Two days...Two Seams...Two Projects

Two days have passed so I have completed two seams, lol. Can't get enough of the flounce sweater. Would have done more, but you can check out my computer wallpaper to see what kept me from knitting. Picked up a few goodies at the show and can't wait 'till the next one. Cirque Du Soleil shows are amazing.

Also did a bit of seaming (two seams) on the Apricot Jacket. I didn't go quite far enough on the top of the front right to meet the middle, but I threw it back on the needle...

and did a knit and seam for a knit to fit. That allowed me to block it like the amateur blocker I am. Check out my blocking board aka beach towel on the floor, lol. Once I start blocking more, I'll invest in making or buying a better board. But I have to admit, I don't block as often as I should. At this point, I'm a knitter not a blocker, but I plan on changing that though. I am always in awe of nicely blocked knits and always wish I had blocked. (of course this is after I have already seamed).

A knitting buddy gave me the Je Tricote! box at our sit 'n knit at Starbucks. Isn't it cute? At first I thought she was taking a stab at how my hair usually looks, but as it turns out its just a coincidence that it looks like me, lol. Not anything inside yet, but I've got a few notions that will fit perfectly. And I finally got my hands on the Knitting Calendar everyone was talking about way back when. Duh, I was looking the knitting sections of the bookstores, not the calendar sections. There are many nice patterns inside though Wendy's sock pattern was the inspiration to take a look at it.

I feel like I was just starting to enjoy summer and all the great things that come along with it just as it was coming to a close. Like don't you wish you had a slide like this in your backyard? My mini had a blast and then looked over at another thrill seeker. What's he doing? I'll try that! Though I'm looking forward to sweater weather, I will definitely miss cotton candy, funnel cakes, pony rides and remember playing paddleball and popping yourself in the face too many times (or was that just me). Well, I turned my back for a minute and found my mini sittin' on the hay and the next time I looked around I saw this...

I'm originally from the south and every now and then, I see a little bit of my childhood pop out, lol. My mini looks very much like my grandmother and I remember fonding hanging out on her wonderful farm. This pic just takes me back...

I have six arms (make that five)

With Becky being such a delightful host of Sleeve Island, I've decided to go on holiday there once again. I hope I have not worn out my welcome since I have returned with an even larger number of guests, though I only made reservations for two. Here we have the sleeves of the Flounce Trimmed Jacket.

Take a closer look at what makes this jacket flounce. Then a Green Ribbed Sweater sleeve in orange. And finally the Apricot Jacket sleeves in green.

I hope to get some seaming done in the coming week, however I have come to the conclusion (as sad as this sounds) that I can only do a seam a day (I tire of seaming quickly). Any more than that and my seams start to get sloppy. I do not ever look forward to seaming no matter how excited I am about the project. So it's usually seam as you go for the most part leaving the least amount at the end along with weaving ends (a whole 'nother monster). I used to have similar feelings in regards to sleeves, but now I look forward to my visits to Sleeve Island. Now to work on throwing that famous seaming party! Now that's a partay that makes me want to seam. Now I just need to pick out a DVD.

Presenting Klara

Project Specs:
Pattern: Cornelia Hamilton Collection Book 2 Klaralund
Suggested Yarn/Used: Noro Silk Garden (color 84)
Needle Size: US 7 Addis
Gauge: 18sts/4" in St st

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I really enjoyed knitting this sweater and I plan on using the extended garter stitch in future knits. It was an interesting spin on the regular garter stitch. I particularly like the bell sleeves and would like to adjust or use patterns with a similar design element (maybe not so big on a more fitted sweater). But for Klara I think this sleeve was a great element and fitted the overall look. I still can't believe how easy it was to knit, but I guess with 4 rectangles (no shaping) it was a great "knit without worries" sweater for the most part. And would I knit it again? Sure, it would make a great stash buster sweater and I think it would have a totally different look in a solid.

Froggy Library Additions

As part of a much celebrated (with one down side) swap with Lyn at Consomme's from Malaysia (even her stamps are cool), I received these two mags. Thanks so much!

