sheep in the city

One Skein Pal revealed!

I got my final package in the mail yesterday from my One Skein Pal...and I love it! She made me the most beautiful project from the book One Skein, it's the Triple Cable Muffler. My pal, Nan, lives in Colorado Springs and has been knitting for many years. (get this, her mom is 92 and last year she made 85 lap blankets for charity! That's amazing and inspiring!) She didn't tell me what kind of yarn she used for the muffler, but I'm thinking that it's Malabrigo. It looks like Malabrigo, it feels like Malabrigo...it has to be Malabrigo. Maybe she'll leave a comment and tell me exactly what it is! Thanks so much Nan, I can't wait to wear it with my orange tweedy winter coat! Here's a closeup of the tiny little vintage crochet hook that she fastened it together with...I love those tiny details! Thanks again!

**sorry for the funky pictures, I didn't have anyne around to take a picture of me in the scarf...so I took a self portrait and that never turns out! I've got the most serious look on my face in that first picture. Sheesh, why didn't I smile?**

Just a touch of pink...

I have been knitting away on tons of projects, trying as hard as I can to finish samples for classes that I'm going to be teaching this Fall. I've also been trying hard not to be too distracted by mitered masterpieces, long legs and the socks that cover them (yes...I'm jealous!), and a few finished and almost finished stoles! Good grief, how's a girl supposed to get anything done when there are so many pretty things to look at?! (and when one WandaWoman keeps sending me links to more pretty stuff?!)

So...what are all these projects? Well, I'm knitting up a messenger bag out of Tahki Cotton Classic. I had the yarn in my stash (yes, it's pink!) and found that it was a nice substitute for the Rowan Denim that is no longer produced. Since this is going to be one of the classes that I'm teaching at Colorful Yarns, I wanted the yarn that I chose to be accessible to the people in the class. Anywhoo, I was knitting along on the miles of stockinette yesterday when I noticed that I had made a mistake in the garter stitch border way at the beginning! I wasn't too afraid. I can fix mistakes. So I dropped the stitch down and started picking it back up. It looked awful! What was I doing wrong?! I finally figured out that I needed to be picking up stitches in alternating knits and purls, but it still looked like ass. Do any of you have suggestions for picking up a dropped stitch in garter stitch, after I feel like I've stretched the crap out of the yarn? Here's a picture below of the offensive area. I had already picked up about 6 or so stitches and I finally had to put it away yesterday because I was getting so frustrated! What kills me is that it probably is going to look worse when I get finished than it did to begin with. It was such a minor flaw, nobody would have noticed it but me. Arrgh!

The rest of the projects in the picture are my Malabrigo sweater, my BubbleGum Hill Country Yarns that I'm dying to cast on for, Fetching from the latest Knitty, and the mohair shawlette from the book Greetings From Knit Cafe. I'm trying to figure out the best way to make good progress on all of them, and stay on schedule. I'm thinking that the upcoming three day weekend will be a big part of this all coming together. Or at least that's my hope!

Without further ado, here is the yarn that I picked up over the weekend at the String Anniversary sale. I had been eyeing it for some time, and just couldn't pass it up at 50% off! It's Rowan Harris Aran in the most beautiful bright lavendar colorway. If you look closely, you can see some hot pink flecks in it. Ahhh, I love it. It makes me happy. I don't think that I ever posted about this before, but in the spring I bought enough of this color in the DK weight to make the Sunrise Circle Jacket. I got it home and alas it was the totally wrong guage! So, horror of horrors, I took it back to the shop. It was a sad day. I wasn't about to have them order in the Aran weight because it was double the price of the DK. But now I have exactly what I need for the sweater, and it cost what the DK originally cost me! I love it when the knitting universe opens up and solves my knitterly problems perfectly. Oh happy day!

Alive and still kickin'

It has been too along...again...since my last post. I'm not sure what the problem is, but this is the longest case of the blogging blahs that I've ever had! It's getting ridiculus. I need to get over it, or shake it off or something! I'm starting to annoy myself, so I know that it must be annoying to the people who were used to reading my blog! I'm going to go home from work today and take some progress pictures of the projects that I've been working on and the yummy yarn that I've added to my stash in the last few weeks. Just to tease you a little...I'll tell you that I picked up some yarn last weekend at 50% off...and I'll give you a hint. The words ROWAN...and TWEED. That's all I'll tell you for now! That's so mean, I know, but this is going to force me to write tomrrow.

