Ah! Maybe this is the way to start a new topic??

I'm repeating myself at this point, but I last night I completed my first sweater (after 13 months!) so I decided to wear it today. Nice and cozy warm, and though it felt a little scratchy on the neck at first, I soon got used to it. I had a coworker take a photo, which revealed that it's a little see through looking, so I'll have to find some dark long underwear to wear underneath it.
Photo isn't flattering, but at least it shows the basic design.
--Jill

on the sticks

I am taking a three part fair isle mitten class. It is actually two colors stranded knitting which has been pretty good so far. Unfortunately I can't go to the third class, so I have to buckle down and plow through the final part on my own. I am liking it and have actually picked up some good skillz. I am knitting the mitten on size two magic loop and find my sides to be a bit sloppy, but other than that, my pattern is starting to show.
Peg has decided she wants to do the Mason Dixon Modern Log Cabin, just like the one I have worked on in fits and starts. Since she has gone and got the yarn and cast on we have declared a race to the finish, which might be the only way to motivate myself through the miles and miles of garter stitch. I called her last nite to tell he that Rick fed me dinner so I could knit without interruption. Peg had a bit of knee surgery today and I am sure she declined anestheia (sp?) so she could keep knitting. This race to the finish should be pretty funny. I will post pix soon.
Michelle, Ty was just telling Rick that you only read paperback books, never hardcovers. Not sure why he needed to share this fun fact, something to do with his fresh copy of wimpy kid.

Holiday Knits

I am thinking that Cowls are going to be high on my list of holiday knits. I randomly bought one skein of Classic Elite Lush in this beautiful blue shade and I am making a ribbed cowl with the one skein. If it comes out good (should finish by tonight) I will share the specs and a photo for all to view. I am hopeful that it will be a good gift under $10! Bonus is that it is soft as ever so it is nice to work with. I am going to do some dishcloths and soaps as well along with my ever favorite fingerless gloves.

OMG!!!! The Holiday Knitting Season Is On!!!!!!

OK, so my mojo is back.  I finished the shrug and gave it to Jordyn.  I think she really liked it and the color looked great on her.  She was wearing a cute dress with a white sweater over it and immediately ripped off the sweater and put on her shrug!!  I forgot to take a picture of her in it, but I will ask her mother to forward one.

Now, I want to know what everyone has planned for Holiday knitting and gift giving.  Please post and tell us.  Please share any great ideas or patterns.  As for myself, I think that I will be mostly knitting from the Brooklyn Tweed pattern book and making those cute little wallet/purse things. I did buy some yarn for the hat on the cover of the Brooklyn Tweed book and I hope to get started on that soon.  I am just finishing a baby hat for a friend and I will officially start my holiday knitting.

So, please post away!!!!!  I think if everyone shares it will be motivating and inspiring for all!!

Traveling...

I am getting ready to head down to dc for a disability provider policy conference and visits to the RI delegates at the capitol. I have sorted through my knitting and have frogged back a sock made with malabrigo sock yarn which had an error that was killing me. It's packed and ready to go. I have also packed about four other small projects because mood will dictate exactly what type of knitting I will be doing. Traveling with a group usually involves waiting and standing around so the sock will work well to carry along. I also am anticipating some knitting time during conference sessions. Helps me focus and for once I must be a role model for no one!
Michelle, I hope you read this soon because my big scandal is that I dropped my blackberry in a puddle yesterday am and am now using a new phone, sadly I lost my contacts until the old phone dries. Call me Michelle, or we will never speak again because I failed to memorize your new number. Have a great weekend everyone and Michelle please post some knitting pics of the new shrug.

Pictures of Knitting!!!!

I am going to upload some pictures of recent and current knitting. This first photo is Hailey wearing the little Sublime Sweater "Hush" from one of the Sublime books. I did not use a Sublime yarn, because I loved this color so much more than the ones that Sublime had to offer. I started it in the spring, and in general I would say it is an easy knit, I just put it down and made no notes so when I picked it up again I was totally lost. Thank you Michelle for straightening me out and I was able to finish before the summer ended. It fits Hailey like a glove now and I am sad to say she will probably outgrow it before next spring.

This is a ribbed neckwarmer made with Malabrigo Silk blend. Great yarn and really soft and yummy. Thinking this will be a Christmas present. This is a good take along project because it is small and no pattern required.

