Rowan Geno

I just completed Geno for my NaKniSweMoDo (Knit a Sweater a Month in 2009) May sweater.



This one's been in the hibernation pile for a good while now. I'd started back in August 2008 - it was going to be my Ravelympics sweater (cast on during the Olympic opening ceremony; cast off by closing ceremony). I'd made a pretty good effort and just needed to knit the buttonband and then finish. But picking up stitches, and finishing in general, tend to be my least favourite parts of knitting, so it had been tucked away in my yarn cubbies.

It wasn't until I realised that I don't yet have a sweater completed for May's NaKniSweMoDo that I decided this would be a quick solution. (Technically you don't have to complete a sweater every month but I know myself well enough that if I don't there'd be little chance of completing 12 sweaters in the year).



I am thankful to have the nudge of the NaKniSweMoDo challenge - sewing the sleeves on seemed to be more problematic than I'd anticipated. The pattern was written with a little gathering at the top of the shoulder. I was trying to avoid excessivly poofy shoulders and instead ended up with poofy armpits the first time round! Erm, yes, not a look the best of us can pull off. It took me several attempts to make the sleeves sit to my liking, and if I hadn't committed to finishing this for KAL it probably would have been returned to it's former home, never again to see the light of day.

But all's well that ends well - I'm really happy with the cardi. In fact I'm thinking it could be one of my handknit faves so far.



Details:

• Pattern: Geno by Marie Wallin from Rowan 43
• Yarn: Rowan 4-ply soft (instead of Rowan 4 ply cotton as is used in the original pattern)
• Size: 34
• Needles: US 2 and US 3
• Cast on: Aug 8, 2008
• Completed: May 30, 2009
• Mods: None (that I can recall)

Temporarily distracted

In the back of my mind Ive been thinking that I should be working on the scarf that I'll be gifting early next month. Or the sweater a month KAL project - I still haven't completed anything for May.

Instead I've been distracted making these barn raising squares:


On Friday night I picked up a bag of Pagewood Farms 'sock bites' (think a bag jammed full of mills ends) and couldn't wait to try out the yarn and different colourways.


Although a little fiddly to start, once you get going they are great 'on the go' projects.

I'm completely hooked!

Bright and Cheerful

That's the theme for May's card swap at stamping club. I decided to use the "Wild about you' stamping set - I just love the Elephantika. I don't think it comes more cheery than this little guy.


As I was in the stamping swing I also put together some thank you cards - I've been a little overdue in sending some out for my birthday bootie :)


It's gorgeous here today in Colorado (after a rainy night) and so I spent the afternoon doing some much needed work in the back garden. Hope you are having a great weekend too.

Now back to the scarf...

Still knitting...

It's true. Despite what you'd think from my recent blog postings :)
I'm currently trying to stay focussed on another lace ribbon scarf.


It's a gift for a dear friend at work who has been a mentor to me over the last couple of years. She will be leaving our company at the end of the month and I'm sorry to see her go. I wanted to show my appreciation... and well, isn't this what us knitters do?


The yarn is scrumptious! It is Jade Sapphire's Silk/Cashmere 2 ply and is soo very lovely to work with. The colour is pretty too with some slight changes in depth of shade. So it's proving to be an enjoyable knit... good thing too... I am trying to complete this by a week tomorrow. Wish me luck! (Yes, if you read my blog regularly you'll know that I don't learn from past experiences :o)

Birthday Crafty Goodies

Joe and I have been away celebrating my Birthday this last week - first to Disney in Florida, and then a few days relaxing by the beach. We had a lovely time and I thoroughly enjoyed what turned out to be a birth'week' (vs a birth'day'! :)


In usual fashion I was spoiled rotten with lots of fabulous gifties - a BIG thank you, and much love to friends and family. xoxo

Amongst the birthday goodies were a bunch of crafty gifties:

My Grandma got me these really pretty Cath Kidston sewing accessories -- pin cushion, sewing kit and needle holder. I'm really loving the Cath Kidston designs and was tickled pink with this set. The other thing that made this so special is that it complements the sewing basket that she had put together for me when I first left home for University (what seems like many, many moons ago). I still have, and cherish, that basket today. It's nice to add to it with these beautiful new accessories.


My sis, Jac, sent me this fabulous 'Big Birdie Skirt' sewing kit -- how cute is this! Can't wait to try my hand at it. (First a 101 sewing class at Fancy Tiger methinks). Oh, and if you have a wee one I'd definately recommend checking out their clothkits website as some of the designs for kiddos are too cute for words.


Jac also sent me this resin fishy key chain. I love it! She's been crafting some fun and funky resin jewellry recently and I got to receive some of the spoils. I always love a good hand made gift :) Thanks sis - this is cool!


Mum and Dad sent me some brilliant craft inspiration books - one for polymer clay beads and another for pottery. I enjoyed making the polymer clay stitch markers and now I have some pointers on how to achieve different effects. I'd also been thinking about going back to our local rec center to take some more pottery classes - they have great facilites and a wonderful teacher. I really like the projects in these books and am eager to try my hand with the clay crafts again. Thanks Mum and Dad xoxo.


Lots of wonderful birthday goodies tempting me to keep the crafty bug alive and kicking!

On top of all this, the lovely Dany had also sent me a package with some really pretty Italian yarn, and a pattern she has written for a skull cap. The pattern is really cute and will be perfect for those snowy Colorado winters! Thank you Dany I really appreciate your thoughtfulness :)


All in all another wonderful birthday!