While I was Sleeping

Hey everyone, if there still is an everyone, I apologize for my lack of updates and other bloggy things. I had a bit of a knitting rough patch, where I haven't felt the angels singing, or the birds chirping, or the light dawning on any project at all. Nothing I have looked at has made me go I NEED TO KNIT YOU NOW! Well until this week anyway. I've been trying to do other things, such as monkey socks (one down one to go, currently in a corner), my niece's pinwheel sweater (sweater complete, one sleeve done, another to go, also in the corner. THis needs to be finished by next week obviously, so this weekend I'll force myself to complete it), a Chevron Scarf (also hibernating), and then over the weekend the otherworldy light hit the summit that is my new project, the famed Central Park Hoodie.

Interweave press just released an updated copy of this pattern with extended sizes for those of us who don't look exactly like Katherine Heigl (who knits btw). I have seen the pattern before and loved it but I thought I had to locate a magazine that was over a year old and we all know how that can be. So when I received an e-mail from knitting daily that they had the pattern for sale I was all over it. So I purchased it and then began to ponder which yarn to use. Most people on Ravelry seem to be using Malabrigo, Peace Fleece, Debbie Bliss, or Tahki Donegal Tweed all of which are a little rich for my wallet at this particular time of year. So this weekend my cousin, sister and I took a little drive to Salem, Ma and stopped into the cutest yarn shop, Seed Stitch Fine Yarn (great staff, friendly, helpful and warm) and I looked for the yarn that I would use. I roamed the tweed and the blends and the alpaca and wool when out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of the most beautiful yarn. OHHH the COLOR!!! It is soo deep burgandy/purple that it almost looks black but you know it isnt quite black. I walked up to the shelf and pulled it out of its home and to my surprise it was Cascade 220, which as we all know is much more easy on the wallet. Its a colorway called Galaxy (#4006, for those wondering) and I fell in love. They only had a few skeins left, so I bought them of course, and purchased the rest online (i'm not too concerned about lot # really) . Ok so here's a picture for you all, the color is difficult to photograph, so this is the closest I could get to true color at the moment. I will try again soon.

Also for a quick project and great little Christmas/Hanukah/whatever else there is to celebrate this time of year present, check out this ingenious idea for a knit bangle by a fellow Ravelry member, Mimsie. When I read the linked post I could hardly believe that these bracelets were selling for 175 Euro! I actually am making some for friends and family for Christmas and so far have one done (ahehe) but they are quick and easy. Here's a pic of the one I have finished.

FIA Swap Arrival!

I received my Fall Into autumn swap Package today and want to send a huge thank you to Cheryl W.! She was a great spoiler and sent me such a lovely package. She was attentive and sent em the funniest e-cards that on more than one occasion started my day off great. and people she gave me craisons, she is now my new best friend! The soap is on its way and I can't wait to receive it!

Without further adieu,..

Cheryl is not a big on Halloween and instead opted to theme her package around Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Having an aunt who is a breast cancer survivor the thought was very much appreciated. She also sent me a DVD on how to knit socks on 2 Circs!!!!! Yes I am slow in that department but I can't wait to learn. I got a Knitted Lacy Round Dishcloth by Rhonda White knit in the ever elusive, at least in the northeast, Peaches and Cream! She also included a ball of it and the rumor is true! Peaches & Cream is much, much softer than Sugar & Cream. Enclosed was also a pattern for the "Infamous" Daryl Waltrip Cloth by Rhonda White. In keeping with the pink theme Cheryl purchased 2 balls of Karabella's Aurora 8 in none other than pink! (my two year old niece has claimed it as her own and in the words of a toddler said "Oh, Auntie so soft! Mine? No for me! Oh so squishy! She also claimed the chocolate but she shared so it was all good.)

Joan, if you are reading this, I think Cheryl was trying to tell me something about Entrelac'tober. I'm guessing Entrelac is in my future and with these spiffy stitch markers I'll be less likely to foul it up. Although, I make no promises. I will attempt it though.

In case you are all not aware, my beloved Red Sox won the World Series!! I lived through parade hell on Tuesday, I mean seriously people, you stand outside for 5-6 hours, they roll by you in ten minutes, you scream WOOOOOO! and then go home. Hardly worth it, IMO. I did it the first time the Patriots won the Superbowl in 2001, never again, I shook for 3 hours after i got home, but then again it was February in Boston. I was young and stupid.

For now I leave you with the most beautiful butterfly I have ever seen. I bet you didn't know you could find butterflies in Boston in October.

But watch her fly...

Oh, and never tell a butterfly her antennae are lopsided. they do give the dirtiest looks

I blame the Red Sox..

For not actually blogging about anything in particular for quite sometime. As many of you may be aware ,the glory that is the Boston Red Sox are in the World Series. And since the said team composes a legitimate portion of my DNA and inhabits a quarter of my soul it is reasonable that I be M.I.A. for the month of October. Right? But today is an off day, and you all have my undivided attention (we are up 2-0 in the series ::cackles maniacally::) So here is what I have been up to.

