Sunday, December 28, 2014

PHEW!!!! I made it

And just in time....

After the Christmas knit-a-thon, I'm feeling a little bored. The final count was 2 pairs  of slippers, 4 cowls, a pair of boot toppers, 8 pairs of fingerless gloves, and 2 soap holders.

I'm tired now.......

Time for a little something for me, and also back to the stash. Yesterday, I restarted my firestarter socks. No rush here, just plugging away at them, I barely made it past the toe.

When I was working on my Christmas knitting, I must have gone through the stash 20 times. The good news is, the Christmas gifts used up some of it. The bad news is, not enough. (it just seems to keep growing....wonder how that happens). So, it's back to the stash for me.

Some good Christmas things, there were a LOT of cool free patterns for the holidays, and I snagged a bunch, with next year in mind. (I'm definitely starting earlier next year), I was able to introduce my mom and niece to the magic that is ravelry (almost lost them there), and I won some very cool Yak yarn in a contest. It's not here yet, but pics when it arrives, I promise.

Last but not least, miss kitty has found herself a new place.
This ball came from the Christmas clearance section. It's meant to be a light. I'm going to paint it blue, put a solar light in it, and I think it will be pretty cool in my moon garden, but only if miss kitty will give it up.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

I've got a good exucse..........

I've been knitting Christmas gifts like a mad woman for the last couple of weeks. At some point, my sister and I decided to make little gift bags for all 15 of the folks that are coming here for dinner. So, wouldn't it be fun if they all had a little knitted item? Of course!!





So, with miss kitty's approval......8 pairs of fingerless mitts, give or take, two hats, one pair of boot cuffs, three coffee sleeves, two pairs of felted slippers, two soap sacks,  three cowls, and a partridge in a pear tree!!

No wonder I'm tired.

Still have a couple to finish, but I think I'm going to make it. After all, I have four days, right?

Sunday, November 30, 2014

I've been busy!!

so I haven't posted for a while... I know.
I've done a couple of cowls and some football team mitts.......and some felted slippers.
The problem is I keep falling in love with what I'm making, then I have to make another for a present.
It's WAY too cold and yukky to garden, so, knitting it is!

So far, I've managed to avoid the sales, although the black trillium sale was WAY too tempting.....I AM a sucker for a gradient.

Next up, a scarf from stash, and another pair of slippers. After that, I think the gift knitting will be done and I can focus on ME!

On a happy note......Cinnamon Brown turned  8 this week. Time flies......Happy birthday sister!

Sunday, November 09, 2014

just a little stash enhancement....

Yesterday we made a trip to Knit Fit in seattle. Although it's not the biggest knitting fest, it was really nice, with a great (free) marketplace and some indie dyers that were new to the area.
I had to get a couple of things.....Christmas knitting, ya know.
Since it rained continuously this week, I finished the cowl. I'm keeping it because I fell in love with it in the process. MINE, MINE, MINE.....
It just needs a little blocking......
I also started some short wave mitts....these are not nearly as hard as they look, once you get the idea.
That was really just a few hours of knitting, and they're turning out pretty good. I'll have enough to make two sets, I think, so they'll be Christmas gifts too....

Next week, more gift knitting....finishing the mitts, and onward!

Sunday, November 02, 2014

when the going gets tough.....

the tough knit cables!
Nennir cowl.....a free pattern from knitty. It's a bit fiddly, but it sure turns out beautifully.

It rained BUCKETS here this week, so I made some good progress on this. I have one and a half of three repeats done. I started it to be a Christmas gift, but I'm thinking it's going to be a gift for me. It's been a LOT of work, and they yarn is a nice smooshy madtosh....hmmm......

The next project will be some fingerless mitts for gifts, and then maybe a couple of pairs of felted slippers, a shawl or scarf, and who knows what else.....

HOW many days until Christmas??

p.s. thinking of making a trip to Knit Fit next weekend for a little shopping.....it's a local indie yarn fest. They have classes too, but I won't be participating in those.....
We'll just have to see.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Ok, it's cowls for christmas

This is the first of the Christmas presents.....


It's a cowl in football team colors, which I kinda like anyway. (the colors, not the football team, necessarily). There will be some fingerless mitts to match. All this needs is some kitchnering and a blocking bath, and it will be ready to go.

Up next, another cowl, a cabled one, for another gift. Then, back to the football team colors for the mitts. The monsoon season has begun, so they'll be plenty of knitting ahead.

