A lovely surprise

Yesterday when my godsister Anna arrived for "Dodo Day" (I made chocolate chip cookies to honor the day), she had a bag with her - a wonderful bag with lots of pockets. This bag came from my other godmother, ML (aka my Fairy Godmother). I know all these "God" prefixes are confusing but bear with me.

In the bag, was this lovely array of yarn - a medley of colors that all work together. Apparently, she was cleaning out her closets and found this. She forgot what she was going to make with it but it must have involved lots of colorwork as there was a bag with stitch markers, bobbins, needles, DPNs and a stitch counter. This was a wonderful surprise for "Dodo Day" and lots of fun to start thinking what I can make with these skeins. Thank you ML!

My Mountain View Cardigan is trudging along - I'm doing the armholes and neck decreases all at once - this requires lots of paying attention and 3 skeins of yarn which love to get tangled up. I'm almost done with the body then on to the sleeves.

A new Holiday

No pictures, no knitting...just a great/cute story.

My godsister has 3 kids - John (5), Robin (4) and Nick (2 and my godchild). John decided yesterday he wanted to come visit his Auntie Dodo - that's me (long story short...kids can't say Estella and more often than not it comes out as Dodo). Robin and Nick chimed in they wanted to visit too and a call was made. So we agreed that today they'd come over after school.

This morning John woke up and stood a the top of the stairs and announced very loudly to his sleeping family "Today is Dodo Day!" So, in honor of Dodo Day (a new family holiday), I'm not enjoying my knitting time but instead baking chocolate chip cookies so we can celebrate the day in style!

Hope you all have a wonderful Dodo Day!

Where did the time go?

I can't believe it has been almost a week since I last posted and I can't believe April ends on Friday! Where did the time go? I worked 3 days last week and I know that keeps me from being a bad blogger but it does give me some good knitting time. Baseball also helps - only 2 games this week so I got a bit done.

When I was looking for mindless knitting projects I came upon the Scrappy Lengthwise Scarf "recipe" and decided to cast on at a baseball game. Little did I realize that this pattern is totally ADDICTIVE! I'm using old bits of Brown Sheep Lambs Pride and Cascade 220...I have a full skein of the light grey and am using that as the base color.
















It almost looks woven not knit...I can see another one of these in my future. I don't think I'll be weaving in all the ends - instead, they will become a fringe end.

It's All Jennifer's Fault...

Okay, I'm blaming Jennifer for my mini-shopping expedition yesterday while running errands. You see, she has been making these Wonderful Wallabies like crazy...every color and all sizes. My first cousin had a baby boy a few months ago and I realized his son needs a Wallaby. So, I got the pattern to start one soon.

Now, while I was there I realized "I need size 4 needles" for that project for Miss America. I knew I could probably borrow a pair (from Jennifer who emailed last night to offer a pair and further enable my cast-on-itis) but I figured two pairs of size 4 needles is a good thing to have.

Yeah, right Estella, what else can you justify and blame Jennifer? Sorry Jennifer I won't blame you any more - you are my favorite knitting enabler!

PS When I went to get the link from Jennifer's blog she had a new post talking about the another Wallaby she's cast on for! I'm afraid once I make one of these I might be making a lot of them.

Grrrrrr!

Yesterday during the very long baseball game (when boys hit 14 they go to 7 innings) with mist then rain and 45 degree temperatures, I swatched for this jumper for Miss America. She chose this aqua color in Araucania Nature Wool which I got on sale at Webs.

I got gauge right off the bat (pardon that pun) but then realized in order to make it fit I'd have to do some recalculating. Did that and am set to cast on only to find that the size 4 (24" circs) are currently in use. Grrrrrr! I can't keep buying needles to support my many projects.

So the project is on hold and I'm still in need of a mindless knitting project for today's game. Back to the drawing board!

Music to My Ears

Baseball season begins today and at breakfast I mentioned I need a mindless knitting project for today's game (and tomorrow too). #1 Son turned to me and said "why don't you knit another blanket? I love that blanket!" I replied "I don't think I have enough yarn." He retorted with a big smile "Well, then buy some more!" Got to love that way of thinking!

Instead, I'm making Miss America a jumper...more on that later...today I'll swatch and cast on.

At least this one has buttonholes!

