Here it is, my little sketch, my not that original idea. A knitting bag with knitting needles as handles. I have needles in the most fun colors, lots of pinks and greens to choose from. You can see that the bag will be pink, raspberry, 50's green and light brown. I have purchased the yarn, but it I probably won't be able to work on it until after the holidays.

So much stuff

I realized after reading my last post that I never identified the pattern for my first sweater. It's the Mock Cable Cardigan designed by Melinda Goodfellow, Yankee Knitter Designs. It's an easy to follow pattern, fun to knit, I would do it again.

Shortly after my last post (maybe even the same weekend) my husband came home with his garage sale finds, first thing he said "look what I got for you!"

At first I was thinking what the heck do I want with those? But then they started to grow on me and next thing I knew I was down on the floor dumping them out and scheming about what I might do with them? Suddenly I had a plan. So I enlisted a fellow knitter to cast on with me and one of these days we'll actually knit them.

Ready, Set, Knit

I have embraced this fall weather, I'm so happy it's finally here. Walking with Janey in the morning in the crisp New England air, no rain, no bugs, no humidity, just the wonderful smell of all the neighbors wood stoves chugging along, it's so nice. Makes me want to knit (everything makes me want to knit), I started going through my sweater patterns. I bought yarn for two new sweaters, I bought yarn for a few Christmas gifts. Fall just arrived and all ready I'm in over my head, so exciting…

Then I thought back to last years sweaters and got them out and stared wearing them in the mornings. I decided to honor my first sweater (from just a few years ago) by taking a picture of it and posting it on my blog. I gathered my equipment, my assistant and outside we went. As you can see from the pictures the sweater is very nice, its a beautiful worsted weight, Jo Sharp Tweed, light green (I can't remember the name of the color but they still produce it) it was beautiful day, and my assistant was absolutely exhausted when we were done.

Pink Bliss, so sweet…

At about 7:00 this lazy rainy Sunday morning I suddenly woke up and jumped out of my dream where I was in my stash looking for yarn to make the Cuffed Tweed Mittens in the latest Interweave FELT Magazine (pg. 32). I quite often dream about knitting and have experienced these rushes of pure need to create a certain project. I once stayed on the sofa all day creating a pair of fingerless mittens from my own pattern that came to me in a dream. Anyway, the demands of life and the day took me away from the project, however the episode was a catalyst to posting a blog, so something good was achieved… and I will be doing those mittens soon.

The photo is of Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed and I am so in love with the color it makes squeal.

I bought a few skeins (3 to be exact) on a shopping trip with some fellow knitter friends.

Buying more wasn't an option because it was very expensive and I didn't have a project in mind. Now that I'm on the opposite side of the state plenty of projects come to mind. My three skeins are going to become fingerless mitts and a hat for me, me, me. It's so sweet isn't it?

Other fun knitting things for me this past month have been a trip to the Knit & Crochet Show in Manchester, NH on July 25th (did I forget to mention this in my last blog?). It was great fun and I bought a few things. A couple of patterns, a new set of Lace Addi Turbo's, some beautiful navy blue worsted weight, hand dyed yarn from The Yarn and Fiber Company's booth. My friend and fellow knitter Susan's car was rear ended in Manchester on the way to the show, but and other than 3 mild cases of whiplash a fun day was had by all.

I recently purchased the Kate Gilbert's Bird in Hand pattern (checkout Ravelry) as a gift for a friend. It's beautiful. I am not a fair isle knitter but I might have to give it a try, so lovely. The variations on Ravelry are just incredible. I also recently purchased the new Autumn Pattern book from CEY (Classic Elite Yarn), everything in it is gorgeous. I've already purchased my Frog Tree for one of the patterns.

Last but not least this Wednesday I'm going to WEBS. Norah Gaughan the designer for Berroco is coming and bringing their new yarn and knitted samples of her sweater patterns, it should be a wonderful evening and I'll be sure to post about it (and not to wait a month before posting).

Well, for now it's way past my bedtime and I have the last 30 pages of the Friday Night Knitting Club to finish. Sweet dreams for all… zzzzzzzz…

Just blocked my scarf, it came out very nice. I'm pleased with it. It's a solid 60" in length and approximately 6" wide. It'll make a nice gift. I can't help but think about doing it again in fuzzy alpaca for myself, but it will have to wait. My list of unfinished projects is REALLY long…

I started a baby blanket for my great nephew due in October. The baby blanket pattern from Stitch & Bitch, it's so fun, seed stitch, seed stitch, seed stitch, texture, texture, texture. Two weeks to finish, Yikes… I hope the little fiber fairies visit me instead of Rebekkah this week. I need help! I want to make socks for Owen and a hat before the baby shower on August 24th. I better get busy, goodnight to all.