This is the project I started yesterday for no good reason but that I hold secret (or not so secret) lust for this Zauberball yarn. I have been eyeing it for weeks and finally broke down yesterday. I looked at patterns on Ravelry because although it is sock yarn, I did not really like it as socks. I saw it knit up in the Batkus Scarf pattern and decided that it is pretty brainless and would make another excellent gift. It looks a bit bumpy on the edges right now but I think as it grows it will have some weight and a good blocking will take care of that. I also modified the way I increased based on a Ravelers recommendation.

I am really digging posting the photos, pardon me if I get way too carried away with this, I even have some finished hats that might go up next. Happy Labor Day to everyone!

Trying to Retrieve My Knitting Mojo!!

Well, it was over a week since I picked up some needles and began to knit.  After my big disaster, I needed a breather from the knits.  Yesterday, on an endeavor to spark my mojo, I went to the Woolpack to buy a skein of yarn for another one of those cute shrugs.  We'll see how I do!!  I did purchase a great color yarn.

Knitting Disaster!!

I experienced my first knitting disaster tonight.  I decided to seam together the sleeves on my sweater and weave some of the ends.  I had about 6 or 7 more inches to go on the front and I would be done.  Well, I decided to try it on and it was a terrible fit.  I think I may have made it too big, but none the less, it was horrible.  Nothing was right about the sweater.  The back neckline was half way down my back.  What a waste of time.  Never mind that it was boring to knit.  Where is the sweater now you ask?  In the trash.  

Knitting Withdrawal...

I have some serious knitting withdrawal from being so busy this week. I've had both kids all week and although I love them both dearly, it was tiring! We all went into school for 2 long days. They were very good but I still wasn't very productive. I need a knitting fix, soon. Of course that would require some alone time as well...

Webs.....In Person or Mail

OK, I am in need of some yarn for the Jared projects and sweater I picked out in the Fall Interweave.  Anyway, after my tire incident last weekend and losing my debit card this weekend, I am almost afraid to leave my apartment.  Yes, I am at sixes and sevens.  Do I make a Webs trip or do I simply order online???  Part of me is thinking, hells bells, I am driving to Webs on Monday! Another part of me is contemplating a nice, easy, world wide web order.  I am just thinking aloud, so to speak!!!

Do you know what tomorrow is???

Hi Everyone,

Just a little FYI...tomorrow is Michelle's birthday!! I thought you would find that very exciting!

On another note, I am going to try to upload some pictures even though I have no knitting photos right now, but maybe I have an old one I can dig up! Just practicing so I can be prepared to show knitting when I have some FOs. Thanks for indulging me in a couple of pictures of my kids.

I just added the photo above, that is the Wendy Benard "Drive Thru" Sweater, my mom made for Hailey last year. Once she got used to knitting the sleeves into the sweater she really liked the pattern and has knit it again since. I am requesting another for H as she has outgrown this one. I had originally bought Berrocco Love It yarn to make the sweater but although she liked the yarn she switched to Lion Brand Cotton Ease for some reason I can't remember. My mom is still a bit old school about yarn and lives in an area of South Carolina where there are NO LYSs, imagine what that would be like! Her immediate fix is Michaels unless she order's online. Michelle, you would never survive!

Knitting, Interrupted!!

So, I went on down to Carrie's yesterday morning for a visit. After Hailey's 7th birthday party (the girls were all treated to pool-side facials & nail/toe polish), we escaped to a yarn store.  We discovered a very quick and fun pattern for a mini-purse/wallet.  I made one with a silver ribbon-style yarn and a pretty button.  It sounds cheesy, but definitely is not.  Anyway, my plan was to return to the yarn shop today on my way home, for more yarn.  Unfortunately, on my way out this am for fried dough with Carrie's kids, I got a big flat tire.  I should add that we were still in our pajamas and I had no cell phone with me.  Carrie had to come rescue us at a local motel, where, according to her son, someone was murdered a few years ago.  As always, Rick (Carrie's fab husband) saved the day and got the spare on my car right after his 10 mile run.  Needless to say, I thought twice about stopping at the yarn store, given that it is a bit of a ways off the highway and I was riding back to Concord on my spare.  Uggghhh, life always seems to get in the way of my knitting!!!!!!! Oh, I gave away the purse last night, so I will post a pic of the next one...........if I ever get that yarn again!!!!!!!!!

