If At First You Don't Succeed

I've obviously been on quite the hat kick lately with the Warm Up To Winter Knitalong and have been happily checking lots of hats off my to-do list for others. A lot of the projects I've been doing however have been fast and quick and that's starting to get a little old. Like really fast, a few hours fast! I feel like I've been dumbing it down. I want to do some hats for me and a couple friends. I'm liking the Jane Richmonds hats and have never knit one of hers. I have knit the Rustling Leaves Beret before, but am thinking I'd like to do another one as it's such an interesting knit. Maybe some more complex gloves or mittens. I'd really appreciate some suggestions. How about a real humdoozie?! One that really challenges me. Like a five alarm project. Please give me your best suggestions. I'm up for it.

Pattern: Snappy Hat

Yarn: Ariosa

Needles: 10.5

No modifications

6th Project for Warm Up to Winter KAL

8th Project for 2012

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Pattern: Easy Peasy Eyelet Wristlets

Yarn: Ariosa

Needles: 10.5

No modifications, but pattern has an error on row 29, states there will be 25 stitches when there will only be 24.

7th Project for Warm Up to Winter KAL

9th Project for 2012

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Pattern: Flurries Baby Beanie

Yarn: Flicker

Needles: 6

No modifications

5th Project for Warm Up to Winter KAL

7th Project for 2012

In the meantime, I've whipped up another snappy hat. Madison had fallen in love with the pink one I had knit for a friends granddaughter that she modeled so I made her one. It takes just over one skein of Ariosa, so I looked on Ravelry for a pattern to make some mitts for her using the remaining yarn. I came across the Easy Peasy Eyelet Wristlets, which besides the crazy amount of typos (pearl=purl) and a couple other mistakes, were very simple. I decided to knit these using the magic loop method, which is a method that I usually detest, but thought I'd give it another whirl. Remember they say it takes 21 tries before it becomes a habit (don't know if this is actually true or just something my mum said to get me to east liver and onions, which I now actually love). Well, maybe this was try number 21 or I finally learned the correct way to do it because I didn't hate it, I actually liked it. I still wouldn't say it was my favorite method... 2 circ's is still at the top of the list, but it's yet another tool to put in the tool belt. It's always good to being open to new things.

I also hosted a baby shower this weekend, which I'll post about later this week (I think I did a bloody good job if I do say so myself and thanks to Pinterest - thanks Earthtonesgirl for getting completely hooked on it). One of the gifts I had gotten for Baby Lucy was a chic little Black and White outfit. It needed a cute blingy black and white hat. I know that black isn't always the color you expect to see at a baby shower, but I like blingy things and luckily so does Lucy's mum. I still have to whip up some Blingy Saartje booties like I have knit before to finish the whole ensemble. Forget pastels or naturals for babies when you can have bling!

While we're talking about Madison, here is a picture she snapped of Sir Winston on my phone this afternoon using the Poster setting. Could he be any more handsome?! No, I don't think so. I'd make him a hat if I didn't know that he'd eat it within 30 second.

Quick as a Snap

It's the middle of January in the Northwoods and as usual that means the bitter windchill and freezing temps are in full force, currently it's -6F with a windchill of -25F. Strangely kids still play outside and we still ski, ice fish, snow shoe and cross country ski. So warm hats are a biggie. I had been asked to knit a couple of hats for two girls at Madison's Ballet School, so I wanted something quick but very cute. The colors requested for the sisters were Red and Pink, and knowing the mother I knew I was safe in going with better quality yarn. Let's be honest, the only way I was going to knit these hats was if I could knit with whatever yarn I wanted to.

I decided on some Ariosa yarn (merino/cashmere blend) and found the Snappy Hat pattern on Ravelry. The first hat (pink) took me about 2 1/2 hours and the second hat (red) took me closer to 2 hours. The difference being I was reading a book with the first one.

I asked Madison to model them for me and she fell in love with both of them and has now requested that I make her some more as her coat allows her to pick and choose whatever color suits her mood. She looks so darn cute in them that how can I resist.







