Back on the sticks

Square #3 was started last night while babysitting the sweetest little toddler in the world. Megan, Hayley (the babysittee), and I all sat watching Barbie Princess & The Pauper while I picked up my Denise needles and cast on the obligatory 14 stitches. I worked about 13 rows before I had to start dinner, but at least it's a start. The brain fog wasn't nearly as bad, however I think I have an extra "push" as I really want to see what the end result is going to look like. Plus, since I have to sew this blanket then maybe that will help me overcome my fear of sewing the sweater. That or I'll just go down to Gossamer and see if they can help me. :o)

I found a really cool forum for knitting at Knitty. They have a wicked board there where people post about different online and retail stores having yarn sales. I can't tell you how happy that board makes me. Of course the pocketbook may hate me when it's all said and done, but in the meantime I am surfing it for bargains everyday.

Baby sweaters

With one very good friend and two friends that I'm still getting to know all set to have babies soon, I figured now would be a good time to dive into the wonderful world of sweaters. I checked high and low online for a pattern that was easy to read and easy to knit, yet didn't have much luck. Once again I made a trip over to Gossamer and with the help of a great saleslady, I picked out "Baby Knits for Beginners" by Debbie Bliss (I heart her), along with some sweet cotton yarn. The pattern I chose is a boat neck sweater, which is as easy as it comes. It called for the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino however they didn't have enough of it, nor the colors I wanted. Instead I went for Blue Sky's Cotton in Shell and Honeydew. These sweaters will be for my friend who is having twins (a boy and a girl). So far I am finished with the front and back and have started working on one of the sleeves. Pictures coming soon!

For the other two mommies-to-be I can't decide if I'll make another sweater or a blanket. hmmm....

First hat

I found a pattern online (forgive me as I don't have it right now or else I'd post it), picked up some gorgeous chunky, sage green, wooly warm yarn from Gossamer, and cast on my stitches. The hat was a simple pattern. Knitting and purling, then decreasing. I went through it fairly quickly and in no time at all I had my first hat. I will admit that sewing the seams together was by far the hardest part for me. I'm still not thrilled with it and have promised to one day rip it out and re-sew it correctly. When I have extra time. A.K.A. Never gonna happen. Since it's considered a "skull cap" it sits somewhat high on my head but fits my daughter perfectly, so she has proclaimed it as hers but lets me "share it" with her. What a sweet kid! I was happy with the way it turned out given this was my first real project. I skipped the whole "first scarf" thing and jumped feet first into something more difficult. While it's not perfect it works. Here are some pics of my daughter modeling it. I'll have to take some more of it just laying there. You can see the seam is a tad pointy on top. Annoying. It's also sitting on her head a tad crooked, but she's just too cute for words, isn't she?!

I heart yarn

I do. I heart yarn like nobody's business. I can't go into places like Gossamer or Juniper Fiberworks without leaving empty handed. It's just not possible. All the colors, textures, types, and styles boggle my little creative mind. I start thinking of how a certain yarn will look knitted up and I want to buy out the whole store. Because my budget will not allow me to clean both stores out I behave myself and only go in whenever I truly NEED something.

Need is such a subjective word.

So anyways, I started knitting again last year after not having any sort of craft needles in my hands for oh...20+ yrs. My grandma (whom I adored and miss like all get out) started teaching me to knit and crochet (mainly the latter) when I was but a wee lass. I loved it then but since I didn't get to spend a ton of time with Mee-Maw I didn't get a lot of teaching in. Thus, I stopped. I had always wanted to pick it back up again yet knew no one that knit...or crocheted (is that even a word?!) until one of my best friends said she was knitting. That peeked my curiosity, which made me delve into the internet world of knitting, and dragging my daughter out to places like Joanne's, buying crappy yarn, a book written when Einstein was a child, and some aluminum needles. I sat down, read the book, and started knitting. Things were going great...until I messed up.

I called Patty. I whined to her. But she knits on a loom and won't dare try sticks. Crazy girl. I researched and found Gossamer...and classes! Oh! Classes! Loves me some classes. The hubby and I had to go to Portland in a week or so for some medical tests and I really wanted something to keep me occupied both on the trip up and back and while at the hospital. Thankfully Jasper at Gossamer was able to squeeze me in. She was quite impressed that in just a day or two of knitting I had re-learned how to cast on, knit, and make something that resembled a small scarf-to-be. She showed me how to not only fix the mistake I made (which is something I'm still getting down pat) but she also showed me how to purl, and seed stitch, and bind off, and make pom-poms, and cables, and...and...all kinds of stuff. My head was so full that it threw up the moment I walked out. Sigh. I did retain quite a bit though and knitted like mad on our trip.

My first project I'll post in a bit. It was a hat. Something simple and knit in a yarn that is one of my favorites. My daughter "steals" it from me when it's cold out. Looks good on her given it's a skull cap so it's not as long as I usually like my hats. I then moved on to another hat with yarn I had picked up at Joanne's. This yarn is so soft but it drives me insane. I had to take an 8 wks. hiatus as I broke my right arm. Of course right before that happened I had purchased more beautiful wool fibers and they were calling to me. They sat so pretty in my cute little knitting box that I bought, just waiting, wondering why I had abandoned them. Yes, I tried to knit with my splint on. Didn't work out so well.

That hat is still on sticks. I have moved on! Patty is expecting not one but TWO babies (one of each) and I have decided to make her two sweaters that the little cutie patooties can wear this winter. Last night I finished the front of the baby girls' sweater and will be starting on the back...or maybe a sleeve...tonight. It is knitting up very fast and so far I love it. The pattern is from Debbie Bliss (adore her) and is a boat neck style sweater. Something easy for a gal like me who is not great at reading patterns and doesn't have a lot of experience yet.

I want to do socks and purchased some great sock wool yarn for that however I am intimidated as hell on socks--so I shall wait until I've done a few more things first. For now I must finish the sweaters!