Where did the summer go???

I can't believe Labor Day is here already! The weather here couldn't be better this weekend - it's sunny and in the low 80s...perfect for watching the Blue Angels flying overhead!

I've been plugging away at knitting projects. I finally got back to my husband's sweater after a several month hiatus (and many other projects). This is really a great mindless project - top down sweater for the most part only require you to keep knitting...and knitting ...and knitting - especially when it's for someone who is 6'3"! The body is done and I'm on the first sleeve. He finally got to try it on and I am thrilled with the way it looks (as is he)!

I've also started a pair of socks for one of my brothers. He wanted red socks...so here they are. I'm on the leg of the second sock, so these too are moving in the right direction.

Last month, on our way to the Milwaukee Irish Fest (which was great by the way), I completed my maizy socks. Knit with Maizy (Chrystal Palace Yarns), I used the Charlene Schurch Crosshatch lace pattern. This was a very easy knit, but you do have to pay attention as the yarn is a bit splitty. I'm very happy with the finished product - they are a very comfortable pair of socks!

I'm also working on a number of Christmas projects...but I can't talk much about them...they are surprises!

Stitch and Pitch

Stitch and Pitch is in Cleveland tonight - can't wait! It'll be fun sitting in the stands with other knitters...knitting away during the game and trying to juggle a beer at the same time! I sure hope the Indians pull out a win - the weather is perfect, we'll be knitting at the game (now that's perfection), and a win would be super -making it a perfect night!!!

I finished my second baby sweater set. The shower is in July...I can't make it, but my gift will!

And I finished a sweater for Daniel. His first birthday is in August...another one I'll miss.

And last, but not least, I knit my very first lacy scarf. I suppose I was intimidated by the shawl - it's so big; so I took a smaller step and knit the scarf. I fell in love with the pattern a couple years ago, but didn't think I had the skills needed to knit it...silly me! One of the things I should have learned about knitting at this point is to fear nothing...just take the first step and cast on. The rest will come...and it did! Those last two sentences are pretty profound (if I may say so myself) - don't they apply to most things in life?!

Where I've Been

How quickly time passes! Right after my last post, I found out that my sister's dream was coming true - she, and her husband, were selected to be the adoptive parents of a baby to be born on March 8! Our joy was cautious...the birth mother could still decide to keep her baby, but I launched into baby knitting projects right away. All of the other projects were put on hold...to be finished at some time in the future.

I started out knitting a crib blanket to match the selected fish pattern bedding - feather and fan created the wave pattern. The yarn I used was Berrocco Nostalgia, which has a nylon thread running through it to giving it a hint of shimmer.Shortly after I started, I realized it was not an approriate layette blanket, so I stopped and started the layette blanket. This was knit using Dreambaby and Kokonut together - it creates the softest blanket. I had some Kokonut stashed, as sadly it is no longer available.

When I finished the blanket, I launched into a sweater,

booties,

and a hat.

The baby, a boy named Luke Alexander, was born on March 8! He is a healthy, happy, growing little boy! I am so happy for everyone! Of course, other projects are already being planned for little Luke.

In the meantime, another couple had a baby and I knit a sweater for their baby

and now I'm finished up another baby sweater for a July shower. I've also knit 2 1/2 pairs of socks and have a few other projects in my queue. If you are on Ravelry, check me out - I'm Rasaknits!

Story and Updates

In my post of January 21, I alluded to a story I would share. Well, here it is. I decided in early fall (plenty of time ahead), that I would knit a pair of socks for my non-knitting friend Kathy, who's birthday is February 1st. I chose Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock yarn in the Tahoe colorway. The pattern I used was from More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch - Milanese Lace, a ten line pattern repeat. Really quite lovely! I finished the first sock - it was nearly perfect. I cast on the second sock and flew through that one...except that the seond sock was not the same size as the first sock...now what?! I decide that I had to knit another sock...and hoped that I had enough yarn! No problem... I did and the second sock was measured a little more diligently. Now I have a pairless sock and not enough yarn to make a matching sock...I'll have to order another skein I supose.

This past weekend was productive...I finished two projects in my bag. The first was the second sock of a pair for Danny (a friend's son). The socks were knit with the left over yarn a pair of monkey socks that I am in the midst of knitting.

The next project I finished was a Lucy bag knit with Noro Kureyon in a green/purple/grey/navy colorway. Here's a picture of the bag while underway...right now it's drying - was felted this afternoon. Watch for a finished picture to be posted later this week. Now I'm back to my husband's sweater and two pairs of socks that are currently on the needles!