Pattern: Snappy Hats (Free Pattern on Ravelry)
Yarn: Classic Elite Ariosa 1.1 Skeins
Started: Pink 1/18/2011 Red 1/19/2011
Finished: Pink 1/19/2011 Red 1/19/2011
Took approx 2 1/2 to 2 hours each
5th & 6th Project for 2012
3rd & 4th Project for Warm Up Winter KAL

This is a great project for quick gifts. Highly recommend!

What's your go to quick gift knit? Any suggestion for what hat or mitts I should knit next?

Norwegian Star Earflap Hat

Pattern: Norwegian Star Earflap Hat
Size: Adult
Yarn: Cascade 220 and Drops Karisma Superwash (stash diving)
Needles: Size 6 circ - 16"
Started: January 15, 2012
Finished: January 15, 2012

This is my fourth project for 2012 and my second project for the Warm Up Winter luvinthemommyhood KAL.

It was a fast and interesting knit. There are two sizes to knit - Child and Adult, and you adjust the size of your hat by your gauge. My gauge was a little larger than I thought, but I have a lot of head sizes in my house (my hubby's is enormous) so I kept knitting and enjoyed the chart knitting and how fast it whipped off the needles.

Now it's done, it does fit dh's head but as you can see from the picture on me (sorry for the sad looking picture in which I look every bit the tired and sad and pj wearing mother of four kids) its a little bit for me. I will say that in reality it looked a lot better on me than this goofy picture shows and it doesn't squish my curls - it gets points for that. I think I'm going to try felting it a little in the washer, which will probably give it more of a fulled look i think. We'll see.

I do recommend this pattern, but be smarter than me and check your gauge, but as Meg Swansen always says at Knitting Camp.... Hats are gauge swatches and there is always someone who is in need of your knitted hat. If you can't use it in your home and pass it on to those charities who might be able to put it to good use.

Love that woman.

Twists and Curls

This past weekend, Caleb was in a Curling Bonspiel (tournament) and I went to watch my son do this thing. While watching him, and in between helping in the clubhouse, I worked on my first hat for the luvinthemommyhood's Warm Up Winter Knitalong. I had decided to join in as its ski season here and I have four kids in my house who feel that they need new hats every ski season and I've got my eye on one or two myself. Plus Madison is interested in a pair of mitts and I might just have to make myself a pair too. So, this seemed the perfect motivator to getting those things crossed off on my to-do list.



Pattern: Twist Hat by Mandie Harrington (a friend from knitting camp).
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.
Size: Child 18-20"
Needles: Size 2 circs 16" then 2 circs when working the crown.



Caleb Throwing a Rock



Caleb Sweeping



The Winners!!!!!! after three days of matches and some sore arms, legs and muscles.

Caleb's rink (team) did go on to win the Men's Bonspiel. What a clever boy. Which made my freezing my rear end off at the rink, worthwhile. A hat and a win. Double wins.

More Sweetness

I've been meaning to post these pics for a few days now, but just not got around to it. I finally took down the tree and cleaned up the Christmas Dec's around the house and feel like I'm getting back into the groove. However, I did manage to take a modeled picture of the Honey Cowl as requested. Please note, I am usually the least photogenic knitter. I usually enlist the help of one of my boys to help snap a picture for me which requires multiple shots to find one half decent one, and lots of stroking my pathetically sad and deflated ego, but they're good sports and help out their mum anyway.

Here are the modeled shots of the Honey Cowl. I know I said this last time, but I love this cowl. I have worn it quite a few times since finishing it and every time I do I have gotten compliments.





In my humble experience, one Honey Cowl is Madelinetosh is just not enough so I headed straight to the Black Purl and grabbed another skein of yarn and this time knit myself the smaller sized cowl with one skein of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light held double in the colorway Mare. I had it knit in two days and loved every minute of it.





