I love blocking!

Zetor Scarf
Used about 3/4 of a skein of Zephyr on size 6 needles. It was given to Mag's teacher today as a retirement gift. Lovely, straight-forward pattern. I just might have to try this one again.

Sparrow

Sparrow by Marie Grace Smith

Easy, relaxing, fast knit. I knit it in about a week, but then got distracted and it languished with just one side seam left to finish. I used Plymouth's Baby Boutique with was just a pleasure to knit with. I didn't get gauge, so I knit the size 4, but followed the pattern for a 10 for length.

Maggie loves it. I'm already thinking about another. Maybe some leftover Knitpicks Shine Sport or Plymouth Jeanee? I've got a roadtrip to Texas coming up in a few weeks and I need to plan out my car knitting. 18 hours each way, plus a week vacation in between. In the meantime, I've been knocking out some old UFO's. It feels really good to get them done (or frogged as the case may be). Anyway, I'll have a bunch of new things to show soon.

Happy knitting!

Designs on Knit Picks IDP

As of today, two of my designs are live on Knit Picks IDP!

Spring Sprouts Tank Top - Knit in Knit Picks Shine Sport

Butterfly Dream Mittens - Knit in Knit Picks Swish DK

It's been a absolute pleasure to work with Stacey at Knit Picks. I think this is a really interesting opportunity for designers, and I've always been a big fan of Knit Picks. I'm curious to see how it will work for me. I certainly have high hopes.

So...go...check'em out!

Go check'em out!

48 Hours

I am smitten. Head over heels in love with my new project. Sparrow by Marie Grace Designs.

I've been doing a lot of stealth knitting as well as working on some old UFO's. Unfortunately, none of them are relaxing. Lots of charts and notes. This sweet new design was just what I was looking for. I picked up some yarn (Baby Boutique by Plymouth) on Saturday and cast on right at my lys. The yarn is a luscious springy microfiber/nylon blend. I'm happiest with the fabric it produces on a US #7, necessitating some tweaking to fit my gauge to the pattern. In the end I am knitting the size 4 for width and somewhere between the 8 and 10 for length.

It's been just about 48 hours now and the back is done. I'm did some short row shaping for the shoulders and then I'll do a 3 needle bind off. I love the texture on the upper half of the top. I think I just may be done with this before the end of the week.

Hello-o-o-o-o?

Well...it's been a while. I never intended to stay away for so long, but life has a way of changing even the best of intentions, I guess.

I'm still finishing up the Christmas knitting. Don't laugh! I'm almost done. Just one more sock for my sister and half a scarf for my dad and I'm home free. Then I'm itching to tackle a couple of UFO's. My goal is to have the sock by the end of the day tomorrow and the scarf by the end of the weekend.

On the design front, I've got a new design for a head scarf / ear warmer. I think it's super cute, but I've sold it to my lys exclusively until September. If you're local, you can check it out at Gene Ann's Yarns.

I've been thinking a lot about the Moose's Argyle Vest pattern and I've decided that as of February 1, 2010, I am going to change it to a pay pattern. It's been free for more than year and I want to give anyone in progress a chance to make sure they have a good copy. It will still be available as a pdf download. I realize that this decision will make some people unhappy, and I'm sorry for that. Unfortunately, times are hard for everyone right now, including my family. I hope to release more free patterns in the future, but for now, the Cabled Thank You Socks are and will remain free.

5 (or more) on Friday

At the beginning of the summer, I promised myself that we would not waste it just hanging around the house. So, we have been going and doing and playing. The Chicago weather hasn't allowed us to do alot of pool time, but it has been great for outings. We've been to Brookfield Zoo, the Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, and horseback riding. Our friends from Texas have been to visit. My nieces have been here from downstate. I've been pushed into giving knitting lessons tMaggie and my nieces. Maggie lost her first front tooth.

I'm exhausted!





1. Untitled, 2. Millennium Park, 3. The Bean, 4. Millennium Park, 5. IMG_3410, 6. Inside the Bean, 7. IMG_3402, 8. IMG_3401, 9. IMG_3420, 10. IMG_3419, 11. IMG_3398, 12. IMG_3395, 13. IMG_3394, 14. IMG_3382, 15. IMG_3381, 16. IMG_3378, 17. Taste of Chicago, 18. Taste of Chicago, 19. Buckingham Fountain, 20. IMG_3355, 21. Taste of Chicago, 22. Spring Sprouts, 23. IMG_3350, 24. Spring Sprouts, 25. Spring Sprouts, 26. Knitting Lessons, 27. IMG_3335, 28. IMG_3333, 29. IMG_3320, 30. IMG_3317, 31. IMG_3314, 32. IMG_3307, 33. IMG_3310, 34. IMG_3266, 35. IMG_3279, 36. IMG_3265


What I haven't been doing is knitting. I think I needed a break. The knitting mojo just hasn't been there. I'm plodding along on a new sock design that I hope to make available next week. In the meantime, I'm headed out to see Harry Potter and Half Blood Prince tonight. Tomorrow I'll be at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair. I always come home inspired (not to mention loaded with new yarn)!

Schools Out!

Just a drive-by posting today. Last week was the first week of summer vacation and we're all adjusting. I just had to post a picture of the adorable monkey I made for Maggie teacher. She has a monkey theme in her classroom, so this was perfect. I hope he keeps her company and makes smile in class for many years to come.


















Pattern: Boyish Monkey by Barbara Prime
Yarn: Cascade 220 and Wool of the Andes - just a little of each
Needles: US # 5

There's a few more pictures here on Flickr.