Crosshatch Socks

I finished the first of the Crosshatch socks. It is going to Birds of a Feather in Avon, OH for display. Now I'll get back to my other projects: sweater for hubby, Lucy bag for me, any of the 3 pairs of socks I have on the needles!

Evangelines

I've turned the heel on my crosshatch socks...then I got distracted.

This past Sunday, Birds of a Feather (a local yarn shop), had a Super Bowl Sale...my stash was enhanced. I purchased Bulky Cascade for a sweater, Berroco Bonsai (a bamboo yarn) for a shawl and short sleeve summer cardi and 3 skeins of Odyssey (100% merino by Reynolds) for fingerless glove gifts.

The Odyssey was calling for me to knit a pair of Evangelines (a pattern in the January issue of MagKnits http://magknits.com ), so I put my socks aside and went at it. I must say, they are lovely!

The first picture was taken with a flash and picks up the colors much better; while the second picture was taken without the flash and shows off the pattern.

Contest

Check out the contest for sock yarn at www.esotericknitter.com. Mention my blog in your answer. Let the games begin!

Cool socks

This past week I got back to working on several projects...knit a few more inches on a sweater for my husband and a few more inches on a Lucy bag for myself...Then I got distracted again! I received a skein of the new Berroco Comfort Sock yarn. The yarn itself is very pretty...my colors...soft shades of green, blue and beige/brown. I then proceeded with my search for the right pattern...and found one in the Sensational Knitted Socks book. The pattern is called crosshatch. Then, of course, I had to cast on and see how it looks. I've turned the heel and am picking up the gussett. I must say, it's a nice pattern for the yarn! When I finish the first sock, it will go on display at Birds of a Feather (a local yarn shop).
This picture is a little dark - no flash used, but it shows off the pattern in all of its glory!

Uncle Rimas' Socks Completed

Finally DONE!!! I've been battling a cold since last Wednesday, so I have had some time to focus on the second sock. This pair of socks gets shipped west tomorrow. It always feels soooo good to finish sock 2! Now I can get back to some of my other projects.

Uncle Rimas' 1st sock completed

Wow...I'm blogging two days in a row!

Today I finished the first of a pair of socks for my Uncle Rimas in Seattle! He's a great potter, and I have been the beneficiary of some of his work! Turn around is fair play...and so I told him I'd knit him a pair of socks. The sock pattern, Baby Cable Rib, is from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.

I started knitting this pair of socks on the flight back from Ireland. I continued picking it up during the month of November...but then everything came to a stop as I launched into my Christmas knitting. Now that Christmas has come and gone, and I've started so many other projects, I've returned to this one; partly feeling a little guilty that this has taken me so long. I am going to cast on the second sock tonight, with the hope that I'll stay on task and get the second one knitted a little faster!

I'm Back!

As I wrote in my last post.....oh so long ago...I've been wrapped up in Ravelry. Time spent on that site has drawn me away from my blog. I knew it had been awhile since I wrote a post...but I really didn't realize that it has been this long!

Since my last post, I spent 2 weeks in Ireland with the Cleveland Irish Players. We had great weather and loads of fun. There were horses in the field in front of the house where we stayed. I even got a bit of knitting done while I was there, although not nearly as much as I had hoped. We returned the first week of November and suddenly the realization that Christmas would be here before I knew it set it. I had projects to decide on and get started. I decided this would be the year of slipper socks and belts, so I bought several skeins of Berrocco Comfort and started knitting. In all I cranked out 4 pairs of slipper socks, 6 belts, 2 pairs of Fetching Fingerless gloves, a pair of Dashing fingerless gloves, a felted buttonhole bag, and a hat. I was glad to get those projects done!

Right now I have too many projects on the needles (see project pics on Flickr)!:

I started a sweater for my husband. It's a top down sweater which I am knitting with Berrocco Comfort. The yarn is a little splitty but really soft and not hard to work with.

I started knitting a Lucy bag with Noro Kureyon before Christmas, but the project was put on hold. I pick it up now and again - little better than half way done on that purse.

I have the first sock finished of Monkey Socks and Embossed Leaves...have to get to the second sock of each. I have started a Lily of the Valley Sock and a Crusoe Sock. I'm nearly done knitting a pair of socks for a toddler and am near the toe of the first sock of a pair of socks for my uncle, the potter.

I stopped for a couple of days to knock out an umbilical cord hat for a friend at the gym. And this past weekend I started a prayer shawl for a friend battling breast cancer.

That's quite a few projects when you consider this is only the third week of January!

I have a sock story to share after the first weekend in February - it involves a gift for a friend! Until the next time...happy knitting!