Carrie had asked me if Madelinetosh was worth all the hype. In response I would definitely say that with my limited experience it is well worth every penny. It truly is divine. Such beautifully dyed colorways and feel to the yarn. If you do not have some, go buy some right now. .............................................................No seriously, I'll wait.

The Honey Cowl 2 was made started Jan 8, 2012
completed project: Jan 10, 2012
Pattern Cowl: Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh (free on Ravelry)
Needles: Size 8 circular
This is my second start to finish completed projected in 2012!!! I've been working on some of my wip's

Sweet as Honey

Because this is a New Year and I am now known as a Finisher of things and not just a Starter! (Cough, Cough! Well, at least for the last seven days that is - oh ye of little faith) I would like to show you my latest finished project - The Honey Cowl.



I love, love, love, this project. It's pretty mindless knitting, which is usually not my fave, but it's perfect for drs. waiting rooms and movie knitting and it's done before you know it then. The yarn is so beautiful that I loved the feel of it gliding between my fingers and the stitch pattern brings the colorway to life. It knits up into such a squishy and inviting cowl that I was eager to knit it so that I could start wearing it and, let's be honest, start getting the compliments.



Pattern: Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh
Yarn: Madelinetosh tosh merino light - 2 skeins - double stranded
Needles: Size 8 circ

I loved it so much that I've already wound some yarn to make the smaller version of the cowl in a different colorway. It's the perfect mindless project to have on hand. I highly recommend it. I'm sure I'll have it knit up soon, because as I mentioned before....I'm a finisher these days! ;)

Public Service Announcement

This is a Public Service Announcement. As of 10:40am CST today, I have an official Teenage driver free to roam the streets ALONE. You might want to update your wills, kiss your loved ones one last time before leaving the home, say a prayer for yourself, say a prayer for Caleb, say a prayer for me who will be left to ponder what he is up to in the big bad world. I will be left to be at home knitting to calm my anxieties....

On the other hand, Whoopeee!!!!!! I have another driver in the house. Someone who needs to earn lots of driving time privileges from me, so that means I have someone to hand off pick ups and drop offs to and from ballet, curling, soccer, orchestra, piano, skiing, skiing club, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, sledding, scouts, chamber orchestra, choir, pop/jazz choir, football, swimming, youth night at church, play dates etc. of the younger kids. Excuse me while I break into song "FREEDOM! FREEDOM!"

I think there's an upside to this whole thing.

Although you really might want to drive carefully out there and watch out for a goldish looking Jeep. He tends to take wide turns and he's awfully cute. Just sayin!

Turning into a Mad Hatter

In the last few months of 2011 I really did get a little hat crazy. I'm slowly posting all of them one by one on Ravelry as I get the chance. I had forgotten just how much I liked wearing hats. Now, you're hard pressed you find me without one.

Here are a couple more that I knit during October and November. Note that Winston is involved in the pictures. He just had a haircut. Usually he looks like a big ole' puffball, but he had gotten a little matted and had to go for the Jason Statham haircut on his body. He thinks he's pretty hot stuff now and struts around the house quite proud of himself. As I was taking pictures of the hats he managed to snag the Brambles Beret for a closer inspection, I managed to blind him with the flash while Declan stole the hat before someone lost a finger or the hat lost some stitches. He really needs to learn to look with his eyes and not his teeth, but I guess I should be glad that he has an appreciation for the knitted arts.





Rustling Leaves Beret from Coastal Knits by Alana Dakos. Sunday Knits Eden 3ply.









Brambles Beret by Amanda Muscha. Cascade 220.

Any good hat pattern suggestions? I'm due for a new hat.

