Better picture of the capelet, plus I'm starting to feel like I'm showing off

What's this?

Why, it's the new book Quick to Knit: Great Gifts (from Publications International )with my little scarf pattern inside! I'm starting to feel a bit boastful- there have been an awful lots of designs come out lately. You'd think I'd get used to it, but I don't! It's always a thrill.

Here's a better picture of the capelet, now dry and capable of being modeled:

I think I like it! And something new I started last night:

The pattern is Ruffles from Scarf Style (I have gotten so much use out of that book!) and the yarn is Nashua Handknits Wooly Stripes, color Citrus. The pattern is so intoxicatingly simple, yet cool looking. I'm having trouble leaving it alone.

Another FO

The little hat I finished for Emma on Tuesday- it's nearly one skein of Berroco Plush. I think she'll like it.

Yarn Crawl

Friday I enjoyed a Yarn Crawl with Beth and Sonya. We made the rounds to Old Village Yarn Shop in Plymouth, Knitting Den in South Lyon, Knit a Round (my favorite ever) in Ann Arbor, and finally a quick stop to Busy Hands (also in Ann Arbor) followed by eating too much chocolate fondue (not bad, eh?) I bought lots of Diakeito Diamusee, some other Diakeito yarn, some Koigu, SWTC Amaizing, something that ruffles when you knit it- I think it's from Online, some sock yarn, some Dune on clearance, some Zara Plus on clearance, some Nashua Wooly Stripes, some Malabrigo, and who knows what else. The only problem is I spent WAY more than I should have, though I didn't pay full price for much. My haul is pictured above (I already knit nearly 5 balls of the Diakeito Diamusee into a little capelet- see below- it's still damp and blocking). Obviously I spent the remainder of the weekend mainly knitting and lounging- pretty nice.


The pattern is roughly based on the "Grand Plan Capelet" that was in some old issue of Interweave Knits- there is a top down version I think in Wrap Style. I put a cable panel down the front, the bottom and top edges are just 2X2 rib. The cable is impossible to see in the picture though.

Also on Friday the mailman brought the yarn I have to swatch up for the Great Wall of Yarn at TNNA in January (get to keep the leftovers though!) I usually get stuck with a lot of novelties so imagine my delight to get a skein of cashmere and the rest either merino or alpaca.

New yarn and stuff

Okay. First the purchase, the new sock yarn "Jitterbug" from Colinette. The colors are all gorgeous!! The only problem is the yardage is a bit light- if you're feet are relatively small you might be in trouble. As mine are Quite Wee I think I'll be okay.

Second, I got a ball of STWC's new yarn CRAFT from the upcoming "Vickie Howell Collection." It's a cotton and MILK PROTEIN blend (yes, I said milk). Pretty neat, huh? It feels like cotton, only with a nicer hand. I don't normally like cotton but I think I'll like this. Right now I'm in the middle of discussing with them what sorts of designs I'll be working on for this and the other 2 yarns in the collection, ROCK and LOVE (and also working on some design ideas for SWTC's other new yarn, INSPIRATION (alpaca/soysilk). Looks like I'm going to be very busy soon!



Speaking of busy, I'm trying to crank out some gifts. These socks are in Brooklyn Handspun in the color "Chocolate Covered Cherries." The yardage is fabulous- nearly 500 yards per skein- so I should have more than enough for the bigger-than-usual socks I'm knitting. I'm also trying to finish Hubbo's long-awaited Henry Rollins doll from Stitch n' Bitch Nation and a little hat for Emma (almost done) out of Berroco Plush (her kind of yarn!) I'm sure I'll try to squeeze in a few more too, we'll see how it goes.

So it's Thanksgiving, and I finally have time to answer Scout's meme that she tagged me for, so here it goes:
Scout’s Meme:
1. How and when did you learn how to knit/crochet? Who taught you?
I taught myself to knit 7 years ago, from a book- I think it was the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework or something like that. An old boyfriend taught me to crochet though, in high school- I think it was about 1990 or so.
2. How has this craft impacted your life? (besides financially!)
I have learned a lot, found out how patient I can be sometimes, and got to realize a dream of designing stuff and seeing it in magazines and books. Too cool!
3. Pick at least one person to talk about who you have met through the knit-world and why you are thankful to have met them. Feel free to get all mushy.
I'd have to pick all the lovely ladies of the Detroit Area Knitters- it's been great to have knitting (and yarn shopping!) pals to meet with every week. It forces me to make time for myself and for friends, which even Hubbo thinks I really needed to do.

Okay, so I'll be patient

The January 2007 issue of Creative Knitting arrived yesterday-- without my sock pattern. One polite inquiry later, I found it has been moved to the July issue- there were space issues and socks are more year-round than heavy winter sweaters!

I've got shopping to share and finished stuff to show- more soon.