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My focus was on the textures. I really like the shape of the sweater on the left. I think some GGH Esprit is in order to that one. And that skirt is too cute. I just want to reach out and grab the scarves in the middle pic. Those colors are amazing and the texture of the scarf on the right just screams at me (loudly) Knit Me!
And the down side is that she has not recieved my part of the swap yet. I'll have to get another one off to you (this time trackable). Please forgive its tardiness. I have my fingers crossed that it arrives on Monday with two froggy friends that I included.

I popped into Knit Happens this week and another reason (among the million other) to love that shop, Kristine handed me a book hot off the press that I just had to have. It's Junior Knits by Debbie Bliss.

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I want to knit just about everything in this book. And above are just a couple of my favs. I just adore Molly on the left (already requested by mini) and that Ruby poncho/skirt is just fantastic. There's some Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Strawberry Cream (color 101) that is most likely going to be cast on for Molly soon. And the Sid hat is a must knit!

Also received the Rebecca 28. I am pleased with it but it looks a little different (new designers maybe). Not as many break out knits as usual (in my opinion). However, I really like the bolero made out of yarn called Amelie (loved that movie) on the left and the two little flirty numbers on the right which are both knit with GGH Soft Kid (in my stash so that's a plus). Here's another view of the Amelie sweater. Oh, and I love this poncho included in this mag, but also featured as a free pattern at Rebecca Online.

And then we have Tendances Hiver 04-05. And here are my top picks.

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I love the orange one with the removable caplet. It reminds me of another knit I have planned for this fall (maybe too similar in style to knit both) from Rebecca leaflet Edition 1. I love the separate roll collar. I guess I could do both is they are not both in orange. I think that color is pulling me in though. And that nomad land sweater on the right is really cool even though I don't think I would be able to recreate that wrap which is why I like it so much, but I like it open as well. We'll see. And its a rust orange. I think I may be getting hooked onto another color. Hmmm.

It's funny how sometimes I think color guides to me to patterns before the actual construction of the sweater and that may be why there are these okay sweaters in my library, but later it morphs into a must knit. It sometimes takes another view or another spin on in it in blogdom to get me to take another look at to appreciate it totally. (I have to admit there was a time when I only had patterns that were modeled in a green yarn (not a coincidence as I originally thought).

Ting-A-Ling Cardigan

Project Specs:
Pattern: Miss Bea's Band Ting-A-Ling
Suggested Yarn: Rowan Handknit Cotton
Yarn Used: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease
Needle Size: US 5 & 3 bamboo straights
Gauge: 20 sts/4" in St st

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I love this sweater and I feel that this is the beginning of many cardis for my mini. She's into layers right now and loves buttons and zippers (guess that's next). I have to say the ruffles are my favorite part and I plan on incorporating them into future knits. I could go on and on, but I'll stop at the fact that its a Miss Bea's pattern, gotta love it.
Now which Miss Bea's sweater will be next?
(and for those of you who remember the grafting that was holding up ting-a-ling , I ended up using a 3-needle bind off at the join of the two colors) The ruffles aren't grafted as planned, but I love them just the same.

No more pics mom, I need a break...

Inspiration...Knitting... Food

Anthropologie continues to inspire...
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And I can't wait to check out the Sept. Glamour Mag. Looks what's coming up. I just love that hat!

I finished the back of the Apricot Jacket
(pattern 25) from Rebecca 27. It is in need of a good blocking, but it'll have to wait for the other pieces. It wasn't nearly as difficult as I imagined it would be and it wasn't long before I was in the groove of the charted pattern and sequence of the increases/decreases. Also finished up a scarf for my mini . She wears it with her dress up clothes as a boa mostly at this point. She adores it, but I have to say it may be her last boa as I am not too crazy about knitting with novelty yarns. The texture is pretty cool though. And Green Ribbed Sweater (also know as orange) from Rebecca Nr. 20 is back with the much needed St. st that appeared in the pattern pic.

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And why didn't anyone tell me there was a Penang (Malaysian Cuisine) in the metro DC area?! I just love that restaurant. Haven't seen it since we moved from NYC. And it's been here all along.

