I've been inspired

By Cathi. I just signed up for the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon in October. Now to go work out-- I'm going to need it!

The Sound of Music

The other night Emma was in a school production of The Sound of Music (she was in the chorus). Here she is at the end, taking a bow...

...and a curtsy. The play was so cute, and all the kids did a great job.

Socks That Rock Ahoy!

In the mail yesterday- Lapis and Cobalt Bloom (for the Summer of Socks!) I plan to have a pile of Socks That Rock to wear with my cute new Birks this fall (when it's hot I'm more of a flip flop girl.)
P.S. Any bets on whether I'll finish A LOT of a dk weight sweater this weekend? I kind of have to, and am hoping that extra day will save me. Cross your needles for me.

The new issue of Creative Knitting

and I'm in it! The original name reflected the colorway of the yarn I chose for my swatch, but when it got changed (recognize it? It's the same SWTC Amerah as that sweater I did last month) the good people at Creative Knitting gave it a new name too. In the July issue, page 60.

Lots of lots of yarny delights

All those swatching samples I've been telling you about- waiting for me to get some submission ideas. But first, I must finish that Fair Isle cardigan for The Alpaca Yarn Co. Looks like another busy week!

Now if I could only decide on a pattern...

My next pair of socks, wound and ready to go. (Socks That Rock, Carbon Dating colorway)

Going to be a socky summer

I joined Margene's Trek Along With Me (knitting Trekking socks) and The Summer of Socks so the summer can be filled with socky goodness (in between design samples, at least!) To celebrate, I just ordered two more skeins of Socks That Rock. Mmmmmm.... Socks That Rock.

Finished Cuteness

I've finished the cute little Petal Bib from One Skein- I even know a new baby to give it to. I used about 1/2 ball of Tahki Cotton Classic Color in color #103. It only took a few hours to finish, even while knitting leisurely in front of the tv. Not bad. The i-cord ties were very cleverly done- I like this pattern.

Instant Happiness

Just got home from work to find 11 (!) skeins of Classic Elite yarn on my porch, sent from them to play, swatch and design with for their Spring/Summer '07 collection. A perfect remedy to a long day at work. I've got to start sketching- for them, Nashua, and Interlacements this weekend. And make some major progress on that Fair Isle sweater for The Alpaca Yarn Co. Should be fun.

Sock-related amusements

Having way too much fun playing around with my pictures. This and lots more waiting to help you waste time on the computer right here.

Something just for me

The Jaywalkers (my March Project Spectrum project, how sad) are FINALLY done. I've had just a partial foot to go for about a month, but I've been WAY too busy with other projects to get to them. At last, something knitted for me. And check out the new shoes, just like Lolly has. Perfect for showing off socks.

You know you want to...

Take My Quiz. I took yours, it's only fair.

The Sweater!

You are already aware that I stayed up until 4 am Friday night (after working 12 hours, no less) to finish The Sweater. Here it is:

There was no way I was modeling this at 4 am- though it did fit great! The yarn (Amaizing- made of corn) has great stitch definition, is soft, and not quite as heavy as cotton though the look is pretty much like cotton. The construction of the yarn is a tape- looks a lot like SWTC Oasis in the skein. Look for it when it comes out- I really liked working with it!

Saturday I was up at 6 am to help run the school's big garage sale. When I got home around 7 pm, I completely crashed. I woke up not too long ago and realized I had received two beautiful skeins of merino/silk blend from Interlacements for designing. How nice! Now the The Sweater is done, I need to do a few swatches (for Nashua, Interlacements, and the Great Wall of Yarn)- all that free yarn isn't exactly free, you know, and finish the long-suffering sweater for The Alpaca Yarn Company- all before TNNA, which is in less than a month. For today though, I'm going to celebrate Mother's Day by finishing my other Jaywalker- I'd love to finish something that's for me today.

Edited to add: SWTC's website has been updated with more info on Amaizing. You can check it out here.

4 am

And the sweater for SWTC is done. I really like it. Too tired to take a picture. Good night.

And she was left with nothing but a claw

Or at least that's how it seems. I spent a whopping 31 hours knitting between the time I got home Friday until I went to bed Sunday, and yet the sweater for SWTC is STILL not finished. I blame myself for the time-consuming stitch pattern I chose. Back I go to attack the rest of sleeve #2---
P.S. I got a BIG box of yarn from Nashua Handknits for making design submissions (to them) AND yarn for swatches for the Great Wall of Yarn at TNNA next month- how cool was it to come home to 2 boxes of yarn that didn't cost me a dime? Pretty damn cool.

My socks are here!

My Sockapaloooza socks arrived today! My sock pal was Diane and she did a great job! They fit great and I love the color!



If that's not enough, she even sent a nice bar of lemon soap (I love lemon) and even a little surprise for Emma (she LOVES it!)



Thanks Diane!