What's This? More Than One Post In a Month?

It was a bit of a challange knitting gloves for my friends daughter. She's getting married Friday, yes the 13th. But she's unconventional like that. I decided on cotton because it will likely be a warm day. After trying a few patterns, it just wasn't working quite as I envisioned. So what else could I do but wing it. After knitting the first one, I was so impressed, well, I had to write the pattern up. It's pretty, feminine while not too frilly, and best of all a quick knit. The pattern for Always & Forever is available here as well as a PDF download on Ravelry. Knit with Patons Grace, which was a very nice experience. I'm not usually a 'cotton knitter', but this yarn may have changed my mind.


The Jasmine Mitts, which came before the wedding mitts but were left on the wayside while I worked the white ones, are so soft and comfy in Dale Baby Ull.

The pattern is here as well as a Ravelry download.

Other than that, the weather is lovely. Life goes on without much interruption. And, well, I think I'm on a roll. I've been knitting pretty regularly. Makes me happy.

It's All About The Gloves

Don't ask how I've been able to contain myself this long, but I have a pattern coming out in a book later this year. Unfortunately, that's all I can tell you now, but more info as it becomes available.

In the meantime, I test knit these Eden gloves for Gannigle, an up and coming new designer. Gorgeous gloves and great pattern, which is available on Etsy as well as a download purchase on Ravelry. Knit with Regia 4-ply.

Unique cuff. My photo doesn't do it justice.



I never did get around to showing this version of the Breakfast at Cafe Du Monde gloves I knit for a Ravelry glove swap in April. Same pattern, only knit in one color and finger spaces eliminated per the recipients preference. Knit in Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere, which is a dream to knit with and so reasonable.


Can you believe how fast time is flying? It seems we just celebrated the year end holidays and already almost half the year is gone. As usual, I have numerous FO's hanging around.

Clearly, I spend too much time with Ravely, but at least I'm getting things done. I have a bit of time off work, so I'll be churning out the FO's. Oh sure... best laid plans and all that you know. Until next time...

It's About Time

I've been busy, I really have, but just not inspired to write about anything.

Just finished a pair of Bronte's Mitts for a Ravelry KAL. Loved the pattern. Such an easy knit for a very pretty pair of girly mitts. I knit them in Rowan Cashsoft 4 ply, which is so soft and pretty. The only mods I made were to use size 3 & 5 needles rather than the recommended 4 & 6, and added a row just before knitting the thumb waste yarn. Otherwise it's a great pattern and a very quick knit. I did make a mistake on one of the cuffs and had to redo it, but that was my fault. It's all fixed now.

I finally blocked my Chevron II. Well, not exactly blocked, but gave it a good steaming. Turned out very nice and drapes very nicely. The reason my blocking or steaming had come to a halt was because my iron was missing. How does an iron get on the "missing - nowhere in sight" list you ask? I bought a new iron, just before my home renovations, and had no idea where it was. My daughter and sisters helpe me with clean up after everything was done, and I was afraid it may have been tossed in a Goodwill bag by someone. I know, I could've bought another one, but I always had hope. Anyway, it's found and works beautifully.

Also finished this slouch hat for my sister Jasmine for her birthday, which was April 12. Yeah, I've been away for a while. She's quite glitzy when she wants to be and pulls it off with class. She loved it. Well, I should hope so, since she picked the yarn and all.

So much more to talk about and show. I probably should write while I'm in the mood, but it can wait.

Keep creating!

Finish Everything on Your Plate....

Or you won't get dessert!



I am so ready for dessert, but I still have bits and pieces on my plate. It's been tough doing all of the finishing on my knits, but I'm getting there. These gloves have been done for a while but needed weaving in of ends and all that. Finally, my second Breakfast at Cafe du Monde Gloves. Love them. Made them for a friend, um... they were meant to be a Christmas gift, but well, this is how it goes sometimes.


Knit in Elann Peruvian Baby Silk and used less than 2 skeins. It was so difficult finding matching ribbon, I finally settled on a pale salmon organza. The contrast is knit with Knit Picks Palette since they didn't have the cream color in Baby Silk when I bought the yarn.

Also, I redid my Stripey Slouchy Beret in Knit Picks Swish Superwash merino. It's a great yarn actually, at a very reasonable price. This hat was inspired by a picture of a Louisa Harding hat, but I just winged it the first time and finally double checked my pattern. The pattern can be found here. The flowers are from Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers knit in Austermann Smaragd Classic.





Since I've been working on a Blythe wardrobe, my ever thoughtful gem of a daughter bought me 2 dress forms for Blythe. How cute is this??


So much has been happening but once again, I've been away for so long. I'll get to everything else later. Let the creative juices flow!

