done, done, done!

The traveling sweater is done! I love, love, love it.
It's probably going to be my favorite sweater ever.
I'll have to post pics later. Need a photographer. It just doesn't do it justice to see it flat. It needs to be on a person.

Thanks to the bad weather, I also finished my endpaper mitts, and started on the "hammelies" shawl for my friend's christmas.

Next week, some new bugga (I think I'm addicted now), and the lace I ordered for the summer mystery shawl KAL.

what IS it about cats and wet wool??

Really!
The first sleeve of the traveling sweater is done and blocked, with no help from the critters. The second one is about 1/2 done. I'll probably block the big piece today and be finished with the second sleeve before the end of the week. All that's left is to put the pieces together. I'm still not sure how that goes, but I'm trying not to stress about it. I think I'll be the first one finished in the KAL, not that it's a race. I can thank the bad weather here for that. No yard work in the rain.













This week I also bought some Malbrigio Lace from a stash on Rav. I think I'll make Anne Hanson's "bee fields" with it. I'm trying to decide if I want to try for another skein. I know it would be a different dye lot, but I could do the edging with it. I really like a larger shawl. We'll see.

Next up, I'm going to finish the second endpaper mitt, and then move on to "hammelies" with the DIC gothic rose I got in the trade for my may sock kit.
It's going to make a nice christmas present shawl for my friend Amy for christmas - don't worry, she doesn't read this blog. I think it'll be a good beach knitting project.

MMMMMMM, Bugga!

Ok, so, all those folks can't be wrong. The Bugga phenom has a definite reason.
I took the opportunity to buy some a couple of weeks ago from the sanguine gryphon site and, it's very nice. L to R, 2 skeins of 'fat' bugga for my birch stole, a mystery skein of skinny bugga, I'm thinking it's going to be a shawl, and some dream in color smooshy in gothic rose, that I traded my may sock club yarn for. That yellow was just not me, and the gothic rose will make a perfect shawl for my friend Amy for christmas. I'd definitely do the bugga again. They're having a special thing on the site where they pick a color and offer it in unlimited quantities on a dye to order basis. It's only good for 24 hrs after the update, but it's a great way to try something new. (and the mystery stuff too) Some gorgeous stuff there.













The traveling sweater is progressing. I've finished the 'wedges' and moved on to a sleeve. It's about 1/2 way done. It's supposed to start raining like crazy by the end of the week, so there it is, some good knitting time.

I'm also looking for the perfect shawl. When we went to sock summit last year, the most impressive thing wasn't the socks (although they were impressive), it was the gorgeous shawls that everyone seemed to have. So......I'm in search of the perfect one. Gotta play with the cool kids. I'll know it when I see it.


Meanwhile, it's out to the garden!

that's a whole lotta rib'n

One more 'wedge' left on the traveling sweater edge. Then it's on to the arms and back, which should go a bit faster. It'll all be determined by the weather, though. When the sun shines, it's outside to play.




This week brought a nice surprise. The next installment of the Loopy Ewe sock club. I joined this club because they offer different yarn companies each time and I really wanted to try something different. I like the kind of yarn, the patterns are great and I love the Namaste bags, but I'm not too sure about the color. I may end up trading for something that's more my style. Just not a big fan of the yellow.











I also bought myself a bit of a treat. I've been wondering for a while what all the excitement is about over the sanguine gryphon bugga. Well, they have a new deal where they pick one color and offer it in unlimited amounts for one day. Then they go and make as many as folks have ordered. I couldn't resist the dark green and brown one they offered this week, and I immediately thought of the Birch that I want to make. The griffon also had some 'mystery skeins' as well, so I couldn't resist the challenge of the surprise. I just hope my mystery skinny bugga is not yellow. I'll probably have to trade it out if it is. Pics when it comes.

I'll leave y'all with some signs that spring is sprung.......

















and a visitor we had early saturday am. We think it's a red-tailed hawk.

knit, knit, purl, purl

Endless k2p2 rib.
Yes, this is the newest "thing", the traveling sweater.
It was love at first sight. Luckily the pattern has just enough to keep some interest and it's not so complicated you can't take it along. Although, it is getting a bit too big. I'm almost through the fourth "wedge" - there's 8 of them, and then it's on to the upper back and arm pieces. The yarn is Wooboo, Thraven color. You can't really tell by this photo, but it has a nice, underlying bit of green. It's coming right along.

