October 4, 1913 - February 9, 2008

My grandfather passed away last Saturday so all of the family is now gathered here in York, PA to attend his funeral services and celebrate his life. Last night many of the 8 children, 20 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren paged through family albums and laughed together, remembering story after story of all of our childhoods. All I could think of was that this was exactly what grandpa hoped for after he passed.

My blogging has been scarce the last week or two because I made a major decision recently, and this past Monday I started back to school. I’ll be taking classes part time for the next couple of years with the goal of finally getting a BSN. I’d been talking about it for about the last 5 years and I’m so relieved that I actually have now officially started. I discovered pretty quickly how challenging it could be to try to get out of work early enough to get home and have a few solid hours of schoolwork time before I start making dinner and doing the daily housework. I have to say though, as challenging and tiring as it is, it feels really invigorating at the same time.

Even though I’ve been studying, I’ve been doing a bit of knitting as well. I’m still working on the Celtic tote and am about 5 rows away from completing the front panel. The back is already done so all that’s left are the sides, felting and seaming. I’ll have some progress pictures posted soon.

I’m still keeping away from swaps for the time being, although I’m secretly waiting patiently for Sock-a-palooza to restart. I did join a knitalong recently however. I heard about it from Jenny and Nicole on the Stash and Burn podcast. The KAL is called the Year Long Gift Along. I’m sure it will keep me on task for my gift knitting this year. This past Christmas my “Christmas Knitting Bonanza” turned into the Christmas Knitting Debacle. Not this year though..I’m planning ahead!

Before I talk about our trip to Washington, I wanted to post of picture of the lovely package Clare sent me from Australia as part of the Christmas Around the World Knitters Swap.

The box had a great Australian knitting magazine called Yarn, as well as some Tim Tam cookies (which are already gone, they were so good!) and some chocolate coins which were found inside the cute little felted bag she knitted. She also included a “hotty with a heart” hot water bottle that would have been very helpful had I thought to take it to Washington. There was also a pretty little ornament which will look great on the tree next year. My favorite was of course the yarn made from the roving of her father’s sheep, and handspun by Clare herself. I’m not sure yet where the yarn is going but I know I want it to be something special. Thanks again Clare, you did a wonderful job.

That just about takes care of the Christmas swaps, though I’m still waiting on my sock from the Harvest Sock Swap. I have faith though and hope it will arrive soon.

Chris and I arrived home from Seattle last night and we brought with us some great memories, new yarn and the flu. Flu aside we both had a really great time and spent the entire trip with family. The most fun day for me was the day Chris and I went to Pike’s Place and Alki Beach with Chris’ older brother, his younger sister and niece. The five of us had a great time even though it was 20 degrees outside, but it made me want to knit nothing but scarves until our next visit out there. I even got to wear my lovely bamboo scarf that Kim sent me in the Ravelry Scarf Exchange.

Of course another favorite activity was yarn shopping! I spent my entire yarn budget in one store, which was OK since it was right in Tacoma and only 15 minutes from my brother-in-law Yute’s house. Yute’s girlfriend Vicky drove me and I know she had a great time watching me “ooh” and “ahh” over all the yarn. She’s a crocheter so I know she understood my elation. The shop was The Lamb’s Ear and the owner was so nice in helping me choose yarns for the list of projects I had made. Oh and I have pictures of my loot!

The Boku yarn was hard to resist because the colors were so pretty, and it’s a bit more affordable than the Noro so I thought this might not be a bad substitute. I have plans for an Entrelac scarf with this yarn and I know it will come in handy on our next winter Seattle visit.

My splurge yarn was this Dream in Color hand-dyed yarn in worsted weight. I was thinking it would make a lovely Clapotis though I believe I’m one skein short for that. It may also turn into a baby surprise jacket though since I have 2 good friends in various stages of pregnancy at the moment. I just can’t get enough of that yummy goldy-green.

Speaking of green..I’ve developed a thing for it lately which is why I got a whole sweater’s worth of green yarn for my first attempt at a sweater.

I chose the Berroco because it will be a bit cooler for a sweater here in Florida, plus, what a great green!

I also picked up this laceweight Merino by Skacel because I think it will make a very pretty Kiri. Of course that after I somehow finish the Spring Shawl Surprise shawl and the SotS2 shawl.

Oh! One more purchase I forgot to tell you about!

It was another splurge but something I wanted for a long time. I can’t wait to go through this book page by page.