Last weekend was filled with lots of knitterly goodness. I helped to celebrate my friend Wanda's birthday on Friday night. (of course she managed to elude my camera...that girl is seriously camera shy!) But when I finally got out my camera, only Jeni and Nachaele were left! Saturday morning we spent some time shopping (oh yes, and there were purchases!) and then I went to work at the yarn shop! Have I mentioned that I'm working Saturday morning's at Colorful Yarns?! Well...I am! It has been tons of fun so far...I just started 3 weeks ago. Who wouldn't want to sit where they are surrounded by yarn and talk to people about yarn?! Seriously! Anyway, Nachaele and Jeni both stopped by to knit and chat and then we all ended up back at my place to knit and chat some more! Here's a picture of them all cozied up in my living room. Don't you just love my hand-me-down plaid couches? They go so well with my decor...ha! Someday I'm going to replace them, but for now at least they are comfy. Both of these girls will soon be living dangerously close to me...I'm actually very excited! I can tell that there are going to be lots more impromptu knitting sessions in the future!

I also had a special visitor come into town over the weekend...my friend Julie! You may remember her from her visit last October. Do you remember the felted clogs that I made for her? They are still some of my favorite clogs that I've ever made. I just love those colors. Of course another reason that I love Julie...she loves my cat! And he loves her in return. Seriously, she would have him sit in her lap all the time if she could! There would be no objections to that arrangement from him either! I couldn't resist taking pictures of them together!

Tomorrow...it's back to knitting content!

Busy, busy, busy...

Busy with what, you ask? Well...I'm planning class projects for the up coming months. There are going to be some fun ones!! I'll be talking about them more as they approach. Here's the yarn for the first one, it's a tower of mohair. I just happen to have the perfect bag to tote it around in too! Does that surprise you?! Plus, I'm knitting a few shop samples...and the yarn below is going to be an example of Log Cabin knitting! I can't wait to start this one!

I have made some progress on the massive back section of my Malabrigo sweater. I really can't express to you enough how wonderful this yarn is. Seriously. It's so freaking soft and buttery. I love it. That is the only reason that I'm not bored to tears knitting and purling back and forth and back and forth. I need to knit 2 more inches and I'll finally get to start doing something a little more exciting, like shape armholes! Yippee! I'm not complaining though because I do so enjoy knitting with this yarn! If you don't have some...go get some! If you live in Denver quickly drive to Colorful Yarns and buy some! I'm not joking...everyone needs to experience the wonder that is this yarn.

I have a long overdue thank you to say to Kelpkim! She sent me the cutest little project bag with mushrooms all over it and sock yarn inside! Thanks so much...it really made my day. I think that I've had various projects in itsincethe moment I pulled it out of the box! Plus...bonus that she's coming to Colorado next week and I get to show her around to all the shops!!

Thanks everyone for all the comments and birthday wishes for my niece Alice. We had her birthday party, a Nemo party, over the weekend. It was hilarious. She was overwhelmed and yet loved being the center of attention! Here's my favorite picture of the day right after she enjoyed her Nemo cupcake!

Secrets revealed...

Friday night we unveiled...finally...one of the secret projects that I worked on. We gave Michelle a handknit afghan for a wedding gift, made by at least 20 or more local knitters. She was totally shocked and surprised, it was totally worth the 6 to 8 months we had to keep it under wraps! To read more, go check out Michelle's entry about the whole evening. And...go wish her a happy wedding! She's getting married next Saturday on the beach in Florida!!

Happy Birthday Alice!!

I can hardly stand the cuteness!

My niece Alice is 2 years old today...and we started the day off with special presents from Aunt Stacey and a breakfast at Village Inn! She loves the new "girls" that I gave her. They're little Ariel and Belle dolls with different plastic outfits. (kind of like Polly Pockets, but Disney characters) I had already given her a Cinderella doll a few months ago and she loved it so much I decided to give her more. Sorry Whitney, I know that you're the one that gets to keep track of all the outfits.

What a great way to start the day!!

Making progress...

Sunday I attended the official send off for Cynthia. She's moving this Saturday to Boston. I'm trying not to think about it too much though...this is the second close friend of mine that has moved this summer. It makes me sad. There are a few good things about where she's moving too though. One is Rhinebeck. I may just need to visit in October and make the trek to the New York Sheep and Wool festival with her. Two, she's a stones throw from Webs! Hello?! I order stuff from them here in Colorado, so of course I'll jump at the chance to visit in person! I'm sure there are many other really cool things about Boston, but I'm not aware of them. Or at least I'm not willing to admit to them...because I think she should stay. Enough about that though...I'm not thinking about it anymore.

Let's talk about something else. How abou the fact that I'm almost done with Alice's stripey sweater. It's been in this state for over a week now. I need to seam up one more side and put the sleeve caps on and it will be done! Of course, I'm procrastinating on the finishing. That's my M.O. though, it's what I do. This is definitely one bad habit that I need to break.

