It's that time

As many of you know I took part in the Avon walk for breast cancer in Boston last year. This year I crewed again and was again overwhelmed with the strength and unity of the event.

No knitting today, but I have picked up the needles again to whip up a couple of hats for my cousins new baby. Using my farmhouse yarn, and of course loving it. Nothing fancy, just a simple hat. Even summer babies need to keep their heads covered. I am thinking of doing a brimmed one, that would be fun.

Yes I'm knitting

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by theatreknitter

Okay, so yes I am knitting. This project has been my train project. It is a simple pair of Vanilla socks. I have been knitting in Magic Loop so they are full of ladders and slipped stitches. They were supposed to be worn for the Avon Walk as my Wellness Village slippers, but sadly that did not work out as planned. So here they sit, almost done. I will have them for my new house.

I was going to try something more fancy, but the yarn has a super stripe to it so I didn't want to mess it up any further.

So here is is, my vanilla socks.

So it has been awhile

Okay, so yeah. . it has been quite awhile since I last posted. I get that. For the lack of communication I am terribly sorry. I do have the good reasons for being gone.

This house isn't just another pretty face, on Friday it will be mine

I never thought that I would be dong this, especially so soon. I am so excited for the move.

There is also a new man in my life, his name is martin. he is friendly, enjoys long walks, sleeping, ice cream, and is just about over his peeing in the house.

That's right folks, I got a pug.

Llama dashing

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In trying to stick with only have two projects at a time I hve a lair of dashing on the needles for My uncle Keith.

I am using some Berroco blackstone tweed that came in my goodie bag at the retreat. I am also using some llama fiber that my uncle gave me last year for Christmas. They are mill ends, so there was less yarn than I anticipated, and also the llama is a bit rough until they are worn a bit. I am hoping that the berrocco adds some nice texture.

I also used a bit of lambs pride in the cast on.

I am using two techniques
That I have recently learned. Two color long tail cast on and two at a time in circs. I am pretty much in love with both.


Once these are done I will be making fetching for keiths wife, my aunt Debbie. For hers I will use the berroco for the cast on edge, and the cream colored lambs pride along with the llama fiber.

Oh, where did the fiber come from? I'm so glad you asked. My uncle runs an orchard in guilford, Ct called bishops orchards www. Bishopsorchards.com
They have everything from an amazing bakery, fresh fruits and veggies, pick your own fruits (in season) , a winery (oh yes, there is wine), and llamas. Keith started having the fiber spun a couple of years ago. He uses a CT mill in Portland, Ct. So everything is local. Nothing is dyed, and the yarns are named after the llamas. They come in skeins of about 75 yards (I asked I he could put yardage on the bands, and he has to estimate because it comes in by weight). He sells the yarn for $10.95/skein. I am sure I you asked nicely imight be able to hook you up. He currently Sells it in the market, so I could give you an idea about the colors, though there is a bit of variation with each skein because of the Natural quality of the fiber.

Okay, that was my marketing
Moment.

(FYI; I am posting using iPhone so it is reallly tough to spell check, I'll edit
Later)

February lady sweater

I am making his for granny for her 80 th birthday. How much do I love top down, let Me count the ways...

I probably should hve added a fourth button hole, but it won't get buttoned too often.

The color is an encore colorway that is an amazing dark blue teal.

Highly reccomnend this pattern, totally plan to make it again.

Blocking

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I am so excited about this project. I have learned so many different techniques. As a self taught knitter there were a number of things that I was doing in correctly, and some things that I never learned.

Making this sweater I leaneed:
1. The radical purl, or combination knitting.*
2.mattress stitch.
3. Blocking.
4. Striping
5. How to play with color.

*of note. When I learned how to knit I was knitting through the back loop. I was told it was "wrong." since knitting the "right" way I have never had an even stockinette stitch. Well, since learning combination knitting my stockinette stitch is so much better.

I can't wait to wear this for knitting night on Thursday night.

New Years in Review

New Years was a great weekend. I took advantage of the weekend to take on a major project. Organizing my yarn closet.

I love my yarn, I really do, but I have no idea how I acquired some of the crap that was in my stash.
Stella wanted to help with the project

This was the yarn all over the Dining room.

Here it is all organized in the closet.
See those pieces of paper? All of the bins are sorted by fiber/weight. I actually listed out each yarn that is in the bin. I feel very organized. I have a whole bunch of stuff listed on Ravelry for sale or trade. Check it out!!!

I had re-started the front of my raving stripes sweater. I finished the front.


and I have already cast on the back.