California

I leave today for a week's business trip to California. I'm excited about the trip (and getting some warm weather). And I have the perfect project for the plane -- Ruffles from Interweave Scarf Style.

I subbed the recommended yarn with HandMaiden Sea Silk. Ooooh sooo verrryy sooofttt. Any super soft fabric reminds me of clothes shopping with my Mum -- she'd lead the way through the store, and would touch anything that looked like you could cuddle up in it. 'OOooh feel that' she'd say. So Mum, if you are reading, wait 'til you feel this. It's lush!

The other knitting news: I didn't make my NaKniSweMo goal that I'd set for myself. I'm very close -- I'm working on the cabled yoke. But there was no way I was going to complete it last night before my trip today. I don't know why I set myself these goals. Especially at this time of year when gift knitting takes priority. Aah well, I'm much closer than my last NaKniSweMo sweater - Roadster - that is still sat in my closet waiting for arms, a collar and a button band.

Have a great week!
Sam

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving tomorrow: enjoying the company of good friends; feasting on delicious food; knitting to my heart's content. Aah bliss!

My friends learned to knit earlier this year and I think they may just be bitten by the knit bug -- they asked if I'd mind knitting with them after dinner. Mind? I couldn't be happier! And since we'd be knitting I thought it would be fun to take around some goodie bags:

And on the knitting theme I also whipped up this felted wine bottle holder. I think they'll get a kick out of it. (At a minimum I know we'll enjoy what it's carrying!)

Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving,
Sam

Still plodding along

I just finished the second sleeve and am ready to start the cabling on the Tangled Yoke.
So, it could happen -- I could actually complete this thing as my NaKniSweMo sweater. Here's hoping (and frantically knitting)... I've already been day dreaming about starting some new projects:

There's ZephyrStyle's Wicked -- the long sleeve version. And I have some yarn in my stash that might do the trick.

A Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan knit. I don't normally like novelty type yarns but this stuff is so very soft and squidgy; perfect to curl up in on a chilly Sunday afternoon. So that's making it's way to the top of the list, esp. as I've also got the yarn for it.

Ooh and I want to make some more Santa Hats this year. My nephew grew out of his, and I have some friends that have young kids who might get a kick out of them.

With that said, I'd better get back to the yoke...

Tis the Season...

One of the things I love about living in the US is that it feels like the holiday spirit starts in the middle of October. First you have Halloween, and you are surrounded by candy and giggling kids in crazy costumes. Thanksgiving preparation kicks in only a couple of days later when people start planning to spend good times with friends and family. And once that last turkey sandwich has been devoured it's almost Christmas. And I lurve Christmas!

So it dawned on me the other day that I need to get a move on and start my Christmas shopping for friends and relatives back home. Which meant that it was also time to bust out some of my stamps and get cracking on some handmade Christmas cards and tags.
Here's a few I whipped up this weekend:

Now I need to get myself to the shops to start hunting out those 'perfect gifts'. (Or at least some wacky ones that will bring a smile.)

New Knitty Friends

It's amazing to me how the Internet -- something so seemingly impersonal -- can enable you to meet new people with similar interests, in the very same neighbourhood. Through blogging and Ravelry, I've been lucky to do just that. And this weekend a few of us met up on Friday night to check out a local craft fair and then hang out and knit. And again for more knitting on Saturday morning. I had such a great time! Here's some pics, courtesy of Nachaele.

Kelly and Nachaele:

Stitches for Britches volunteer knitters:

...and me! (Nachaele had commented that I hadn't posted any pics of myself and so she took this and sent it to me 'for my blog' ha ha ha!)

Quick update on projects

No major milestones to report on the knitting front this week and so I'm resorting to providing a WIP status (yawn!).

I'm creeping along on the Halloween Mystery Shawl (no pun intended). I'm not done with clue 1, and there's 4 more to go. I'll be amazed if this shawl will be ready in time for Halloween next year. But it is sooo very pretty.

I started the second Harley sock for my Dad so they should be ready in plenty of time for Christmas. I'm even thinking of making him a second pair with the self striping yarn. (I just need to get over that whole pooling thing!)

I also began a Klimt-inspired needlepoint by Candace Bahouth. With all this knitting I forgot how much I enjoy needlepoint. Although it's the last thing I need -- another hobby that just gobbles up time.

Oh yes, and while I'm on the topic of non-knitting crafty stuff, it was stamp club this week. We made a couple of cute cards -- a great little card for Thanksgiving; another that can be used as a recipe card (I guess?).

Not a bad week all in all...

Knitting Frenzy

Whoo, I've been knitting my little fingers off! And the result? I have one of the sleeves of the Tangled Yoke completed:


Turns out that my gauge differs slightly from the pattern and so I've been making a couple of modifications along the way. I'm also thinking about making the body just a touch longer. After reading some of the entries on Ravelry I think a couple of folks have also made various modifications to the original pattern. So I'm taking some comfort (false confidence?) in that.

Now onto the second sleeve. I just want to get that done so that I can get to the interesting bit -- the cabling around the yoke. But first I think a change of pace is needed. I'll be taking a break to see if I can get Clue 1 of the Halloween Mystery Shawl completed. Better late than never, right? ;)

NaKniSweMo

That's right -- it's National Knit a Sweater in November.

It's just the prod I need to pull Tangled Yoke out of temporary hibernation and finish it up.

Besides, I've promised myself that I'm going to finish this one before another sweater finds it's way to my needles. (And the new Interweave Knits has landed and there's at least one project in there that is calling to me... )

So what am I doing typing? Wasting time that's what!
See ya... I've got some knitting to do! ;)