a new project?

I am looking for a new project.  I am sick of making things for the Fall Fair (which is coming up on November 18th and 19th!!!!)  I have had enough of dishtowels, felted bags, hats, etc.  I need something for me!  (Yes I know that sounds selfish- and quite frankly, I don't care! 

I finally picked up my old cabled blanket and have gone through another skein- but somehow I feel like that project is more of a winter, knit by the fire kind of knit... so I need a new one.

So this morning, when I was catching up on my google reader blogs, I came across the perfect pattern and MAN do I hope I win!!!

And let's not forget the beautiful yarn picture... it is so yummy looking!  (I can't be the only one out there who gets thrills from beautiful yarn shots, right?  RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!)

Well, the fact of the matter is, I need that yarn and I need a selfish pattern for me! 

Check out the giveaway!  Wish me luck and cross your fingers!!!

Happy Knitting!

where i've been

I was so looking forward to this post.  I was waiting until the perfect time.  And then, life knocked me off my happy feet.  I was looking forward to explaining whose head this was for:

 

I was narrowing down the project this yarn was for:

I was dreaming of my new life with my amazing husband and new baby when a miscarriage knocked me down.  I was 12 weeks pregnant and still cannot believe this is happening to me/us/me.  Picking up the computer and blogging was the last thing I thought I could do- too depressing and too hard.  But somehow, my knitting has almost helped in the healing process.  It's a quiet, meditative thing to do that has given me the time to myself that I needed.  

I know that soon enough, a little baby will be wearing that adorable hat, wrapped in some beautiful yellow blankie.  

(Sorry for the sadness... I hope you understand)

Happy Knitting.

another test knit

I have been doing some test knitting for Mishellee Zaharis of Haute Knit Designs and am in love with her work!  I made her Kourtney shirt, then test knit her Ursula, and now I am pleased to show you my test knit for Whitney.  It is such a cute, top down sweater with a diagonal ribbed edging and 3-quarter length sleeves.  I am working on those sleeves now but wanted to share with you my pictures.  This yarn...  AHHHHH so beautiful and soft and amazing!!!  I think I'll have a skein left... what to do?!?!?!

 Yarn:  Cascade Yarns Lana D'Oro

Happy Knitting!!!

is it really over?

Is the summer really over?  Does this teacher really have to go back to school next week?  I actually cannot believe how much I thought I was going to get accomplished - and what I actually did.  I have made some progress though:

Here is my mother's "Not So Silky Camisole":

I have some more work to do finishing up on a new test knit for Haute Knit Designs.  Another blog update tonight, maybe?  I really have been slipping on the blogging...

Happy Knitting!!!

another beautiful year

2 years ago, I married the best man in the world!  He is incredible and we have had such a wonderful start of our life together.  I am just as happy now as I was that beautiful August day.  

I'll leave the knitting for tomorrow...  NIGHT!!!

gifts

Today was my friend Meg's baby shower and I was so excited for her to open her homemade gifts:

How cute is that little hat I threw together yesterday?!?!?!  I see myself making plenty of these!!!

I recently joined Knitterella's KAL for this awesome Advent Calendar and started knitting up a storm to catch up.  I bought the yarn, figured out my pattern, and got working.  Not too shabby for my first knitted mittens, huh?

I don't know how to stitch on the numbers... I guess I'll do some searches for online tutorials and figure it out!  I am working still on my mother's "Not So Silky Camisole".  Pictures soon!

Tomorrow is my husband's and my 2nd Wedding Anniversary.  He'll be at work all day and then we're going out for a romantic dinner.  I will spend my day knitting away!!!  

Happy Knitting, everyone!!!

a test knit

I recently finished this beautiful top by Mishellee Zaharis and noticed she was in the process of test knitting her new Fall line.  I immediately wanted in!  I love how trendy her work is and could not wait to get started on my Ursula Sweater!!!  I literally just cast off a few minutes ago and wanted to share some pictures:

It is such a nice pattern and I love knitting with this chunky yarn- finished in 3 days! 

We're headed to NY this weekend for a family party with my husband's family.  That means tons of knitting time for me both in the car and on the deck in the sunshine!  I am working on this tank for my mother:

But so far, this is all I have done (Ursula was so distracting!!!)

Can I tell you how much  I love this book???

Happy Knitting!!!

kimono

Do you know what this is?

It is a one skein wonder.  The colors were beautiful.  The texture was beautiful.  And I believe the end result...

is beautiful!  I think Meghan and Chris' baby boy will look fantastic in it!  And with these new buttons:

It will look even cuter!  Now there is only one problem... what do I do with this...

