Goodbye April

We've had a crazy month of April this year when it comes to weather. Snow one day, 80 degrees 2 days later. Today the wind is blowing extremely hard, just getting all the snow out of here. Tomorrow, garden weather. I'm hoping May is a bit more even keeled. At least it's lilac month :).


In spinning news, I finished a skein of 2 ply fingering weight yarn. It's just under 4 ounces, and was dyed by Pippi Knee Socks. The colorway is Lost Sailor. Any of you Deadheads know that's a great song, usually followed immediately by Saint of Circumstance. Anywho, I bought 2 braids of it, and this one has way more yellow in it. The second braid has more of the blues and purples.

I also finished off my second baby surprise jacket. These things are so easy and fun. Done in Jeannee yarn, it's cotton and acrylic so it can be machine washed. The buttons are paw prints, so cool!

Lilac Socks

One of my favorite flowers is lilacs. When I saw this yarn by Cherry Tree Hill, I knew what it would become. These socks are done toe up with a short row heel and a cute picot cuff at the top. These are a very quick knit and so customizable with the color of yarn you choose. Puchase the pattern here:

Supplies needed:

• 1 skein sock yarn
• US # 2 (2.75mm) dpns
• Tapestry needle

This is an easy intermediate pattern. Knowledge of lace and toe up socks needed. Enjoy!

Wow...

I can't believe it's been 3 months since I last posted here.

It's finally beginning to feel like spring here, maybe I'm just waking up out of my winter sleep.

I've been spinning some, and finished my first 3 ply yarn. Can I just say how much I love my Ashford Traveller? Since tomorrow is supposed to be around 70, hopefully I will be able to take it outside and try to spin up some angora. Pretty good for the first time, huh? The dime is there for size reference so you can see how fine the yarn is. It's a darker color than this, but you can see all the heathers better this way. I'm hoping to make socks from it.

During the winter Olympics, I was team captain for Team GoPugYourself on Ravelry. I was able to knit a 30" x 68" lace stole in 17 days, showing here:

I did take 3 days out to go see Further in NH and MA. DH and I had our own mini vacation. We hope to hit the Natava Festival this July in Oxford. On March 25th we went to Porland with the in-laws and caught Keller Williams doing a solo show at the Port City Music Hall. Highly recommend getting VIP seating if you go there. The set list was great, and fun was had by all.

I also did up a hat in Karaoke by SWTC, and of course Cheri took possesion of it immediately. She loves hats, they look wonky on me. To be honest, I knew she would, and I had her in mind when I made it. This stuff is so soft, and it felts, so I'm thinking a couple of little bags for stuff.

Have a great weekend all!

Maine Mitered Shawl

Maine Mitered Shawl, originally uploaded by EeyoreknitsinME.

Here is another one of my self designs. I named her the Maine Mitered Shawl, and she's for sale on Ravelry. I was inspired by the mommie routine of going to baseball and softball games, and having a really bad, cold, rainy summer. One minute it could be sunny, the next cold and dreary. This is done out of sock yarn doubled. Supplies list:

• 1 skein color A, B, C, E, F
• 2 skeins color D
• US #5 needles
• Tapestry needles
• Size F crochet hook.

It is an intermediate skilled knit, with basic crochet knowledge.

If you are interested in buying this pattern, here is the link for it:

Happy Knitting!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to one and all! I'm going to try to be better about posting, but with all the stuff going on, I can't promise it =).
DD and I are working on some chemo caps to donate to the local breast cancer center. The yarn was given to us by Cheri at Pins and Needles. I really think this is a good cause, and it gets us into volunteer work.
I've also been spinning on my new Ashford Traveller-what a difference from my other wheel. Although I love them both, I think this is my favorite. Can't wait to spin my angora yarn to make lots of fluffy scarves for everyone.
Also, I've entered my mitered shawl into the Cherry Tree Hill design contest. If I make it into the top 10, it will be voted on by the knitting community. Believe me, I will be posting links everywhere! Pics will come soon, I promise ;).

Mittens

I finally completed a set of mittens to sell in my Etsy store located here. They are made from 100% wool, and before you say that $25 is too much, realize that it cost me almost $24 to buy the yarn. Not much of a profit margin there. I do also take custom orders.

Knitting & Thanksgiving

So I went to the parent's house for Thanksgiving, got to spend some time with my sister, brother, nieces, nephews, and most importantly, Dad. He keeps telling everyone this is his will be his last Christmas. He can't shake the constant pneumonia. We also invited their next door neighbors over. There was plenty of food, and these people were going out for chinese because one decided at the last minute they weren't going to bother cooking, so the other two were SOL. I also took in my niece's cheerleading uniform. I understand that she's a freshman, and they don't get the choice pieces, but I had to take the side in 2 1/4". The skirt had been taken in before she got it, so I could only do one side, the solid colored side. The opposite side had been taken in at least an inch. This girl is tiny, and she was giving a HUGE skirt.
Christmas is at my house this year. I will be invaded by no less than 7 people. I wish I had a double oven.
Here's some of the knitting I've been doing. Some are samples for SWTC, others are gifts.

This is the starfall shawl; a new pattern just published by SWTC. It is done with one skein of Tofutsies. Isn't it great?

This is the latest hat for my nephew. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a shot of him with it on. We tried. Cascade superwash.

Another pair of mitts for Em. Moose, the English mastiff introduced earlier, decided the last pair tasted yummy.

This is the back of a shrug I made for my DD using Saphira by SWTC. Love the yarn to pieces!!! Great bulky single ply yarn, soft and yummy! I have some that I'm going to make into a cardigan for myself, when I get a chance to knit for myself (yeah, right. A girl can dream, can't she?)

This is a cashmere scarf I designed for my mother in law, and gave to her as a birthday present. It almost didn't leave the house. Cashmere is so sinfully soft.

This is another sample for SWTC, it's their Comfy Coat done in a georgeous olive green Saphira. Unfortunately, the camera would not cooperate to show the beautiful color. You can check out the back on Flickr or Ravelry.

And last, but not least, the Vilai socks from Cookie A's book Sock Innovation. These are done in Cherry Tree Hill's Northern Lights colorway. They are beautiful in real life.

Now, back to the needles. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I realized how thankful I am that I still have my dad, and that we can share a wonderful day with people we love. It's not about the food, it's about the company. I also am thankful for friends and family long gone, at least I knew they for a brief, shining moment and each of them touched my heart and taught me a life lesson. Joe, Ray, Grandpa, Grandma, Dave, and everyone else here and gone; I love you. On to Christmas...