WIP Wednesday - Ombre Coffee

I've been really pushing myself on my Morning Coffee sweater. I would like to be able to wear it a few times before fall! The body needs one more inch or so and then several inches of ribbing. I should be able to start the sleeves next week! Except for the first skein which was used to knit most of the yoke, I have been alternating skeins. You can see there is a slight ombre effect going on here, but I'm ok with it. I have added what feels like 2398754 more things to my mental queue - the beginning of the month is always like that, but this month we have the added excitement of my baby (19 months now!) being awake a lot more when I need to get work done! Also, I am going to be an aunt this summer! My niece is due to arrive in August sometime! I am very excited and I've coordinated with my SIL (who is not just a knitter but the daughter of a knitter too) with special-request items.  Lucky for my blog readers, I am sure to have multiple projects going so I won't have to just show teaser pictures between now and then!

WIP Wednesday (Post #1001!)

I noticed when I logged in this morning that this is post #1001! Keeping things moving, here is what I have been working on this week. I started a pair of Carousel socks. They have been on my mind for a while and they qualify for a Ravelry sock group's March challenge of "Unusual Construction".  So far, I am really enjoying working on this. The small section of stockinette seems to move along quickly. On a few rows I have tried knitting backwards and it worked, but I don't know that doing that saves me any time (and I don't mind purling). A good friend has commissioned two large slugs for her friend's children after seeing the "Princess Slug" I made for Lorelai, so you can see the eyeballs and antennae of the first one in the middle. I am just about halfway through the second Malabrigo mitt and I am still loving it.  As much as I am looking forward to spring I am glad that I will be able to have these done and put them to good use sooner rather than later.  

I've been reading a bit here and there. Still working through "Case Histories" and I've been reviewing the material from the latest Craftsy class I've enrolled in, Knit to Flatter. As with my StitchFix experiment, I really want to make sweaters for me that fit and look right. I'm expecting to cast on a new sweater tomorrow, Morning Coffee, as part of a KAL - I think I might be making a few modifications given what I have learned in the craftsy class.  Or, maybe not just yet as I'm still processing all the information. What are you reading and working on?

WIP Wednesday

I have had a lengthy love affair with Malabrigo. I think it was one of the first "nice" yarns I bought myself in my early knitting days. Over the years I have stashed it, admired it, coveted it, and yes, knit with it. Lately though I have just let it simmer in my stash. I decided to join in a few Malabrigo March KALs and doing so has truly rekindled my affection for this yarn. Here I am using Malabrigo Rios to make a pair of Nathair Mitts in the Solis colorway. These are for me and I can't wait to finish them. The first mitt is done and ready for a thumb! This week I have finished a cowl that I hope to share with you tomorrow, and two items for swaps have gone out in the mail, so I'll share those on Friday.  Mentally I'm queuing myself up for a few more KALs which I hope is not jinxing it for me. I am hoping to follow through and participate in the March sock knitter's anonymous challenge by making Carousel socks, the Flame KAL in the Crafty Diversions group, and the Morning Coffee KAL starts next week. I have swatched for that one and am itching to get started! How about you?

Yarn Along - February 20

I finished reading "The Kitchen Help" over the weekend. I decided to pick up Case Histories for my next read. So far I am finding it interesting and am curious to see where it goes. Right now a lot of my knitting is not for show. The green stripey blob in the picture is a sample knit that just needs one more piece to be complete. The white garter stitch blob is a new project in progress that I can't share much about right now. I finished two projects recently, but I am going to save those for a post on Friday.

Blah blah blah. What a boring blog post; that's the state of things right now. Between the snow storm last week, school vacation this week, little projects not getting done, mistakes being made on others, I feel like I can't win. Do you have those weeks?

Yarn Along - Jan. 30

Someone turns into a little ham when the camera comes out.  He knows to say "Cheese" and look at that casual way of posing. Like he doesn't really care if he's in the shot or not.  Silly boy.  Anyway, I've had a fairly productive week. I am just about at the end of Season to Taste - I have really enjoyed reading this and I have been trying to pay more attention to my sense of smell as I go about the day.  My mittens are so close to being done! I have one more thumb to go. Figures that they are ready when we are having a bizarre January thaw - it is in the 50s today! Like most places I have been like the saying goes, I'll just wait five minutes and the weather is sure to change.