The hazy days of summer

The hazy days of summer.

I was reading my friend Rebekkah's blog , bowerbirdknits.blogspot.com, she inspired me to post a blog. Although I have little knitting to discuss, I will be finishing my scarf today and hopefully will get the chance to block and photograph it. It's quite lovely and will make a nice gift for someone (who will remain nameless or should I say blogless). Anyway, I agree with Rebekkah, I'm ready for fall. This summer has been too wet, to humid, and too long for me. September will be wonderful as always,  still somewhat warm and sunny, but fall will be welcome at my house. In the meantime (August that is) I was thinking of some of the positives of summer. Even though this summers' weather hasn't been great nature goes on… we have two sets of baby robins within easy site of our windows. One directly above our dinning room windows. Mrs Robin built her nest on the little ledge that runs right above the windows and it's truly breath taking to watch them. One is all ready flying back and forth one another one is climbing out of the nest and teetering along the edge.

I can't keep my self away from the window and every time I look, they look back with a question in the their eyes…are you a really big worm?

They're here!

Blueberries, blueberries, blueberries…

No knitting for me, only picking. Last year we sold over 300 pounds. This year seems less prosperous but still picking is a big job and it's taking all my free time. I need to quit my job and knit all the time (ahh… a dream come true). I've been working on a lace scarf from Fiber Trends. I't approximately 40 inches  in length so far, in Lanet light green superwash merino. One of my favorite sock yarns, it's super soft, comes in great colors, and it's washable wool.

I would really like to be finishing up my right side vest. I'm knitting the CEY Four Season's "Man's" Vest with 2 friends (one of who owns my LYS, The Knitting Knook) and they are each farther along then I. I must admit I'm grateful for the rain that moved through today. Josie, Janey and I took a knitting break and hung out in the living room. Since Queen Josephine rarely spends time with Janey Dog it was really great for their relationship. Tomorrow… it's back to picking bluberries.

2 years on the needle

Finally after WELL over 2 years I finished my light blue Knitting Pure & Simple Neckdown V Neck Shaped Cardigan. It's knitted with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino which makes it incredibly soft and extremely warm. It also makes every increase, decrease, new yarn addition, and mistake show up brilliantly “bet you can't miss me, I'm, right here, ”

I'll wear it, I'll probably end up absolutely loving it, 

the color is beautiful…

If anyone plans to make this sweater I would advise them not to do the increases in the sleeves. I ended up re-knitting one sleeve because I couldn't stand the width and weight of the sleeve. Some the problem is with the weight of the yarn, it fairly heavy, dense, but even so I don't think anyone really needs sleeves 15-18 inches around? Last but not least, I did not use the increases asked for in the the pattern (make ones), as my increase method because they tend to create holes in your garment. I just knitted into the front and back of the stitch to create my increases.

I am planning to block it sometime soon to try to iron out a some of the construction debris like the increases up the sides of the body. I'll report back on whether or not it helps.

Tails Against Knitting Enjoyment

I was thinking the first thing I should do on my blog is to introduce what Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee calls (TAKE) my team against knitting enjoyment. 

I call them the tails against knitting enjoyment. We don't have children, we do however have a house full of animals and neighborhood children. All wanting attention…

First it's our 2.5 cats. Queen Josephine, AKA Josie Jo, then there's Princess Franchesca, AKA Fussy Frankie, last but not least there's Pete, he's our half a cat, he doesn't live here? Our neighbors claim him as theirs, but he clearly confused, he frequently sleep over and arrives every morning for breakfast without skipping a beat. All three are extremely spoiled, very vocal about their needs, and have dirty little feet causing me to spend many hours vacuuming and mopping when I would much rather be knitting. Last but definitely not least is Janey Dog. Clearly we love animals but a lot more knitting would be going on if they could feed, walk, and clean up after themselves.

The tails that keep me from knitting

I'm finally finding the time to try blogging.

My first thought was, what can I say? I never have time to knit. A house full of animals always wanting my attention. Seems that spending time with my husband, our pets, and occasionally friends, there's never enough time left to knit. Still, I love knitting so why not???