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So my self-imposed moratorium on buying any more yarn or starting any more projects failed miserably.  I received Webs new fall catalog and fell in love with some of the projects.  And yes I succumbed to temptation like a true junkie and started clicking away. 

When I saw this pattern in particular I couldn't resist and since I haven't made my son anything green yet what is girl to do but cast on?

The pattern book has 13 patterns and I want to knit up at least 6 of them at first glance.  The children patterns have a large range of sizing and so I can knit something for both kids out of this one booklet. 
A cardigan for me and maybe something for my husband (that would be a first).

Now I need to finish at least a couple of projects this weekend in order to allow myself to cast on for this one.  Hope you all have a wonderful Friday and a relaxing weekend!

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October

Hello all and happy October. Just a little late getting into this month. I'm finding with the wind down of warm weather and more activities to go to with school back in session I'm having to budget time better. I feel much like that leaf, one foot still planted in the warm weather and carefree days of summer and the other in the cool crisp days of fall.

This month the EZ knit-a-long was a polo type pullover. Complete with v-neck and collar. Not really my thing so I skipped yet another month. I am still working feverishly on my clasica coat because I want to wear it as soon as possible. In between sections on my coat I have stopped and worked on a couple of other small projects just to give myself the satisfaction of finishing something. The clasica coat is pretty but there appears to be a lot of finishing in my future...ugh.

So while I figure out my autumn routine, work on my coat, and sew some Halloween costumes, I am going to enjoy my day (because it is raining which I love) and peruse the latest addition to my knitting library.



A lovely book with great anecdotal stories from the author, beautiful knits, and much to my surprise a lot of discussion regarding the designing of knits. I can't wait to read it more thoroughly. I hope you are all enjoying your October.

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Elizabeth Zimmerman Almanac

I recently purchased this book for myself. Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac. I know, I know, I am a little behind the times as the original publication for this book was before I was born but anyway :)

I had enough knitting on my plate in April so I put it aside until May. If you are familiar with her writing then you will know how enjoyable this book is to read. She has projects broken out by each month so I am going to join the Ravelry group for this book and thought it might be fun to have a loose knit-a-long here as well. I don't plan on making everything exactly as she does but since Ms. Zimmermann's patterns are more of a loose guide then an actual pattern I don't think she will mind.
Is anyone interested in joining in? For May it is mittens. Knitting up lots of mittens for next winter. I have a few mitts I'd like to knit for myself and I wouldn't mind getting a head start on some mittens for my babes. I'm still going to have other projects going as well but mitts don't take too long and it would be nice to start the winter season with a basket full of woolly mitts ready. As far as a spring knit, mitts are kind of perfect as they won't be a hot mess of wool taking up too much room and they are easy to tote around. Anyone interested? I am going to post some links to a few free patterns, so go stash bust (you know you have some yarn somewhere that isn't going to get used if you don't go grab it now) and let's make some mittens.

Convertible fingerless mitts to mittens here. Dashing for him. Fetching for her. Some manly mittens. Color work mittens for her. Some gloves might be nice. Children mittens with a cable. Of course the much blogged about evangeline mitts. And for for the more industrious knitter some long fair isle mitts from Classic Elite. And for the super adventurous go here for stitch patterns and make up your own.

Happy Knitting everyone!

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Little Pumpkin Hat

Happy October. I knit up a little hat for my son I wanted to share with you all. A little pumpkin hat.

I was really hoping to get some good shots with my model (son) but he wasn't so cooperative. So here is our one action shot (a good yank off the head as I try to take the picture)

Don't have a pattern for it just thought it would be cute for my little guy to wear at the pumpkin patch.

I just got this in the mail today and I am going to snuggle up with a hot drink and dream up the perfect sweater, and if the reviews are accurate learn how to create a pattern for it.

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Scarf for a friend...