I also finished this sample knit.  This v-neck pullover is for Good Karma Farm, knit in their Texas Green colorway, which really is a most perfect hunter green. I love this yarn - good thing, because when you knit an XL size in that much stockinette you had better love it! This is more than just a sample sweater though - it is a gift for one of the owners! After I knit the Charleston Tea sweater for Amy she asked me to knit a sweater for her husband!

It feels good to be getting things done! Of course I still have plenty of WIPs that are giving me the eye and projects I really want to work on, along with the next sample knit that needs swatching.  I also need to decide on the next book to read! What are you getting done this week?

Yarn Along - January 9

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ yarn along





This week I have been reading Pippi Longstocking. For whatever reason, I could not stop thinking about this book, so I borrowed it from the library.  I couldn't remember if I had read it as a kid, but now that I am halfway through I think I did; so much of it is familiar and enjoyable. This was a good way to get back into the reading groove! I've been working on several things.  The Snuggly Monster buddy is ready for eyes, ears & limbs.  The belly is done in yellow and the eyepatch is on the needles. I think the ears / limbs will be solid teal and solid lime green.  I hope to get this done in the next day or two so that it can be given to a brand new baby! On the right is a sample sweater. The same sweater on which I already broke two needles! Knock wood, so far so good and my new needle set arrived today.  In the middle is my current "ooh shiny!" project.  I found the NaKnitMittMo group on Ravelry and immediately had to start a pair of mittens for me.  That didn't take long at all! I pulled out my Cast On, Cast Off book to try the "Provisional Tubular Cast On" for a stretchy cuff. It was a bit fiddly, but not terrible once I got going!

Weathered

Sandy has come and gone. She destroyed a lot of trees in my town and left a lot of people in the dark for most of the week. It could always be worse and my heart just breaks for the people in New York City and along the Jersey Shore. Connecticut took a beating, no doubt, but we are getting back to normal with minimal wear and tear. I think we may have been more prepared than most, we weren't taking any chances after last years storms.

I thought I would be able to get a lot more knitting done. I just couldn't though - the schools have been closed all week, so with two little ones underfoot and being distracted and exhausted, I couldn't get much accomplished. The projects I planned on were fingering weight - what was I thinking? At night when I finally was able to put my mind to knitting, my projects were all fingering weight! Not the best idea when knitting by camping lantern. Oh well. I did finish one Jelly Bean sock and have cast on for the second. This sock is so comfortable! This is my first time using Spinnery Sock Art - Forest, this is the Grape Swirl colorway. I hope I can push myself to finish sock #2 because I know I will wear these with everything!


I finally got going (after a few restarts) on my Syren Scarf KAL. I'm using The Wool Dispensary Useful Poison, an MCN blend, and it is lovely to work with! In my storm prep, I did print out the pattern but that's not so helpful when you have someone who likes to take the paper. It crumples! It makes noise!



Halloween was postponed due to the storm, but luckily the local apple orchard had a Halloween parade last week, so the little ones did get to wear their costumes.


I did a little bit of Halloween knitting, these eyeballs for a Halloween swap - I found some greeny-grey-zombie-flesh colored yarn in my stash (it might be malabrigo) and I love how they turned out.


I also received a special request asking me if I could help make a baby's 1st Halloween costume. Mom wanted the little guy to be Peter Pan, could I help? I am never one to back down from a challenge and I am powerless against the baby knits. I ended up crocheting the hat (from this pattern) & booties (from this pattern) and am very pleased with how they look! They were a big hit! And my small Yarn Pop bag was the perfect size for this project!

Now I've got to play catch up! Stay safe, stay warm!

Oh Sandy!

Cue up Grease! It seems like not matter where the storm named Sandy actually hits (Delaware? Atlantic City? NYC?), CT is going to feel part of the punch. We're all still smarting from Irene & the Halloween nor'easter of 2011! We are prepared for the worst, but I am hoping for the best. I hope if you are in the path of Sandy you can do what you need to to stay safe! In the meantime, I saw this and thought it was good advice - if there's no power, there's no internet!

What will I be working on? I have two socks in progress, am planning to cast on a shawl project today, I have a colorwork hat in the wings, and a crochet monster in progress. I could also work on the minis. Or maybe I'll swatch, I am itching for a new sweater for me. Both kids need new winter hats too! Do you have knitting plans for the storm?

Yarn Along - Ravellenic Games Progress

What are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Have you linked up over at Yarn Along?