There was a bit of excitement this week when the dates for Sock Summit 2011 were announced. Is it wrong to be SO excited about something that's nearly a year away?
Of course, I'll be there. Another knitter and I are thinking about volunteering a day, and shopping a day. I'd kind of like to add a day of classes, and maybe a trip out to the beach with some out of town folks I met at the last summit. We'll have to see how the registration goes. I was extremely lucky last time to get the classes I wanted, but I know how many folks will be trying this time. Bunches. I'm not sure they can have a server big enough.

Today, the weather is nice, so it's out to the garden to get caught up with planting and the annual pressure washing of the deck.

knit, knit, purl, purl, knit knit, purl, purl,.........

A lovely new project

This week was kind of crazy, catching up from being gone for 4 days at the conference. It was also kind of discombobulated, don't know why.
It did finish off well, though. Yesterday, I went to the Arboretum Foundation plant sale in seattle. I love different and odd plants and also the ones that bloom black and chocolate. Imagine scabiosa "ace of spades" and "chocolate" sapigloss. Of course they came home with me.











I also got a chance to stop at Acorn Street Yarn shop. No new yarn, but I was able to get the needles for my 'traveling sweater'. Why is is that when you think you have them all, the pattern calls for one you don't have?
Since the weather was a bit crazy yesterday, I came home from the plant sale and started the sweater. I'm loving the yarn (wooboo) and the color (thraven). You can't really see it much, but it kind of has this underlying light green tone. It's going to be beautiful.
The other thing there is one of the 'endpaper mitts'. I'm putting the other away for a while in favor of the sweater. This one turned out great, though.




Today, it's out to the garden. Make hay and all that!

well, there ya are

I'm back from the conference. A good time was had by all.
This is Mary Bowen. She's a pilates rock star. As a matter of fact, she's kind of the Mick Jagger of pilates. I had the pleasure of spending the better part of 2 days listening to her (me and 25 of my new best friends) Can you believe she's 80?? Perfect skin, perfect posture, we should all look so good. She's positively amazing.
















When I got home, this lovely assortment was waiting for me. It's the "sisterhood of the traveling sweater" and 4 skeins of Wooboo in thraven. It's beautiful. Pam wants to just pet it, but I'm making a sweater, eventually.... Gotta finish the endpaper mitts and recover from traveling all weekend.










We're ALL recovering, just a little bit.....

A little stuck

Ever have "one of those days"? Kinda stuck, knitting-wise. Not really in the mood to make a sweater (although I had to order some yarn for one courtesy of the webs sale), no yarn really speaks to you. I have a couple of projects lined up. A beaded shawl (need to go out to shipwreck and get the beads), I'd love to do a girasole, but I can't decide on the yarn, and Birch is speaking to me too, but the yarn I bought for it at Madrona is just not going to work. Too scratchy and the difference between the dye lots is just too much.
I've had to settle with finishing 'a little jazz' - expertly modeled here by cinnamon brown,















And working on some endpaper mitts. I've wanted to make these for a long time, so it seemed the thing to do.














All in all, it's been pretty lazy around here, what with the crazy snow, rain, sleet hail (and all that in 5 minutes) weather!


This week, off to the annual pilates conference in california to hang with all the pilates superstars. Too bad it's going to be warmer here than it is in california.
BOO!

"a little jazzed" up

Rain, rain, GO AWAY!!
I know, we need it, or at least that's what we say here when it rains, snows, hails and anything else that comes along in the spring. I just want to finish my yard work project I had to abandon a week ago because it started POURING, and hasn't stopped since. (and yes, we've had snow, hail and a whole assortment of weather)

The good news is, Jazz is coming along. This is my 3rd try and I think it's going to be a charm. Pretty mindless knitting - back and forth. I just couldn't get the short rows right, so I kept ripping it out. Frustrating.












Maybe it's because I've been a bit obsessed with Molly the owl

Hopefully the weather will be a bit better this week, so I can finsh my job.
I'm also doing the MS walk on saturday and then spending the afternoon working for the master gardeners at the fuschia planting event. Those would be much better with some sun.

a couple of new things here

Well, this week brought a lot more outside work. Gotta make hay, so to speak.
I've cleaned out the green house and weeded a bunch more. I'm almost all the way around the whole yard. Now it's time to do it again!

