Friday, April 30, 2010

I'm headed to Guthrie, Oh yes, I am!

Today is an exciting day... Some time last year my friend, Stef, and I enrolled in the annual Knit Out event held by SWAK in Guthrie. A few months later my other dear friend, Annie, decided to join in on the fun... Three girls, one hotel suite, lots of yarn - weekend with Jared - chocolate, wine, and cookies! Oh, how divine! If you know a knitter, you know that packing projects for travel seems to be more torturous than packing clothes. And - to add to the confusion - we have to bring supplies for our classes! My task was to pack 3 skeins of worsted weight wool. I know, I know, you think this must be easy since I am the owner of so many skeins... well, not so much. I buy most yarn in sweater quantities and I just hate breaking up a bunch! Plus, do I really want to use the good stuff for a mere dress rehearsal? I broke down and I chose 3.

An update to my last post...

1) Baby Dress for Rita - COMPLETE! I just need to sew up some matching bloomers and get this in the mail to her...
2) Emmaline
3) Creature Comforts Cardigan - COMPLETE! Going in the mail next week...
4) Ribbed Baby Jacket for Loops - COMPLETE! Well, I do need to sew on a button, but there is no more knitting required!
5) Whisper Cardigan
6) Cable T - RIPPED! I decided I no longer like this garment and have decided to salvage the yarn for the Moch Cardi by Gudrun Johnston.
7) Socks for John - MAKING PROGRESS! I knit a few inches on the sock at the baseball game last weekend! I love stitch 'n pitch!
8) Lacy Pullover
9) Springtime Bandit
10) Pinwheel Baby Blanket
11) 28Thirty Cardigan
12) Classic Elite Dolman Tunic

I have an exciting prosepct on the job front - I hope to have happy news to share in the next few weeks... I think I should download some HR / Healthcare related literature to my kindle and get caught up on what has been going on in the HR world. I also need to submit to have my PHR certification renewed - it expires in June and Lord knows I don't want to take that test again!

See you guys next week with some FO pics and more updates! Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Confessions - Be Careful, This Gets Messy

This may be embarassing, but it must be done. Most of you know, I like to knit. I collect yarn, knitting patterns, knitting books and interchangeable knitting needles. I even collect UFO's - some people call these WIP's - but we'll just flat out call mine UFO's. Well, folks, here they all are - list style. I am doing this because every single time I log onto Ravelry I find something else that I think I must knit. The problem is people / companies are producing yarns and writing patterns quicker than my little hands can start and finish an item!

What is a girl to do? Well this girl, even if only for a day, is going to a come to her senses meeting with you and write down every unfinished object. Here it goes!

1) Baby Dress for Rita
2) Emmaline
3) Creature Comforts Cardigan
4) Ribbed Baby Jacket for Loops
5) Whisper Cardigan
6) Cable T
7) Socks for John
8) Lacy Pullover
9) Springtime Bandit
10) Pinwheel Baby Blanket
11) 28Thirty Cardigan
12) Classic Elite Dolman Tunic

Ok, I think this about sums it up. Good news is... 50% of these projects have hope! I'll see if I can finish one, or two, or three before I cast on for another! I better get busy!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Another FO - Sewing & Knitting

I really don't know what the deal is lately, but I am actually able to start and finish knitting projects... It's amazing, truly. Last year when I was feeling a bit more adventurous I started on the Provence Marl Empire Waist Cardigan from Classic Elite. This was adventurous by my own standards because typically if the pattern does not start with the words "top down", I'm out. I'm a lazy knitter. I know. Sleeves are my enemy. I know that, too. I was really making great progress on this until I reached the skirt portion. And then that's where the project died. 300 stitches - stockinette - can life suck any more? I retired the sweater to a bag in the bag of my closet. I pulled it out last week determined to finish, and here she is!



I am truly thrilled with the results - now if only I can get the yarn to stop shedding. This stuff is getting everywhere - but I'll keep wearing it! The vacuum will be my friend once I take it off...

On the RoseKnits front - I'm seriously addicted to sewing the zippered bag buddies lately. I think it is because they are the perfect compliment to my new knitting bucket find. The Reisenthel Loops Shopper... This is one of those times where I am glad that my husband is a little less than observant. The zippered bag buddies separate my projects perfectly for tossing in the shopper... I wanted to make sure that I was prepared for our field trip to SWAK Knit Out on April 30 --- more on that later... I leave you with the bag buddies - pick one up today. They're perfect, for - well... Everything!




Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Green's Queen Around Here

As I stroll through the open spaces at my local yarn shop I continually hear chatters of green, green, green... I will leave 'stylish' opinions and such to people other than myself - because they are definitely much more stylish. Much. So, why not some green for the babes?

For a quickie project I cast on for Debbie Bliss' Ribbed Baby Jacket. It's a free pattern, so feel free to cast on. It calls for 4 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran - although I will be very surprised if this takes four balls. I am almost finished with the back and ready to cast on for the sleeves after only 30 minutes of Law & Order.

I will be sure to keep you all updated as I anticipate finishing this little sweetie jacket and my empire waist sweater right around the same time.

Happy Tuesday!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Knitting FO Ahead!

Watch out people! I guess the enthusiasm that I felt for the baby socks really helped fire up the 'ole knitting mojo. Who says that knitting is reserved for the winter months? I finished my Tea Leaves sweater with a few minor adjustments... Given the time of year and my hatred for knitting sleeves, I opted to make Tea Leaves a short sleeved pullover instead of a long sleeved cardigan.




I was so excited to wear a hand knit - and a little disgusted with myself due to my inability complete projects - I pulled out a Classic Elite - empire waist cardi that I started last year... Yes, I did say last year as in 2009... Maybe even early 2009 if I dare think about it. There are close to 300 stitches on the skirt of this cardi - so it takes me FOREVER to knit a row... I'm finishing off the collar and hope to finish off the skirt this week, too! Keep your fingers crossed. If all goes well, I could have another adult FO by the weekend!