STELLA!!! March 13, 2009

Ah Jimmy Beans, how I love thee! I placed an order on Tuesday and get my stuff on Thursday – what more can you ask for???
My mega needles have arrived!

They’re HUGE and they’ve got glitter! Who would have thought that just to add some “pazazz” Addi’s would add a glitterly needle and cable? Tres cool. We’ll see how the knitting goes as I’m pretty use to doing the size 3s or 7s for almost all of my projects. Hopefully it’ll go super quick (they shall be used for the DROPS moss st baby blanket). It’s going to be a bit holey but I think that’s what makes this pattern so cool. It looks like a cuddly honeycomb! Rowan Big wool, here I come!

Next on the arrival scene was STELLA!! What’s that movie with the guy screaming “STELLA!!” at the top of his lungs? Can’t remember but that’s what I think of when I saw this yarn.

It kind of looks pink in the pic but that’s just the lighting and my oh so perfect photography skills. It’s in a color call “Ecru” which is basically a natural ivory color. This shall be for my DROPS cable blanket that I’m going to be making for Sheena. I think I should have enough with 10 skeins, plus it’s a newborn so really, how big does it have to be?? Best part is that it’s machine washable so she’ll be able to get some use out of it.

I’m almost done with my alphabets and am going to spend some time this weekend to sew. Yes as much as I’m not looking forward to it, it must be done. I need to get this project out of the way so I can start on the Moss stitch blanket. The hoodie is still in the works. I need to work that stitch inc problem in the sleeves which is why I’ve been ignoring it but I think I could get it all done by next week if I keep my act together.

After that it’s all about – STELLA!!!!!

March madness March 11, 2009

So a couple of things have been going on but first my OTN report.
“da hood” is going well. So far I’ve got the back, both fronts and am currently working on sleeve number one. Overall it’s been a pretty easy knit although I did screw up a wee bit. I was working on dec for the left front and it said to dec by the neck side – I have no idea why but I started on the sleeve side. I think it’s because I thought the pattern would have mentioned that you need to dec by the hood and it does seem a bit odd that you would do it there. Though I guess it gives the hood piece some slack by the neck.
Either way I don’t think it’s that detrimental to the project and I think it’ll work out fine when I sew the sleeve on. Worst case scenario I could always rip it and dec it again (horrors).
So anyway other then that that project is coming along nicely. I do think that if I were do it again (which I think I will) I’d use a bulky weight yarn. The Jo Sharp has been great to knit with but the project will end up being more of a “light” cardigan cause it’s a bit holy. It’s still a beautiful color and I do like the texture.

Of course I started on the sleeves and didn’t read the full sleeve BEFORE I started. sigh and I missed an inc 4x! I’m debating whether I should rip it and start over again but then again it’s 4 stitches…what to do, what to do. She does have a chunky arm so I think I’m going to measure it against her arm before I make the decision. ARGH!

Next on my project list is the infamous alphabet baby blanket. That one is coming along nicely and I should have it all completed by the weekend…well at least the alphabets. I should be able to sew it all up and then take some crocheting lessons to get the border done. All in all another easy knit project and it’s been a nice reprieve to just mindless knit a square every night. I might just do another one for one of the “kids” – am not sure who yet but it’s an awesome toddler blanket.
So FO pics to be coming soon!
On the queue is my boss’s baby blanket. His baby is due end of April so I’ve got plenty of time yet. The pattern calls for size US 36 which have to be ginormous! I can see how pretty the moss stitch with it will be though so I’ll have to place my order and get them delivered soon. That one should be an easy knit plus if it comes out really pretty I might just make it for Sheena’s baby. Although I do like that cable baby blanket from Drops. I’m thinking about using Debbie Bliss Stella for it since there’s a sale at Jimmy Beans Wool. Hmm we’ll see.

GANDI!! March 10, 2009

Random thoughts:
My daugher is in love with our cat. Whenever Gandalf approaches she drops anything in her possession and starts flapping up and down screaming GANDI!!! It’s absolutely hysterical. He adores her too, probably because it’s the only person in the house at this point that gives him any sense of attention.

Hayley’s learned too how to pet him instead of the pounding she used to relay on his poor back. What’s even funnier is that he takes it all and never once has he ever hissed or got agitated. Poor Gandi – wait till Hayley starts walking! There will be no place he could hide. It reminds me of that Looney tunes character of the little girl who would hold and squeeze the life of all the pets that are around her. They in turn would run in terror away. That’s my baby girl!

Stitch me up! March 2, 2009

So Stitches! Twas cool – lots of pretty yarn of which I made a few purchases. They had a HUGE amount of sock yarn everywhere in every color and multi color imaginable. Totally cool but I really took it easy on the sock yarn at least for this year as I’m in baby patterns mode.

I did find this great yarn that I’m going to make the Zimmerman’s February baby sweater with. It’s from Miss Babs – I need to get to that website cause it was $25 for 500yards of pure beauty!.

I think I need to get a new camera cause this one totally doesn’t show the complete glory of the pinks and tans in this yarn. It’s machine washable too which is a HUGE plus in my book!

I also got some Malabrigo in damask rose from ImagiKnits booth. Which ironically is my LYS. I heart them – so helpful and nice while other booths people would just look at you as to say “For real, you’re asking me THAT question?” Miss Babs was super super nice too – hence the future purchases from her store that will be made!

So this weekend I also worked on “da Hood” but I totally frogged it on Friday. I couldn’t reconcile the pattern with the stitches. So I just knitted a swatch of the cable pattern that was causing me grief and decided to use stitch markers to help me keep the pattern in place. HUGE DIFFERENCE! I’m totally working it! Now the only thing I’m worried about is the sizing although I think it’ll be fine as I’m a wee bit of a tight knitter.

The photo doesn’t do it justice. It’s actually sooo incredibly pretty and is knitting up fast even though I’ve got to stop and use the cable every once in a while. I’m hoping I can finish off the back tonight since I’ve only got a couple of more inches to go and then get started on the front. I want to finish this one before my Knit Picks yarn comes so I won’t feel guilty neglecting one project for another.