More happy things

Remember how I got those big boxes of yarn recently from Nashua Handknits and Classic Elite? Well, just now I was going through the papers that were with them (submission guidelines, etc.)and found they had included 2 posters showing Fall/Winter 2006 and Spring/Summer 2007's designs-- and on the Spring/Summer one was the tank tops I designed for them! I didn't think I'd get a look until closer to spring when the pattern books come out. What a treat!

New Jaywalkers, Blue Jaywalkers

All done (at last- these were put on hold so many times to finish something else). Done in Socks That Rock Lightweight (Lapis). I was worried I wouldn't make it since they seemed to be consuming more yarn than usual, but there was more than I thought left over (there should be- I have really small feet!) The stripeyness turned to blotchiness through the feet, but what are you going to do? Oh well. I find the STR washes better than the Koigu I used for my other pair, although the Koigu maintained its stripeyness better. I think I'd rather they wash well- I'm not one for pampering my handknit socks. If they can't survive the washer and dryer they're not for me, I'm afraid (although I am nice to my sweaters).

Look!

Right here! The new Knit n' Style is out, with my sweater in it- scroll down to the blue one called "Chunky Cables." Yay!

At last!

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been obsessively checking knitting and crochet magazines, looking for the SWTC ad with my pink sweater in it, and every time, it's the "other" ad- the one without my sweater. Sniff.

Last night, just when I thought I'd never find it, I got home (and feeling really sick, too) to find the latest issue of Yarn Market News, with the ad I've been looking for- and full page, too! :)

I'm happy now.

Tofutsies socks are finished!

Talk about a quick project- I cast on for these at Knitter's Night Out (at Have You Any Wool in Berkley) on Friday and finished them today. They are a quick and easy design for SWTC in their new Tofutsies sock yarn- the one I mentioned before that is Soysilk/wool/cotton/ with a dash of crab and shrimp shells. It looks and feels like sock yarn- soft and nice.

I found out that the sweater I did for SWTC that is appearing in the new Knit n' Style (February issue, out later this month) is on pg. 65. I haven't seen it yet myself but I know that much.

Oh, one other thing. At Knitter's Night Out I was poking through the trunk show sweaters and saw my own Simplici-Tee (a design I did for SWTC last spring, in Phoenix)! First the teddy bear kits and now this. Made me smile (and buy some yarn, but I would have done that anyway, right?)

Totoro!

He's done! I finished embroidering/crocheting his face last night. The pattern was not without its frustrating moments (needs a bit more editing, I think) but was quick and easy. I think Emma will be delighted when she wakes up in a few minutes.

This is the weekend's progress on the Touch Me scarf, which I worked on after I ran out of yarn to finish Totoro while I was gone. Now it's going to have to wait while I crank out those socks for SWTC.

I'm back!

I'm back from the conference I went to for work- I've been gone nearly a week! I managed to get very close to finishing the Totoro hat for Emma, but I didn't bring both balls of yarn and ran out while knitting the ears. I'm planning to finish it tonight, either at home or in Dearborn if I can get to SnB (I have a meeting of undetermined length to attend, plus some other things to do, so we'll see). Luckily I also brought along my Touch Me scarf, and got as far as starting the second ball. I got the yarn Jae sent to finish it yesterday, which is great, so my scarf can be its full intended length without additional yarn shopping (as much as I like it). I managed to lose both my favorite earrings (they were just from Target, don't worry) AND my little green clicky row counter at the airports (one there, one back) which added some frustration, but overall I had a pretty good time.

I got a big ball of Tofutsies while I was gone too, and am going to start on a sock design for SWTC tonight. Should be fun.

Pictures later, when I get to taking some!

Oh Frabjous Day!

Did I go completely insane at the yarn store? No- LOOK what I found on the porch when I got home!

Sample boxes from BOTH Classic Elite and Nashua Handknits for Fall/Winter 2007- 30 skeins in all! Even fancy stuff like Classic Elite Lush! I'm totally loving this. Now to come up with a design idea or two in return...

Oh the agony, and new projects

Monday I was so sore I was waddling around like a pregnant lady- and then I had to go to tap Monday night and ice skate with my class for a field trip yesterday-- what a combination!

Yesterday I also got the grey yarn I needed to make a Totoro hat for Emma, from this pattern from Hello Yarn. Emma is a huge Totoro fan. I am using the yarn called for in the pattern, from Knit Picks. I also bought just one of their circulars to try out, since they're so cheap. I also got the news that Jae will trade some of my merino sock yarn for the two skeins of Touch Me that I need for my scarf! Hubbo will be glad I'm recycling stash instead of shelling out for more.

I'm still working on my blue Jaywalkers- though I'm tempted to start a new pair for the trip I'm going on (a conference for work) tomorrow. Soon I'll be busy with design projects for SWTC again and in the meantime I'd like to try out that new skein of STR I bought!