That 60's Sweater

An everyday pullover accentuated with an interesting yoke. This design is knit in one piece from the neck down resulting in minimal finishing.

Two different colorways of Briar Rose Charity made this sweater a hit with Bugg and it was quickly carried off to school.

Shades of bright teal and milk chocolate brown in the yoke bring attention upward and soft brown and greens in the body compliment with subtle differences.

Many thanks to Chris for nudging me to write this down, Holly and Debbi for test knitting, and Eloise and Jason for testing gauge.

This pattern is now available on Ravelry.

Another Fiber Expo

The Ann Arbor Fiber Expo is my favorite show to get spinning fiber. This was my second year to attend and there was very little commercial yarn either year. Some beautiful fiber from Coby followed me home (I need to break down and buy some fiber in the 'Edward' colorway). So, why are there photos of a bunny here?

This is little Delilah and she followed me home too. The natural colors of her fur are beautiful and when considering getting a bunny, the chocolate called to me. Of course, then I fell head over heels with Edward and Bella...now there are 3 bunnies. FYS and I agree that 3 are enough.

Edward is a lover and is so happy to see Bella and Delilah whenever they are near. He also loves to visit with Darby so I am pretty certain he will bond with anything. Bella has been lukewarm in her reception. She was acting a bit odd before, though, and I'm going to search the Ravelry group for some clues on her behavior. At first, I was scared that she was preggers when I picked her up (I've been meticulously careful in keeping her and Edward apart since). She will be running around and will just flop over. She is probably fine, but it will be better to ask. The only thing I would change would be Bella's cleanliness habits. She is a messy bunny! Sometimes she uses her litter box and sometimes she doesn't. She is a bit more smelly than Edward requiring me to clean her cage two or three times more often. Edward uses his litter box all of the time and his cage is VERY clean.

All part of my learning curve for certain.

It had been awhile since I had spun. Georgia sat there silently calling to me. It seems I am a extremely slow spinner.

It took probably 5 hours for me to spin 4 ounces of 50% merino/50% silk in a 2-ply 10 wpi. That just seems slow to me. Once a fiber is on the wheel, I like to spin all of it. With it taking that long to spin, I've tended to let it sit knowing that the available time dedication is limited right now. Beth was at the Fiber Expo (see how I tied that in?) and we agreed that a lesson is probably in order. With gas prices lower, there is really no excuse not to go soon.

The best part of the Expo was visiting with Lisa and meeting Becky. Lisa and I had not seen each other since Spring. We keep trying to find time to meet and spin, but our families have been very busy. Becky was my scarf buddy for ISE 5. My international scarf buddy lives in Ohio! She and her daughter arrived before we left the show. It was so nice to meet her in person...I really should have taken some photos.

Both Lisa and Becky helped with the Hope Blanket. The patterns are being test-knit and afterward the pattern will be available with proceeds to benefit The Hope Lodge. Amy's name was drawn to receive the blanket which she gifted to Kendra.

Kendra recently posted the incredible news that she is cancer-free! Please journey over and share her news. We helped!

cast-on-itis

Only one project in process - the Philosopher's Wool sweater - made me want to cast on.

This green wool is Charity from Briar Rose Fibers. The greens are incredible and were meant to be a jacket that caught my eye earlier this year.

But one new project was not enough and the Wildfoote that my Mitzi gifted me for my birthday was next. The colorway is Bluegrass and it makes me think of Bugg every time I look at it : )


With three pretty big projects going at the same time, it may be awhile before there is another finished item. I will get significant knitting time in the car this weekend as we travel to parents weekend to see our Bugg. I read that Ann and Kaye will be near campus this evening and there is hope that we will make it there in time to pick up their new book.

The bunnies are adjusting well. Bella is an absolute doll. She loves to cuddle and loves to sit on my lap. Edward is a little more adventurous and likes to explore. He is doing an excellent job using a litter pan...Bella is more stubborn in that area. The litter pans make clean up a lot easier. I've managed to work most of the small mats they had out of their fur. More photos soon.

Remember that blanket?

The Hope blanket was a labor of love and so many wonderful knitters donated their time and creative energy to help me make that happen.

