Malabrigo March: FO #5

One more Malabrigo March project finished!  I love these little mitts.  These are Susie's Reading Mitts by Janelle Masters, knit using Malabrigo Silky Merino in the Atardecer colorway.  The great thing about these mitts is that it takes just over 100 yards for the small size.  These are also nice because though these are colors I would not typically wear...they suit me just fine for an accessory item.

Seamus was kind enough to model the mitts for me, even without coercion.  :-)

Believe it or not, I have another Shalom Cardigan on the needles!  This one will be for me.  I'm modifying this one for worsted weight yarn.  I'll post FOs when it's all done.  And...I have some exciting news but I'll have to write about that later.  Maybe when those are done, too.  ;-)

Malabrigo March: FO #3 & #4

The needles are still on fire for Malabrigo March and I still can't get enough of it.  These are the latest finished knits.

Shalom Cardigan by Meghan McFarLane: This will be a sample at my LYS, Mew Mew's Yarn Shop.  I was in the store one day and the owner, Sue, mentioned the Malabrigo Chunky was not selling well.  I told her she needs to have a sample knit out of one of the variegated yarns.  The variegated colorways are so intimidating when they are in their skeins but less so when they are viewed caked or knitted up. So, she asked if I would knit something and we decided on a quick, free pattern.  This is Malabrigo Worsted in Col China colorway.

And these fun things are slippers, Bigfoot / Ogre Slippers by Cheryl Andrews knit in Malabrigo Worsted, Marron oscurro colorway.  Take note...your toes do not go inside of the knitted toes.  :-)  And the best thing about them...they're for me!














That's it for now.  I do have my fifth Malabrigo March project on the needles and I picked up some yarn, just today at Mew Mew's, for another Phoebe Hat.

Are you there, Spring? It's me, Amy.

This has been one of the coldest and longest winters that I can remember.  Today was such a nice reprieve with temperatures in the 50s (Fahrenheit). And the snow has finally melted off the flagstone patio out back.  To celebrate this reprieve, the boys (and girls) and I took a nice long walk on the path behind our house.

 Soon we will be able to enjoy this area every morning.

The girls posing after a nice dip in the creek.

 

The boys making discoveries as we plod along on our adventure.

  
And finally, a picnic in the back yard.
  

Malabrigo March: FO #1 & #2

Though it's Malabrigo March, I always want to call it March Madness.  Can you tell I live with an avid NCAA basketball fan?  One year I made all my picks by the length of the team's name.  I had San Antonio going to the Final Four.  They didn't even make it to the Sweet 16, so needless to say, I didn't get far in the pool...but I digress.  :-)

This is my first year participating in Malabrigo March.  It's intimidating.  In fact, the whole Malabrigo Junkies group, on Ravelry, can be intimidating.  They're very organized and have hard and fast rules regarding their threads and KALs.  I think I've got the hang of it all now.  :-)  And  I'm actually co-leading one of the KALs this year, the Saroyan.  I finished my first two Malabrigo March projects in three days!  The needles have been on fire!  They're small projects but done, none the less.

This is Saroyan by Liz Abinante knit in Malabrigo Alpaca Merino, Velvet Grapes.  Heavenly soft is the best way to describe this knit.  The yarn felt so nice on the hands while I was knitting and the variegation worked out just lovely.  I'm not a fan of knitting scarves at all.  But it didn't even dawn on me, until I was blocking it, that I actually just knit a scarf.  This scarf will be loved and get much use.

The second finished project is the Phoebe Hat.  This is a test knit for a fellow Junkie so I don't have a link for it as  of yet.  This is a shallow beret/slouchy hat knit in Malabrigo Worsted, Brisa.  This hat will be gifted to friend's aunt with cancer.  I hope it fits and she likes the colors.

Edited to add pattern and author links: The Phoebe Hat by Terri Kruse

Neighborly

One of my favorite blogs to read is JCasa*handmade.  I first stumbled on her blog when I saw pictures of her twin girls in the Twins group on Flickr.  I find her stuff (not just knitting) so inspiring.  My latest hand knit is one of Jennifer Casa's patterns, Neighborly with a Twist.  I started this little number the Saturday before the Olympic closing ceremonies and was hoping I could finish it up in order to include it in my Ravelympics FOs...but alas...I fretted about a contrasting color.  The color I ended up with was the one I wanted to use from the very beginning but was afraid it would bleed on to the undyed yarn.  With some testing and a dash of vinegar...all ended well.  I can't believe I actually finished a present before the actual birthday party!  This is for my friend's daughter (who also knits and appreciates all hand knits received).  The button is perfect!  It came from my late grandmother's vintage button stash.