My My My

So pretty. I'm not really into all of this, but I suppose somewhere, in the pit of my heart, there must be a litte bit of a romantic. This year especially, I've toyed with heart projects, used a lot of red in my work and just felt a little, oh, what shall I call it, softer? My lovely niece once again delivered my box of Turtles. Love them. I only had one. So far.


Another month flew by and little accomplished knitwise. That never stops me from increasing my stash and other goodies I need or is it want? No, it's a definite need. My drug of choice. Maybe a little TMI, but i love the feel and smell of yarn. I think I admire my acquisitions, spend a lot of time "designing" and choosing projects more than actually working on anything lately. A tad quirky but not my only quirkiness ya know.

I've been on a glove kick lately. I must have knit the equivalent of 4 pairs, then ripped most of them, but somehow enjoyed that process. Chalked it up to learning experience. Changed a little here and there. Add this, decrease that. It's all good. So I bought more of the Peruvian Silk Baby Silk from Elann.com. What else could I do? It knits up beautifully and feels oh so good.



What can I say about the Silken Kydd? Luscious. I'm going to knit that barely there lace sweater pictured at elann, pattern in Vogue Knitting Holiday 2005. Rather ambitous, but I should get it done in time for a Christmas gift this year, I think?



I'm slowly but surely trying to replace all of my needles with bamboo. These pictured were bought from Spin Blessing, where I was able to find some hard to get dpn's. Namely 4 & 5 inchers I'll now be using for knitting fingers on my gloves. Makes things a lot easier not having those long needle ends sticking out around a circle of, oh 18 or 20 stitches. I do like the 5 inchers a little better. Easier to handle. And though it's hard to tell from the pic, the little single points are only 2 1/2" long. Not for knitting, but I'll pose them with my Blythe when I get her all dressed. She'll be a knitter, of course.


And my red gloves are coming along. A few changes prevented me from finishing today, but I'm almost there. Love them.

Everything else needs finishing touches, blocking, weaving in ends, etc. The part I like the least.

I never mean to stay away from my blog for so long, but the days are just flying for me. Somehow "later" or "tomorrow" just doesn't happen. I'm really going to try and post more often. So if I start blithering and talking about anything and everything that happens to me, bear with me. It's all in an effort to be around more and not disappear. Really.

I'm So Excited I Could Just....

I can't remember the last time I was this excited about a project, so I had to show them off before I finished. Well wait, I can remember, my socks, of course! But back to my second Breakfast At Cafe' du Monde Gloves. Easier to knit than the first ones, but I think the yarn has made a world of difference. This time knit with Elann Peruvian Baby Silk.

Love the yarn, love these gloves. I just started the fingers tonight. Should have them done by tomorrow evening. Not that I'm rushing, but then again maybe I am, since they were promised to Nancy last March. Well, she knew I wasn't going to knit them right away, but I doubt she thought it would take this long either. They were intended to be a Christmas gift, blah, blah, blah... you know how that goes.

So everything else is on hold for the moment until I finish these gloves.



And I wanted to share pictures of my nephews boy wearing his Spongebob hat. How precious is this? He's adorable and a bundle of personality.





Until next time.... back to finger knitting.

No More Finger Knitting Phobia

My Breakfast at Cafe' du Monde fingerless gloves are done! This was a completely delightful knit for me. The knitting moved along without any problems except, as usual, I did procrastinate completing the fingers. When all was said and done, it wasn't bad at all. I've conquered my fear of knitting glove fingers. I'm most pleased because when I did finish the "finger knitting", there weren't any gaping holes between the fingers, which I'd usually end up with. The pattern was purchased from The Yarn Grove, which is a pleasure to do business with. Speedy delivery, beautifully wrapped or presented, and personal attention all make for a great shopping experience.

The gloves were knit with Dale Baby Ull. My first experience with this yarn, and though I've heard a lot of raves, I suppose it just wasn't the best yarn choice for gloves. Don't get me wrong. I'm very pleased with the end result, but the yarn had some flaws in it and it tended to split every now and then. Of course, yarn flaws seem to be my specialty lately. So maybe it's just me. The only change I made to the pattern was to knit the fingertips without contrast yarn. These are for my daughter, and I'm guessing she'll like them better this way.


Back view.

My Chevron Scarf 1 is coming along fine. I've knit about 40". Only 30" or so more to go. It's a simple knit. I've just been jumping from project to project, so it's not done yet. Soon. The Chevron Scarf 2 is about 10" along. I know, I was a tad ambitious to start a second one without finishing the first, but that's the way things go around here.

I love my Lorna's Lace Black Purl sock yarn. The color was just too beautiful to pass up.



And finally, the most adorable gift from my sister. A reminder of back in the day when my sewing machine and I were inseparable. It's a replica of an antique Singer machine. So Cute! The base is less than 9" long. It really sews too. Though I probably won't open the package.



Life is good.