Valentine's Day

Cranberry scones for breakfast (made by me).



Working on some little socks for my new niece, Dixie (I'm an aunt!!)

We also had a lovely dinner at my parents' house. John made all the food, and my dad picked up the tab (yay for free, delicious meals!!) So it was homemade bread with boursin cheese, chicken coconut cream soup, salad, teriyaki salmon with pineapple salsa, chocolate covered strawberries, and red cake with cream cheese frosting...mmmmm.

Earlier this weekend...



Callie had a crazed look in her eyes , so on Saturday I put on my snowshoes and tromped around the backyard with her. She loooves the snow. If you throw snowballs at her, she'll catch them in her mouth and eat them. I even saw her carrying part of an icicle around like a stick.



All the snow in our backyard. She can walk over that really tall spot by the fence, but (thankfully) she's only ever done it when John was on the other side.

Halfway done (almost)

On Sunday, I finished the front of my Aran Accent Vest (my first ever non-sock garment!). I've been working on it (on and off) since August 15th, but I had to take a long break with the moving and new job (my brain was so fried I couldn't knit without messing up). I did have a bit of trouble with the decreases and one design element that I didn't go back and fix, but I'm really excited about how it's turning out. I think (hope!) that it's going to fit right. When I hold it up to myself, it looks like it will.

I'm really liking the yarn. The only drawback is that it makes the cables harder to see (but on the flip side, it makes any mistakes harder to see!). Depending on the fit and how the back goes, I may make the vest again in a solid colored yarn.

I also started some cabled socks, which I really like, and they make up for the Jaywalker socks that aren't working.at.all (size issues, even when I fixed the whole laddering issue). I may try the Jaywalkers again making the next size up, but I think I'm going to need a big, long break from them first.

John's Famous Scarf

Our knitting group's work it being displayed at the public library this month, and John's Irish Hiking Scarf was my contribution (my first knit scarf---made back in 2005...luckily, behind glass you can't tell it's acrylic ;) ). One day, I'm going to have to make him a wool scarf.

Things have been crazy busy here--moved to a different rental house (LOVE the new place), turned 29, and took a quick trip home to South Dakota.

I'm looking forward to the weekend--nothing planned other than a trip to the Paw Paw Festival, maybe taking the dog for a walk, and maybe making some granola.

What is this mess?

We're moving to a new rental house this week, and this is just the beginning of all the packing we need to do. We got the keys last night, so I'm going to start moving stuff today (John has to work all day--so he's off the hook).

I'm so excited about the house I wish I could move EVERYTHING today. It has closets! Lots and lots of closets! It has a completely dry basement AND pipes that don't freeze in the winter. It also has a bigger kitchen, an upstairs bedroom-a.k.a John's Man Cave (which will be complete with guns, computers, and a tv) and another room we can use for guests (and maybe a little knitting, sewing, and photography gear). So excited!!

On a side note, I think this town sets me up for REALLY low expectations when it comes to houses. I swear, I dream that one day (one sweet day) I'll have central air-conditioning and a dishwasher. High aspirations, right? ;)

When I'm not packing, I've been working on...



...my Aran Accent Vest (made with Donegal Tweed Homespun yarn). It's the first knitted garment I've ever worked on. I'm really happy with it so far (but have to take a break because I'm confused about the decreases--I'm waiting for reinforcements ;) ).

I just realized earlier this week that I've been knitting for 4 1/2 years. 4 1/2! I couldn't believe it's been that long (guess I've always thought of myself as a newbie knitter). Guess it's time to start trying some harder patterns.

First veggies...

John with our first chili pepper and the second cherry tomato of the summer.



Yellow tomatoes, almost ready to go!



And the socks I started this morning. How cute are they?? They're the Jaywalker pattern in Knit Picks Felici.

Bibs are the answer

...to how I'm going to make gifts for all these kids that keep coming into the world. I like to make toddler socks, but I really can't keep up.

Easy Peasy Baby Bib Pattern: http://itchymcstitchy.blogspot.com/2009/01/easy-peasy-baby-bib-pattern.html

(Made with Bernat Cottontots in Lime Berry)

Cute, huh?

