Thank God it's Wednesday!!

I hope everyone is gearing up for a wonderful holiday!!. I'm trying to finish up my holiday knitting and sewing, but I keep getting interrupted (work, life, etc...) I had planned on knitting and felting 4 clutches for my mom's friends. So far, I have 3 knitted up. I don't think it's going to happen. Since I'm running out of time, I decided to try and make knitted ornaments the little sweater ones that are surfing over the net. I've now scratched that idea and decided to crochet neck warmers. I started them yesterday during the second half of my lunch hour. I spent the first half at Rosie's Yarn Cellar picking out yarn. So far I have five of them done. One is totally complete and I have to buy buttons for the rest. Here is the completed one.

Name: Lestat

Yarn: Berroco Comfort
Needle: H8 hook

I'm going to pick out the rest of the jeweled buttons this weekend. I figure I can complete the clutches hopefully in the next month. I still need to sew them together, felt and decorate them.

In sewing news, this past weekend I cut out material for 4 pairs of pajama pants. I sewed 2 of them up. I made the fi try his on and they are a little snug in the hip area. I know I measured him correctly. He's very stocky, and wants his pants very loose, so I'm going to have to cut the hip and butt area a little larger on the next pair. The second pair I made are for my mom. Those turned out perfect (hello, I want to keep them lol). I just need to hem them. I hope I didn't make the waistband to tight.

The remaining items finally arrived in the mail for my secret pal. One item was coming from the UK. I was able to ship my package off to her on Monday. I hope she likes what I got her. I received my package from my secret pal Amy last Thursday. I LOVE EVERYTHING!!! Thank you soooo much!! By the way if you're reading this, I already ate the Swedish Fish. So, this is what Amy sent me.

Louisa Harding's new book Knitting Little Luxuries. It came out in November. Swedish Fish, Good & Plenty, a coin purse with stitch markers and blocking pins, row counter (I can also use these as stitch markers), 3 hanks of mango moon (love it), an ornament for my christmas tree, 3 pot holders and a beautiful mini storage suitcase, which by the way, I stole your idea. I went to Joann's and sent one to my secret pal. It has an autumn theme on it.

In other knitting updates, I started on the sleeves for the shawl collar sweater for my mom. I hope to have pictures up by the weekend.

I want to make/sew myself a dress. I should go through my patterns. Like I really have time ( 3 jobs, a wedding to finishing planning). I need 3 heads and 20 arms. What am I thinking.

In wedding news, after the holidays I definitely need to get back to the wedding knitting. I also need to get busy on the wedding invites as I need to send them out soon. Can anyone give me advice on cutting an invite list from like 138 to 100, especially when I've known these people for practically almost all my life. I don't think it's going to happen. The sad part is the fi only has about 25 people on that list. It's bad... Oh well, enough of my complaining. I'll try to have another post up by the weekend with more pics. Have a good one.

SP11 & Sample Knitting

First of all, I want to thank all of you that have left me comments on my blog. They have all been wonderful. If I haven't gotten around to all of you yet, I plan to.

Remember when I showed you this nice little swatch.


Well this is what it really was.



The Off Center Argyle Caplet from Wrap Style that I had to knit for Knit Picks. I thought it turned out rather well. Here it is in their October Catalog.

I also received a nice little package from my Secret Pal yesterday.

I absolutely love everything!!!!! The yarn is Pakucho 100% Organic Cotton. It feels sooooooooo good. I can't wait to work with it. I think it will have to be an original design. I also got Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac (awesome!!), a beautiful handmade card, and 2 CD's of Amy Winehouse music ( love them, I've been playing them all day). Amy is so dirty(nasty girl), but I love her music. I can't wait to find out who my secret pal it. Thank you so so much.

Vacation! Vacation! Vacation!

Sorry you haven't heard from me, but I went on a mini vacation with the fi. We went to see my dad for his birthday in Fort Lauderdale, and hung out on the beach while we were there. I do have pictures, but you'll have to wait a couple of days. The fi downloaded them on to his computer, and I'm waiting for him to email them to me. By the way, those pictures also include my long awaited picture of the shaped lace tee from Knitting Lingerie Style. It turned out fantastic. Even though I don't have those pictures, I do have these. I made sure I got some knitting done while I was on the plane.