Being Selfish

Don't be completely fooled by the goals I mentioned previously posted, I have no intentions of ONLY knitting for others. I am not that nice of a person. I love knitting and I know from the number of completely knitted items that are sitting in my closet that only need sewing together that I love the process, but I DO love the finished product for me too. Saying that, this year I have set a couple of goals for myself that involve the finishing up of those projects that are languishing in the depths of my closet. I know there are at least seven ten twelve oh heck! lots of projects that are completely done with the exception of some finishing. Really, 98% done! It's so sad. To quote one of the knitters at camp last year when I showed three shawls I had had knit for over a year but never blocked and woven in ends "It makes my heart hurt!" There is no excuse. I really need to use this blog for some accountability, so I will try in the next week or so to gather together the mound of wip's and post their sad carcasses here for all to see. Then over the next few weeks and months I will strive to bring the life to them that they deserve and make them "happy!".

In addition to finishing wip's for me, I have quite the growing list of projects that I'm eager to knit this year and can't wait to get cracking on them. I'm currently working away on a Honey Cowl in some Madelinetosh Merino Light in Georgia O'Keefe colorway that I'm in love with. I should be done with it soon and then I've got another cowl to knit for someone and will then allow myself the joy of starting my next big project. I'm excited to tell you about it, but for now it will wait. Let's just say... it will be 'incredibly awesomeness' (to quote my little Ethan)!

New Beginnings

Starting as I mean to continue I thought I'd write a quick post.

Although I've been off the blogging and ravelry radar for the past few months, it doesn't mean I haven't been busy with sticks and string. Although this past year was the toughest in my near forty years, yet again it has been proved to me that the gift of knitting that my wonderful Nanny Taylor gave to me provides me with so much more than just woolen goods to keep away the cold Wisconsin winters. It has truly given me so much this year, stitch after stitch pushing me on. The past few months I knit item after item for others with a stronger desire than ever to show them how much I appreciated them and their continued support. It felt so good to see how much they appreciated each gift and to see them time and time again wearing the items I had made for them. I knit a hat and a cowl for a fundraiser for my daughter's ballet theater group and was so excited to see the response and the battle taking place on the silent auction for the items and the amount they raised for the event. It was nice to see others valuing a knitters work.

As I start the New Year, I have set some goals for myself. I don't like to call them resolutions as those never seem to last, so I trick myself by calling them 'goals'. My main goal related to knitting is to continue to knit more for others and show my love for them by my love of knitting as I feel inspired. I had a appointment with one of my doctors on Friday and she loves bright and colorful clogs. She has been a lifesafer in the past few months and I kept finding myself thinking about how I really wanted to knit her some beautiful fun colorful socks. I have a doctor's appointment with a different doctor tomorrow and one of her receptionists just had a baby. She has been such a bright smile and kind voice throughout this past year and I'm taking in a baby sweater and angora saartje booties to give to her. As I knit them, I thought of her and how her smiling face sometimes helped me from wanting to run the other direction when I walked into the office and how she would chat to me and relax me before my appointments. I have a friend struggling with colon cancer at the moment and my mind is ticking over what knitted good she is in need of.

Here is just a very few of the items that have come off the needles in the past month or two.











As the year progressed I hope to share with you many items that I have knit for others, knitting love and appreciation into each stitch.

Tomorrow I'll post about more goals for the New Year and how I'm working on those.

Joyce Williams

At 12:25pm, our dear Joyce Williams passed away. She will be sorely missed. I met Joyce five years ago at Schoolhouse Press' Knitting Camp and was instantly drawn to the little elegant lady in green (which I soon discovered she had a love for, as her partner in crime, Amy Detjen, had a love for purple). Although small in stature, she had a larger than life spirit and passion for knitting. I admired her desire to continue growing and learning in her craft, and love to hear the stories she would tell.

I'm a night owl and have struggled with insomnia over the years, and was delighted to find a fellow knitter to knit away the midnight oil. We also are such loose knitters that we have to go down usually 2-3 needle sizes and it felt good to find someone who enjoyed knitting on size 1 and 2 needles or smaller.

A few years ago, she asked me to model the Morocco sweater from Latvian Dreams and I don't think I took it off the rest of camp, I was in love with it. This year, Meg asked me to model The Star cardigan from Latvian Dreams and again my heart was stolen. However, it was a little more than that. I felt a little closer to Joyce and her absence not so harsh with the sweater on.