Garden update: We're afraid we may be losing our squash to powdery mildew--alternating between spray and miracle grow to see if we can get them to pull through. The tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries are all doing fine. John's Brandywine tomatoes are just now starting to flower/bud. We had one ripe strawberry, but I waited too long to pick it. Something else ate it before I could.

Dear knitting girls,

Thank you SO much for the wonderful wedding presents that you made for me and John.



We were overwhelmed by the amount of work that you put into your gifts (and the sheer amount of knitting items that you guys had gotten into that box)! When we opened it, there was just more and more and more (our families were there, and they were also really impressed!)



Knowing that you guys took the time to make every one of those washcloths and scrubbies and mitts (and rug and bag), and having to sneak around at knitting group so I wouldn't see your WIPs, and all the covert/black-ops style yarn distribution, it makes me smile just to think of it. I really feel like you guys gave us a box full of love (disguised as useful and adorable knitted objects).



We've already started using some of the washcloths, the bag, and the rug (thankfully it was just washed or else I couldn't have put it back in there with everything else). I've tried to get pictures of a lot of the different items--so I hope you can see something that you made! I just can't get over everything you guys have done--and all the cute patterns!!



I'd also like to thank you for the wonderful wedding shower you had for me (or was it the October business meeting of the Athens County Knitters? ;) ) I had such a great time, and it was so cool that my family got to meet you guys!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the wonderful gifts, the wedding shower, for being there on Wednesday evenings, and for being my friends. I am so glad that you are a part of my life.

Much love,
Abbie

Too hot for wool (blend) socks

Just finished these this morning...had to turn on the air conditioning and eat a bowl of ice cream just to get the pictures taken ;)



Pattern--7 stitches per inch pattern from Getting Started Knitting Socks

Yarn: Lion Brand Magic Stripes (thanks to Nancy for letting me buy it off her ;))

Started on May 16th, finished July 26th

Best part: I finally learned a better way to pick up stitches...I held off looking into it for so long, decided on the second sock that I was going to see if I couldn't find a tutorial on the internet, found one--and learned the mystery of picking up stitches in about 30 seconds...it makes sooo much more sense and looks better than what I've been doing for the past three years

The longest scarf yet...

So I also finally finished my Dad's Christmas present...

Guess how long it ended up being?



Yep, 104 inches or (as long as I'm doing the math correctly) 8 feet 8 inches of cabled, wooly wonderfulness ;) Before I sent it, I had my stuffed dog, Blue, model it...



It was the Irish Hiking Scarf, made on size 10 needles, with Galaway Highland Heather (3 skeins...610 yards...over 6 football fields worth of yarn) ;) After making the scarf from wool, I feel a little bad that John's scarf is acrylic...but not bad enough that I'm going to make another one anytime soon (and also John says I need to make a scarf for myself...which sounds good but I'm also not going to do anytime soon)

For now, I'm focusing on washcloths ;)

In which, I make something other than a scarf...

after months of scarf cabling, I took a break, and made something else...

Wristwarmers! (Voodoo Wristwarmers from Knitty...no clue what the yarn was though)

I started and finished them during our knitting retreat at Lake Hope (last weekend of Feb/first of March), and it was so satisfying to actually FINISH something and use the yarn that Erin bought from me at the Yarn Barn in Lawrence last May (Thank you, Erin! All the knitting girls loved the yarn, too!). So here they are...



It's kind of hard to take pictures of your own hands...but this is the best I could do.



I finally gave up and had John help me out, so here you can see both of them

I think they're cute...am having a bit of a hard time finding the right weather to wear them (usually if my wrists are cold, my fingers are even colder...) but I am now prepared for any situation that requires warm wrists!

Socks!!

I finally finished my very first pair of Abbie-sized socks! =)

Pattern: Random internet pattern for ribbed socks

Yarn: Swizzle Self-Striping Sock Yarn

Check 'em out!



What I learned from my first pair of adult socks...

*Use a pattern from a source you know and trust. This pattern was okay...didn't like the heel or toe directions...and then halfway through the first sock, I couldn't find it online anymore, and I'd lost my print out (oops!)

*Use bigger needles next time/make a swatch--these fit because they're stretchy BUT I'd like to make my next pair a little bigger

*Extra toe room is better than not enough

*Self-striping yarn is way fun and awesome!