A quick FO to show you…

This was the flower washcloth pattern that Kim sent me along with the Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille yarn that I knitted it with. It’s so soft and squishy!
While I was in Washington I also made a pair of Fetching out of recycled Artyarns Supermerino. You might remember that purple variegated supermerino from my forever hybernating WIP Clapotis. They came out really nice and were so fast I churned them out in about 2 days. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures because I immediately gifted them to my 13 year old niece, but she was so cute and wore them ALL day on the day I gave them to her. I’ve since started another pair in the same yarn for my sister-in-law but by the time I was about 6 rows into the second pair, the flu had taken it’s hold and I couldn’t focus on much of anything for any period of time. I’ll take some pictures as soon as they’re done. I was sad to rip out the Clapotis but at the same time I didn’t care for the way the yarn was pooling, and I already had 2 different dye lots going.
I’ve also made it about halfway through the front piece of the Celtic Tote, which also looks pretty good so far. Today I found a tutorial by Grumperina on how to do cables without a cable needle so I’m hoping that helps speed things up a bit.

I think I’m all caught up now on the last couple of weeks worth of knitting news. Now I’m going to prop my feet up, pop another Ricola, and get rid of this dang flu bug because it’s a nasty one. I’m off work one more day so hopefully I’ll get a little more knitting done tomorrow.

I don’t know why but for some reason it seemed to me like the start of a new year would involve a little rest time getting over the holidays. You know, a little R&R to get you feeling refreshed as the new year gets into gear. Well I’m still waiting for my down time. Aside from both holidays being mid-work week this year (which I say is against the laws of nature), it’s just been business as usual in regards to work and home. The good news is that at the end of this week my husband and I will be off to Washington to visit his family. I’m really looking forward to the time away from work as well as the time I can devote to knitting. Not to mention I’m cashing in my “Yarn shopping in Seattle” Christmas gift card from my dear husband. I still haven’t narrowed down what shops I’m going to try to hit but I’m sure I’ll have some addresses in my hand before I get on the plane on Friday.

Speaking of knitting, I already have an FO for the year, though it hardly seems like it should count because it was such a fast knit. I completed the flower washcloth made from the lovely aqua, cotton chenile skein my friend Kim sent me from Canada. It’s so soft and squishy and I can’t help but think what a great gift it would make paired with some soap. (must not think about Christmas knitting in January…) I’m currently working on the Celtic Tote from the winter issue of IK. Oh, speaking of IK..I got a subscription this year along with the book The Sweater Workshop for Christmas. The book should be great help when I get around to knitting my first sweater this year.

The next post should include some pictures not only of the washcloth, but hopefully of my new yarn booty from Seattle, a completed or nearly completed tote bag and also the package I got in the mail today from my Christmas Around the World swapper.

This has been a wonderful year for me in regards to knitting. In November of 2006 I picked up my first yarn and knitting needles and taught myself a new craft. I started out with a sort of “Ingridized” continental style of knitting and then I was off and running with my first few swatches. My very first project was a Booga Bag, which not only helped me hone my basic knitting skills, it also introduced me to felting. Not one to back down from a challenge I moved on from the Booga Bag to a pair of Twisted Rib socks followed by cableing with the Brea Bag. I think it was right around the time of the Brea Bag that I discovered what wonders lay within the walls of my local yarn store. At that point I realized this was no simple hobby I had picked up.

The owner of my LYS was the first person to explain yarn weights, stitch definition, and fibers to me in a way that made me realize I had more to learn than knit and purl. I moved on from knitting with one color to two, and then to stranded knitting with the Center Square hat and Endpaper Mitts. I finished a pair of Monkey socks , a lace shawl and even learned entrelac.
About the time I realized there was more to knitting than acrylic, I also realized there was an entire community of people I could reach out to for support, advice, knowledge and a common love of all things knitting. Reading knit blogs moved from simple interest to addiction and I found myself swapping knitted items that I had made myself..for another real person to wear! Next came Ravelry and it’s forums and groups, and knit-alongs, and more swaps, and knitting podcasts and before I knew it I had become a part of the community I had previously admired from afar.

So in my first year of knitting I have completed 13 projects and have several on the needles that I hope to move from WIP to FO in the year 2008.

1. Twisted Rib Socks, 2. Brea Bag, 3. Booga Bag, 4. Calorimetry, 5. Baker Boy Cap, 6. Fiber Trends Felts Clogs, 7. Monkey Socks, 8. Center Square Hat, 9. Forest Canopy Shawl, 10. Pine Tree Sachet, 11. Danica, 12. Fiber Trends Felted Clogs, 13. ornament

I have learned so much in my first year of knitting but still have so much yet to learn. I have many knitterly goals for the year 2008 such as:
1. Completing my first sweater
2. Taking a few classes to improve on some of my self taught techniques.
3. Learning to more easily correct my mistakes without ripping all the way back.
4. Tackling a challenging lacework pattern..with beads.
5. Continuing to gain a better understanding about fibers and yarns and definitely expand my stash.
6. Attending a knit-in at my LYS.
7. Giving the blog a new look for the new year.

There’s lots to do but also lots to be proud of over the last year.
Happy New Year to all of my knitting friends!