While on vacation, I cast on for Connie Chang Chinchio's Mountain View Cardigan. I had ordered some of the new Knit Picks Stroll Tonal yarn in a brighter green than I expected - this photo is quite true to color. While it isn't exactly my color, it will be a bright pop of color in a lovely lightweight sweater.

I'm knitting it as one piece which works better for me as I really don't want a ton of seaming especially after my huge ruffle. I modeled it on some info I got on Ravelry and on her Farmer's Market Cardigan which is knit in one piece.














Here's the bit of lace that will show in the back. This has lots to keep track of - buttonholes every 16 rows, an 8 row lace repeat, waist increases and decreases, etc. Thank God for post-it notes!














I wore my Coraline yesterday while teaching - I had a reason for doing this as I was able to work on it a few weeks ago while substitute teaching and I wanted the same group of kids to see how it turned out - they were so cute and interested.

Thank you for all your button input - after wearing it for a day without buttons, I've decided it definitely needs buttons. I have some good ones in my button jar and now I just have to get the right thread for the loops. I'll show you when it's done.

Buttons or no Buttons...that is the question

Miss America took this wonderful photo of the detail on Coraline - it was her idea and it was a good one. It really is a pretty smocked detail.

I haven't worn it yet and I'm having trouble getting a decent photo of me in it - below are some self timer shots in my usual self time spot. I put the camera on a large desk and run to the corner of the room.

I'm struggling whether or not to put buttons on this - you need to make your own button loops with embroidery floss (I have yet to get to Michael's to see if they have it). I don't mind that as I'm clever enough to make it work but the loops would require the top ALWAYS be buttoned.


As you can see after blocking it looks okay unbuttoned - there is a little flip on one side which I think a quick steam would settle down.

I think I'll wear it today while teaching and see if the flip bothers me and if I feel the need for buttons.

Would love any button input - buttons or no buttons?

Scroll Lace Scarf

Here's my first FO from our road trip - Ysolda Teague's Scroll Lace Scarf. I used Araucania Ranco solid in this lovely hot pink. It is the perfect lightweight spring scarf. I really enjoyed this pattern as it was an interesting knit by doing the lace edge first and then short row shaping for the rest of the scarf. It's hard to see but there is a picot edge too.

I cast on a new project while on the road trip - I'll show you that tomorrow.

No, I didn't disappear

We had our spring break this past week and we took a road trip to Virginia...first stop was Colonial Williamsburg. I hadn't been there in years! It was VERY warm with temperatures in the 90s every day. Fortunately, the outdoor pool was heated and the kids spent afternoons swimming.

I honestly was a little let down by Williamsburg - more touristy than I remembered. The grounds are impeccable and the Governor's Palace was amazing. I just was annoyed by thinking these little storefronts would be educational and they were a chance to sell stuff instead.


































We then went to Charlottesville where we met up with my parents for a few days...we showed the kids my alma mater, the University of Virginia. We also toured Monticello which was fantastic! They have a new tourist center which is amazing.

This little gazebo is one of my favorite sights at Monticello.

Our last day was spent at the farm of dear friends - this view is so familiar and comforting to me. We used to swim in that muddy pond (not in anything nice like a bathing suit as it would be the color of clay forever...just yucky shorts and a tee shirt would do). The kids had a blast - Miss America got to ride a horse bareback and #1 Son at age 14 was given the chance to drive a small farm truck. Both were in heaven!

It was lots of car time and lots of knitting which I will post later...unfortunately it was far too hot and I didn't take my newly finished Coraline.

Worth Checking Out

Well, I have almost finished my Coraline - the knitting is done and I have some kitchener stitch work to do and then weaving in ends and on to buttons, etc. I'll show you more when I've done a little cleaning up but I'm loving it already.

So, instead today I figured I'd feature another Etsy store that I discovered and find to have some wonderful items for us knitters.

This week's store is: go-monkey design

Check out this wonderful fabric covered tin for knitting notions - much prettier than an Altoids box.

And this large project bag is so cute with cats and yarn balls all over it.

Her circular needle cases are lovely and so nicely finished with a button closure.

This fabric caught my fancy - fun with a surprise change of fabric on the bottom of the pouch.

Go check out the store - you might find something for you or for a knitterly friend.