Miss kitty says "turn up that fireplace!!"
 

Sunday, October 19, 2014

blankie completion....

well, mostly.
So, I've finished all the side strips of the blankie, and I think it looks pretty good. It's a bit short, though, so I'm thinking I'm going to do a couple of end strips in a different cable pattern and sew them on sideways. I'm not sure when I'll do that, because I'm starting to feel the pinch of the holidays coming, and there's some gift knitting to be done.

So, the next couple of projects will be secret knitting experiments, that may or may not show up here, due to their potential gift nature, although neither of the recipients reads this blog. We'll just have to see how they turn out. At least they'll be easy to do!

Coming up for gifting.....two cowls with a favorite sports team theme, a couple of fingerless mitts, same theme, possibly a shawl and some socks, and of course, blankie and sock yarn blankie. (oh, and a super secret other project.....you'll just have to guess!)

On a happy note, the baby sweater has found it's new home and baby. No word from the recipient yet, but I hope they're warm and happy!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

baby sweater diversion

The blankie is on hold for this little gem
It's all done now, with the exception of the matching hat.....a gift for DH's co-worker who lives in South Carolina. Hope it gets cold there.....

The blankie will probably return next week, after the sweater is on it's way to it's new owner. I'm on the 6th row, and I bought one more skein (chunk) of yarn to do the end panels...it's just a little short.
Now to decide....do I do the end panels the same, or something still cabled but different? I'm thinking different, just need to find something I like.

After that, secret Christmas knitting.....I might show it here though, neither of the intendeds read this particular blog, anyway.

Off to make a hat!

Sunday, September 28, 2014

well, THAT was fun

No, really, it was fun....
We're just back from OFF (Oregon flock and fiber), and a good time was had by all.....
There was some shopping.....
some hanging out and knitting.......

some people watching....(and knit item coveting)
A whole lot of fun.....
and a whole lot of critters.....alpaca, llamas, sheep and goats. It was kind of hard not to bring home the triplets.....three goat sisters that were up for sale. The problem is, where would they live??

Anyway.....even this bunny had a good time (I think).
You're just going to have to take my word for it that there's a bunny in there somewhere. I did see a couple of feet. Now I think I want a bunny too!

Sunday, September 21, 2014

alpacas and llamas and goats, OH MY!

This week, we're off to OFF (Oregon flock and fiber). It's a great little fiber fest in Canby, Oregon, just south of Portland. Last year, when we were there, the weather stank, like STORM OF THE CENTURY, yukky. A lot of the vendors bailed early because they couldn't keep their tents in place and it was raining buckets. This year, although we might get rained on a bit, so far, there's no plan for another STORM OF THE CENTURY, so I think we'll be OK.

There's a ton of vendors, sheep, llamas and just general fiber fun. I'll be looking for a couple of winter projects...it IS supposed to start raining soon, so we'll just see.......

In other news, the blankie is progressing nicely, with the fourth strip done and attached and number 5 is about 1/4 of the way there. For some reason, some little fat doggie keeps pulling it off the couch and smooshing it into a ball under his butt. Not sure what the attraction is.......

Next week, a report from OFF, and maybe, just maybe a goat or llama pic or two.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

all blankie, all the time

just working away on the blankie....the weather is hot, the blankie is making progress.
it might be a little short.....If I'm not too burned out at the end, I might make another panel.  We'll see.


Sunday, September 07, 2014

blankie, part 4

this week I finished the third strip, sewed it on and started on the fourth. It's looking pretty darned good, if I do say so myself. No pics though, nothing really new to look at, it's just wider.

Pretty soon, we'll be taking off for OFF. Last year, they had the WORST weather ever there. This year, we're definitely hoping for better. Because the weather was SO bad (the tents were blowing away), some of the vendors left early. Hopefully, we'll get to see a bit more this year. I'm looking forward to it, and hope to get something special for a winter project.

I'll leave you with miss kitty. She has discovered the joy of being up high. She lobes the top of the bookcase, where she can go over into the window on the right, or the transom on the left. It makes a perfect kitty race track, don't cha know. She just needs to perfect her landing.


Sunday, August 31, 2014

plugging away on the blankie.....

So, I finished a second panel and cast on for the third. In the mean time, I sewed the first two together, and I quite like how it's working out. Wish it was a little longer, though, but I guess you can't have everything. No pics, there's really nothing new.

The rainy season has started now, so there will be a LOT more knitting as it just gets too wet to do anything else. Still a bit more of working in the yard though before THAT time.....