After what might easily have won the prize for “The Worst Week at Work Ever”, I’m now immensely relieved to be off until the 27th.

I have to say, Chris and I have had it really easy this holiday season as far as stress-free gifting. We did a little shopping on our cruise, then did a little back in November. We did a little online and have been completed finished for awhile.

Of course this is not including swap gifts and knitting because there definitely was some panic to get those done. Thankfully, the 3rd and final package went out last Monday so now I’m just waiting for my own swap packages to arrive. I’m hoping the recipient of the Christmas Package likes these:

They are toasty warm on a chilly night.

When I finished the clogs I was still in the Christmas knitting spirit, so I made one of these and am planning to make a few more tonight.

Isn’t it cute? You can download the pattern here at Kalamazoo Knits’ Etsy shop. This was another fun pickup from Lime and Violet’s Daily Chum.

The other evening I was sitting here in the house alone, waiting for Chris to get home from work, and I finally picked up the yarn and pattern for Eunny Jang’s Anemoi Mittens. I purchased the pattern and yarn many months ago but never had the chance to make them. Well, 3 evenings later I have this in my “next to the sofa knitting” basket:

I think I can finish the pair by the time we fly to Washington in January. It will be nice to have some warm mittens for chilly Pacific Northwest weather.

Lastly, I wanted to congratulate my sister and new brother-in-law! Last Saturday was their wedding and it turned out just beautifully. Here they are with my parents:

I also wanted to wish all of my knitting friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year.

Vacation is officially over and I’ve settled back into work and getting ready for the holidays. I’ve also been working hard to finish knitting for the swaps I’ve joined. Speaking of swaps, today I got my package from the Ravelry Scarf Exchange and it was from my new knitting friend Kim from Canada. She totally spoiled me!

First off, the scarf was beautiful and it was made out of a lovely bamboo yarn that’s so soft! It’s perfect for Florida wear and I’ve even got a jacket that will match it beautifully. Also in the package was some chocolate from Switzerland that’s really yummy, a vanilla scented candle, some cotton chenille yarn and a pattern for a flower washcloth, a knitting themed notepad, sticky notes in the shape of an “I”, lovely lemon verbena soap and some gummy candies that my husband hasn’t stopped munching on. The best part about this exchange is that she and I have become quite regular pen pals. Thanks so much Kim, I’m so glad we got paired up!

I also completed and sent off my own scarf to it’s recipient, Kyle. He’s already received it so I’m safe to post a picture:

The pattern is Danica from Knitty and it’s made with Paton’s Classic Merino. The model is my very cute hubby. It was my first try at entrelac and I’m happy with how it came out. I hope Kyle was happy with it as well.

I also finished the sock for the Harvest Sock Swap and mailed it this past weekend. I’m hoping Marisol receives the package by the end of this week. Sadly there will be no pictures of the sock because I forgot to take pictures before I mailed it. Oh well, once Marisol receives it I can reveal the pattern and yarn.

In between the frantic swap knitting I took an evening off and whipped up this little Christmas sachet.

It was a really quick knit, maybe a 2 hours from start to finish, and it’s filled with lentils to keep it standing up and apple cinnamon potpourri to give it a Christmasy scent. It was really fun to make and is a great way to use up some leftover sock yarn. I’m hoping I can knit up a few of these for co-workers. I came across the pattern while perusing Lime and Violet’s Daily Chum where it was featured. The pattern was created by Whitney, it’s free, and it can be found here. While you’re at it, take a look at the whole blog. There are tons of really great crafty patterns!

Finally, I have some pictures of the completely blocked Forest Canopy Shawl that is now wrapped and will soon be on the way to my mother-in-law for Christmas. The pictures show the yarn colorway really well.

With a little luck I’ll be able to finish up the last of the swaps. I still have to finish up the International Christmas Exchange but I’m determined to mail it by Saturday. Once that’s finished, I may be able to get a few sachets completed. I’m afraid I overextended myself in swaps so I think my Christmas knitting has been reduced from a list of about 12 items down to one, the Forest Canopy Shawl I’ve already finished. I have to admit, I’ll be glad once all of my obligations are met because after the holidays I’ve got my heart set on starting this:

It’s from the current issue of Interweave Knits and I’m knitting it for myself. I’m also excited because Chris and I booked our tickets to Seattle for January. We’ll be visiting his family and I’m planning on hitting a yarn store or two in Seattle and Tacoma. If anyone has been there, please tell me the best places to go!

Until next time..Happy Holidays!

I know I’ve been away from the blog for a bit but I have a good excuse! We spent last week on this:

The cruise originally started out as a way for my sister and her husband to celebrate their 10th anniversary but turned out to be a wonderful family vacation that included my sister’s family, my parents and Chris and myself. We had such a great time and I think the last time we took a family vacation it was to Nantucket when I was about 10 years old. Did you notice the flag of Mexico? That’s where we spent Thanksgiving Day. My dad, husband and I went to Playa Del Carmen by ferry and then to the amazing Mayan ruins of Tulum.

