Things in progress ...and upcoming

Lots of things going on lately... of course at least a few of those things have to do with yarn ;) 

I'm almost done with my Springtime Bandit. I started this poor thing ages ago, and then it sat unloved for about 5 months. Now that I have picked it back up I am making great progress. Winter still has quite a ways to go in the Northern Hemisphere so, I'll have plenty of cold days to snuggle up in it!

Stitches West is closing in on the Bay Area fast! February 21-24 in Santa Clara... I dont know yet whether I will have the time to make it to the festivities. Most of the classes I would like to take have already been sold-out, so thats kind of a bummer. But, I havent seen a vendor list yet! The right yarn company could make up for not being able to get into the entrelac class, fo sho ;)

I'll be diving into a knit-a-long soon too. Its being organized on Facebook...a first for me! The group is still voting on the pattern and the suspense will be lifted on the 10th, when all the votes are counted. I'm hoping it will be this pattern...

Thorny by Lisa Villarreal

© Lisa Villarreal

I'm also starting to get the itch to knit up socks! If you know me, and heard me say that, you might lean over to feel my head and see if I'm feverish! :) Historically, I just dont make socks... I trade yarn to get others to knit them for me. But, I need more socks! Knitted socks are my favorite and I really need some to wear with my Mary Janes.

Oh and, a little update on the gift I knitted for my daughter's teacher... she adored it! As soon as she had the present in hand, she opened it and put it right down over her head and wore it. Yay! That makes me a happy knitter ;) I hope its keeping her toasty thru the Winter Break.

In other yarn news: My sister-in-law knits! She's 22 and just home from college. She knows her way around a sewing machine like nobody's business but yarn crafting is new to her, and I'm so proud of her! She's been sick the last few days and while laying in bed, she's watched tutorials. A few swatches later, and she's well on her way to the gnome hat she so desires! I'm happy to have someone else to share my madness... err, I mean passion, with ;)

My one knitted holiday gift is in the books! Go me!

I wish I had the determination (and skill to knit faster!) to make more knitted goodies to give a gifts this time of year but, I just dont have it in me. Maybe next year? Hmm, we'll see... 

But, I am in adore with my daughter's teacher so, it was easy to knit something up for her for a gift. 

This was an on the fly, fast knit. I improvised the pattern using one hank of chunky Malabrigo in the colorway "stonechat". 

Cast on 36 and K1 P1 for the entire length, knit flat. Sounds boring, I know, but I wanted something that didnt require much brain power. I seamed it up after a soak, stretch, and dry and voila!, fini!

I hope all your holiday knitting is ready to cast off and weave in the ends by this time! I have been itching to cast something else on since I finished this up today... I have some fabulous pink yarn that was gifted to me about a year ago that is just begging to be a cute hat for my daughter. 

I'll keep you posted! 

WIP Wednesday

My current work-in-progress is made of Malabrigo chunky in "stonechat". I was going to knit it up in seed stitch but got lazy - k1 p1 instead for the entire hank and seaming to make it a "necklace-like" cowl for my daughter's teacher. It's turning out to be very squooshy!

I think she'll like it! Since the weather has gotten so much more cold, I've noticed she has two grey scarves she switches between. This should be a nice, more colorful change, without being overly bright.

uber super dooper bulky knitting :)

holey socks!

Both pair of my pretty hand knit socks have holes! Apparently, I'm hard on heels ;) I've been searching for info on darning...as well as new ways to knit hardy heels! This is one of my favorite new tutorials.

How To Darn A Sock

Both heels - one worse than the other :(

Raffle For Babies!

Springtime is March For Babies season, and April 28th I will be Marching For Babies once again! This year as a special incentive to donate, I will be raffling off a knitted item - a handmade Ishbel shawl - knit by yours truly.

Ysolda Teague's "Ishbel"

Miss Babs Yet & Mini Mochi

Your donation is your entry! Here's how it works - If you wish to donate $20 and donate $10, and then another $10... you have 2 entries, get it? Once I reach my goal of $200 in donations goal the raffle IS ON! A winner will be chosen by random draw on the afternoon of April 29th - the day after the March For Babies that I will be participating in. You have until 10am on April 28th to get you donation (and raffle entry) in!

Please visit my March For Babies page for more info about how your donations help babies and mamas around the country, and thank you for helping!

so many pics!

Ugh! I have a ton of pictures to get off of my digital camera... and I cant find the USB cord that fits :(

DD age 4 and I have been Geocaching lately, so we have treasure pics to share! The Winter weather is chilly in Kansas right now but, we've had endless gorgeous days to go exploring. Yesterday I was snapping like crazy at bald eagles during a walk!

So, until I can get those pics up, I offer this... a pic of my new handmade socks! A knitty friend made them for me using Shalimar Yarns Zoe Sock in "Fairy Dust".  The pattern is Berlin Muster.