When it became time to give it away, I alphabetized all of the donor's names and asked for a number from Random.org

Amy won the blanket and soon after sent an e-mail that she has a good friend - Kendra - who is in treatment for colorectal cancer. Amy had made the donation in Kendra's honor and has gifted her the blanket. Kendra shares her amazing journey on her blog.

Please make your own journey over to read and know that by contributing in any way has helped. I pray that the Hope blanket will provide just that for Kendra.

So far behind

Reading blogs is part of my morning ritual - every day, even the weekends. After being away for a week, I've discovered that my pal's posts have exploded and lots of things are going on without me knowing. Not only do I miss reading about your escapades, but I miss sharing...even if there isn't much happening on the needles.

In the past two weeks I've:
-driven umpteen miles through Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana
-ate more fast food than the past two years combined
-ate ice cream nearly every day
-went to a wedding reception of a great friend of 21 years
-spent time with mom and dad : )
-visited family for the first time in awhile
-watched a baseball game
-rode roller coasters
-talked with an old friend
-went to drag races with my son
-had TWO pedicures
and
-missed my hubs!


What I didn't do was:
-knit much
-visit any yarn stores
-read much e-mail
-spin : (
-worry
and
-of course, read your blogs.

I will catch up, but it is going to be a process. Some of the bloggers I like to read post often.


What I did manage to knit was one more hat for Kristy's Hat Quest bringing my total to 4


and start another pair of socks - Zombie!

I am hopeful that there is enough yarn to make these for My Favorite Youngest Son BUT he just got a new pair of shoes and they were size 15! He's only 15 years old and if his feet don't slow down we will be having him fitted for boats soon.

I'm knitting a couple of inches and weighing the yarn. Should know within a couple of days.


Coming up:
-tennis resumes for Bugg
-a visit with a childhood friend whom I haven't seen in 7 or 8 years
-class advisory meeting with Bugg in KY

Hats for Kristy's Hat Quest

Kristy was my pal for International Scarf Exchange 3....way back when.

A few months ago, Kristy took on a huge task of knitting 300 hats for children living in an orphanage in Ukraine. Some fellow knitters joined a group on Ravelry to help accumulate hats.





Of course, I was willing to help...hats are easy enough, right? You would think - it has been so difficult for me to find time to just make a hat. Finally, two are finished and another one is on it's

way. Now that we are out of the gate, I hope to get a move on and crank out some more hats.

Speaking of charity - reminder that there are 10 days left until we draw a name to receive the Hope Blanket. All you have to do is donate to The American Cancer Society here. Just by donating, your name is put into the hat (no pun intended ; )

Coming to a show near you

Remember that blanket?

Wanted to let you know that it will be with Chris during the following shows:


Great Lakes Fiber Festival
May 24 & 25th 2008 Wooster, Ohio


and

NEW!! - Knitters Connection
"Knitters Market"
June 12, 13 and 14, 2008 Columbus, Ohio


Be sure to stop by and see Chris at the Briar Rose booth if you attend either festival.

Donations will be accepted at both shows (and online) until June 21st when we will draw a name and mail the blanket to one lucky donor.

Good luck!

Please help!

This blanket has been a labor of love. I asked for fiber, Chris sent it. I asked for knitting and designing, the incredible knitters did it. Now, I've done my part with sewing and edging the blanket - all 48" x 64" of it!

We are 26% toward our goal of $2000.00. If you haven't donated yet, please visit the American Cancer Society site we have set up and donate anything you can to help.

Thank you so much!

See it on Ravelry

When things are finished

I like it when things get finished all at once. Typically, there are not more than 3 projects on the needles at one time around here and they are usually balanced so at least one is a 'quick knit'.

Summer tops are a favorite to make for Bugg, partly because she is so small and they knit up so fast. She picked out the Athos pattern from Norah Gaughans Volumn 2. It is knit in Berroco Touche on size 5 and 7 needles. The only change made was to knit it in the round. Increases and decreases were made at the side markers. The side seam sewing was happily omitted.

The side photo was taken prior to putting the sleeves in. Bugg and I both liked this top a lot better with the sleeve.