Here's my absolute favorite...Roti Canai

At this location the pancake was really crispy compared to the chewy ones that I have had before to accompany the curry chicken dipping sauce. I prefer it not sooo crispy, but I can't complain. I lost the power of speech until every drop of that sauce was sopped up by that pancake. Yum....my!

My favorite comfy sweater... and them some

Even though this is not a recent knit, I have decided to post specs for the sweater that I was wearing in the last post. This is definitely my favorite sweater so far and definitely the one that I have worn the most. It is so oversized and comfy that it replaces my usual hooded sweatshirts (my weekend uniform) from time to time. I want to knit another one before I wear holes in this one, but the entire knit is seed stitch and I don't have fond memories of the agony my wrist suffered while knitting this one. However, this was one of my first sweaters when I was still knitting super tight and American. Now that I knit continental and super loose (odd), I may give it another go.

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Project Specs:
Pattern: Seed Stitch Sweater from Rebecca Mag #13
(also featured in Interweave Knits magazine insert Fall 2002)
Suggested/Used Yarn: GGH Via Mala (pistachio #9)

Knitting Notes: Next time I will not knit on straights (what was I thinking, ouch!) This green beast was heavy, but there is definitely another one coming soon. I have some rust orange Via Mala in my stash. Hmmm.....

Made a little progress on the Everyday Cardigan sleeve, but following the pattern and even with gauge the sleeve opening is way too tight.

So you know where this is going . Now why exactly didn't I notice this earlier? DUH! I don't know what's up with this Manos. I have been trying to use this yarn for over a year. First on the Rebecca Seed Stitch Sweater, then on the minisweater and now even the Everyday Cardigan isn't working out for me. What's up with this yarn? I guess its time for the "it's not me, it's YOU conversation" with the Manos (or is that the other way around, lol!). I'll have to find a pattern the Manos likes.

So then I took a little break from knitting and browsed through the new Lucky mag and am very intrigued by one of the new trends...Brooches.

I am really lovin' the vintage items that are popping up in mags right now. Don't know if I could pull off the look, but I have to find a must-have brooch to wear. Seems odd to just pop in the mall and pick one out at the jewelry counter though. I kinda want to find this cool brooch with a little history (or so I seems) at an estate sale or something. I also ran across this sweater in a Newport News catalog. I've never seen this catalog before. I just love this sweater. I know I have a pattern somewhere that I can modify for this one.
And now for a little Klara-update. Met up with the gang at Knit Happens and worked on a few more "swatches" as Wendy would say. I finished the sleeves.

They may be a little on the long side, but I'll have to tack them to the front and back before I know for sure.

And now to the back (or front). Without any shaping whatsoever, this has turned into the best take and go sweater. Most of the time, I don't even have the pattern with me. Thanks Wendy for letting me know how many to cast on for the back. I guess my memory is not as good as I remember, lol. Maybe I'll carry the pattern next time.

Hooray for long weekends!

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend!
I can't believe it's this time of year already.
Time for the Maryland Renaissance Festival.

Just can't beat a weekend with face painting, harp playing, and plays going on all throughout the festival grounds. And I can't forget elephant riding. My hands were holding on for dear life as my mini screams "faster, faster" (photo came out pretty dark, but I had to show this pic). The festival was pretty close to the Folk Art Studio Cafe so I just had to swing by. I read about it over at LollyKnitting Around. I was too close not to check it out. They were having sooo much fun there, but this
was as close as I got since they close at 6 and I arrived at 6:15. Bum...mer! But at least now I know where it is. What a fun bunch in those pictures. Maybe I'll be able to make it out there to knit night soon.

Got a little knitting done this weekend, too. Worked on my flounce jacket. And met a friend at Starbucks and went a little further on my ASC mystery project. Not really a mystery anymore, lol.

Also reswatched for my klaralund. So I guess I will be officially starting with everyone on the kick-off day. I have decided to go up in sweater and needle size in an effort to get that drapey look.

Well, the weather this weekend was great. It was one of those with rain in the forecast that never came to fruition, but the partly cloudy skies let in the right amount of sun and kept out the right amount of rays that would make a day at the zoo a little too hot. There was a lot of monkeying around as you can see along with a froggy photo.

And by the end of the long weekend we just wanted to ......
SLEEP....ZZZZZ....