I feel like I am off to a good start with my Ravellenic Games "competition".  I've started the sleeve for my Sweater Triathalon event, but can't share photos until the design is published. My Rhinebeck hat is started for a Hat Dash, but that is under wraps until Rhinebeck! I did have a super idea for my hat, in my opinion, while working on the Modular Relay race and I am very excited about getting started on it. I hope it turns out the way I picture it!





I can share what I have done for the Modular Relay with my minis.  Six out of the nineteen minis are knit up and the ends are woven in.  I have to say one of my favorite things about working with the minis is getting to try out new-to-me yarns.  I am learning that I really like a yarn with good SQUISH factor.  Skein Queen is one that I LOVED knitting with and I will certainly seek out more. You can see it second from the left, the muted blue-green hexiflat, 80% merino, 20% cashmere; I believe it is the Blush line.  Another good SQUISH yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks the Rock. I have knit with their yarns a few times before.  The colorway Electric KoolAid Acid Test is incredible. I had just enough to make one hexiflat, it is the first one on the left. I do not think I have ever seen a more vibrant shade of neon pink and I love it. I am not a pink person, so that is really saying something.  Every knitter should have this in their stash for knitting with in the depths of winter. I am making a mental note to seek out more of this particular colorway, asap.

Creative Knitting is not usually part of my reading rotation, but I happened to pick it up today just to see what patterns were inside.  I flipped to the back and spotted this! That's the poncho sample I knit up for Plymouth back in February. It was a fun pattern, this is the child's size 8, but if you look at my ravelry photo I was able to wear it! I think this must be similar to what designers feel when they see their design published - my knit is off in the world!

Olympic Trials

(Psst! There is still time to enter the giveaway for a copy of the Cast On, Cast Off book - click here and leave a comment!)

The Olympics are coming. I have no idea who any of the athletes are, but I am looking forward to watching some of the sporting events and I hope that some events are shown during the day (not just prime time) so that I can share them with the Lorax as well.  She is a gymnastics fan and I think she might get a kick out of it. The Ravellenic Games are also gearing up. I am anticipating being on a few teams and participating in a few events. Here's what I am thinking will be making the cut as part of my projects this year.


I have a set of minis from a swap on Ravelry, under the theme of "Muppets vs Sesame Street". When I first received my swap package I knew I wanted to work them up all at once as a group. My beekeeper quilt project needs an injection of good mojo and this seems like a good idea.  So, 19 minis to be turned into hexiflats for the "Modular Relay".







I was considering challenging myself to knit a sweater for the Lorax (Sundog, which I have the yarn and pattern for and have thought about making for her since it was published). However, the girl does not wear sweaters.  Handmade or storebought, it makes no difference.  Instead, I am working on a sample for Good Karma Farm (isn't it pretty? I love this yarn and pattern, Charleston Tea by BabyCocktails) and a new sample for Plymouth, so those would be great to get done for "WIP Wrestling" and "Sweater Triathalon" respectively.


That is probably enough, but I am still considering "Charity Rowing" and making some items for PatPatsHats, the "Hat Dash" for my own super-special Rhinebeck Hat, more "WIP Wrestling" for Dan's socks and my current cowl-in-progress.  I am sure I could find a few items for "Frogging Trampoline" and "Cast On Mania Trap Shoot" (start a project, work a third of it, start the next project) just sounds like fun.  Dangerous fun.

Yarn Along - June 6

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ small things

There is a lot going on this week! I have finished the main portion of my Lanesplitter skirt and I love how it is turning out. Seaming is the next step, then picking up for the waistband. I think I will have to sit and focus on that, hopefully within the week that will be done. I have also been working on the toe of a sock for Dan. I have a swatch for Gemini in Silky Wool. You can just see a peak at my new project bag in the corner. It is a "Stitched by JessaLu" bag that was a fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer event that other knitters (Sairy & Holyknitballs) were participating in as the "Teal Deer" team (AWESOME.) I have only heard about these bags and I have to say I was completely floored when I opened it up yesterday. I love love love this bag and can see purchasing more in the future. The quality is fantastic, and she's from Massachusetts, so she's local! I am pretty sure that I will blog about it again on its own - I have a ball of yarn in there ready to become a new shawl project, but I haven't actually started on it yet. Soon.