The Weekend is SOOOOOOOO Close....

I am so close to shutting down my computer and making a break for Sakonnet Purls before I grab my kids! Michelle, I know we will hit there this weekend, but I am desperate for a fix. More so than my need for a happy hour beer!!!! Will have my camera back this weekend and will post knitting pictures. Can't wait to knit!!!!

On a whole other note, went to Zoomba this am for the first time ever, was a bit nervous because I have no grace, but loved it! Lots of fun and a good sweat too. Would be a good idea to start with a quick run first, but I like it a lot. Has anyone else done Zoomba?

Shrug, again!

I had my niece try on the shrug for size.  I do need to block the front more, but I also think I need to make it a little bit bigger for my friend's daughter.  So, that means I either need to go to Webs again soon or place an online order.  Hmm, now I have reason to get yarn for those adorable little purses!

Not Only Cats Love Yarn!!!

So, I have my soy latte and am ready to knit the morning away.  I look over, and there is Molly, all comfy and cozy on top of the shrug I just made.  She always settles herself down on my knits, crazy dog.  Hmmmm, she did eat some salmon last night!

To Crochet or Not Crochet

It's 7:30 and I'm sitting in bed trying to crochet. It's actually looking better than last night but I'm hoping it gets even better if I want to actually finish these fingerless gloves. (They're called Gauntlets on the pattern!) I realized that I have no idea how to read a crochet pattern. Hmmmm....should be interesting.

Right now I am sitting poolside, knitting, drinking a Michelob Ultra and listen to the ipod! This is the life! Too hot to do anything else!

Eat Cake!

Well, this isn't knitting...but I said I'd share my cake picture. It turned out pretty well although I definitely need some practice leveling and with square cakes (this was my first square attempt). It did make it all the way to CT without any damage AND it did taste quite yummy. I'll make the same flavors for a knitting night some day.
If you need a cake for anything I'd love as much practice as possible!!

I haven't gotten much knitting done since last week, but I am looking forward to tonight and to knitting my fingers off on the Cape next week! Hopefully I can share some knitting progress when I get back...

I am now able to post on the blog! I finished the fingerless mitts for my niece just hours before her party and she loved them. At least I am off the hook on that task. The pressure! So now I am knitting a baby blanket -- I wanted to knit it just because I saw it in progress at my knitting store in Middletown, but I think I will give it to my mother's husband's daughter (that would make her technically my stepsister, but since my mom married just two years ago that seems weird) who is having a baby. I will post a picture but you can see it on Ravelry too. It is Debbie Bliss Shawl for baby. I am using white baby cashmerino on Addi size 2 circs. Love this yarn. Pattern is easy, just need to pay attention.
Michelle, I am dying to see your Brooklyn Tweed Scarf. Please post pix.

Important Update

I was not aware that I was the only person who could post new topics.  Problem fixed!  I was able to invite multiple authors (thanks to Kate's help).  So, now all of you can post.  Also, there is a way for us to allow only us to read this blog.  I will wait  a little bit to do that because there will be an extra step involved for everyone (a sign-in).  So, feel free to post away!

Mission Falls Hat

So, I made the hat by Mission Falls and it is way tooo big.  You know, I should have checked the gauge, but it will fit someone.  It was good practice for using a cable needle a bit for the twist.  Here are some pics:

Go Jill!!!

I just read an article in this week's Concord Journal where our always articulate Jill was quoted several times.  Jill, you should really be the manager!!

Webs Trip on 8/5

Ok, so our trip to Webs was a success, despite the absence of Laura.  We missed you!!  The big news of the trip was that Ruthanne purchased a ball winder and swift.  Yahoo!!  I have started on that blue hat from Mission Falls.  I think I might like it, but too soon to tell.  When I am finished, I will try to post a picture.  Oh, Carrie, the Noro scarves are becoming popular with the Concord knitters.  Off to knit ( oh goodness, what has happened to me!!).

This Could Be Fun

I have been thinking about setting up a knitting blog of our own for some time.  I am so so very new at this, so I hope it works.  I thought it would be a fun place for friends to share their knitting projects and questions.  It doesn't have to be limited to knitting, but I'm thinking it's a good place to start.  Any thoughts, contributions, suggestions are definitely welcome!!!!