Kernel is finished, block and properly cat tested and approved. I also got this new sock book. I just had to pre-order it after I saw the patterns on ravelry. Just HAD to. The yarn is another skein of the fiesta baby boom from the sock club. They had a few extras and I loved the one I got so much, I had to have another to make socks as well.













This week, hopefully more yard work. The farmer's market opens here on thurdsay. LOVE, love, love the market, and it's always a sign spring has sprung.
I'm also working on "a little jazz", the scarf from the sock kit, and a baby blanket for a co-worker. Today's a lazy knitting day, the weather is psycho again!

not a lot of knitting happening here

It IS spring after all, and yesterday it was 70 degrees.
There has been a lot of outside work, though and the yard is looking quite nice after spreading nearly 5 yards of bark yesterday. Still has a long way to go, though, but at least I have the energy to do it. That hasn't necessarily been true for the past year or so. I'm definitely taking advantage of my new found motivation, and trying to get outside for at least 1-2 hours a day, with a definite project in mind. It seems to be working and things are perking up nicely.













I'm still working on kernel, nothing new there, just a bit more of it. I'll probably finish today, since we're having a typical pacific nw spring day, rain, sun, more rain, more rain, sun.........psycho weather.

I'm not sure what the next project will be knitting-wise. Maybe I'll root around in the stash and do some socks, maybe not.....
Whatever it is, it'll probably be on the smaller side so I can take it to the pilates conference I'm going to in april.
Happy spring everyone!

How can I explain how much I hate spring ahead

When you have to get out of bed at 4 am, losing an hour anywhere just hurts.
I really, really, really hate spring ahead and find myself staggering around confused for at least a week after. There, it's out of my system.....
on to knitting.

There's been a little knitting ADD around here. Kernel is progressing nicely, but not worth taking a pic. It's just longer than last time.
I've taken a little break to do this test knit for someone from ravelry. I don't know if it's a secret or not, so here's a little piece of it, just because I'm loving the colors. The yarn is knitter's brewing co., "sex on the beach", won in a contest from KBC. This has been a fun, quick little knit, and once public, would probably make a great little gift for someone.










I'm not sure what this week will bring. I'm working a couple of extra days for folks that are out of town, and the weather is supposed to be OK, so, off to the yard. I'm definitely making progress out there. I'm hoping to get all the way through all the weeding before I need to start again. Right now there's not much to see, but a bit later, I'll post yard pics.
Happy spring ahead everyone.
Does extra coffee help??????

not a lot of knitting happening.....

the weather's been too nice. The garden is calling (screaming)

I did make some progress with the dream in color starry.
This is Kernel from the knitty fall 2009 issue. I didn't think I would want the beads, but I'm kind of liking them. My first try with beads and a crochet hook and it was really easy. Looking at other beaded things now.....












The second lovely is the march installment of the loopy ewe sock club. I spent a couple of years in "another" sock club and decided to move on this year. I was very lucky to be one of the chosen ones in the loopy ewe lottery, which gets me 2 years into the club before I have to go back to the lottery. I'm very excited about this. The first shipment was awesome. I like that the yarn is a different producer every time and that there's two patterns. I don't like that I'm in love with BOTH patterns now, and I'll have to decide which one I want to make with the club yarn and then buy another one for the other pattern. I have to say that sheri and the elves at the loopy ewe are awesome. I paid for the shipment on thursday, and recieved it on saturday!












no promises, but they'll probably be more knitting next week. The weather here is supposed to cool off and maybe even snow a bit. It's already getting quite a bit colder today. Good knitting weather. The sun will be back - hopefully soon. I've barely made a dent in the yard.

A couple of fo's and some more "bad girl"

This week brought a couple of fo's
First up - skew - these were my ravelympics project. I'm happy to say I've collected my medal and crossed the finish line. They were a fun knit, but, like the designer says, you have to have faith in the pattern. It all comes together in the end.













The second FO is (are?) the "Sassy" selbu mittens, Queen of hearts, from the Mary Scott Huff class at the end of january. These would have been done sooner, but they took one skein of the white plus about 10 yards, so it looked like I was not going to have enough yarn. My thanks go out to the generous raveler who sent me a partial skein and allowed me to finish them THIS winter. They're very thick and warm, and pretty cool. Thanks Mary!













