OK ... so just because

....I have several things on the needles already, I won't let that keep me from starting yet another project. I bought a Sassy Skeins sweater kit for the youngest at the LYS the other day. And of course, I had to start it right away, even though I have few, (more like 30 or so) UFO's. I probably should have left it at the LYS until some of this other stuff is finished, but I had to have it and start it right away. I was really impressed with the product when we were at TNNA, I like the packaging and the finished product. It is a bit pricey, but each kit comes with absolutely everything you need for the project you are making. It comes in a nice little project bag with another little bag for all the notions needed. I should have taken a picture of it before I started, while it was still packaged nice and neatly.... but I didn't.

And under the little sweater is the throw I am making for my nephew for his B-day. I really should be focusing all my attention on that since the party is in a mere 11 days. I get so tired of knitting the same thing though for any length of time. That adult ADD is to blame for that. I can post a picture of it here and not worry that he will see it. I doubt he would ever even of think of reading my blog. The pattern is from the Little Box of Throws. I am about 1/3 of the way done. I think I can finish it in time.... as long as I can keep from starting more things.






.... like this little rolled neck sweater. I do need to knit this though. It is for a shop model and an upcoming class. It is the Knitting Pure and Simple pattern. It will eventually be for the youngest so it is being knit in colors she picked out. I like the colors too, but I really wanted to knit it in Lorna's instead of Cascade Superwash. This is a really quick knit, so I am sure I can get it finished in time. I did this in one evening, and am close to being done with the body.

Well I need to start dinner, so my family can eat tonight. Happy knitting all!

Just Needs a Zipper

I have finished a cardigan for my youngest, ( it is actually a shop model for awhile and then it is the youngest's). She was more than happy to model it for me. It is a Knitting Pure and Simple pattern. We chose the jacket collar option for the neckline. I still need to put a zipper in it. I knit it with Cascade 220 Superwash and Opal Petticoat held together. I love the Knitting Pure and Simple patterns, that no seaming is a great time saver. She likes it too, the sweater that is. I will have to make a trip to Jo Ann's tomorrow for a separating zipper and then it will be officially finished.


Also just off the needles is a shell. It is a free online pattern. It is the Quick & Easy Shell. I knit this for my eldest. It fits her beautifully and she likes it, but she won't model it for me because she is sunburned from a day at an amusement park and she is in too much pain to mess with modeling clothing her mom has made. I knit this in Crystal Palace Choo Choo. It is hard to see in the picture, but it is a burnt orange with little bursts of a hot pink and the ribbon is held together with a black nylon thread. It looks like I really need to sweep off the the porch at the doorway. I should have looked closer at that before I posted the picture.


And on the needles this weekend is the Roll Neck Child's Sweater from Knitting Pure and Simple. No pictures yet. It is being knit with Cascade 220 Superwash also. The youngest wanted stripes in a spring green, yellow and peach. The body of the sweater is almost done, so there will be pictures soon. I really liked the texture of the cardi knit in Opal and Cascade 220, but I couldn't sway her into another one like that. What I really wanted was to knit it in Lorna's Shepherd Worsted but the LYS, Cottage Knits, didn't have enough of any one color that the girl child liked so we settled. It takes so long for Lorna's to ship and I need a model for an upcoming class.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. We are having a lot of rain here and the youngest is having fits because she can't go out and play. More next week, I should have progress on the next sweater and hopefully I will find the missing throw pattern so I can do the next stitch pattern on that.

Let The Name Dropping Begin

Ok, this weekend was the TNNA in Indy, and I was able to attend with my friend Cathi, owner of Cottage Knits. I am an instructor at her shop. Oh my gosh, it was a blast!... very exciting and very exhausting. I waited in so many lines for book signings, some paid off some not. A few times I waited in line for 30 minutes only to get to the booth or close to the booth to find they were out of books. This happened in the line for "Handknit Holiday"s by Melanie Falick, but she was nice, I did get the "Greetings from Knit Cafe" while in that same line, so all was not lost. My daughter loves that book and really wants it, but I am not giving it to her, she can, however look at it whenever she wants. Didn't get the Nicky Epstein, "Knitting Flowers" either, but did get a tote signed by her. I didn't get in the line for Norah Gaughan's "Nature Knitting" in time either, but I did see her. I got books signed by Margaret Radcliffe, "The Knitting Answer Book", The uncorrected proof of Melissa Leapman's " Cables Untangled", the uncorrected proof of Suss Cousin's " Home Knits", Barry Klein and Fayla Reiss', "Knitovation", and a favorite of mine Kay Gardiner's and Ann Shayne's " Mason * Dixon Knitting", Iris Schreier's, "Modular Knits" and Candi Jensen's " Crochet Bags". I also met Jo Sharp, Lucy Neatby and Annie Modesitt. You were warned, I told you I was going to be a name dropper.