What am I reading? I treated myself to Principles of Knitting. I was so giddy over its arrival - I haven't bought a textbook in over ten years, and it is a serious textbook on par with any of my chemistry textbooks! I finished the second "Fifty Shades" book - meh. It was better than the first, in my opinion. I will read the third just to see how it all finishes, but after this I am going to need a serious dose of brain bleach in the form of classy, serious literature. "Pride and Prejudice" or "The Great Gatsby" or something! From the library I picked up Mom & Me Knits - it is cute and sweet, and the Lorax actually liked the sweater set that I liked, the Surfer Tee, which looks quite comfy (and not too matchy-matchy).

I also wanted to share two favorite kid books we are reading this week. We are HUGE Mo Willems fans in this house. The newest of the Pigeon books, The Duckling Gets a Cookie? does not disappoint! You know a children's book is good when your child reads it before you read it together and can tell from the pictures this is a funny book. I love how much emotion that the Pigeon conveys in such a simple drawing. 


Wiever Wolf is another good one. Some of the illustrations are a little intense (spoiler alert, the dachshund runs off with the wolves), but the story is cute and the dachshund depictions are spot on!

This looks just like Jackson, in a sweater, under my knitting. I hope he doesn't think life is too tame!!

Yarn Along - May 30

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I'm actually reading something this week, yay! Last week or maybe the week before, I borrowed the first "Fifty Shades" book from knitting group on a Thursday and was done with it by Tuesday.  I mostly feel unsettled about it.  I feel a strong dislike of the main character, Ana.  The writing is not all that great - there are way too many references to Ana's "inner goddess" and "subconscious" that they are cartwheeling or tapping their feet or rolling their eyes or whatever.  I was not sold on reading the rest of the series, but I do want to know what the gals at knitting are talking about, so I will continue to read.  I also am digitally flipping through Gourmet Ice Pops and am looking forward to trying some. I found today at a T.J.Maxx these star ice molds that I have been eying online for a while and look forward to using them. 

I'm working on a hat, but expect it to be done tonight / tomorrow so that will get its own post.  In the picture you can see my Lanesplitter. This is perfect "auto-pilot" knitting, once you get going.  I am really enjoying working on it, even if I won't be able to wear it until the cooler days return!

In threes

You know how it goes - there seems to be a bit of blogging "meh" going about. I've got it too. I want to blog, but have lost some of the energy for it. Could be life in general, could be work (which involves writing blog posts for others), could be house stuff, could be little ones underfoot that are always up to something. Anyway, I am here today! Not playing in "Yarn Along" because I have still yet to find a new book - my nose has been mostly buried in a "Visually learning photoshop" paperback, but that is not going to go on too many "to-read" lists. You are here to see the knit stuff, and maybe the kids.

I have finished three washcloths that are being sent out in packages.


I have knit three (3!!!) swatches for my latest sample knitting job, the Summer Poncho in the Spring/Summer Vogue Knitting.

The yarn is lovely to work with. Now that I have figured out my gauge, I am a few rows in - it should be smooth sailing.

I am just past the heel on the first Cauchy sock for Dan. The yarn is Spud & Chloe Fine, in the dachshund colorway. I've got three repeats of the pattern across the top of the foot.

I need to put this on magic loop, but have been lazy about going to find that particular needle, so for now, it is DPNs and cuff-down. Old habits die hard.

And a gratuitous cute baby picture.

Someone is on the move. I looked and the nutmeg was on his back, feet on the couch. I turned to look at my knitting, looked back and he had flipped and scooted himself back under this first table (which is part of a set of 3 nesting tables) Also that space is what, seven inches wide? How did he do that?

Yarn Along - March 7

from small things:

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

For me, February seemed to last a really long time. Maybe because it was a leap year? It ended in a whirlwind though, a very positive one. My reading has been on the back burner. I tried to start In the Garden of Beasts, but just couldn't do it. My parents both recommended it. I am sure at some point I will try it again. I also borrowed Revenge of the Radioactive Lady as an e-book from my library, but I haven't even put it on my kindle yet, so I don't think that one will be read right now either. So what have I been reading? Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett - it is a very sweet book about a little girl who yarn bombs a town! Adorable. The illustrations are wonderful too as the town goes from black and white to color. We were excited to recognize a few items from Jon Klassen's book I Want My Hat Back.

And the knitting. You can see in the photo two little critters. They are two knit monsters from Rebecca Danger's book and are gifts for Ravelry friend. The rainbow blob they are all on top of? That is a new yarn / new pattern for a yarn company, so I suppose that is my "work knitting". It is coming along and the colors are refreshing, hinting of spring that is certainly on its way!

Yarn Along - Jan 25

From small things,

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us!