Now for the bad. I had only one more order to place with the loopy ewe to be a "groupie". I was going to wait for the first sock club shipment - which should happen next week, but when I saw this nice dream in color starry (crying dove) it just jumped into the cart! Really it did! So, my loopy entry prize was a cool bag, some MORE yarn, and chocolate (that didn't last long). It all arrived 2 days after ordering. Sheri and the elves really do a great job.














Now I'm kind of at a loss. I think I'll play around with casting on "birch" by Chrissy Gardiner. It's entrelac and lace and looks like quite a challenge. Ought to be fun!

I've been a bad, bad girl....

Well, there it is, my confession.
Since Madrona was such a bust, I felt obliged to turn to the Loopy Ewe for some retail therapy. Isn't this a gorgeous red? This was taken right by my back door. The little daffodils look so happy. The other thing there to the left is an ebony sock blocker key chain. Just had to have it.














This week has brought a bunch of progress on SKEW. One is done, the other about 75%. That's good, because it's my ravelympics project and they both need to be done before closing next friday. Don't think it's going to be a problem.

Next week, another loopy ewe order. I know.......... that dream in color starry in the crying dove colorway just JUMPED into the cart. I couldn't help it. It also will be my 6th order, which makes me a loopy groupy. I'll get pre-notice of new stuff. Not sure HOW I'll be able to resist.

Once the Skew's are done, I think I'll finish the mittens, thanks to a very generous person on ravelry, I was able to find a partial skein of the white I need to finish. I'll be paying that one forward for sure.
Next up, Birch by Chrissy Gardiner (bought the yarn at Madrona), and maybe a mystery sock kal. There's a couple of intersting ones on Rav. The first shipment of the loopy ewe sock club should be soon too. I can hardly wait.
It's kind of hard to do too much knitting though. The 60 degree weather REALLY inspires yard work, um, gardening.

well, I wanted it to be big

Haruni is finished and blocking. It came out great. I made the larger size because I wanted it to be impressive and it certianly is. It's a great knit, not too complicated and you see results quickly. I'd definitely make another.
I'm debating my next project, there's a few I really like.
Maybe another KAL from the knitter's brewing co.
I'm liking the whole KAL idea....maybe some lace??



In other news, Madrona was pretty much a bust. I was very disappointed in the selection (or lack of it) this year. It's not like I waited until the last minute. I was there on saturday morning at 9, but the blue moon booth was already pretty much empty. I did get some "vancouver violet" that I was looking for, but that was about all they had left. Too bad. I probably would have spent more. I also got some great green from lollipop cabin, going to be a "birch". Maybe I'm just spoiled from sock summit, but it didn't seem there was anything really new or cool there. I did fall in love with one cabled vest pattern, but was told, rather rudely, by the person in charge of the booth that I'd HAVE to buy the yarn to get the pattern.
Ya know, there's nearly a million patterns on Ravelry, I think I can find a cabled vest pattern I can buy, or maybe even get for free. No need to be rude.

The other part of that pic is my ravelympics entry. It's "skew" from the knitty surprise. Doesn't look like it's going to work out, but I'm trying to have faith and keep knitting.






I'll leave you with a little taste from the garden show.
Gardening, reading, knitting....what more could you want?

Fini!

And just in time. These are the Knitter's Brewing Co mystery socks.
They turned out pretty nice, in spite of coming out a bit large. I switched to a smaller needle for the foot and it worked out well.

These have been my focus this week, since they have a feb. 14th due date for the contest. Haruni is progressing nicely, though, and the mitten is almost done with the hand. I'll be working on both of those this week.
I'm looking for another KAl for socks. I need a small, portable project OTN for meetings, etc. Haruni is great, but it's just not in a portable stage any more and requires way too much concentration.

Today, off to the Pacific Northwest flower and garden show. (can you say "spring fever?")

Next week, MADRONA!!!!!!
No classes, just shopping. What more could you want?

It was a "SASSY" class

Last night I had the pleasure of taking a "sassy" class from designer Mary Scott Huff.. What a kick. When she saw that I was wearing my fairy ring sweater (one of her designs), she ran up to me and gave me a great big hug. She's a great teacher, very open and funny to boot. I think everyone there had a great time. She signed my book, too!
We were doing Norwegian knitting, a mitten that she designed called "queen of hearts", and you can see how far I got. I can hardly wait to finish. It's a great valentine's project. Love the colors. Here's the progress on the mitten and also the Haruni.











