Like Mother, Like Daughter

my daughter has finally picked up her needles to work on her first garter scarf. i'm letting her go at her own pace so it's 'her' decision to knit. (KWIM?)

it all started when we were oot and aboot and came upon a yarn shop. as i was going in to check it out, she asked if i would get her some yarn. um, yah! what good mommy would say 'no' to a sweet request like that? my instructions were: it needs to be soft and blue. please. sure honey! she wanted Blue Sky (awww, doesn't that just warm your heart?) but they didn't carry it, (drat!) so we compromised and i bought her a skein of Berroco Comfort--in red. (she didn't like the blue or the green so that's how we ended up w/the red) i think we did well.

she decided to knit a long, skinny scarf. it's a little less intimidating and goes a lot faster. i think she's doing marvelous and i can't wait until she's done. these first few pics are from a few weeks ago when she first started...

in the hole,

around the back,

pull it through, and off jumps jack! (or something like that)

and this is her progress as of today. that's my girl!

Waxing Nostalgic...

let's take a casual stroll down memory lane shall we? down the winding path of life that leads us back to that very first day. that very first time, you were in a real yarn shop. close your eyes and remember the sights, the sounds and smells. are you remembering? meandering down aisle after aisle of yarn in all colors, shapes and sizes petting and hugging every fiber in sight while all of these questions raced about your brain: what should i knit? what kind of yarn? which COLOR? what brand of needles?!

as you continue down a main aisle and you're just about to implode when all of a sudden the clerk sees you and her radar goes up. she briskly comes to you and takes pity on you as she has seen the look on your face so many times before. the look of a newbie knitter (which strongly resembles a deer in headlights, so i'm told). she rushes to your side to let you know you don't have to make the journey alone. 'we're in this together', she confidently whispers. she then smiles at you and leads you off to find everything you need.

a few hours later, after finally making all of those life or death decisions, you emerge from the doors, as if walking on air, beaming with confidence that you are sure you spent more than you should have. way more than you should have...

ahhhhhhh, memories...

well, for me, this is that project. my 'first'. i have finally finished it. i am so proud! *sniff, sniff*

finishing the front

one more sleeve

fin

A Gift For My Love

the pattern:

the yarn:

my sweetie pie, 'love'-in the yarn:

off and knitting:

wristlet one:

strike a pose:

i made a sample of this in Aqua for Blue Sky last year. it turned out so cute Kayla decided she just 'had to have a set' of her own. so, fast forward to finally getting some time, money and yarn and i cast on the first wristlet. it's an easy knit and the YO's make a cool pattern. i'll post more pics for your viewing pleasure as i get to them.
:)

Have You Hugged Your Stash Today?

here's a peek at a few little yummies that are currently occupying my stash bins...

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes in Putty

Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Organic Cotton in Birch

Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino in Twilight

Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton in Willow

(and the ever-so-yummy) Blue Sky Alpacas Melange in Cotton Candy!

Uptown Scarf and Harlot Night

so my super duper great friend emailed me to let me know she snagged a ticket for me to go to the Yarn Harlot! Woo Hoo! now, i admit, i don't follow the Yarn Harlot that much. BUT, i have at least heard of her and i have visited her blog. i'm so glad i was able to go cause, well, she was fabulously funny, witty and charming. i loved her great stories and her insight into the phenonmenon called the knitting world. an LYS -The Yarnery did a great job of hosting the show and provided lots of entertainment by way of singing tunes "Sound of Music" style with humorous knitting and Harlot references. (there are videos on YouTube i hear) it was quite the night and fun was had by all. we even won door prizes and got chocolate kisses! now that's a night!

oh, and at the last minute i decided i wanted to wear a knitted item and realized i didn't have anything. so i dug through my Weekend Knitting book and found the Uptown Scarf by Linda Niemeyer (who happens to be a BSA designer) and 'went to town'. it's knit on size 35 needles (they were like those mini baseball bats!) and i think it took maybe 30 whole minutes.

it knit up soooo fast and it wears soooo nice! i used one hank (it calls for 2) of BSA Bulky Hand Dyes in Peace Pink. i'm vertically challenged (5'5"), so an 8ft scarf wouldn't do me any good. oh this is nice yarn! i think i will make a few more in other colors too just cause it's so easy and really could be worn with just about anything and at just about anytime for a quick, cute accessory. i highly recommend this pattern and yarn. (i did omit the fringe on the end for this one-not a real 'fringy' kinda girl)

There's A First Time For Everything Right?

my new firsts in knitting are cables, mittens and yarn other than BSA or sock yarn...

so, i took a class to learn how to do cables cause i was under the impression they were very hard to do. well, they sure looked that way to me. i mean, come on, they're all weaving in and out of eachother and twisted and stuff. they must take time and talent to make right? right? ok, i was wrong...
not too bad huh? i know i'll be doing more cabling as they are very easy and very cool. the wool was nice to work with too. it's Rowan Big Wool Fusion. it's soft enough (i guess i have a sensory thing-must be soft AND wearable) and pretty easy to knit with. very decent. i got it to go with the new mittens i made...

i made the mittens with Lamb's Pride Bulky and Madil's Kid Seta. very easy knit and not too shabby on the softness factor. pretty decent colors to pick from too. some good yarn for this kind of knitting.

as you can see, i gave the mitts to my honey so i think the scarf will have to go to someone else. it's just not the right match for him. he needs a more masculine scarf. i guess i should ask if he would even wear one! come to think of it i'm not sure i've seen him wear one...huh.

Humble Beginnings

so i was doing some Spring cleaning and thought it should include my stash. it was a good idea cause it was pretty disorganized and honestly, i couldn't even remember what i had tucked away. so, when i came across a ziploc bag with these items in it, i was instantly brought back to where i began my whole knitting journey...

it was my first time in a LYS and i really didn't know what i was doing AT ALL. i knew i wanted to make something, i knew i wanted Blue Sky Alpacas yarn, and i knew i needed needles. i ended up with 3 hanks of the organic cotton in 'willow' and a Plymouth bamboo circular needle, size 8. they gave me a free ruler, put it all in a cute bag, and sent me on my merry way! i had NO IDEA what i would do with any of it.

enter my great friend, who had been knitting for a few years and was trying to get me 'hooked'. she recommended getting the book 'Baby Knits for Beginners' by Debbie Bliss. so i did. i picked out the boatneck sweater and started knitting some basic stockinette. then, i started doing projects for Blue Sky (all those sweet baby hoodies and a few others) and it got put in a bag for 'later'. well, that was about a year or so ago and i have found it and i finished up the front. i am going to finish this project so i can add a FO to my list. besides, it's such a shame to see that yummy yarn just sitting there with no one to love it!