Happy Knitting!

kourtney

I am in love with this pattern and this yarn!  Mishellee Zaharis from HauteKnitDesigns has an incredible collection of knitted garments that I cannot wait to knit!  I was immediately drawn to the fit and asymmetrical neckline of this shirt!  I must admit, it is a bit big, so I hope it will shrink a little.  We went to dinner last night and I sported my new shirt.  My husband is not quite the best photographer, but here are some of the pictures.  

Happy Knitting Everyone!

progress?

Progress is defined as a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage.  Additional definitions include advancement in general and growth or development; continuous improvement.  

For me, progress is seeing the number of finished works I complete so that they stop hogging the needles I desperately need for other jobs.  So why is it that the number of "finished works" never gets higher than the projects I have already started/are dreaming of starting?!?!?!  

I think it is because of these problems I have:

1.  I spend far too much time on Ravelry looking at projects.

2.  I have a weakness for buying new books ANYTIME I am at/near/in a bookstore/yarn shop.

3.  Yarn shops are magnetic to me.

4.  I am a sucker for cute baby patterns.

5.  I always have to KNIT shower gifts.

6.  I volunteered to make too much for my church's fair.

7.  My mother always has a new thing she wants.

8.  I really want to own my own yarn shop but I think everyone in my family/life will mock me.

9.  I just love yarn.

I'm sure there are more of my issues but this makes me realize I really need to just get off the computer and pick up where I left off- the back of the Kimono Baby Sweater for Meg and Chris' Baby.  

In the desire to show off some progress, take a look:

Hip to Be Squared Baby Blanket for Fall Fair

Ripple Blanket for Meg and Chris' Baby

My Kourtney Shirt - Picture is a bit fuzzy!

Another view - more up close!

And finally, a few pictures of the Kimono Baby Sweater for Meg and Chris' Baby:

The beautiful yarn I chose

Even fit in some dinner before dinner...

I'll be finished soon I hope!  I have to remind myself to enjoy it!

Happy Knitting!

busy end of year

 The end of the school year is wrapping up and I have had countless rehearsals, final lessons, and concerts to deal with.  I did sneak in a LOT of knitting, though!  I spent the weekend in NH and knit by the lake with the family:

Owen loved the time in the sun and I plan on finishing my Kourtney Shirt tonight!  Look how quickly this knit up:

It's been rainy here but Summer has begun and my flowers are blooming!

And my students gave me some beautiful pink roses as a thank you for all the concerts and performances this week...  I really will miss some of them!!!

Happy Knitting!!!

Now that my socks are done and the weekend is finally here, I decided to take some pictures of my current WIPs.  Here is the progress on Meghan's baby blanket (knit almost entirely in the sun last weekend at the lake and is the main reason for my current arm-bended-weird tan line!)

I think it is really coming out nicely and I am almost finished with it!

I initially started this pattern for her because I swore she was going to be having a girl!  She's not.  I will be donating it to a silent auction at my church.  It's one of those easy, mindless knitting jobs.

I recently found this pattern for this adorable tank top/ruffle-y blouse that I instantly oggled...  and now I can start on it.  I had initially bought this amazing knit picks yarn for my own design project, but decided to use it for this pattern instead.  It is called Kourtney by Mishellee Zaharis and I made my very first gauge swatch EVER last night.  I have made baby sweaters, afghans, a cardigan for my mom, washcloths, hats, socks...  but never, EVER checked the gauge first.  I am way too impatient.  But, I decided to do it right for this project and knitted it up quickly so I could start the top today.  The funny thing is, that after I knit the swatch, I had no clue what to do with it!!!  I think I did it right but I wanted to check.  So, here's my picture...

Do you have to make it a perfect square?  Somebody HELP!!!

Happy Knitting and Happy Weekend!!!

prepare yourselves...

OK, everyone... get ready and prepare yourselves...  I have FINALLY finished my mother's "March Socks"!!!  As a quick reminder, I started in March with this horrible yarn my mom picked out and I knit using a new pattern, but unfortunately, the yarn got worse as the pattern progressed.  I hated my finished sock.  In fact, I don't even have a clue where that darn sock is!  So I got some new yarn, and started over.  I finished the first one quickly and was quite pleased with it's fit.  Then my husband and I went to Mexico and the TSA lady threw away my needles which totally threw off my momentum.  I really don't see a problem with my March socks becoming June socks... whatever you want to call them, it doesn't matter because they're finished!

Happy Knitting, everyone!