First up is what I'm calling Baby Eleanor. It's the scarf version of Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style. The yarn I am using is Noro Silk Garden Color #87, Lot #G.

Next up is #23 The Shawl Collar Pullover from Vogue Knitting Winter 2004/05. I'm almost up the the armhole shaping.


Both of these projects are for my mom. I'm starting my holiday knitting now, to ensure that I'm finished by then.

I also picked up some goodies for my secret pal. I'm shipping them off this week. I hope she likes them.

I was in at JoAnn Fabrics today and got to make this adorable pin cushion with leftover fabric. It was one of those make it take it clinics. Since it was free, I was like, yup, that's for me.

I also finished my first ever crocheted garment. It's Blissfull from the Happy Hooker. I used King Tut yarn in black. Instead of putting hooks on the back, I did buttons. It fits pretty well, but I need to do a few adjustments to it before wearing. I am a little endowed on my upper half so I need to add a little bit more yarn to cover myself up. I just don't want to fall out of the top, if you catch my drift. This picture is without the ribbon. I inserted it today, and like the way it looks so I'll have to get another picture, when it's finally finished.

Last but not least, there is nothing more gratifying than finding out that someone really likes your design so much that they knit it. Marit knitted my Diamond Girl pattern, and it looks fantastic. She wears it well. I think I might have to go and knit myself one in red now. lol. If anyone else is working on the pattern, please let me know. I'm thinking of starting a flickr page with everyone's FOs on it. That's it for now.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Secret Pal 11 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love alpaca, silk, cotton, cashmere. Any yarns that are organic or natural. I’m allergic to wool, but since I started spinning I’ve been able to handle it a little better. I can handle organic wool that hasn’t been treated or superwash wool.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a needle case that a family friend made for me for the holidays, and a plastic bread container.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting for 7 years. I learned at my local LYS. My skill level is between intermediate and advanced, but there is always something new to learn, and I love the challenge.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1GLC4WI60DLUD/

5. What's your favorite scent?

Anything that smell clean/fresh or like citrus

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Not really. I do like Swedish Fish, spearmint leaves and chocolate on occasion but I don’t crave them.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I do spin (love it). I also sew, and make handmade cards. I just took a class on calligraphy the other day. I also just bought a kit from Sublime Stitching the other day to try my hand at embroidery.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I love classic house music, disco, music from the 80s(because I grew up on it), smooth jazz, classic rock(Journey, Foreigner, Chicago, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, etc…), R&B, Maroon 5, Corinne Bailey Rae, Brand New Heavies, Incognito. My computer can play mp3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Sky Blue, Burnt Orange, Blood Red (the dark one), Army Green, Black, Chocolate

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I am engaged. We are getting married in 2008. I have 2 dogs (14 almost 15 year old beagle and a 3 year old schnauzer/poodle) My fiance has a Lovebird, so I count him too.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Yes to all 4. =)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I like to knit everything. Right now I’m in a sweater mood though.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I am starting to work on a couple of ideas for 2 new original designs I’m also working on the Shaped Lace Tee from Knitting Lingerie Style, and today I’m finishing up knitting the Saartje’s Bootees I started yesterday. They are so cute and a great project for leftover yarn.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Oh yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

It depends. I love circular needles. I prefer addi turbos or inox needles. I only like to use bamboo double pointed needles. I also like plastic needles for traveling.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes to both. The fiance (I call him the fi) gave them to me for my birthday this year.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

I don’t like to answer this question because I’m ashamed, but I have a sweater that I never finished and it’s about 6-7 years old.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Buttons. I started my collection last year when I cut the bottons off of some old coats that I had to throw away.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I have a subscription to Vogue Knitting. I’m thinking about getting one for Interweave Knits. I would like to try my hand at a Japanese pattern. I have a wish list on Amazon.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I’m sure there are. I’ll have to think about that one.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes I am. I wear a size 9.5 shoe

23. When is your birthday?

May 30th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Yes I am. Andrea670