I recently picked up this book,

Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick, I have her book Weekend Entertaining book and love it so I thought with the holidays fast approaching maybe I should pick it up now and get a leg up. It is full of great patterns that I really want to make. I decided the first cast-on should be the ribbon scarf.

I used my leftover yarn from my clutch just to see how it knit up and I think it knit up really well.



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I have a friend with a birthday in September and I think she will really like this. I will probably head out and get some red sparkly yarn for her. She is super girly and loves sparkles and ruffles so I think it is the perfect gift for her.









If you think you want to make some things for the holidays, either as presents or just for yourself than I really recommend this book. The projects I have queued up are knitted ornaments: I love the stocking patterns: the wire votive candle holders: nutcracker slippers: log cabin socks (for him and her): santa hat: sparkly kiss cap: the ski kerchief

Well you get the picture the list goes on and on. Over 50 patterns (yes I counted) for Christmas.....lots of fun.

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Here comes fall...

Over the weekend look what I found in my mailbox!! It has been sitting and patiently waiting for me to have the time and undivided attention to peruse it.

A quick scan told me that I liked quite a few of the patterns and despite my frustration with my El Sol pullover I am planning to cast on for a few of the projects. I am already excited for autumn. I am anxiously waiting for my Interweave fall issue and am craving cool crisp afternoons to knit in. I love all the seasons and as each one comes along I convince myself this is my favorite but as the next one comes around I quickly change to that one. The holidays will be here before I know it and so I have been quietly working on a few things for Christmas. An advent calendar that I will share with you when it is further along, and some presents for loved ones. I know it's only August but if I don't get going on some of these things then I won't get them done. I found a couple things for the kids, a pullover for my husband and multiple other presents. My list of to-do's in the knitting category is getting quite long. But since it still is summer I am going to pack my magazine in a bag, my kids in car seats, a little sunscreen, and a lunch and head to the beach.

By the way....

My El Sol pullover is not coming along as hoped. I need to finish the contrast edging and sew in the little stragglers but I don't think this sweater is going to be hitting the fashion runways anytime soon. I don't know if I just used fuzzy math or if it is a combination of fuzzy math and too thick yarn....all I know is that this would be a great maternity sweater for me (and I'm not pregnant) and still probably have room. I'll finish it up and post my pictures for all to see. If I had the heart I would rip it out and do something else with it but I am sick of playing with it and want it off my needles.

Maybe it will be a good camping sweater?? Warm, and roomy. We'll see.

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Finishing garments

I have finished the body of my sweater, one sleeve and I am working my way up the other sleeve. I started thinking about the finishing for this pullover when it's done and since it is knit in the round there is minimal finishing to be done. YEA!!


When I first started knitting I couldn't sew in my end pieces very well and wasn't real thrilled with any of the "finishing" aspects of a project. When I started knitting my first (and only to date) sweater it was for my daughter.

Really cute sweater, hood, and front pocket (I'll post some pictures later when I can get better light). The only big complaint is that it is knit in pieces and then has to all be sewn together at the end (that was not a fun night). By the way it was knit with 100% cotton yarn and of course didn't hide a thing. I was terrified that I would spend a lot of hours on this sweater only to botch the seams and then it would spend the rest of it's days in the back of the closet. So before I started finishing the sweater I looked for a book to help me along. This is the book I picked up




The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman




Anyway, as I said I picked up this book and LOVED IT!! It is spiral-bound so it lays flat as you read and knit. The instructions are simple and accompanied by clear photographs. It discusses casting on, binding off, increasing, decreasing, selvages, picking up stitches, buttonholes, and sewing seams with a few other odds and ends thrown in. It gives the pros and cons for each type and makes it very easy to decide which technique to use when given a choice in a project. The finished seams on my daughters sweater were fabulous (not because I have any particular skill but because the book was so easy to follow. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to clean up their knitting.



Now I'm off to hopefully finish my sweater and then we'll have the big reveal. Have a great weekend!

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