As I was thinking about Joyce this morning, I thought about that sweater and the little bit of comfort it had provided me, and pulled the Latvian Dreams book off the shelf. I opened to the front where I knew that Joyce had signed the book and read what she had written, my finger slowly tracing where her pen had traced. I then turned to the page that had The Star sweater on, thinking that maybe I should consider knitting that sweater now while thinking of her. I was surprised to find that Joyce had actually signed my book a second time and was deeply touched.



It reads "Kim, Knit Your beautiful dreams, Joyce Williams 7/07"


(A picture of Joyce next to her dear friend, Meg Swansen.)

Joyce will be missed my many. For such a petite gal, she sure did make a big impact. Dream on!

Thou Wretched Cable Needle...

Where Art Thou???? Why must you play tricks with me? I have loved you and cherished you. Sure there are other needles I could use in your place. Admittedly I do have a collection of needles that would fill in on a moments notice, but they mean nothing to me like the way you do. They are meaningless fill-ins. You... You are my true love. The one I turn to for the twists and turns that I stumble across in my knitting path. Together we conquer those tricky roads together. Or should I say, we did!!! (insert dun, dun, dun!!!! sound effect here please - Thank you, you're most kind) Now, you have abandoned me. I turned my back for one moment and you took your chance and fled. Are you hiding? Is this some cruel game? Or have you left for good? Am I now left to wander alone through the cabled road without by my side? Won't you please give me one more chance?!!!!

Cable Needle, if from your hiding place, you observed that this afternoon I used another needle to satisfy my need of cabling on my Hand to Hand Cardigan, please know that it wasn't the same. I was just going through the motions, but I had to progress on the cardigan and you knew that.





I now have the sleeves and yoke completed on the cardigan. Now, I just have to sew up the sleeves seams and then start on the body, then it's LOTS of garter stitch. This will be the perfect cardigan for our chilly Wisconsin Fall and Winters.

I hope Cable returns to my side by Fall.

Adam's Rib

After being ill this year, I was very wary of going to knitting camp and almost backed out, but luckily I have a wonderful husband who knows what I need better than I do. The cute guy pushed hard for me to go. So last week I was lucky enough to spend wonderful quality time at the foot of the master, Meg Swansen, and lots of fun time with my favorite long time roomie Jessica (of RoseKimKnits), and giggled and knit with Stephanie and Janet.. and many other wonderful camper friends. We laughed, we knit, we ate more deep fried pickles than any person should, checked out my swatch :) (inside joke). It was just what I needed. That cute guy is a smart man.

I took my Adam's Rib Cap Sleeve Wrap (pattern by Carol Sunday of Sunday Knits) to finish while at camp and it is everything I had hoped it would be. Many of the campers fell in love with it as it looks wonderful on so many shapes and sizes, even though I haven't blocked it. Well, to be honest my lazy blocking consisted of hanging it on a hanger in our very humid hotel room - I know, pathetic, but I'll get around to it.... soon... maybe. The yarn by Sunday Knits is Nirvana 5 ply and is a merino and cashmere blend. It is aptly named. Such a heavenly yarn to knit with and spit-splice beautifully. This really is a project that I think I would knit a second project. Rarely do I really like to repeat a pattern when there are so many wonderful designs out there to knit, but this could absolutely be an exception. Carol is so very clever and writes a beautiful pattern.


(pictured above left to right: Me in Adam's Rib Cap Sleeve Wrap, Amy Detjen, Jessica in our traditional camp photo taken by the lovely Michelle - Cully Swansen's wife)

While at camp, Janet started teaching me how to spin on the spindle. Uh-oh.... new addiction has been formed. I do think I will be contacting Mielke's Farm to schedule a private Spinning lesson once the wee-one's return to school. I really appreciated how excited Janet was to take the time to teach me a skill that obviously brings her so much pleasure. Knitters and spinners are such a generous bunch.

