Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple Neck Down Shaped Cardigan #241
Yarn: Classic Elite Classic Silk
Needles: US #6
Started: 11/26/07
Finished: 4/24/08

I had to knit the first sleeve three times. Even though my gauge was spot on, the sleeve was too tight. Once I got the numbers worked out on sleeve #1, the second sleeve worked up quickly.

I love the sweater and have worn it at every opportunity since I finished it. I love the bell sleeves and how they aren't too belled. (I know that's not a word) And I love this yarn. Classic Silk reminds me of Rowan Summer Tweed, except thinner.

WIP Wednesday:

The Ribby Shell continues to grow. Boy that looks small in the picture! Maybe I had better measure it.

I ripped out the STR no-purl Monkey's and cast on the Simply Lovely Lace Socks instead. I am using some Elann Esprit from the stash. I think I am going to like these better.

I finished up a simple pair of pillows for my Living Room couch. They're not fancy but add a much needed touch of color and I got some much needed practice with zippers.

I have also been working on a quilt kit I picked up long before I was sure if I would like sewing. It's only lap size and I thought it would be a good place to start. The fabric was suppose to be cut into rectangles, but I screwed up one of the first pieces I cut, so squares it is!

I have no knitting goals this week. We are leaving early Friday for vacation in Florida and the only knitting projects I am bringing with me are socks. A few weeks ago, I had a nickel size spot on my face biopsied and it came back as precancerous. I have since had it frozen off with liquid nitrogen and am not suppose to get any sun exposure on it whatsoever. So my goal for the week will be to take a vacation in sunny Florida and not get any sun on my face. Sounds like a good goal to me.

I'll be back next week. Happy Knitting!

My May Day package arrived over the weekend!

My May Day pal was Valerie and she spoiled me rotten. The first thing I spotted when I opened the box was this beautiful fiber. The colors in it are so pretty and I can't wait to see how it spins up. Then I was so excited when I saw that she made me two bags. The first is a box bag pouch, which I had been admiring on her blog a few weeks ago. It will be perfect for carrying a sock project around. I love this bag! Hiding in the pouch was 2 skeins of yummy Felted Tweed in a wonderful shade of purple.

Did you notice the yarn, bags and fiber are all color coordinated?

In the smaller bag was a knitters key ring, knitters pins and a candle. I wish I could get my zippers so perfect when I sew! This bag will be perfect for all kinds of notions.

Then, of course, there are the socks. The socks are perfect! The yarn Valerie used is Hand Maiden Casbah. Be still my heart! This is a new to me yarn and I have to say, it is just dreamy. I have never felt such a soft sock yarn! It must be the cashmere. Yes, you heard right...cashmere sock yarn! The sock pattern is the Red Dwarf sock pattern.

As you can see, they fit perfectly and they never left my spoiled feet yesterday.

Thank you again Valerie for all the thoughtfulness and work you put into my package. It was all just wonderful. And thank you also to Lynne and Emily for coordinating such a fun swap. You guys rock!

Happy Knitting!

I missed posting my wip progress on Wednesday this week for reasons unknown to me right now. Maybe just a memory blip. One of many lately. Let's see if I can remember what I have been doing this past week...

I finished my top down cardi in time for CTSW but still haven't taken pictures of it yet. Between my photographer (aka hubby) working late every day and the rain, there just hasn't been a chance. I hope to remedy that this weekend, if the weather holds up. Right now it looks like more rain though.

I went to CTSW on Saturday and had a great time as always. I really like that little festival. The only thing that came home with me was 4 ounces of a Cormo/Alpaca/Angora blend from Foxhill Farm. It feels heavenly.

Afterwards, I went over Diane's for a spin-in/knit-in and after that I had dinner with Chris. It was a great day. Even though I dragged my camera along, I didn't take a single picture. Bag Blogger! While I was at Diane's, I started some Corriedale from Crown Mountain Farms in the Pesto colorway. I love the color!

I finally started my Ribby Shell after going back and forth on which size I should make.

I made my mind up on which shawl to start. I decided on the Zetor shawl, but the only progress I have made so far is to wind up the red Corriedale handspun. I really don't think you want to see a picture of that though, now do ya?

I also started a pair of no purl Monkeys from a skein of medium weight STR I had in the stash, but I am not crazy about the way they are knitting up so far. There is a good chance these will be ripped and restarted with a different pattern and needle size.

On Wednesday, I took a skill building class at my favorite sewing shop on appliqué. I wasn't crazy about the project we made, but it was good practice. It's suppose to be a little holder for a flower pot in case you can't figure out what it is.

Here is a close up of my appliqué work after many, many practice pieces.

And that brings us to today...Friday. My absolute favorite day of the week. I hope you have a great weekend. If you're at MDSW, I am jealous. Even though I chose not to go this year, now that it's here I am kind of sad about it. It feels strange to not be going this year for sure. Not to mention not visiting my daughter, not being there for Alexis's birthday, not drinking beer on the plane with Rachel and all that. (sniff-sniff) Maybe next year.

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday

I just finished the second sleeve of the top down cardi. All I have left to do is the neck edging and the ties. And of course blocking and weaving in the ends too. If I want to wear this on Saturday, my goal had better be to hurry up and finish these little things that are left.

I spent some time this past week sewing a little drawstring bag for my May Day swap pal. I used a bag I love that Sarah made for me as an example. It came out pretty good, except for a spot or two where I forgot how to sew straight!

I am going to take a break from Liv for a little bit. Actually, I should say that I am going to continue my break on Liv seeing as I haven't picked it up for months. I am happy I finished up many lingering WIP's, but I need something new on the needles to work on or I will lose my mind. I am about to swatch for a Ribby Shell with some red Cotton Plus. I am looking forward to a project without sleeves! And I am also going to start a shawl with some red handspun from the stash. I just haven't quite made up my mind on which one yet. Right now it's between Seraphim and Zetor. So hopefully I'll have something more to show next Wednesday!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday

I made my goal of finishing one sleeve of the top down cardi. Yay! Now to stick with it and get the second sleeve done. Maybe if I stick with it, I can finish this in time to wear to CT S&W next weekend. We'll see I guess. I can say for sure I am going to cast on for something new really, really soon. I think I have been very good about finishing up old WIP's and deserve to start something new. The only WIP I have left is Liv, but I just need something new on the needles before I get back to work on that. My one and only goal for this week is to hopefully finish this sweater before next weekend.

The summer top I was attempting to sew with the stretch knit material now resides in my rag bag in the garage. I messed up the neck and while I was trying to rip out the tiny little stretch stitches, I kept ripping the material over and over instead. I was not happy. But I guess they can't all work out great, right? I look at the material loss the same way I looked at the fiber loss when I was learning to spin. Sometimes you have to sacrifice these things to learn. I am now working on a pair of square, easy pillows for my couch made from cotton! I will try the top again, but right now I need a break from it.

This is the baby kimono I made for my friend Rachel's baby shower a few weeks ago. The pattern is from the Mason-Dixon book. I will definitely make this one again. It's so cute! The yarn was Cotton Ease in the colorway Stone.

The bathroom has moved from 90% done to 95%. I have been having issues with the hinges I changed on the existing cabinets over the washer and dryer. So I am saving that little problem for hubby to fix this weekend.

The new faucet is probably my favorite part of the bathroom. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but it looks like an old well pump.

This is my new fold-out drying rack that resides by my dryer. I love it and it's just perfect for handknit socks. Once the hinge issue is fixed, I just need a couple of foo-foo things for the walls and this room will be done. I think next week I am going to start stripping the wallpaper in the main bath upstairs. What fun!

Happy Knitting!