Miss kitty says "when will I get more attention???" soon......

Sunday, August 24, 2014

it's been a yarny kind of week

After having a REALLY crummy birthday, (there was this fence post and a bunny), and not buying yarn for quite some time.....I decided to go all out in a belated birthday present to me!
Black trillium triggered the mini-spree by putting all her yarns on sale. I've been eyeing this gradient for a while, with the yellowjacket shawl in mind. The sale (and the crummy birthday), were just too much, and resistance was futile.
I won't start the shawl until the weather starts to go bad, which will be soon enough.

Next up, was the loopy ewe. I've always loved their kits, and they're just great folks with great yarn. I couldn't resist their eighth anniversary kit....I mean, really, smooshy with cashmere.....The pattern that came with it didn't do much for me, but the yarn.......and the little kit is pretty cool too, with a magnetic closure and some really cute little snips a couple of darning needles, and some nice cable needles as well. You can never have too much of any of those things.
In other knitting news, I'm just about done with the second blankie panel. I think I'm going to sew them together as I go, so I can see exactly where I'm at. Pics next week on that one.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

working away at the cables

this week, I worked away on my cables. On one day, it was just too hot, on another, it was just too wet, so, knitting it was. No pics....it looks the same as last time, just longer. I finished the first strip, cast on for the second one, and I'm about half way there. Then the weather got better, and it was back outside for some more (much needed) weeding.

I also bought myself a belated birthday present.  I'm pretty proud of myself, I haven't bought any yarn this year at all, with the exception of my michaels blankie yarn, so when black trillium had a sale, I just had to jump in and get myself some butterscotch gradient. I've been looking at the yellowjacket shawl for a long time. The pattern is really messed up, but some brave soul on ravelry went through the whole thing and posted her fixes. It will definitely be a winter knit, but I think I'm ready to tackle it.

Last but not least, Friday was yogi's birthday.
Happy Birthday Yogi Bear! He's 4 now, and he's turned into a beautiful, sweet grownup. (even if he is a goofy couch tater!)

Sunday, August 10, 2014

summer's a hard time to knit

It's just TOO HOT to sit around with a bunch of yarn in your lap. No progress this week on the cabled throw, although I haven't given up. Just too busy watering, gardening and baking (myself). On Monday, it's supposed to be nearly 100 degrees here. ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

I know, we hate the rain, we hate the sun.....gotta have a hobby.

I have been working on my glass a bit.
These two stones are going to be poured today.....

 
That one with the fish is actually better than it looks. The tray underneath has a pattern and it's showing through, confusing things a bit. It took me FOREVER to do, all those little pieces of ground glass.
 
This guy has been re grouted and is ready to be sealed too.....
I've got plans for today (even though it's going to be nearly 90!)
 
On a happy note......this week is Yogi's 4th birthday!
Happy birthday Yogi Bear~


 
 

Sunday, July 27, 2014

More of the same....

So, this week it rained (yeah!!), and some real knitting got done. I'm just about done with the first panel of the blankie, just trying to decide exactly how long is long enough.
No pics.....it's the same as last week, just longer.

I'm hanging at the fair this week for the master gardeners, and at the market next week (same reason), so they'll be some knitting time there too...

Doggies say.....we like the rain, but it's boring. We'd rather bake. If  we can't do that, we'll nap. With the bone, of course!

Sunday, July 20, 2014

hey! lookie! actual knitting content!

So I have michaels to thank for my inspiration (at least their coupon). I've been wanting to make a cabled throw for the couch for a while, ala crate and barrel. This week, michaels had a coupon for 25 percent off your entire sale, so I had to see what that was all about. I ended up with 3 pounds o' love.
I know, ACRYLIC (ACK!!), but when you have two dogs and 2 cats, the ability to toss something in the wash machine becomes very important.

Off to Ravelry, where I found a cabled scarf pattern that I liked. I'll make about 5-6 panels and sew them together.
I think it'll work out pretty well. I've got some fair sitting time and two more markets to do, so I'll have some time to work on it. It won't be cold for quite some time.

Next week, more blankie, and a bit of a scarf.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

well, I WANT to knit

This week, it's been hot. Unbearably hot. What do you suppose that makes any good knitter do?
Dig through the stash for wool, of course.

I found a couple of balled up skeins and decided I needed something mindless to do while I'm working at the market and the fair. So.....I decided to start a potato chip scarf. If you haven't seen one, it's a ruffled scarf that turns in on itself.