After scouring Ravelry for finished projects in the same colorways of Silkience, trades were made to secure enough yarn to finish that darned Viva cardigan. If you make this pattern in the stripe sequence, pick up an extra skein of each color. The yarn was inexpensive, but with shipping, it was a better deal to swap on Ravelry.

I've been yearning to spin, but the blanket has been my primary focus this week. the edging should be finished tomorrow. A couple of different things were attempted and I will blog more about i-cord finishing when the final photos are up later this week.

The colors are so vibrant that I couldn't bring myself to discard any of the ends. I've a couple of ideas on what can be made with them.

Finished photos this week - I promise!

Lovely little skein

Yesterday was hectic.

The majority of the day was spent sewing and blocking strips for the Hope Blanket Donation Drive.

We met friends for Bugg's tennis match and then had dinner. This, being my first real outing since oral surgery, I was tired!

Once home, I wandered by Georgia and felt her tug at my heartstrings. Funky Carolina had tucked a tiny little scrappie into one of my packages and it became this 40 yard little skein. My experience with fiber isn't refined enough to tell you what this is, but I know it is wool and has fairly long fibers. I should have taken a 'before' photo.

This was just enough spinning to satisfy my need to create and finish something.

Oh, the thoughtfulness of Funky Carolina is just one more reason I love to buy her wonderful fibers. Check out her Etsy shop.

What's that you say? You want a blanket?

...waylayed a few days by oral surgery but I'm back on track now!

Fiber can be finicky and I've decided to block again as sewing progresses which should make the final few seams a breeze.

I wish you could touch this for yourself - it is incredible!

Don't forget to donate to The American Cancer Society - it's a great cause!

Blocking the squares

This is going to be one incredible blanket. There is no rhyme or reason as to how the squares are layed out for blocking. All of the squares are here (although all are not pictured). The remainder will be pinned out today.

Donations are still being accepted!

A posting of substance

Please help by donating to The American Cancer Society!

Many talented knitters and designers have combined efforts to create a custom blanket that will be given away to someone in appreciation for their donation.

We are 18% toward our goal and all donations are to benefit The Hope Lodge. You can read more about it here.


There are a few packages still in transit and assembly should begin next week.


Thanks to all of the fabulous knitters/designers and to Chris. Can you believe those colors?

For those of you who are interested in having an opportunity to received the finished blanket, you still have time to donate!

A busy week

I managed to give the Namaste bag away in appreciation for donations to The American Cancer Society. The squares for the most fabulous blanket are trickling in, long before they need to be here. Just seeing the brilliant design and stitch work is inspiring and the blanket is going to be fabulous.

My destash has progressed and I was feeling pretty good about the results before the rooting around began. Realization: there is still too much yarn and I am still in love with all of it - what's a girl to do?

The chiropractor came to my rescue for a very tight muscle in my shoulder. It is still a bit sore, but is much better.

The Easter Bunny popped by courtesy of my mom...who loves Easter too

Unlike myself, there were 3 knit projects cast on this week - Fetching (everyone except me has made these, right?), a rose trellis scarf, and a cable lace redux. All are relatively quick knits and having 3 WIPs is not a concern. Just trying to bide my time until the blanket parts are all in and the assembly begins.

A most exciting package arrived from Ivy. I 'met' her on Ravelry and have enjoyed chatting about that Lady B bag in Dutch Treat (which I've now decided to part with). Anyway, Ivy sent this most beautiful yarn which I've never seen. Mirasol yarns has quite the palette! This is their Hacho which will become some yummy socks and a surprise - 82 yards of the most incredible baby llama ( Miski) that I have ever seen. I hope to check out one of their vest patterns that has caught my eye. Yardage for the pattern is difficult to find online, so a plan will have to develop.

Last, but not least, the most ugly socks are finished. The first one has been languishing for at least 2 years. They are destined as a gift for someone who loves pink...and I hope to never see them again.

Did the time change kick anyone's butt but mine? How does one little hour do that?

Here's to a great weekend, cheers!

What I finished this week

I really like the idea of the Namaste bag giveaway popping up first, but my hope is that you will zoom on over and donate to the American Cancer Society to benefit the Hope Lodge and still catch up on what I've been doing this week.