The key things I have to show for the week are progress on the monster (he's got eyes!), and Nate's Baby Rock'n'Roll Neck sweater is just about done. I have ends to weave in and I have an idea in my head that I want this sweater to have a robot on it, down at the bottom stripes. Maybe felted? Maybe crocheted? I'm not sure, so I might wait on it for now. It deserves a post of its own and will have one in the next few days.

I picked up The Knitter's Life List from the library today. It is interesting to thumb through and would make a great book for a new knitter I think, but at this stage in my knitting game, it is not one I want permanently on my bookshelves. I also have been reading The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of The Little House on the Prairie. I really enjoyed the first 20% of this book. It was funny, light-hearted, made me giggle as I recognized myself in the writing about the fondness for the "Little House" series. The little nuggets of information about what was probably real or probably fiction has been really interesting as well. Then the book takes a turn to making the comparison of "Girlhood / being a girl is just like being out on the wild prairie and the days of the pioneers". Ummm. Ok. I am not so thrilled on that part, and to me most of it seems like a stretch, but whatever. Then there was a section about the legal "stuff" of the day involving settlers and the Native American Lands. It just feels like this is filler and I do suppose there is a place for it. But eh. It is a light read and I'll be done with it soon. Good thing, as it is a library loan to my kindle so I only have it for a short time. I am very pleased that I finally figured out how to borrow the library books on my kindle, but there was a bit of drama and confusion there that was totally unnecessary.

Yarn Along - Jan 18

From small things
~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I feel like I have made good progress on the knitting front this week. Nate's Brick-rolled sweater has one sleeve done, I've got the knitting done on a test knit (that would be the red thing on the left), and the Monster-to-be is working up nicely. Working on the monster has gotten me to use my circular knitting needles again - specifically Magic Loop. Interestingly, the test knit was knit back and forth as if the circular knitting needles were straight needles and the sleeve was knit on double pointed needles. A variety of techniques, a variety of projects, and I continue to work on more and line up the queue! I am halfway through "MockingJay" and on the whole am very impressed with the series. My husband has started reading "Hunger Games" and is enjoying them as well.

While I wait

Trying to keep myself occupied and distracted (without being too grumpy or antsy) this week as I continue to play the waiting game with the lil'nutmeg and the hospital. Thank goodness for knitting! I'm still working away on the hexipuffs:

And have also sent off a bunch of mini-skeins for a swap - I am really looking forward to getting the chance to try out some new yarns this way!

Over the weekend I finished the last of my WIPs! Well, the active more short-term ones - if you look at my Ravelry project page there are several WIPs, but most now are in hibernation. I am choosing to ignore the "Neon Nightmare" and the "Beekeeper's Quilt" as those are truly long term projects, though they are active. This most recent WIP is a gift and has been shipped off to the recipient. Once I know it has been received then I'll be able to blog about it.

This is a very strange feeling to have my needles "empty" for the most part - no deadline knitting (hoping to pick up testing / sample knitting again in September), a closet full of yarn, a ravelry queue that is ~30 pages (?!) - one could get lost in options and my decision making lately has already mostly fallen into the general "Meh, whatever" category. I did decide to go with another project that has been on my mind lately - Andrea's Mitts. These slightly cooler days must have me thinking for fall, so I pulled out some Rhinebeck yarn ( silver Delly's Delights Farm O-So-Soft) and a purple yarn which sadly lost it's tag (I think I got it in a swap, can't find it in the blog, phooey). These might end up a Christmas gift, or I might keep them, right now I'm 50/50.

I started yesterday and am increasing the thumb gusset now. I am surprised as how quick these are working up. So far so good I am enjoying them and I know I have plenty of yarn to make another pair after this if I am so inclined (grey + pink, maybe reversing the purple + grey combo too).

Yarn Along - Aug 3 Stripes!

from small things

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr.

I've been mostly trying to stay on top of the blog reading this past week, so that's my google reader page on the ipad. I am dreaming about starting new projects, but I am actually only working on two things. My Neon Nightmare, a massive granny stripe blanket - it is starting to get heavier and take up more space as I work on it. So far, I've got 28 rows done, about 11 inches, and I am planning to work this up to use up ALL the yarn that I have for each color. I do believe that when the cooler days and nights come this way (and they are coming!) I will look forward to working on this. This project is boosting my crochet confidence as well, so I am quite pleased. The red & white stripey thing is part of a surprise gift that I do not want to talk too much about - the recipient has swung by my blog once in a while.