I'm loving this shawl too. Had to order more yarn because I wanted a bigger one, but it's going really fast.

The fifth clue to the mystery sock is published as well. I'm keeping up pretty well, and there's only one clue left. Now I'm looking for another mystery sock KAL. I really enjoy getting the clues and progressing with everyone. There's a couple on Ravelry that I'm looking at. Seems a great way to manage the stash.

Lots of fun coming up in the next few weeks. Next sunday is the garden show in seattle, and the following week, Madrona, the annual knitting conference in Tacoma. I love this time of year!

Gratuitious doggie pic. No cats were harmed in the taking of this picture. Although, right after I snapped it, squiggi reached over and bonked her on the head. He just loves to invite trouble.

lots of starts, not a lot of finishes

Well, I seem to be going through a "casting on" phase here.
This week, I started Miss Marple, worked on the knitter's brewing co mystery kal, and started this beautiful thing....Haruni.
I'm loving the shawl. It's going pretty fast and it's nice to see progress.












Miss Marple is awful so far, so she's taking a bit of a vacation. I don't consider myself a terribly tight knitter, but I'm on my third try to get this sock around my heel. Honestly, I have "normal" heels. It's just that the mosaic gets so tight and unflexible by the end that there's not enough stretch to go there. ARGH! I've tried 2 size larger needles and now I'm just making the larger size. Frogged twice.

The kal is on clue 3 and still working on the leg. No photos to show there yet.

This coming weekend, I'm taking a nordic knitting class with Mary Scott Huff. They've already sent out the pattern, it's cool, called "Queen of Hearts" - perfect for a valentine's day knit. Got homework to do there too. Luckily, not too much.
I'm sure I'll have something to show next week. I'm also hoping for good news on the loopy ewe sock club. I decided to try something different this year after the last 2 in the STR club. Loopy ewe is a lottery, so fingers crossed. If that doesn't work out, maybe the year in lace? I like being in some kind of club, just a little burnt out on socks and looking for something different. Suggestions? Not too expensive, though.

There will be some real fun soon. The seattle garden show is in 2 weeks. I can't begin to say how much I LOVE the garden show. It always gives me serious spring fever. Madrona is coming up too. Madrona is a big knitting conference in tacoma. No classes for me this time, just shopping. That's enough. I can do enough damage at madrona to keep me busy for the next 6 months at least. LOVE madrona too.

Thanks to all who commented on my back. I'm back to teaching classes, but my back feels "unstable". I just never know when it's going to hurt. I'll be fine, doing yard work, come in the house sit for an hour and not be able to get out of the chair.
Spent a couple of days last week just doing this:











Sucks getting old!

baby shoes and backaches

I was cruising right along this week, feeling pretty good, until friday, and BAM!
Did something to my back. We really don't appreciate the ability to put on our own socks,until we can't. It was good for knitting a whole sock on saturday, though. Now if I could only put them on. Doing a bit better now, after a great deal of ibuprophen and finding a sub for my early bodypump class tomorrow. I'm hoping this is short term. I mean, really, I teach fitness for a living. This ought to make that pilates workshop I'm going to today even more special.

The good news is, the traveling lace socks are done. Here they are with some goodies that came this week from knitpicks. I ordered these dk weight yarns for the class I'm taking at the end of the month on nordic knitting with Mary Scott Huff. Her book's there too. I'm taking it with and hoping she'll sign it for me.
I had to order more yarn than I needed because of the colors. This isn't the first time I've been disappointed with knitpicks colors when I got them. They look very different than my monitor. That doesn't happen with other yarns I buy on the net, so I'm thinking it's not my monitor. I'll probably use the black, white and berry colors for the class. The navy and maroon there is for the "miss marple" socks from knitpicks. It was love at first sight for them. I think they'll be up next.
The green is for the Harumi stole. I bought extra because I like a nice, big shawl.










One other accomplishment this week.....baby shoes. No, I'm not trying to say anything here. They're a gift for my friend's grandbaby. Aren't they cute?
I'm just hoping they fit.











Up this week, the knitter's brewing co kal is on, there should be another clue on the 19th. I think I'll start on the miss marple socks.
I'm really looking forward to shopping at Madrona in February. Saving up my pennies!