I picked up some of this lovely Koigu a few weeks (or a month) ago at String. Cassidy described the color well when she said it looks like it has had a good soak in a glass of red wine. It's real pretty. I'm plugging away on my Malabrigo pink sweater...I'm in love with it. I've knit quite a bit of the back and I plan on taking a picture of it when it's not so boring looking. This gives me some motivation to get started on the front of the cardigan where all the exciting knitting is. Okay...gotta run, I'm teaching tonight and I need to get some stuff ready for my class.

From Houston with love!

My Mom went and visited a few yarn shops while she was in Houston...and of course she picked up a few goodies for me! Awww...thanks Mom! She went to Yarnotopia, Yarns 2 Ewe, and Mary Charles Yarn Co.

I'm pretty sure that all of my stuff is from Yarnotopia. It's a DellaQ drawstring project bag, a skein of Hill Country Yarns Sweet Feet sock yarn (in the colorway Chocolate Covered Kisses), and last but not least a skein of Koigu!!

What my mom didn't know is that just recently (like last week) I received a skein of Hill Country Yarns from the ladies AT Hill Country Yarns!! Can you believe it? They picked my blog to be one of the test knitters for their sock yarn! They sent me a BRIGHT pink skein called Bubblegum. I can't wait to find the perfect pattern to go with this sock yarn...you'll definitely be seeing more of this yarn in the next few weeks. I'd love some suggestions though. Here's one source of knitterly goodness...have you seen the amazing knee socks that Cara is knitting?! Holy crap those are cool. I'm very tempted...hmmm. I think that when I get home, I'm going to bust out the sock books that I have and start scouring the internet. The latest issue of Knitty seems like a good place to start! Email me or leave a comment with your sock suggestions!!

Some of you have asked about the status of my Knit-Bloggers afghan. Well...it seems to have been put on hold for the moment. I plan on busting it out on the 1st of September. You can hold me to it! Well, everyone else is packing up as I type this entry, I should probably be helping them. It's back down the mountain to work and reality. Speaking of reality...it's the season finale of "So You Think You Can Dance" tonight! Oh yeah! I'll be watching it for sure. I'm not ashamed to admit my obsession with this show because I know that I can't dance!! A certain soon to be Boston knitter is just as obsessed and will be joining me!!

The knit goes on...

Hi everyone. It sure has been awhile, hasn't it? My parents went to the MD Anderson Cancer Clinic last week so that my Dad could have some tests run, and that has been occupying most of my time. Things went relatively well all things considered. He has to have another MRI taken this week sometime because there was a dark spot on his sternum that they need to take a closer look at. For those of you that are praying...keep it up! I really appreciate all the support that so many of you have shown me. I want to send a huge thank you/shout out to Sarah for being a friend to my parents while they were down in Houston. She got together a gift basket with a guide to Houston in it...and even took my mom to a couple yarn shops! Check out her blog over at One Stitch Short to see a picture of the two of them! Also, don't forget to check out my Dad's blog if you are wanting to stay updated on where he's at with his medical stuff.

At this very moment, I'm sitting in the mountains in Vail surrounded by my family. We're up here celebrating my grandpa's 85th birthday with my aunt and uncle and cousins. Of course I brought way too many knitting projects and I brought 4 books (all of which I've read in the last 5 days) so I've been able to get a little bit done on a lot of projects. Here are some of the new ones that jumped on my needles.

Starting on the far left, a pair of felted Mary Janes (remember the ones that I made for my mom for Mother's Day?) knit out of Tahki Baby. The green yarn at the top is Tahki Donegal Tweed in color #892 to knit the Natalie Coat from Big Girl Knits. The cool thing about this project is that my knitting buddy, Libby, designed it! I picked up the 10 skeins (yikes) of Donegal Tweed that I needed from Colorful Yarns last week. She just happened to have the perfect color that I was looking for. Thanks Tiffany! Next up, on the far right side, is the start of the Sienna Cardigan (from the latest Interweave-Fall '06). I'm knitting it with my Malabrigo yarn that I got a few months ago. The color is called Cactus Flower...and I love it!! I'm knitting the 5 inches of 2x2 ribbing that goes around the bottom of the sweater, can you say boring?! Here are some closeup pictures for ya! Click to see Natalie and Sienna!

I've also been doing a little bit of sketching and painting, which has been good for my soul. Just to give you an idea of what happens when I bust out the art supplies in my house...check this out.

Yes...that would be Jesse all up in my business. I have more to show...and tell...but it's going to have to wait. Hopefully not as long though, right?!