Birthday Girl....


Nothing like a sense of humor!



Maybe with pants......



Maybe with a different dress......



Still my favorite shawl!

What's Next!.......


Gregg has requested a black hat....and I have been doing some serious thinking about Kilcar. I have decided to rip back to the armhole yet again, work the sides in stockinette and see if the third time's the charm. If it doesn't please me, or the stitch count is off AGAIN, I'll rip it out and choose something else. I hate to admit defeat but there are so many issues with this sweater. I am already stressing about sewing it together...bulky yarn means bulky seams....the collar is knit separately and then attached. I'm thinking of just knitting it on....I've also decided wet blocking is the way to go...will do my swatch first to see how the yarn behaves...but...this all depends on the armohles. Sigh.

Pimpin' It Up in New York.....


I had Joanie try on the first fingerless mitt to ensure she actually liked it and would wear them before knitting the second one. I wasn’t sure what, “I’ll be pimpin’ it up in New York,” meant but she clarified that for me. She loves it!

When I finished the top of the mitt, the “jog” of the last cast off stitch was particularly bothersome. (Normally, I just camouflage that last stitch by craftily sewing it through the beginning stitches.) Also, since the pattern instructed me to bind off loosely, I used the suspended bind off technique - too loose. Knowing I had to undo it, I googled “how to neatly bind off” and came across this site: http://www.knittingnelly.com/?p=357. Check it out!!!! A simple technique that works beautifully! No more jog!!!! I tried it on the thumb first and it worked like a charm!

This is why I love knitting – there is always something new to learn or a technique to improve. The internet puts it all at our fingertips.

Easy to Love......

Design: Fine Cabled Mitts
Designer: Anne, Knitspots
Yarn: Autumn House Farm "Alpacita" in the Colius and Skye Sea Garden Colorways

Unable to deal with the angst that is "Kilcar," I opted to start a pair of fingerless mitts for Joan. The Autumn House yarn is perfection. I love knitting every stitch. It is soft and cushy and I even got gauge! Thank you, Janice!

They are also giving me an opportunity to check out my new Swallow Needles. I love them! Thank you, Jackie! They are flexible but not as flexible as the Bryspun and feel very nice in the hand. (And...I haven't snapped one yet!)

So far....this has been a very fun knit...which is apparently exactly what I need!!