No, I didn't Fall Off The Face of the Earth

I know you are wondering what happened...it has been 10 days since I've even posted. Well, I have been knitting. I finished my Tilted Duster and am seaming it right now. I decided the pattern wasn't right for my seaming techniques - the pattern has you sew the sleeve in the armhole and then seam the sleeve. I've decided to do the seam first then sew it in the armhole. The other way seems to be a recipe for disaster.

As for my Annikki, I'm done with the knitting, now blocking, seaming and then the collar. A huge undertaking - almost daunting. Fortunately, I don't need it until September and I'm in my Scarlett O'Hara mode of tomorrow is another day.

My Wisp is trucking along - it comes to the beach with me and is nearing the end. It really is lovely.

What's next? I'm swatching for Twisted V Pullover from Simple Style. My friend Kimberly is off the the Crochet Guild Association show in Buffalo - I'm envious she gets to immerse herself in nothing but crochet and knitting for a few days. I'm also going to miss her at Stitch & Bitch and on the beach. She's been creating projects fast and furiously for the show - she is a talented designer and I wish her the best for next week.

Okay, enough prattle. I promise pictures soon...Tilted Duster will be modeled in the heat of summer without buttons as I will wait to hit my button store at home.

Actual Knitting Content

Just wanted to show you that I really have been knitting. I'm very much enjoying the construction of the Tilted Duster...it's just taking me a long time to finish the body.

I've put the sleeves in place so you can see how it is going to look. All I have to do is finish the bottom and then sew in sleeves and make the collar. Shouldn't take too much longer.

I've stalled on my Annikki as the button bands are endless. However, they are great for mindless knitting while the kids play in tennis tournaments.
















I'm home for another day and then back to the beach. I'm missing my summer S&B group tonight and I'm bumming. My DH and #1 Son are at a Yankees game so Miss America and I are going to watch chick flicks and I'll knit some more.

Isn't this too cute???

I came home the other day to a package on the front porch...it was from my knitting sister. In it was this cute little knitting creature. She got it in a skateboard shop of all places and once she saw it she thought of me.

The little tag says "Purl will make sure you never drop a stitch"...she has very pointy needles. I briefly thought of putting her on my keychain but those sharp points scared me off. I think I'll attach her to my scissors so I can find them more easily in my knitting bag.

I'm still working on the Titled Duster - I'll take pictures tomorrow or the next day. Tonight is our Stitch & Bitch - I'm not hosting but my neighbor across the street is. Easy to get to!

Two Milestones

Last night we had our Stitch and Bitch. We hit a milestone moment with 10 people attending...that was our largest group yet. We had mostly needlepointers with only Kimberly, Peggy and myself knitting or crocheting.

Of course I forgot to get the camera out until the bitter end so I caught Kimberly and Peggy before they left. Kimberly cast on a crochet wrap she's making for her mom...it is going to be lovely. I've decided I need to learn to crochet as she had 6 inches done in the time it too me to do 2 inches on my sleeves of my Tilted Duster.

Peggy is working on her jacket and had to do her first fold over hem. Two days ago she learned a provisional cast-on. She's really expanding her knowledge with this sweater.
















We of course had some refreshments and adult beverages...the cool addition to the food was Kimberly brought some Friendship bread AND she brought 4 bags of the starter. I took one as I think Miss America will have fun with it. Not that my hips need Friendship bread.

Our dog Missy has to be right there in on the knitting action. She loves Stitch and Bitch nights as she gets to greet everyone at the door, find out who is a dog lover and curl up at their feet.

Oh, my other milestone - I knit at the beach yesterday. I was glad there was a good breeze as the wool would have been too hot otherwise. But I got quite a bit done and really was glad to add that ability to my repertoire!

I blew it

I had the camera out and I completely forgot to take pictures at S&B on Wednesday night. I was so angry after everyone left. So, I'll paint a picture for you instead.

It was a small group which was great as we had a new member join us - Heather. She came in with the biggest bag of projects I've ever seen. The bag was bigger than an LL Bean Bag and it was a cool fun fabric - in it were lots of little projects. Heather decided to work on a pillow she's making with a little chicken on it. She also showed me a lovely sweater for her daughter with flowers all over it. I mentioned she's into intarsia and she said that is what she started knitting not knowing any better as a beginner - talk about going for the harder stuff first!