I find myself so grateful for the gift that knitting gives me. For the first time in a long time I feel excited about something and am able to plan ahead to future events with excitement and optimism. Knitters do not just give gifts of yarn or of their time, but their warm and caring hearts.

Emerging

I know, it's been months since I last posted. Things have happened. Some good, some bad. Due to illness, the past few months have been the roughest and darkest times our family... I have gone through. I don't wish to publicly hash any of it out here, as it's private and I'd prefer to keep it that way. I will say that since I was five I've had knitting as a constant companion. It has helped me through dark days, celebrated good ones, and been there through everyday life, but for the first time since my love affair with sticks and string started, I had cast it aside a few months ago. I was angry and decided to deny myself the benefits of knitting. My family and friends encouraged me to pick up the needles but it took me a long time before I turned to my friend and allowed it back in my life. I had missed it.

And so the knitting returns....

It seems that when you turn your back for just a moment in knitting that there is an amazing new yarn discovered or the most interesting and appealing pattern or designer discovered. Help me catch up please. If you would please consider commenting on what has been your favorite new yarn, pattern, or designer (or all three) of 2011.

It seems that there is an epidemic of Pregnant Moms about to have Baby Girls in the Northwoods, so I've been whipping up some baby gifts the past couple of weeks. So far, I've made one DB Baby Matinee Jacket, two Maile Sweaters, one Autumn Leaves sweater and one pair of Fleegle's Seamless Saartje's Booties.

I've also started work finally on my camp project. How last minute can I be?

I'm still on the search for a couple of buttons for three of the baby sweaters but here is the Baby Matinee Jacket in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

Getting my feet wet

No, literally, we were getting our feet wet.

In case you missed the news, Wisconsin was hit with a lot of rain the past couple of days. Unfortunately, many of us found it wanting to visit our homes and experiencing the joys of flooding in one form or another. Although we live on the top of one of the biggest hills in the area, there is an underground spring and our water table sits high. This past Thursday, with the help of an overheated sump pump, it sat higher than usual and our basement flooded. We were very lucky and it was not as bad as many of our neighbors and friends, but as many know who have experienced flooding or water damage of any kind, a little water is still a very expensive and extensive amount of water to remove. Add to that the fact that Madison suffers with severe Asthma and is highly allergic to mold. Although we called immediately to get the Water Extraction crew to our home, they were so busy that it was still 24 hours before we moved to the top of the list (which was shockingly fast actually). During that short time, mold had already tried to form and they got to work to rid us of the pesky stuff. Luckily we're on our way. It will still be a while before our house is put back together. Our basement is completely finished (usually) and houses our family room, play room, Caleb's bedroom and bathroom, and a storage room.

I'm very frustrated by the loss and expense, but reminded that these are just material things and our family is safe and well, which is what is most important. Things will return to normal soon enough.

My positive attitude has nothing to do with the fact that no yarn or fabric was damaged in the flooding. I'm sure of it. I think.

I've got a feeling....

I've got a feeling that I shouldn't have ignored the gauge swatches I did for the Adams Rib Cap-Sleeve Wrap. They told me to knit it in an 8, the gauge was right in an 8. I had also knit the swatch in a 7, because I'm a loose knitter and always have to go down a needle size. It was a bit tighter, but I preferred how it looked. I also thought that seeing as this was a rib, it would be easy to block it to the size I want. I had seen many people of different sizes (large to small) try on the size medium sample at Stitches Midwest and it looked good on them all. I thought that if I knit the medium with a seven, it would be around a size small and would fit little ol' me. I'm getting nervous though now. Why would I choose to ignore the gauge swatch?!



Have decided that I'm going to keep knitting on this and hope it blocks close enough to size. If not, I've just knit my daughter a really nice sweater that I'm going to be totally jealous. The next day or so will tell the fate of this project.

Little Blogging, Lotta Knitting!

Since camp, I've been knitting like a maniac. It's not like I wasn't knitting a lot before camp, but I always get so excited after camp that I become a little obsessed.

