Knitters! Buy This Shirt – The Sequel!

Say no to that. I dare you. It’s even in Project Spectrum-y Colors.
Click the sheep or click here.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Well, the birthday was yesterday, but I couldn’t put up pictures of the Top Secret Birthday Surprise until after I gave it to her, so here’s to extending the birthday an extra day through the blog. So, without further ado…

An in progress shot:

I couldn’t have done it without Lucy (well, perhaps I could have, but it was certainly more fun rescuing the blanket from the jaws of death every once in a while):

Here’s the best picture of the finished product:

A close-up of the pattern detail (the color is more accurate in the above picture, but the blanket and flash were misbehaving for the close-up):

Mom, I hope you like it – I love you!

Pattern: Bunny Hop Baby Blanket
Yarn: Cascade 220 Tweed, Color 601, 2.5 hanks
Needles: Clover Bamboo Circs, Size 8, 29″
Modifications: I only repeated the diamond pattern 5 times.

On Karma…

Good Yarn Karma, specifically.

Building a stash is fun. Building a stash without spending money is more fun.

I got this yarn from the lurvely Ramona from a posting on Good Yarn Karma – have you been there?  No?  Well, go, silly!  It’s a destashing site for people who just want to give away or trade yarn/books/magazines, etc – no selling.  No big deal. Just FREE YARN.

Lucy invites you to ponder on that for a moment:

Or maybe she’s trying to decide what socks will come to life!  Any suggestions?

Jaywalking LIVE!

Last night I went to see Brandi Carlile. If you’ve heard her, I’ll trust that you like her. You seem to be reasonable people. If you haven’t heard of her, leave the site immediately, go listen, and then come back. I’ll forgive you.

During the waiting time between doors opening and show opening, I did a little jaywalking, and wanted a traveling sock picture (a la the Harlot) to prove it. But The Man at the venue took everybody’s cameras, so I had to take this really bad SUPER EXCELLENT picture with my phone. Sorry about that. But there is a sock there, I promise, and about 12 rows of the heel flap.

The other WIPs are moving right along…I will be able to unveil the Top Secret Birthday Surprise by the end of next week, and then it will be full time on the Top Secret Graduation Gift until mid-May… and then? I’m leaning toward the Rib & Lace Tank from Interweave Knits for a friend’s beach wedding. Think I can do it?

It has begun….

I have cast on for the Top Secret Graduation Gift.

And, the jaywalking continues – I’m just about to start the heel flap. In theory. Since I’ve never done the sock thing before, it should be an interesting time.

And because it’s nice out, at least for today, I’m going to leave you with a bit of Project Spectrum springy, green-y goodness. Enjoy!

Come Back, Spring!

I took these a couple of weeks ago at a 5K race I ran – you know, in March, back when it was Spring.

I love the new green of the budding tree and the deep pink of the flower, and since it’s so grey and dreary out here I thought I’d try a Project Spectrum post to inject a little color.

I hope you enjoy – and that Spring is back soon!

Knitters! Buy This Shirt!

It’s a sock shirt. SOCKS, people!

I Couldn’t Resist.

There was all this new yarn, and I had to play with it. I had to. You know how it is, don’t you?

So I made this:

It’s an eye mask. Duh. It took about 3 hours or so, which was pretty rewarding for me to do something and actually finish, since all of my other WIPs right now will take decades to finish. Plus, it was quick enough that I didn’t experience the mysterious cotton hand-aching phenomenon too badly.

The only problem with the pattern is that it ties in the back, which makes for very uncomfortable sleeping when you are laying on the knot. I’m going to have to figure out another solution for that. All in all, though, I’m happy with it – I think it’s really pretty (even though the picture is crap).

Project: Eye Mask from Better Homes & Gardens Knit It! – Spring 2007
Yarn: Rowan Handknit Cotton in Tope (1/2 skein)
Needles: Size 6 straight

Yarn! Delivery! Wheeeee!

The Box Finally Came!

Look!

Debbie Bliss Cotton Denim Aran in Sky White

Rowan Handknit Cotton in Tope

Regia Sock Yarn in Roma and Venecia

Lorna’s Laces Bullfrogs & Butterflies in Glenwood

I’m so excited – I really can’t stand it. I’m going to have to hide it all though, so as not to get distracted from the Top Secret Birthday Surprise and the Top Secret Graduation Gift.

The only sad part of the story is that the Cascade 220 I ordered to eventually make My First Sweater was not in the box. BUT! The lovely ladies at Knit Happens have been incredibly responsive to my obnoxious questions, and they’re either going to try and track down the Cascade or send me some Naturewool instead. I can’t imagine what they’ve been going through with the ferociousness of the sale, but my hat is off to them!

I did also get one more type of yarn, but I’m saving that picture for some better lighting and a Project Spectrum post, so stay tuned!

Progress…

If you look closely, you can start to see a sock-ish looking thing.

               

It’s just over 3 inches long, and feels like it will be finished by, oh, September or so. (Of course, it’s all relative, considering Dogged’s post about her knee socks.)

I’m also making progress on the Top Secret Birthday Surprise, but can’t show any photos of that, much as I’d like to. Somebody who shouldn’t might see.

I had a fleeting moment of hope today as the UPS guy pulled up to the house – my yarn from the Knit Happens fiasco is due tomorrow, but I saw the truck and thought Brown might be doing something for me. Alas, no such luck – it was a J.Crew package for my downstairs neighbor. Imagine – buying clothes when you could buy yarn?!?! Tomorrow, though – the sun will come out.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a pic of Katy enjoying the early Spring weather…