I have another striped object to share - I finished the Rainbow Marley last week at SnB. I made myself finish the twirly bits on the top, and thanks to Costumechick for her input on the twirly bits - she suggested putting them together tassle-like (versus pinwheel style) and that seemed to work out just right.

Jackson, back at work.


Will you go away if I don't look at you?


Seriously kid, we're the original siblings - help me out and take this off my head.

Yarn Along - July 27

From Small Things

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr.

Most of the States were under that "Heat Dome" since last week. The heat seemed to be mentioned in most of the knitting blogs I read. I am no exception - my knitting mojo is seriously slowing down. I've been looking at patterns and yarn wistfully with big ideas of working on something, but right now I just feel so "meh". Even my reading has suffered. I'm still reading "Moby Duck" but with words like obfuscatorily sprinkled in there, it is slow going as I refresh my memory on SAT words that were covered in high school english class. I think I'm on page 135 out of 348 - and I have been at this book since what, late June? For me that is ridiculously slow. Eh. So, here's my in-progress items for this week.

These were passed on to me from my folks - they get random magazines because the companies think my folks are a doctor's office (Dad is a Dr., but non-practicing). Yeah, so I have been scanning / reading the gossip magazines - these two issues are awful, so many of the same photos even! I am embarrassed, but owning it - that's all my brain can handle.

I did finish up the basic foundation of the Rainbow Marley and it's cute. Now, it's on to the topper thingies. Oy, I'm not loving them. I really feel like they should be going quicker than they are - it's taking me around 45 minutes to make each of those yip-yip-alien-looking things and apparently I also can't count to 18. Fiddly little details. I have two more to complete, then figure out how to put them together / on to the hat. Meh.

The other topic I keep reading about is "Sock Summit" - those who are going, those who aren't, and the Couldn't Foot It self-challenge. In a moment of heat induced insanity, I did consider doing this, but quickly came to my senses. By random chance (which means I found the pattern, found the needles and had a ball of yarn ready to go) I did start a sock - Tennarisukka

Is it possible to take a flattering photo of your feet with a sock in progress? At least I feel pretty good about my feet this week - I indulged in a pedicure while the Lorax was at her camp - the color is Pamplona Purple, I spotted it on Pinterest, found it at the salon, and the woman next to me liked it enough that she went with it as well. Back to the sock - anklets are really satisfying for sock knitting - 6 rows and the cuff was done, a few rows and then bam! start the heel! Gusset is done! Now I am on to the foot and will be there for a while.

I am planning to get out to SnB this week (YAY!!!) but I have no idea what I will work on. The sock? The rainbow twirly thingies? The Stand-Mixer-Cozy (which I thought I was all set on yarn, then I realized it is the wrong weight, so I need to find an alternative or swatch and do some math) - by the way, I spotted these mixers online and if I wasn't going to knit a cozy for mine, I would consider hand painting...

Yarn Along - July 13

From small things

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr.

A wildly colored photo this week. I'm still reading Moby Duck and still working on the baby squared blanket for baby#2. I am getting close - I've eyeballed off what I hope is enough yardage for the border and plan to knit until I get there. I am not sure why, but this version feels like it is turning out a lot longer than the last one I made. I am using the same yarn, Plymouth Encore Colorspun Worsted as before, so I think it is just a knitting illusion. No worries though, it is such a great pattern, and I really think that knitting a car-seat / stroller size is perfect. I am even thinking about working one up, slightly larger, for the Lorax - though, as she doesn't wear things I've knit, she also doesn't use the baby blanket I knit for her either. On top of Moby Duck is a new hat for me. I am working on a Sprial Tweed Cloche from Knitting 24/7 by Veronik Avery, one of my favorite designers. I do have it on dpns now, but have dug out the circular because I am finding I do not really like dpns for this many stitches at this weight. It is a good pick up and put down project.

If you are just popping by the blog for the "Yarn Along" - last week I was still working on my Juneblueberry Triangle - and as of Sunday it was all done, ends woven in and blocked! I posted about it here.

And just because this makes me giggle - the Lorax has been getting much better at her drawings - apparently she loves using all mediums which is fun - today I didn't even know she was working on this piece, a very identifiable ink drawing - a pregnant me!

Sure, I think I've gotten a little rounder in the face, I can't really see my feet too well, but I know they haven't swelled, and my hips have widened to make room for the baby. Not sure where my arms are - possibly crossed across me (and the boobs?). And yes, that's the face I make most days :)