Nancy, a regular, was there with her needlepoint belt which she was working on last year. She had a clip-on reading light which she clipped onto her vest and that helped her work - even with 100 watt bulbs everywhere you can't have enough light for those tiny stitches. Nancy also knits and decided she's going to get a knitting project going for our S&B.

Deb arrived and pulled out her trusty crewelwork pillow which she's been working on for 2 years. We joke that last year when she pulled it out I said "you're still working on that???"

Peggy arrived late with a box of wool to be wound. She's going to make a Knit Picks pattern for a car coat. So while we employed a child to wind wool (good job for a child), she looked at books and patterns and decided that some capelets would make good gifts for her college age girls and their cousins.

Sandy arrived very late due to work and just needed a glass of wine.

We're having it again on Monday and I'll do my best to get some pictures.

Tonight, Tonight

We start our summer Stitch 'n Bitch, tonight!

I can't wait! This group of women started getting together regularly during July and August two years ago. Our number is growing but with schedules being crazy it never gets to be too large a crowd.

I'm hosting the group tonight - I have put 100 watt bulbs in the old lamps around the house and will have a good video for the kids to watch while the ladies sit, catch up, and stitch away.

I started my Tilted Duster and am enjoying the construction of the pattern. The front panels are slanted when assembed. Size 10 needles make the work fast.

I'm hoping to show S&B pictures tomorrow and pictures of my knitting too.

While I'm Unwinding

While I've been so busy unwinding and getting into summer, I haven't made time to wind wool. So yesterday I got out my trusty swift and ball winder and wound the rest of the Cascade 220 for my Annikka.

The mailman brought my Peruvia for the Tilted Duster - this photo doesn't do it justice. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the true color on film. I decided to wind 2 skeins so I can try and get guage this week.

Anyway, as I was winding wool I was thinking about my wool winding experiences and preferences. Some manufacturers make it very easy for you to get started. Others make you get your granny glasses out and work at the yarn. Cascade 220 is my dream wind...one slip knot to pull, un-weave in 3 places and your ready to go.

Peruvia was relatively easy too - 2 spots to un-weave and wind away...it is slightly bulkier and a little more slippery which I didn't not so the first ball flew off the winder towards the end. Have you ever had that happen to you??? It always surprises me and reminds me I'm not paying attention to winding which is true in this case because I have been very busy un-winding.

Now my next summer unwinding goal - knitting on the beach. I know I won't be alone as Kimberly knits on the beach and I've observed a few other ladies doing it as well. Sometimes my kids roll their eyes when they see I've brought my knitting to an unusual place - I think I might get a "oh, mom" and a huge eye roll.

No Knitting To Show

I have been knitting - I promise. I've also been having fun getting summer started.

We have a boardwalk a town away and we went with some friends on Tuesday. The have "wristband day" where you pay one price and can go on all the rides you want. The kids had a great time.

I had fun people watching - I should have brought my knitting.

They Fit!

My friend, Jane, came by yesterday (in the pouring rain) and I presented her with her new slippers. They fit perfectly! She was so surprised and happy to get them. Since it has been rainy and a bit raw, she wore them all last night. Mission accomplished.

No pictures today - it's a pause between rain storms so I think I'll take the dog for a walk...then when it rains again I'll sit and knit.

I'm such a sucker for a sale

So my inbox has an e-mail from Webs with this little tidbit saying Berroco Peruvia is only $4.79 a skein for certain discontinued colors.

I go on Ravelry (the true enabler here) and search patterns for the yarn and find that the Tilted Duster is knit in it - a pattern I have always liked.

So, seconds later I've ordered 8 skeins of this lovely color to make my own Tilted Duster.

I have a lot of work to do!

It's That Time of the Year!

Those of you who've read my blog for a while know that I pack up the kids and the dog and I spend the summer at the Jersey shore. Part of that packing is "what knitting should I bring?" This year it is a bit easier as we have to come home for a wedding in July so I can retrieve stash if I need it (I'd never send my DH into my stash while out of town).

