Weekend WIP

I had to put one project in hibernation, really for two reasons. 1. I totally screwed it up and started knitting in the wrong direction, and 2…. I bought a new dress so then I had to find a new project.

I have 2 projects on the needles right now… WEll, lets be honest. I have 2 projects on the needles that I am willing to make public.

First project is my new favorite hat pattern. I LOVE this pattern!!!

Butterfly hat pattern by Sofiya Cremin. I LOVE this pattern. It is versatile, it is pleasant to knit, and it is super simple. I have made 3 of them. A friend from choir asked if I could make a hat for her new niece, and I couldn't resist.

So, this is how I spent my Friday night. Who could disagree with THAT night. 

Since I bought a new dress for the cousins wedding, I had to find something new to make to go with it. The original plan was peach and grey, and I was going to knit Chevrette. I was having trouble with the pattern. I decided to look for something else. 

I decided to cast on Clara Park's One skein Shawl  . I decided to use some yarn that has been in my stash for 7 years. The yarn was given to me as a gift from Nutmegknitter , probably after her baby shower? 

I love the simplicity of this pattern, and it is flying off the needles. It will be done in plenty of time for the wedding and it will be a GREAT color for the dress. 

Work/train knitting

I openly admit to my knitting addiction. I have knitting with me all of the time, I get nervous when I don't have knitting, I think about knitting, I eye patterns when on the train and think "I wonder if I could figure out that pattern?".

I typically have multiple patterns on the needles. I tend to have something challenging (maybe involving lace, cables, or (GASP) the need to keep a proper Gauge. I always have a work.train project. I am fortunate that I can knit, and sometimes spin, at work. This is a huge bonus, I am aware of this. I work in software support and I spend a lot of time on the phone. That means I can easily pick up my knitting and work on a project. Train/work knitting should be carefully planned. It shouldn't involve counting, it should be easily picked up and started, and just as easily put down.

Thankfully, I LOVE knitting hats!!! Hats are my travel knitting. Many people have socks, I always have a hat.Apologies for the crappy photo quality.

I was able to complete the hat pictures in one night. (While meeting the yarn harlot, more on that later as she deserves her own post).

This hat, and the one in progress, will be donated to Pat Pat's hats. I find hats to be wonderful travel knitting. They are easy, fun, versatile, and can be knit with almost every yarn. I enjoy adding little patterns to make them more interesting. Hats also give me a chance to try out my own pattern ideas.

Yarn: Farmhouse Yarns I'm Allergic to Wool. I've always enjoyed this yarn. It is soft, has great texture, and makes awesome hats!

The hats

It has been a winter of hats for me. Lots of hats. I have decided that I really enjoy knitting hats. They are really fun. The first one was for my brother in law. He is a Cleavland Browns fan, so Rebecca asked me to make him a hat with his team colors. I could not be happier with how it came out. It is a perfect fit.


Then there was the hat for my step dad, he doesn't like to stand still. This was very special for me to knit. He got me some pure Llama fiber last year, and I made him this hat out of the fiber that he got for me. I think it is a bit too big, but he would not admit it. He seems to like it, I just hope he wears it.


The of course there are the gratuitous baby pictures. I made some hats for Rebecca. These are out of Dark Horse yarns Fantasy (I think this is my newest favorite acrylic) I made these hats to match the clapotis that I made for Rebecca

This hat is every one's favorite. At first it didn't seem to be Patrick's favorite at all.


But he seemed to start to like it more.

Crazy Week

Oh, guess what!! Christmas is coming. That is the tree going up at Macy's in Boston (Downtown Crossing)

It has been a bit of a crazy week. Work was extremely stressful. I love my job, I really do. unfortunately my boss is kind of . . . . well ..... let's put it bluntly. He is an Ass. . . . Yeah, that is it.

The week culminated in a wonderful conference call with two of my colleagues in the San Fransisco office. Needless to say, I learned a lot in that meeting. A number of things were revealed to me, and my immediate supervisor will no longer be the person that has been supervising me. Yup, pretty damn cool, I am really happy with this decision. It makes me feel very comfortable.

I have of course been knitting. If you have been reading my blog you are aware that I have a nephew on the way. Of course, I think hospital hats are ugly. So he will be properly covered.


Yesterday I decided to make a very big step in my life. For 8 years I have been with Sprint PCS. Yup, I can honestly say that I have had the same cell phone service provider for the life of my cell phone service. Crazy huh. Well. . . alas sprint does not cover the ever beloved iPhone. Not to mention they re-instated my contract without my knowledge, so I was angry. . . So yesterday I bit the bullet got the iPhone. That is right folks, I have moved over to the better side. It helps that my ipod shit the bed this week, and work is reimbursing me. did I mention I really like my job.

So Weeks ago I met Sondheim. He is one of my idols in the Musical Theatre world. Well last night, I met my folk music idol, and SHE IS A KNITTER!!!!!!!

I met Christine Lavin

Christine is the one with the "round white" project. My sister Jen is standing next to her with her second knitting project on the needles. Christine is amazing. Just so awesome. Along with Christine there was an author name Anne Hood who did a reading Anne wrote the novel The Knitting Circle. She was so wonderful. I felt that I had to go and speak with her when she spoke about her son. Brief story. Anne lost her daughter to a strep infection when her daughter was 5 years old. Grace dies on her son's 9th birthday. He son is now very active in theater. This summer he was in a show and she read his bio, he said that the theatre community helped him get through the death of his sister. She mentioned how the theater community was so wonderful to him and how it can be a healing and supportive community. I introduced myself to her, and described that I have so many people in my life that were with me during some very difficult times, and they have stuck with me through these times. All of these people were also with me during productions.

Both Christine and Anne also helped make a knitting project (that will be revealed later) even more special. I can't wait to give it to the recipient, it is going to be very cool.

So wow, that was my week, and weekend. I will also be sharing a recipe from Christine with you. Barakochip cookies!!!!! They will also be used as a fundraiser for Jennifer's school. They are taking 30 students to the inauguration in January. Want to help out? Drop me an email. If you donate, I will personally make you a dozen of Christine Lavin's Barak-o-chip cookies.

WOW i may regret this.