Even though I worked the market yesterday, I didn't get enough done to take a pic, so you'll just have to use your imagination.

I also got a 25% off everything michaels coupon, and I think when I'm out running around this week, I might stop by and check out their yarn selection. I know, it's mostly that ghastly acrylic stuff, but when you're making a blankie for the couch and you have two couch potato boxers and two insane Siamese, acrylic fits the bill perfectly, since it can be washed. (you never know when someone is going to yak on your blankie, and the one on the couch usually ends up smelling like a dog).

So, stay tuned.....I really want to make a cabled throw, and I might just adapt my own pattern.
YIKES!!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

I thought I had it.....

I found some nice, soft, lace, a couple of great patterns, and decided to go for it. It worked for about 5 hours until I got frustrated, the sun came out, and the garden was calling.
Lace.....ripped. Maybe some other day.

So, the moral is, no knitting again this week, just a futile attempt at something that didn't work out.
Maybe next time.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

it's been a long......LONG week

and not a bit of knitting......
This week, this little darling decided to have a tummyache.
A very worrysome and expensive tummyache. It resulted in 4 trips to the vet, a credit card that's still smoking, and a cat innard education I would have rather not needed. It was touch and go there for a while, but, in the end, it turned out to be a "mystery tummyache" (thankyouverymuch), and she's now back to running around the house like her normal self.  The vet says it was the barium that did it. I think I just spent enough money for the universe to give up.
All in all, it turned out OK and the folks at the vets (all of them), are totally in love with her. That IS what it's all about, right?

There was also some really sad and disturbing news regarding a friend and pilates client, but I won't go into that here....suffice to say, life is short. You just never know what will happen in the blink of an eye.

I did spend a rainy day looking for some inspiration. I found some really nice scrumptious lace (that really is the name of it), and I'm ready to cast on for a celtic shawl.
I'm also looking at making a cabled blankie for the back of the couch. Just waiting for the right sale at the craft store. I know, acrylic.....but with dogs and cats, you gotta be able to wash it, and it has to wear like iron, so acrylic it is.

Next week, knitting, I promise.

Sunday, June 08, 2014

no knittin'

just a kitten....


gotta find some new inspiration

Sunday, June 01, 2014

not a stitch has been knit....

for at least a couple of weeks.
The weather has been just too good to be inside knitting, and by the end of the day, I'm just too tired to even think about it.
Maybe this week........we'll see (now that the bark project has been finished)

I'll leave you with a baby miss kitty pic....
hard to believe she's been here almost a year. We picked her up right after the 4th of july, a year ago.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

it's raining today

so next week there MIGHT be some knitting for ya.....
so far, this week, it's been all yard work, all the time, until I fall into bed at night.
not a single stitch knit here.......nothing to see.
except maybe a cute kitty...

that's how I feel pretty much every night after doing yard work all day!

Sunday, May 11, 2014

I started a sock

This one has been on my que for a long time, so I decided it would be a good quickie project
It's firestarter....a free pattern. Can't tell you what the yarn is, I've had it for so long. Another stash root-out.

 
I'm kind of sad, but I decided not to do "camp" this year. There's just nothing I really NEED to knit right now, and their yarn selection is kind of low lately.
 
I can't guarantee much progress on the sock, either....the sun is out and the yard is calling!

Sunday, April 27, 2014

working the cowl

This week, I got to a point in the cowl where it will fit and go over a head. I decided to put it aside temporarily and make some fingerless mitts with the other skein of that yarn. When the mitts are done, I'll use the rest of the yarn to finish the cowl. How smart is that??

I'm thinking about doing an afghan/blankie for the couch. The one that's there has seen a few doggies, and it's nice to have something to throw over your feet when you 're knitting. I really like the cabled look, and may attempt to make my own pattern with my stitch books. We'll see......

I'll leave you with a cut kitty pic.......just because.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

it's going to b e a cowl

I know, I've said I'm not much of a cowl person, but I rooted this yarn out of the stash and it just wanted to be one. It'll be a gift for my sister, who goes out and walks every day, rain or shine. I think she'll appreciate the squishy warmth it will give her.

It started life as a cabled scarf, but that's just not what it wanted to be, so a cowl it is. the yarn is much more green and plum than it looks in this pic.

I'm not sure how much knitting content there's going to be for a while, unless it rains. In about a half hour, I'm headed outside again to get busy. It's just THAT time of year.