As mentioned on my last post, we headed out of town for a vacation to our favorite Upper Peninsula Island - Drummond Island. From the deck of the cabin, I spent many hours knitting watching the kids drive the boat around, fish, and kayak; and lots of time kayaking myself (one of my favorite things to do and I have the blisters to prove it).



While at camp, many of the knitters had the cutest shawls and wraps. Jessica was busy knitting on one right next to me most of camp. You know knitting is contagious, don't you?! Next thing I know, I've whipped out three shawls. They have yet to be blocked because we've been running around since the end of July and I haven't had the opportunity to get it done. It's one of the first things on my "to do list" for when the kids head back to school next week - all four of them. EB will start Kindergarten and my oldest is heading off to High School, with two others in between. Does this mean that I need to change my status from Stay at Home Mum to Housewife????? shudder







Last weekend, I headed to Chicago to hang out with Stephanie from camp and meet up with some other campers at Stitches. It was a blast and I fell in love with so much - surprise, surprise!!

My two newest loves are Miss Babs (I know, I'm slow to get on the bandwagon) and Sunday Knits. I've admired Sunday Knits before, but to feel her beautiful yarn close up and try on the samples, just pushed me over the edge. I ended up buying the yarn and pattern for Adam's Rib Wrap Vest and plan on starting it this weekend.

I also purchased a DolceKnits pattern called Savannah and Miss Babs Yowsa in Pewter to knit it. I cast on very late Friday night and as of today have everything but the last sleeve finished, which should be completed by tomorrow morning. It was a very fast knit. The yarn is delicious and I HATE superwash. Normally, that is.



I have mixed feelings about the kids returning to school. I go through bouts of excitement and sadness, anticipation and tears. At least I'll have all this knitting to keep me company.

Need your help, quick!

No, not finding the missing skein of Malabrigo. I haven't found it yet, but I'm ignoring it, so I'm sure it will show up soon.

I was going to use the Malabrigo for a Damson Shawl by Ysolda Teague, but in the absence of the yarn, I grabbed some Cascade Heritage I had lying around and have been whipping it up. I would have finished this morning but ran out of yarn 4 rows before the end. Grrrr. Have some now in my hands and will try to finish it by tomorrow.

Anyway....

As I was saying, I need your help! I'm looking for a great tam pattern. Do you have any favorites? I'm heading out of town for a week to Drummond Island, which is located at the tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We rent a cabin there each year. I will have lots of time to sit on the deck overlooking Lake Huron and knit happily away watching the sail boats and tankers go by and the kids kayaking and swimming and fishing in the bay. It's my favorite vacation every year. I can't wait, but I need some good knitting to take.

Help!!! Please!!!

Frustrated

I may or may not have quickly stashed away a new yarn purchase last Wednesday before the Cute Guy could ask the inevitable question "Did you just buy MORE yarn?" It's not that he minds, but sometimes I'm a little embarrassed to explain my yarn hoarding habit. So, I hid it away. Now, I can't find it. Am tearing apart my house trying to find this one ball of Malabrigo Sock Yarn.

On the up side .... I did find a cashmere hoodie/sweater that I purchased over a year ago which still had the tags attached and I had completely forgotten about.

Again.... I obviously have many issues. Will seek help just as soon as I find that ruddy ball of yarn!!!!

Hiccup

Just found a little mistake in my Lloie cardigan. I finally had a few minutes (it's after midnight) to sit down and start knitting the applied i-cord edging and discovered that somehow I didn't center the stitches I used in the steek to crochet and cut. It'll be fine, but one side will be a little different than the other on the wrong side. Noone will know it's there (I hope - well, except all of you now that I've opened my big blogging mouth), but I'll know. I will try to not let it annoy the snot out of me.

Here's a tip: don't try to knit an applied icord edging on almost 7 stitches to the inch and 10.6 rows to the inch in a semi-lit room after midnight. It's a guaranteed way to become frustrated.