There are finished objects!!!!


That darned Chantal cardigan by Norah Gaughan from the Vol 1 book - love it! Hated knitting all of the fisherman's rib and waffle between thinking that I should/could have knit this in one piece back and forth and that it was fine as it was written. It is quite possible that I would never have finished it if it was all in one piece. I did do the sleeves at the same time and that nearly killed me! Bugg and I walked into the store and found these buttons right off - seriously, it was a 5 minute visit and we were out of there with buttons that I am happy with!



I did have one skein of each yarn left over and I know it can be returned. There were maybe two rows left on each shoulder (sleeve) and the Ultra Alpaca ran out. I couldn't see opening a whole skein for a few rows and bind off so I doubled the Ultra Alpaca Light and finished up with it - can't even tell! The remaining skeins will go back this week and something new will probably follow me home.


Some spinning happened this week. My goal was to spin a bit thicker and practice placing the colors where I wanted them. Overall, the result is very pleasing and this may become a hat.








Fiber: Funky Carolina 4 oz. Superwash Merino



Large skein - 134 yards

Small skein - 38 yards

**WARNING** Husbands need not go further** (this means you, honey)

Now, at the risk of tempting you endlessly with yarn...I have a TON of stash that I would love to disburse. If you are on Ravelry, check here for some enabling opportunities. If not, check out the photos in my stash on Flickr.

Just in case you were sidetracked by all of the goodies - don't forget to go back and donate to The American Cancer Society. The Namaste Bag will be mailed out on March 11th (that is only 2 days from now) and it could be yours in appreciation of your support.

Is this your bag?

Is this Namaste Jetsetter bag yours?

It is ready to be shipped out in on March 11th - if you have donated here then it could be arriving soon on your doorstep.

Thanks so much for supporting The American Cancer Society through our charity drive!

Charity appreciation giveaway!

I only hope to create squares beautiful enough to enhance those being made by the rest of our knitters. Being a little shy, I thought a snippit of my first design should suffice - this is a snippit of the back of my first square.

Chris sent a button last week and I finally got it put up today.

A new Namaste Jetsetter bag is headed my way - photos coming soon. Actually, it is going to be gifted to someone, in appreciation, who donates though our link by midnight March 10th. A name will be drawn at random and the bag will be popped into the mail on March 11th. Simply comment to let me know you've donated and give me your sign-in name (I will match it up with the e-mail address with the donation and be able to contact you).

The Knitting Bag Lust Group from Ravelry has been most supportive in my quest for the perfect knitting bag. If you belong to Ravelry, it is definitely worth checking out. If you are still waiting on your invite, visit as soon as it comes through. Warning: the members are great at helping you justify why you need another knitting bag...or two.

Lots going on

The birthday celebration went off with a bang. FYS declaired that "him mom makes the best cherry-chip cake in the world". Many thanks to Betty Crocker for that little feat. Candles were in short supply, but a '1' was dug up and FYS was content that we think he is #1...



Bugg has been waiting patiently (not) to hear news of her college application status. Her first pick results rolled in today:










That little smile reflects a little of the excitement that was followed in an impromptu dance. She got in!


Fiber-y News:



Look it-





Lisa had a blog contest and I won a prize! Check out this pencil corriedale roving from Crown Mountain Farms. She also embellished this notebook with adorable ribbons. Both are favorites! Thank you Lisa, I love my prize and hope to spin well enough to do this incredible roving justice.





Morning Glory is halfway there. What a clever pattern. Let's hope the second half goes as quickly as the first!



Cupid shot an arrow when this cute little vest was found...yes, found. I did not knit it, but someone did and it is cute. It was also on sale at a price you could not make it for.

I am thinking this may need to become a somewhat modified pattern in the future.

But enough - I want to share about a new project that is near to my heart (and a lot more important than a sweater vest).

The desire to give back has descended upon me. It has been manifested in a donation drive to benefit The Hope Lodge. You can participate as soon as the donation links are established - until then, please visit the blogsite established for this effort for updates and don't forget to tell all of your friends. Truly gifted designers and knitters have been so willing to support this effort - their links are on the blog.

Today is a good day!