And then, there was all the yarn. I have never touched so much cashmere, and silk and alpaca in my life, not to mention the merino and the cotton and the synthetics, and anything else you can imagine. The vendors were very generous with their samples today. They didn't want to have to pack them all back up and take them home, so I got a ton of yarn. Some of it is truly "sample" size, just enough to knit a swatch and some of them gave you quite a bit of yarn. Diakeito was very generous, I think I have enough from them after 3 days to knit a multi colored sweater for my youngest daughter. And they were the nicest bunch of people, not that the other vendors weren't, but they just seemed to stand out. I got a sample of the new Jo Sharp yarn too, but for some reason it didn't make it into the picture... trust me, it is lovely. Once my head stops spinning from all the excitement, I will knit something up with this lovely yarn. What a great experience this was, thanks for taking me along Cathi.

30 things about me

Kerrie of Hip Knits is celebrating her 30th B-day next week and is having a contest. I hope I can think of thirty things about me. So here it goes, beware... I am pretty boring
1. I was an Army brat
2. I was born in Regensburg, West Germany because that's right I was an Army brat.
3. Today June 10th is my 17th wedding anniversary
4. I have 3 children, 2 girls and 1 boy.
5. I am 44 years old
6. I love to knit and according to my kids I knit 24/7
7. I have a friend who owns a yarn shop and she lets me play with any yarn I want
8 All three of my kids are allergic to anything with fur so I have no pets.
9. I am one of 7 children
10. I spent all day at the TNNA today and I had a blast and will be a name dropper later this weekend or Monday after I return from another day of fun tomorrow. ( I will have pictures of all my goodies then too)
11. I hate exercise and it shows
12. I love to read
13. I sew and used to sew all my girls' dresses, but not anymore... now I knit
14. I teach knitting classes at my friend's yarn shop.
15. I love Starbucks
16. My favorite colors are peach and teal
17. I like to dye yarn
18. I am obsessed with starting new knitting projects
19. I am getting a lot of gray hair, my hairdresser suggested coloring it yesterday, but I think I will stay gray, my 8 year old thinks I should dye my hair blue and purple.
20. I love Fruit 2 O
21. I love chocolate
22. I drink way too much caffeine
23. I spend a lot of time on the internet looking at knitting patterns and yarn
24. I have never liked cartoons, not even as a kid
24. I sleep on my left side
25. I fall asleep knitting and keep on knitting in my sleep
26. I have a small Steiff toy collection
27. I will not share my drinks with my kids, but I will with my husband... don't ask, I don't know why
28. I like Sudoku
29. I am an IU ( Indiana University) graduate
30. I have a blood clotting disorder and have had several DVT's and Pulmonary Embolisms

Well, that was hard. I am glad Kerrie is only turning 30, I don't think I could think of anything else.

Finished Another One

This little sweater has been sitting in the bottom of my knitting bag for quite some time. I am determined to get some of these UFO's finished so I have empty needles. I have a small fortune wrapped up in needles and I just keep buying more instead of finishing projects. I have set a goal for myself, to finish at least one project each week. I have two tanks that I really need to finish, and hopefully they will get done this coming week ... as long as I don't get distracted by some other project I can't wait to start..

I have the body of the Lopi sweater finished to the armholes and one sleeve finished. That is such a quick and fun knit. And I have about 12 inches done on the throw I mentioned earlier in the week. But, being the start- aholic that I am, I started the brain washed felted bag, and a Knitting Pure and Simple cardigan this week. I will post pictures of those this weekend.

My sister is coming this weekend. My daughter is being confirmed and she is her godmother. We will have a nice weekend together. We are going to the Hoosier Fiber Fair Saturday, so I am sure I will have pictures to post later from that.

I need to head to bed, as it is 2:30 AM and I have a beginning knitting class at 9 AM so good night all.