Sunday, April 06, 2014

finished the fremont

well, this week it rained quite a bit, so I was able to finish the vintage fremont shawl I was working on.
I think it turned out pretty good. (y'all know I love a good gradient)
 
The bag is still in time out, and I haven't even thought about a next project. I think I'll just close my eyes and stick my hand in the stash to see what I come out with. Could be interesting.
 
This is the time of year where knitting takes a back seat to gardening (as long as the weather holds) There's some kind of gardening "thing" every week now.
Off to spread bark!

Sunday, March 30, 2014

I just needed some spring!

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know what a sucker I am for a gradient, especially a GREEN gradient....
so, this week, I found myself needing a bit of spring to manage the insufferable ugly rain that was happening outside. Off to the stash!
This is a black trillium pebble sock gradient and the pattern is vintage fremont. It's a fun, easy, knit, with just enough interest as to not fall asleep.
Love it!


The sipalu bag is still a project....just in time out for now.
This week, the weather is supposed to be nicer, so it'll be outside for me. I'll probably finish this, though.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

missing vogue....

I'm kinda sad because I'm missing VKL. I feel like the cool kids have left me behind. I know it doesn't make sense economically for this one.....$ for gas, $ for parking, $ to shop, (I kind of have a problem with that one), plus a whole day gone to get there, shop, and get back....that will buy a LOT of yarn...still makes me kind of sad to miss it. Maybe next year......

This week, the weather was nice, so not a LOT of knitting. I did start on the sipalu bag, and got the edge and a bit of one panel done. No guarantees for this week, either, if the weather is nice, it's outside for me!
 
 

Sunday, March 09, 2014

photosynthesis....all done

This week it rained.....and rained.....and rained.....like, 6 inches of rain, seriously.
That left LOTS of knitting time, so I took the opportunity to finish photosynthesis.....



it was a fun knit....lots of beads, and I think it turned out pretty darned good. It's blocking right now, and then it'll be ready to go.

Yesterday, after blocking the shawl, it was STILL raining, like, an inch and a half just yesterday....so I dug out my new project from the stash...a sipalu bag. I've had this colorwork bag in there for a while and it seemed like a good challenge for a rainy day. This one is going to take a while, and that's just fine by me.

Sunday, March 02, 2014

half a million beads

The work continues on the beaded leaf shawl. It's now too big for pics to mean anything....you know how lace is before it's blocked. I'll probably make some good progress on it this week, since it's supposed to rain all week, and I'm babysitting a boxer with a bunch of stitches from her surgery.

It's hard to keep her from licking them....may have to get out the cone of shame. She's got another 10 days or so before the staples come out.

I've been cruising ravelry for my next project....not sure what it's going to be, but I might still have to get out the knitpicks stuff I'm trying to work through. That bee shawl is calling my name, though.

I'll also be skipping vogue knitting seattle. I just can't bring myself to pay to shop, no matter HOW wonderful the marketplace is. I'd love to go, but when you add gas, parking, and the price of the marketplace, I can buy some really nice yarn for just that......too bad, if it was free to shop (which in my opinion it SHOULD be), I'd probably be all over it.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

beads....lots and lots of beads

A LONG time ago.....I purchased the yarn and pattern for the photosynthesis shawl. It's a pretty, beaded leaf pattern with a laceweight and about half a million beads. It sat in my stash until this week, when I was inspired to do something about it, since it was raining buckets!
So.....here's my progress on photosynthesis.....
I know, lace is hard to photograph before it's been blocked, but, take my word for it....this is 13 of the 16 rows of leaves in the first pattern, and I'm happy with how it's turning out......

This week, more of the same, just bigger.....

Miss kitty approves
yes, she got in there all by herself

Sunday, February 16, 2014

I got nuthin'

This week was a bust.....pretty much everything and everyone got cancelled for one reason or another, which was just fine by me, since I wasn't feeling perfectly good anyway. Nothing serious, just some crummy sinus thing that made me run out of gas completely about 10am and hang on the couch the rest of the day. Not even any knitting to show for it.

I did finish the points on the sunflower. No pics, though. Right now, it's a balled up mess of lace in a baggie. Too big to block until I can do it out on the deck on a sunny day.

I also went to Madrona.....maybe I've just been going for too long, or maybe their emphasis has changed a bit, but it seemed to be more spinning stuff than knitting. As much as I'd love to learn to spin, I just don't NEED one more thing......(or the stash that goes with it). I ended up shopping a bit and coming home empty handed. Nothing really called out to me.