My next project is finishing my dad's scarf (soon!) and then I'm thinking about some wristwarmers from knitty.com.

Yay!

Knitting!

Today has been filled with MTV (Made, My Super Sweet 16, and Engaged and Underage--all guilty pleasures ;)) and lots of knitting!

Here's my Razor Cami so far...yep, I agree that it looks reaaallly small (kind of more like a hat than a top...). But it's stretchy...so I'm hopeful...



An explanation for my non-knitter friends...the red yarns are my "lifelines" so if I mess up, I can pull out the knitting and start from that spot...as much as I like the KU colors, the red yarn won't be there when I (hopefully) wear the tank top (or give it to the nearest tiny 10 year old)

Swap update...

My swap partner's (Hi Liz!) sock kit is packed up and ready to go...but I don't want to spoil the surprise...so this is all you get to see of it!

I can't mail it until Friday, but it's waiting by the door and ready to take the trip to Alaska!!

Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap Trivia

As much as I hate to bump my last post from the top of the page...I'm a little behind with my Hogwarts trivia answers...

Who says...

"Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies"?

Answer: Lord Voldermort

Swap update: I have the yarn, stitch markers, needles, and pattern all ready to go. I'm making the bag this weekend and it'll all hopefully be in the mail next Friday (15th) or the following Monday! =)

HSKS Trivia

Trivia #1
What's the name of this potion?
This potion has the colour of molten gold, and while exposed to the air, large drops will leap like goldfish above the surface without spilling.
Oops...I mean, Felix Felices..

Trivia #2
Which book is this line from?
"Harry and Cho were now too embarrassed to look at each other, let alone talk to each other; what if Ron and Hermione started going out together, then split up? Could their friendship survive it? Harry remembered the few weeks when they had not been talking to each other in third year; he had not enjoyed trying to bridge the distance between them. And then, what if they didn't split up? What if they became like Bill and Fleur, and it became excrutiatingly embarrassing to be in their presence, so that he was shut out for good?"
Half-Blood Prince.

Trivia #3
Who utters these words?
"Oh I am glad I'm not on duty. I wouldn't fancy having to go and tell the Irish they've got to stop celebrating."
Arthur Weasley

=)

Razor Cami, Take Three...again ;)

Well...I'm three rounds in. I actually have 156 stitches and (as far as I can tell) it's not a knitted mobius strip...now as long as I'm paying attention and not watching Grey's anatomy when I get to the lace part, we should be all good.

I hope! ;)

HSKS Trivia Question

Question: Who says, "You will have your reward, Wormtail. I will allow you to perform an essential task for me, one that many of my followers would give their right hands to perform..."?

Answer:Voldermort

Swap update: Well...I haven't gotten anything for it yet, but I did just get my partner! =)

HSKS Questionaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
Ravenclaw

2. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
I don't have favorite brands yet...but I like 7" metal needles (the ones I like are blue-colored and from Hobby Lobby...aluminum maybe? ;)

3. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?
Most needles would be new to me, but I prefer metal over wood or bamboo


4. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?
As much as I like to stay true to the book, I really prefer the movie colors

5. If your pal decides to send candies or chocolates are there any that you don't like? Gosh, I love dark chocolate, chocolate with nuts, more chocolate, sour candies, etc. etc. but I don't like white chocolate, reeses pieces, snickers, butterfingers, or suckers


6. What are your favorite scents?
cucumber melon, fresh/outdoorsy type scents (rain, grass, etc), mint/peppermint, coffee, and all those candles/scents that smell exactly like baked goods =)

7. Do you have any allergies?
Nope

=)

Swap!

As you can so from my new badges, I'm doing the Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap. I'm really excited about it!! Yay Ravenclaw!

And the first trivia question...
Who's talking in this conversation...."There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!" "You are quite wrong. Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness."

Answer: Voldermort and Dumbledore

Razor Cami, Take Two...

Well yesterday I got my yarn and circular needle (yay!) and started on my very first tank top....

actually, since I had twisted the stitches before I started the first round...I actually created my very first knitted mobius strip...oops! It was kind of interesting but not quite what I was going for ;)

So, we'll see how the second time goes...