Blue Blogging

Looking at my WIP's in the side bar I noticed a whole 'lotta blue goin' on. It is funny, because it matches my general mood in the winter. Not dour, not sad, just a little blah. Seeing it illustrated in my sidebar was a little jarring. I think color can affect our mood and our mood affects the colors we choose. Over the summer I was overwhelmingly attracted to apple green. So much that I had to make the Buncha Squares blanket to use it all(and yes, I did have to buy more to finish it!). Before Ravelry I never would have noticed a trend in my color choices. Has anyone else noticed this in their knitting?

The above is my latest progress on the Cozy V Neck Sweater from Fitted Knits as mentioned in my earlier post. The pattern is veddy easy and the yarn Malabrigo worsted is from HEAVEN. It is softer than many cashmere yarns I have used.

Buncha Squares off the Needles

Back to School U Neck Vest from Fitted Knits. I am using Debbie Bliss Donegal Aran Tweed. Thank heavens it will not touch my skin because it tis a wee bit scratchy. However, I love the look of it as it knits up and I hear it softens with age.

My Buncha Squares from the Mason Dixon blog took a long time to complete but I am pleased with how it turned out. It had the potential to be wonky because of all of the different yarn guages going on. I did block the dickens out of it. It is the perfect portable project and I am already planning my next blanket...

A Tale of Woe and A Christmas Carol

Tale of Woe. Today was the last day of school for the kiddos and I flat ran out of time to finish my teacher gift knitting. I managed to finish Manitou Passage in the nick of time. She turned out quite purdy and I was almost sad to see her go. She is off to a good home. Now what to do with that half skein of Calmer...

Cream of Spinach is also out the door. This was one of my absolute favorite knits. It is entertaining to knit, easy to memorize and portable. My recipe for a favorite. My son broke his arm and this baby got me through much waiting room time.

As for some of the other scarves in my sidebar. Can anyone say....Valentines Day gifts? I think I am off my scarf binge and back to Buncha Squares. It is starting to give me the hairy eyeball.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot... A Christmas Carol. Fantastic stage production put on by the Ford's Theatre in DC. DH and I took the little kiddos accompanied by another family. It was an amazing production and captivated all of us from start to finish. Dinner afterward at Austin Grill = fun time had by all. Definitely a tradition in the making.

Love for Ravelry and ANOTHER Scarf

I just added these fun progress bars courtesy of Ravelry. I just love a new toy.

As for the actual knitting... I am almost finished with Cream of Spinach from Larissa Brown and slogging away on everything else. I am dreaming of what I am going to knit after Christmas for moi.

Back to the knitting.

Gift Knitting....

This year I am knitting several scarves for teacher gifts. My boys have some great teachers this year and I hope these go over well! There can be a fine line between handmade goodness and homemade horror! This is Manitou Passage Scarf by Jen Showalter. meangirl.blogspot.com/2007/02/as-requested.html A terrific reversible cable scarf pattern that is fun and easy to knit. I am using leftover Rowan Calmer.

Next up is a modified Palindrome. Another reversible cable scarf. I am loving these! I cast on 28 stitches instead of 30 for a narrow scarf. It is knit with Lion Brand Organic Cotton
http://www.cometosilver.com/patterns/palindrome.htm

Loopy and Luscious http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter02/PATTloopy.html knit with Debbie Bliss Cashmere and Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

Love to write more but the clock is a tickin!

The Good AND The Bad

Shameless use of adorable dog for cute factor. Clapotis from Knitty . Rowan Calmer Yarn. YUUUUUUUUUUMMMMY. Lightweight around the neck and warm to boot. No itch factor. Thank you Duke for your perfect "bored model pose".

Buncha Squares from Mason Dixon Blog circa August. I am link impaired but promise to "get it" soon. I have 1 1/2 squares to go and CANNOT WAIT. This is my go to knitting for anytime I have to Wait which is a lot...THANK YOU KAY AND ANN

Not Plain Jane Hedgerow Socks
My first venture in sock knitting..

Fun and easy to knit. Great Pattern.

Yummy on the feets:)

Polka Dot Parade

I found this pattern on Ravelry from Cindratee on Ravelry. She created and executed a scrumptious blanket using Knit Picks Merino. I used Debbie Bliss Rialto and had a blast knitting every inch. The color changes keep this knit from getting tedious. I used applied i-cord for the border. Thanks Cindratee!

