. I just realised today when I was taking the picture that it's magnetized and it holds my metal thingys. Thank-you Julie!

And lastly, a gift to myself. I have been coveting this pattern for a long time and finally decided to treat myself. So Miss "P" and I went to Julie's and bought 3 skeins. I should have done it sooner. I love it.
Pattern: Aibhlinn from Knitty

Yarn: Dream in Colour Classy, 2 skeins, Some Summer Sky

Needles: 4.5mm

Lovely, lovely pattern, and I even knit the bobbles! (which I hate doing)

The only thing I did different was making it 20" long instead of 24".

Wait till you see what I knit with the 3rd skein!!!

Finally....

Well now that the big day has come and gone, I can finally show you the mittens I made for my daughter. She requested them, and I of course replied "Sure, I'll put that on my list!" They've been done for weeks, and hidden very well. I think I actually surprised her.

I think if I ever make these again, I will use a little heavier yarn. I found them a little narrow for the average hand, but my daughter's hands are quite slim, so they're okay. I'd also make a longer cuff. But all in all they were a lot of fun to knit.

Pattern: Cat Mittens by Jorid Linvik

Needles: 2.75mm

Yarn: Regia Sock (black), Marion's Sock Yarn (pink) 1 skein of each

As you can see Mr. Tibbs thinks they're modeled after him. He can't keep his nose out of anything.

This also inspired me to buy this book. Oh am I gonna' have a lot of fun with this one. (As soon as I find some more time. I'll have to add that to my list!)
I'll post my knitterly gifts I recieved for Christmas later, as soon as I take some pictures, but right now I'm back to working on the Winter coat for Leslie (I'm actually making some progress), and I have a new project to start from Julie.

Merry Christmas to all.....

We celebrated Christmas last night, so my children could visit their significant others today. So I have a this whole day to laze around in my new jammies and watch movies and knit, knit, knit.


Merry Christmas to all!

Turn that frown upsidedown...

I LOVE my 4WD!!!!!


I got half my mail delivered before I called it quits. It just got too dangerous. You can't even see where your feet are landing. Not to mention people getting stuck everywhere and getting in my way. Oh... and I lost my truck and house keys somewhere on my route which will be buried under a good foot of snow.....SOMEWHERE!!!!!!

But now I'm home safe and warming up.
This day calls for some homemade soup, bad kitties

and lots knitting.....

Stay warm!!!!

Feed me Seymore...

Rowan's hat is finished. Except she just wants to eat it. She wants to eat everything!

Pattern: Dalegarn #114 Hyasint

Yarn: Baby Ull 1- 50g ball

Needles: 2mm & 2.5mm

What's not to love.

Cute pattern, soft wool, adorable baby.

Ack...

So I've been stuck at home sick all weekend, and that's when all the trouble started. I was surfin' around reading my regular blogs and saw this. Which lead me to this! And then these happened.

It's been kind of a tradition (since the kids were small) that we crafted a new ornament or got something new for the tree each year. But now that they're all grown up, I have to come up with these things on my own. I think they're truly the cutest things ever.

Look at Russell, trying to remind me to get back on track and finish what I've already started.

And big kisses go out to my big girl!!! Happy 5th Birthday Miss "P" you silly goose!

On a roll....

See, I can do it when everyone leaves me alone!

Miss "P's" new hat...

Pattern: Quick and Easy Helmut ( Patons kids Hip Hop)

Yarn: Nashua Creative Focus Superwash 2--50g balls

Needles: 6.5mm

You knit this hat with 2 strands of yarn and does it knit fast. I have two more balls, 1 periwinkle and 1 lime to match her snowsuit. But first I have to make a hat for RoBo baby.

I think I need a live model.

Off the needles...

Back to our regularly scheduled knitting....
Texture Pullover:

Pattern: Texture Pullover Tahki Yarns Terra Collection Fall/Winter 2008

Yarn: Montana 100% unprocessed wool roving 4-5 balls depending if you make the right size.

Needles: 10mm

Although this was not my favorite project to knit, it was a very quick knit. If you're looking for a quick project before Christmas, this might be the ticket. There's also some other quick projects in the book too.Julie has it all at the store!

The Bestest Day.....

No knitting....just a perfect day!