In the past, we've been without a computer and I've been photo-free blogging at the local library. This year I'll be far more accessible as I have use of this lovely laptop! Woo hoo!
















I've been working on my Wisp - I've read that it looks wonderful after blocking and I'm trusting in that fact. Right now I still think it is lovely.

So I won't bid you adieu for the summer this year. I'll just be blogging from somewhere else and knitting with my summer S&B group, including my new friend from last summer, Kimberly. I'm also delivering Jane's slippers to her...hopefully I can get a picture of them on her feet. They still haven't dried thoroughly with all the rain we've had.

A Quick FO

When my friend Jane lamented that her new wood floors might make it so she needs slippers more often, I told her I'd make her some felted clogs. I did warn her I'd use what I had in stash so they could be a little "wild".

I checked out my stash and actually had a nice color combination - the top is Cascade 220 Heathers and the sole is using Ella Rae Classic. I didn't have enough of the dark blue Ella Rae so I took a skein of dark and skein of light blue and held them together - it gives a rather marled effect which is perfect for the soles.














Jane's foot is size 7 - the Fiber Trends Pattern is written for size 6 and size 8. I made the size 6 and put them on my size 8 foot - it was snug on me so I'm hoping perfect on her.

Now to get them to dry is another story - it has rained so much here it is humid. I'm keep them on top of the dryer while I do laundry - at least that might help speed the process.

I hope she likes them!

Did your Mom ever say...

"Young lady, your room looks like a bomb went off in it!" Mine did. That's exactly what our guest room looks like right now...it has become a dumping ground for all sorts of stuff - knitting, curtains to be hung, pictures to be hung, books for summer reading. Yup, I know what I'm doing today - cleaning.


On the knitting front...here is the back of my Annikki - the front is almost done too. Next sleeves and then VERY long button bands that you knit separately then sew on.



















My lovely Inca Marl arrived - this doesn't even begin to do it justice. I'm dying to swatch it but am holding off right now to finish....


These slippers for my friend Jane.










Actually I've already finished one and have one more to make. They are the Fiber Trends felted clogs and I'm using what leftover yarns look good together. I know you're wondering - "Slippers for summer???" - well, Jane is usually cold and her summer house just got new wood floors instead of wall to wall and she said she's expecting she'll be wearing slippers. So I thought I'd make her a special pair for her summer house.

Okay, I'm off to clean up my guest room pigpen.

So Many Possibilities

I didn't get the sewing machine out just yet but I did start playing with my squares of fabric. These are the fabrics that Lynne sent in a cute package and the liner fabric in the upper left side works with all of them.

This is what I worked out as the possible pattern. The dark brownish one really pops so I'm trying to find a balance with that one and the heavier pink fabric.

I looked at the pattern for the Cape May Bag on Knotions and I'm thinking I might knit the strap as well if I have enough of the cotton leftover. I think that would look good too.

Oh, the possibilities for this bag...so much fun!

Lucky Me!

After a lovely morning knitting with Jennifer and her wonderful knitting friends Joan and Lynn Wilson (check out her gorgeous designs...she was knitting this stunning scarf), I figured I had had a perfect day.

Well, as I drove down the driveway, I saw a box on my front porch. When I saw Lynne's return address, I squealed in delight as Lynne had a contest a while back and I won materials to make a Cape May Bag.

Not only did I receive the prettiest squares and fabric for the liner and cotton for the handles, but I also received a bunch of wonderful goodies. This is how the box looked - it had sock yarn, Plain & Thimble hand and body cream, scented candles, and a notepad which I took a closeup of - it has a tag that says "Find Joy in the Little Things" and on the inside it says "Blessings". Little does Lynne know but one thing I try to do is take joy in little things every day - yesterday I delighted my children when I stopped the car to let a mother turkey and her 3 chicks cross the road - little things.















I can go to bed right now...my day won't get any better after all this. Thank you, Lynne, for all the lovely gifts. I think I actually won't go to bed...I'm firing up the sewing machine!