THE UGLY

Bucket Hat from ChicKnits like Bonnie NEVER wanted to see it. Front Load Washers Don't Felt. I feel like I should start a support group.

To the Market

The Market Vest is finally finished. I am thrilled with how it turned out and cannot wait for the weather to cool off to wear it.

Cast on the Buncha Squares blanket from the Mason Dixon Knitting blog.

Got the Finishing Bug

Rowan Dolly Bag
Has been lonely without handles until today









Fetching from Knitty.com

















Tomato from No Sheep for You by Amy Singer. This is probably the first thing I have ever completed from start to finish without giving it a little holiday!

Tomatoes and Such

Market Vest by Stephanie Steinhaus in Blue Sky Alpaca sportweight. I got hung up on the neckline and it has been hiding in the felted bag at bottom corner of picture since fall of 06. I think I am ready to let her see the light of day once again and get 'erdone

Tomato from No Sheep for You by Amy Singer. LOVE this book and this pattern is f-u-n and fast. I am using Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton on size 8 circs.

Entrelac Shawl by Debbie Bliss..

...and more bibs

bibs and such

Bibs inspired from the Mason Dixon Baby Bib o Love and a cardigan from Debbie Bliss. I am still trying to identify appropriate "victims".

Can't. Stop. Making. Sweaters.

Just finished this hooded tunic from Debbie Bliss Special Knits for my friend's one year old boy. I embroidered an M on the bottom corner. Still working on the big boy sweater and have started a toddler girl shrug. Do I have a toddler girl? No. Do I have someone to knit a toddler shrug for? no. Can I help myself from knitting it anyway? No. 

Sugar and Spice

Spice...sleeve number one on a sweater for my 7 year old from Debbie Bliss Knits for Kids in Rowan Denim. I love this yarn.










Sugar...A cardigan from Debbie Bliss Baby Knits for Beginners with modifications. I used one buttonhole for a ribbon instead of buttons and embroidered flowers on it. Yarn is Debbie Bliss Cotton DK. 

Button Hole Bag and Ipod cozy

birthday gift for my sister...buttonhole bag from www.masondixonknitting.com in Manos sel Uruguay and an ipod cozy in scrap yarn. I lined the bag with blue toile. Fun and quick knit. I will definitely make another of these bags.

I am currently on a sweater craze....wip's posted later.

Seamed Up and In Action

I finally tackled the seaming up of this Debbie Bliss Sweater. It is from the Debbie Bliss Home book and I used her Cotton Denim Aran.














My favorite 4 year old male model graciously modeled it for me in 90 degree heat. It fits him perfectly and I could not be more pleased with how it turned out. 

More Mason Dixon Madness!

Making these little hostes gifts was a blast. I used the ball band dischloth pattern and the Burpcloth dishcloth pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting.

This is a modified tailgate rug from the bood that I made as bathmat. I had some wonky seaming issues but it is yummy on the feet. I am going to try again this time using some ragstrips that I made out of a pretty toile fabric for the edging. Pics later.

Also working on Absorba from Mason Dixon Knitting. It is quick and fun knit.

talk about froggy

To me "froggy" is akin to a do over. Many days I wish I could have a "do over". That is what is great about knitting. No matter how badly you mess up that sweater you CAN do it over.

Today I parked my car in my office parking garage and stepped into a 6 inch puddle with my snappy new sandals(mind you it has not rained here in forever). No problem, I tell myself. I have tissues on hand at all time. Dry. done. off to work.
A client calls, can I meet you at your office to see some property? "Great, I say. We head for my car and I realize *a*&^%# soaky sandals are my fate. How to finesse it? I slyly put tissue in my sandal to soak up the water. Nobodynotices. Do I remember to remove it? No. Am I the one to notice? No. Helpful client tells me as I am opening the door to one of the homes. "Um, Ma'am, didja know you have some toilet paper hanging from your shoe?" Me, in all of my suaveness says "yes, I meant for it to be there". Akward silence. We move on. Said client does not buy that house. Don't know if it was the tissue or the fact that they had twelve cats.

That was real life today. "Knit life" was I have overcome(I hope) my fear of seaming. I finished a cute little baby kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting (my current obsession, who knew?). I now feel like I can seam this adorable sweater I knit from Debbie Bliss Wish You Were Here. It has been sitting here for eternity,taunting me with it's unfinishedness.
Hopefully, next post will....aw heck...no promises::):):)

washcloth

another mason dixon washcloth. They are addicting! I am working on a baby kimono to post soon.