A.) Pinwheel Sweater from Elann.com for my niece, The Divine Miss B. (X-Mas pressie)

B.) Birthday present to me, 4 skeins of Scout's Swag. ZuluKnitty, Power Couples, Rosalie, and Orchids (in That order)

C.) The Tilted Duster from the Fall 2007 Interweave Knits (its finished but I havent taken pic of it yet, so this will do for now)

This is the first time I've ever seamed something sweater like. Nora herself gave me some tips on how to do it ( God Bless Ravelry!) and it came out well, not perfect but well. I think I need to add a couple of those hook and eye buttons to make it lie right. I don't have the graceful swan neck of the IK model or Audrey Hepburn. In fact I have a short neck (I am happy I actually have some neck lol), but this causes the collar to lie a little weird. So I think once I add those, the collar will fit the way its supposed to. If anyone else has any suggestions I would appreciate them.

Finally I am working on some Monkey socks by Cookie A. I am using the Pfefferminz Prinz from Wollmeise that I showed you in an earlier post. Such pretty yarn and the pattern is quite nice too.

Speaking of sock patterns my friend (blogger buddy is more accurate) John/Yarnballboogie has just published a a killer sock pattern called Stalkers, Its a really pretty pattern. Go check it out and support the poor boy. A man can not live off yarn alone!

Ok, I need to get back to work. I hope everyone is having a pleasant day.

EDIT: Upon returning home i found this in my mailbox. Yeah, that's right a Grand Jury notice. Oh how the god's must be smiling down on me. It's actually kind of exciting, but 16 days!!!! Knowing my luck Whitey Bulger will be caught in between now and then. Oh well I must do my civic duty. Work is going to love this!

Go Sox!

FIA TOPIC OF THE WEEK # 4 & 5

Ok I'm a little behind in the Topic of the week department so I will be posting two at the same time. I hope that is cool with the powers that be.

Topic 4 had to do with our stash of needles. I have completed my set of knitpicks harmony options, regular straight some DPNS and circs. Also my new KnitPicks Sock Set.

Topic 5: Now that it is getting cooler here, it makes me think of apple picking and hay rides. Are you the type that likes to go to participate in all the fall festivities like apple picking, pumpkins, decorating for the fall, hay rides, baking fall goodies, etc. or do you just sit and count the days till Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah?

I love Halloween. I attended school in Salem, Ma so you may be able to garner what Halloween means in MA. I love going apple picking and pumpkin picking, buying fresh squeezed cider, hot toddy's (wink wink), apple cider donuts, carving the pumpkins, baking the pumpkin seeds in the oven and salting them. DELICIOUS! I also usually pick the turned leaves and mail them to my friends all over the country. I'm running late this year on that as the trees havent even started to turn yet! Fall is the best time of year!

FIA Officially Swapped..

My swap spoilee, Betty H , received her package and was as excited to receive it as I was to put it together for her. It literally made quite a trip, from Boston all the way to Hawaii! Betty particularly loved the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, UK Edition I picked up on my recent travels. I love my copy and knew a fellow Potter fan would love to have one also and to my great pleasure she did. Betty has posted pics on her blog. Please check it out!

My FIA spoiler has done a great job keeping in touch, she sends me funny e-cards that crack me up, and drops by my blog and leaves messages and I can't wait for the package to arrive!

The Yarn God's Have Smiled Upon Wollmeise!

OMG! I am just going to post the pictures they speak for themselves! Look at the color concentration and vivacity of this yarn and almost 600yds per skein. Claudia you are fantastic!

Look at how cute its all wrapped up and she includes a mini skein of yarn, which is beautiful as well!

Poison No. 5 (Dark)

Pfefferminz Prinz (Dark)

I have conquered the machine..

Well sort of. A few months back I purchased a sewing machine with the expectation that I would be taking classes at a nearby high school starting Sept 24Th. Needless to say, in typical fashion my best laid plans tend to have a way of not working out and after attending said high school three times in two weeks without an instructor showing up, we were informed that the class was cancelled. Sweet! So I decided to be a tad proactive and do it myself. So I bought a pattern, a little fabric, Sewing for Dummies and voila, this is the fruit of two days labor....uh just turn your head sideways, lol!



On the whole it turned out quite well and I am proud of myself. The sleeves were supposed to have and elastic band but my little girl (my niece, not mine, but my baby nonetheless) does not like things stuck to her and I could envision her pulling at them so I just hemmed the cuff and left it. It may be a little big for her but she grows like a weed and is due for another growth spurt so it should fit well shortly. I can't wait to see her in it. When she puts it on I'll take pics, so that you all my see the cuteness that is Miss B!

Wollmeise.....

OK, I am officially obsessed with the colorway Poison Nr. 5. Has anybody out there in my little blog readership ever used Wollmeise? I have heard wonderful things about it, and have seen first hand (well via Ravelry) the loveliness of the sock they make. Is it worth ordering from Germany? Is there anything you prefer over Wollmeise that is readily available in the states?

Here are some pics of my favorite colorways from Wollmeise

Poison Nr. 5



UPDATE: OK so this has become my second favorite

Spice Market

Raku-Regenbogen (picture from the Loopy-Ewe Ravelry Page) Doesn't it remind you of fall?



There's more. Oh, so not good for my bank account. I'm going to have to not look. Let me know what you guys think...

OOoOo Boy....