Ravelympics - Winter 2010

As with the official Olympic events, the closing ceremonies marks the end of Ravelympics.  I started the Winter 2010 Ravelympics with low expectations.  I just wanted to finish two WIPs that were languishing on the needles for a year.  I didn't want the stress of trying to finish multiple projects or even one complicated pattern.  But of course, as one project comes off the needles, another one is itching to get on.  I did challenge myself with each of the projects finished and entered in this year's Ravelympics.

The picture below is just a quick collage of the projects that were finished...

Clockwise from the top left: Sedum by Jane Richmond, Nola's Mitts (Pitts' Mitts) by Brittany Tyler, Olympic Storm (Storm Cloud Shawlette) by Hanna Breetz , Orchids and Fairy Lights by tiny owl knits

Sedum - Challenge:  finish it!

Nola's Mitts - Challenge:  fair isle or stranded knitting

Olympic Storm - Challenge: knitting a project with that yarn (!)

Orchids and Fairy Lights - Challenge: bobbles and cables

And look how cute the medals are that they give out!

 

  

Now the fun begins!  Malabrigo March is here and I've already got FOUR projects slated for the month.

"Martha My Dear"

...don't forget [us] Martha my dear.

(flickr)

This was a gathering to wish our friend and member of the Boulder Knitting Collective a fond farewell back to her home state of Washington.

Can you believe the picture above and the group picture below were taken by the same person and the same camera?  It helps to know how to use it.  :-)

Let the games begin!

In honor of the 2010 Winter Ravelympics, one of the local SnBs I attend had a cast-on party.  It was a potluck...and one of the finest potlucks I've ever been a part of, for example, glazed carrots, butternut squash soup, asparagus wrapped in phyllo dough (yeah, that's what I said), mustard-crusted salmon, tamales...need I go on.  And that doesn't even include desserts and other sides!  It was all sooo good!  Everyone was busy casting-on and frogging!  By the night's end I was no closer to my Ravelympics goal because of the frogging.

 My plan was to work on a few WIPs during Ravelympics because I just didn't want any stress.  When I was gathering everything for the party tonight, I realized that I do not want to knit the scarf that my mom had picked out.  So, I made an executive decision to frog the whole thing and start anew!  This is definitely more exciting for me!  :-)

Shroom

Mmmmm...what's better than knitting with one skein of Malabrigo - Worsted at one time?   Knitting with three skeins of Malabrigo - Worsted at one time!

I have, for so long, been searching for a hat pattern.  I vowed to myself, at the new year, that I would make myself one hat this winter and be happy about it.  This was tough for me because I've never felt like I look good in hats.  I don't know why...sometimes I think it's because I'm Korean/Asian though I think other Asians look perfectly fine in hats.  Those in the Boulder Knitting Collective (Snb) know that I've tried on many and ask for many opinions.  Well - yesterday I finally committed and finished my first hat for me.  This is the Shroom by Lee Wood Juvan from the Winter 2009 issue of Knitty.  I decided to triple strand with Malabrigo - Worsted (color - Marron oscuro) because I just couldn't find the right yarn that I felt had a similar weight as the Spud & Chloe - Outer...without cotton.  Here's the hat (no pics of me in it...remember...I don't like how I look in them).

I've figured it out!

I've finally figured out how to knit a neater i-cord!  I've always hated knitting i-cords because mine always turned out bumpy, lumpy, and twisty.  I know for most knitters knitting an i-cord is pretty elementary...hence the name.  I turned to one of my friends, Emmy Lou, and she passed on a quick but vital tip...tug on your first stitch.  After trial and error, I finally got a method down that resulted in a consistent and neat(er) i-cord.  This is how I did it:

Step 1 - work your first stitch but before you drop it off the left needle, give the working yarn a good tug
Step 2 - insert your right needle into the first stitch on the left needle and give the working yarn another good tug, finish stitch as prescribed
Step 3 - before you start your next row of i-cord, give your whole i-cord a quick little tug

Easy enough, huh?  Elementary, my dear!  Now I'm sure I won't cringe so much at the thought of knitting a yard of i-cord (or more).  :-)  And like a proud momma, I leave you with my i-cord.