This week, I'll be digging at the stash again....I think I have something in mind.
We'll see what mood strikes me.

Sunday, February 09, 2014

working the sunflower

This week, it was painfully cold. So cold that the only going outside was for dog potties. So, there was a great deal of progress on the sunflower. I'm up to the tips now. I didn't realize it when I started, but each of the petals is knit individually by attaching the yarn and casting off. That's a LOT of end weaving.....just sayin'
since we woke up to this today.....

I'll probably be making more progress....
It's going to have to wait to be blocked, though. It's a big piece and there's no place to do it in the house.
Next up.....I'm working my KP stash, so I think it'll be the dogwood sweater kit I have. That ought to be a good challenge.

This week....MADRONA. No classes this time, but I can't resist the call of the marketplace. I'll probably be shopping on sat am, with a little side trip to a couple of Tacoma nurseries.....After all, this snow WILL melt eventually, and it'll be back to gardening!

Sunday, February 02, 2014

sunflower....

This week, my excessive spring fever took over. When digging through the stash, I found this little project from knitpicks....it's a sunflower shawl (or in this case, table runner).
I know, it doesn't look like much right now, but you can see where it's going.....The center is done, and I'm working on the petals. This is a long, kind of complicated, lace project, so it'll keep me busy for a while. I was a little tired of socks, so......

My next destash mission is to work through all the knitpicks yarn I have hanging around. They're all kits, so the patterns are chosen. I have a colorwork sweater, and a couple of the sipalu bag kits.

Madrona in 2 weeks!!!!!!!
just sayin'                   

Sunday, January 26, 2014

not much knitting content....

I'm afraid that's going to be the case as long as the weather is good. Too much yard work, too many projects......

I did make some progress on the sock yarn blankie.
as you can see, it's growing. It's a fun, easy project and I can add a square here and there when time allows. It'll be ongoing for quite a while, so.....there ya go.

I rooted through the stash this week too.....nothing really caught my eye, but I did dig out my sipalu bag kits. I'm thinking this colorwork bag will be my next project (or two). It's one of those patterns that looks REALLY complicated, and that makes it hard to start. I'm sure once I get going, though, it will be fine, and I'll be cranking it out like crazy. It's supposed to rain this week, so we'll see......

Looking forward to madrona in less than a month. Only shopping this time. Maybe something special will catch my eye. After digging through the stash a few times, whatever I find will have to be REALLY special, just sayin'.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

I know, I was MIA last week

bad me!!
I have been working on things, though, in spite of the depressingly foggy and cold weather.....
good time for knitting, I guess.
I finished my astral shawl. It's blocking as we speak. Just can't seem to do the colors justice, but I do like the way it turned out.
 
It's much more blue and purple than this picture lets on.
 
I also rooted in the stash and came up with some wild purple and pink self striping. It was part of a "Cheshire cat" kit a while ago that didn't come with a pattern. I had seen this pattern on ravelry (and it was free), and thought it would be perfect for this skein. So, without further ado.....
valentines socks
One of them still needs a bit of a toe and the ends woven in. This yarn was much heavier than I thought, which actually worked out to be a pretty nice pair of socks. Some fun self-striping, a little intarsia practice and wala! Socks in two days (or so).
 
Now, I'm back to the stash to see what catches my eye. I've been doing pretty good so far just rooting around, but........Madrona IS coming up. I might have to break my rule just a little bit. After all, those are indie dyers you can't find ANYWHERE else, right?????
 

Saturday, January 04, 2014

new year, new knitting

Fresh blog look too....
Every year, I try to set myself at least one knitting goal and one new technique to learn. Last year, my challenge was to tackle double knitting, and I did that with a great craftsy class that really helped me (finally) understand it.

This year, my technique of choice is brioche knitting.....another year, another class. Just so happens, there's a craftsy class on brioche, and it was even on sale. Merry Christmas to me!

Another one of my "goals" is to knit down the stash. Although I'm not quite to SABLE, it's close.....
I'd like to reduce the stash by half by the end of the year. We'll see how that goes......

In my "knit from the stash" theme....I've been working on the astral shawl.
You can see miss kitty is helping as well. The pic just don't do the colors justice, they're actually much more blue/purple, in a really kinda cool blue/ purple kind of way.



I'll keep plugging away at this one, and my sock yarn blankie. Up next....I'm thinking I'm going to dig out that Cheshire cat kit from a while ago. It's two kinds of stripey pink, great socks, with a little twist.
;)