This was the castle of Tulum and it was breathtaking to come up over a hill and through an entrance cut into the surrounding stone wall to see the ruins, surrounded by palm trees, overlooking the clear blue water of the Caribbean.

The previous day was spent in Grand Cayman which was nice but tough on the wallet. We did get a fair amount of Christmas shopping out of the way while we were on the cruise and I even found time to knit.

On the subject of knitting…I have one FO to report and that is the scarf for the Ravelry scarf exchange. I have a picture ready but I can’t post it quite yet because I only mailed it yesterday and I want it’s recipient to be the first to see it.

I am very close to an FO picture of the Harvest Sock Swap sock and I have to say, I wish I was keeping this pair for myself. I’m extremely pleased with how well they are turning out and I love the yarn I’m using. Again, more details have to be kept under wraps until it’s mailed which should be by the end of the week. I have all the goodies already in the box and ready to go.

Thanks so much for all of the compliments on the Forest Canopy Shawl and a special shout out to Anne for the link in her Sunday bloglines. Please go check out her blog and say hello. Another special shout out and congratulations to my new blogger friend, Ann who has just announced that she’s expecting her first baby. Please stop by and say hello to the new mommy-to-be.

I know this post has been a little light on knitting content but I’ll make up with it in the next post with some FO pics. For now, I’ll leave you with a photo of Chris and I trying desperately to get a great pic for our Christmas card this year….

“Mama, why do you do this to me?”

It’s been so long since I’ve had a true FO that I’m posting about this one a tad early. My Forest Canopy shawl is off the needles and now blocking. This is my first real attempt at any kind of lace, or any serious blocking.

Being the novice blocker that I am, I have only the crudest of tools..straight pins. The shawl is currently stretched out across the guest room bed but I don’t think it looks too shabby. One error that’s noticable right now while it’s blocking is that on the right bottom points of the shawl, I didn’t bind off properly which left one section less strechy than the other side. I was watching TV and talking to Chris at the time and I noticed I suddenly was using a regular bind off..oops. I went back to the 2-step bind off the pattern calls for and you can definitely see what a difference it made on the left side.
The yarn is Lana Grossa Meilenweit Stile in the colorway 8002 and I loved it so so much. It made me so happy as I was knitting it. I tried in vain to find another ball of it so I could make the shawl bigger but noone seems to carry this particular yarn, well..in the USA anyway. I think it’s my favorite yarn so far since I’ve been knitting.

Here’s a closeup shot just for fun. I’ve been trying to read a little about how to take better pictures of my projects and while I don’t quite have the hang of it yet, I did get one closeup that was actually in focus. Yay me!

I really need to learn more about lighting I think.

Another project Chris helped me with last night was making my own sock blockers. The ones you find online and in the LYS are kind of expensive so I used this tutorial here. At Target, for a whopping $4.99, I found a package of 4 of these:

They are portable cutting boards by Chefmate. Then I took the template from the tutorial, cut it out and used it as a guide to free hand a larger template onto a cereal box. I cut the cardboard template out and tested it on some socks and it was a pretty good fit. So then I traced around it onto the cutting boards, cut out my new sockblockers and Voila!!

So now I have a pair of blockers and the fixins to make a second pair, all for less than 5 bucks.

Next up on the FO list are the scarf and Harvest swap socks.

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween today. Chris was off today so when I got home he surprised me with 2 cleaned out pumpkins ready to be carved to display for our Trick-Or-Treaters.

I did the spider..

And Chris did the witch…

They came out pretty well I think. Later my sister brought my niece, Sommer, over and Chris and I took her trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. She’s quite the little rock star!

In knitting news…I finally got some lovely yarn and am halfway down the leg of the harvest swap sock. I should be at the heel by the weekend and hopefully finished by next week.
The Forest Canopy Shawl is at a pivotal point. Do I continue the repeats and make it bigger, or do I add the trim and call it a one skein wonder shoulder shawl? I’m leaning towards making it bigger but I’m at the end of the skein of yarn and my LYS is completely out of it. I’ve also not had much luck finding it for purchase online in the color I need. If anyone has a skein of Lana Grossa Meilenweit in the colorway “Stile” in their stash and want to trade or sell it..please drop me a line! I’m going give it some time and see if I can locate the yarn before I give up and add the trim.
The SotS is still on the needle, still not frogged or fixed. I’m still in limbo about it I think. Though I must say the stole has really turned out pretty. Nautical Knitter did a great job on the design, I just love the bubbles in the middle.

Again, I hope the day was fun for everyone. I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next!