10 in 2010: FO1 & FO2

There's a group on Ravelry, 10 in 2010, that is dedicated to getting you to finish ten FOs in 2010 (with some variety). I have two (knitting) goals this year: (1) knit more projects for me and (2) use up some of my stash and this group is helping me do this. I just finished my second FO this year and they're both for me! Yay...woot, woot!

First, Mondo Cable Cardi by Bonne Marie Burns. I had originally planned to knit this back in November with the Boulder Knitting Collective KAL but didn't. I knit this with Dream in Color Classy, Grey Tabby. The fit is perfect. I've used this yarn many times but always gifted the finished project. So this is my first Dream in Color for me. (Not a great pic of me but a good one of the sweater!)

Second, Nimbus by the Berroco Design Team. I think this was supposed to be a KAL with Bich-Thu but she's having a hard time nailing down a yarn that she wants to use so I went solo on this. I had some issues with my bind off on the shoulder for the front panels, which made the shoulders narrower than I would have liked, but it's still comfortable. Yarn used on this sweater is Berroco Peruvia Quick in Saddle Brown. This sweater is warm, light and comfortable. I lengthened the body by four inches and the sleeves by five inches.

Now on to a belated baby shower gift. I was hoping to have three FOs in January but I'm having issues with the doily I'm working on. More details on both later.

Bella Bomber

This year I have less Christmas knitting than last year. This is good in more than one way. Other than being crazy this time of year, it gave me more time to (try and) be creative. So my attempt at being more creative...

My niece requested an ear flap hat for Christmas. I debated about buying a super cute Target version that was $12 or struggle with finding a pattern that I was happy with. So! For her birthday (which is the week after Christmas) I wanted to knit Bella's Mittens for her. Finally, it occurred to me that I should knit a matching hat but the only Bella hat pattern I'd seen on Ravelry did not have ear flaps. This is where I got creative! I decided to try my hand at designing one. A fellow Raveler, AmberGale, named it...Bella's Bomber. I've attached a link for notes. I wasn't able to attach a .pdf file (I'm not so html inclined). :-) This is in no way a pattern! I just don't want anyone to be disappointed. You'll still need to refer to Bella's Hat pattern by Holly Easely while knitting Bella's Bomber.

I blocked the heck out of this because I thought it was going to be too small (that's why the cables flattened out so much). It's a hair big now but Malabrigo tends to bounce back a bit so I think it will end up being a perfect fit. Now, I gotta figure out how to make a cord and attach it. I'm so bad at i-cords, mine always are so bumpy. (Not a great pic because it was cloudy and snowing.)

flickr pics
Ravelry project page

'Tis the season

...for parties and lots of holiday fun! So, Tuesday was my annual neighborhood Bunco ornament exchange. Wednesday I attended the Boulder Knitting Collective Christmas Gift Exchange Party, and tonight will be my annual book club gift exchange. Phew!

Last night's party was a hoot! It was so fun to be surrounded by knitters in the holiday spirit. The gift exchange got a bit heated at times but a good time was had by all. Alas, I did not get pics of the buffet spread that everyone contributed to. Here's a pic of all the great women in attendance. Thanks everyone for such a great time!

In this photo: (top) - Javalulu, Andrea, Jerusha, Bich-thu, Stephanie, JoAnn
(middle) - Aja (pink & white striped top), Marty, Becky, Pip (hostess), Cathy
(front) - Kristen, Emmy Lou, Katy, Amy (me)

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Just a quick note to share my great day.

It started with this.... How cool is that? Not just a beautiful sight because of the balloon but look at that view! That's out my backyard. I love living out of "town".















Next...my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner at my in-laws. That there is the sight of 20 lbs of mashed potatoes which includes 3 lbs of butter and almost 2 pints of heavy whipping cream. Mmmm.... Just for scale - that is a regular 11 x 17 cookie sheet (yes...that bowl is HUGE!).

I never...

...win anything! But my luck has changed. A blogger/Ravelry friend, Leslie, was having a contest on her blog and the prize was this beautiful shawl. And guess what? I won! So now that our sidewalks are dry, from the recent snow storm, I finally made it down to the mailbox and found that my prize was awaiting my retrieval. How lucky am I? These colors are perfect for the fall season. I know this shawl will get much wear. Thank you so much, Leslie. Know that this will be loved!

(This pic of me wearing the shawl was taken by my four year old son, so it's a little shaky - and he had me laughing.)