Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween!  Only one of my boys was able to trick or treat tonight because the other one is home sick with a fever and cough.  He's so sick he doesn't even care that he's missing out on trick or treating...poor guy.

Ronan (Anakin Skywalker - Jedi) with his neighborhood buddies.

Anderson Farms - 2010

Fall is officially here.  Today was our annual trip to Anderson Farms with lots of friends.  But this year was different.  This year's trip included a new BFF from the boys' kindergarten class.

Mermaid Dreams

The pattern is live!  This was a test knit that I finished a few weeks back but didn't have a modeled pic of it until now.  I finally got around to shipping it off to the recipient and her mom took some beautiful pics of Pria and the top.  Speaking from a test knitter's point of view, there was a lot of hard work and consideration, by the designer, to make this a well fitting top.  Taking a look at the number of test knitted FOs is a testament to this.  In fact, I would say this tank fits better than any other child's top pattern I've ever seen.  As knit, this top should fit a child ranging from 6-8 years old and took less than 300 yards in a worsted weight yarn.  The pattern is quite comprehensive in that it offers sizing from newborn to 6 years, in three different yarn weights, several length options, and finally, many hem alternatives. 

Mermaid Dreams by Anne McCrea

Yarn: Stacy Charles - Mosaic

Color: Magenta

Ravelry

Doesn't Pria's mom, Lynna, take beautiful pictures?  I could never do this top justice.  And it fits Pria perfectly!

Testing, testing...

...yes, I've been doing a lot of test knitting.  All this test knitting has give me the opportunity to stock up on hand knits for my twenty year high school reunion fund raiser.  It's still undecided if I can go but it looks like it probably won't happen.  Not only is that disappointing in itself, but that gives me less knitting time as I need to account for shipping.

This test knit was for a fellow Malabrigo Junkie, Kristen Hanley Cardozo.  The Maple Leaf Rag Hat isn't published yet but I know a lot of people have been chomping at the bit for the pattern.  The hat can be knit in two different styles, cloche or slouchy.  The first time knitting this pattern I knit the slouchy version.  I fell in love with it...this hat will be hard to part with.  My only consolation is that it's such a fast and easy knit, I know I can whip out another one in no time.

Maple Leaf Rag Hat by Kristen Hanley Cardozo

 Yarn: Dream in Color - Classy 

Color: In Vino Veritas - VM250

Ravelry

 

Since it was such a quick knit, I decided to work up the cloche version in a navy.

Maple Leaf Rag Hat (cloche version) by Kristen Hanley Cardozo

Yarn: Malabrigo - Merino Worsted

Color: Paris Night - 52

Ravelry

And, oh my goodness...take a look at this little thing.  This test knit is not for the auction, instead will be gifted to a friend's daughter.  I just love this little top.  This can be knit in several styles as well.  I opted for the tank version.  This was a quick knit using a worsted weight yarn and can easily be knit up in just a few days (if you felt so inclined).  :-)

   

Mermaid Dream by Anne McCrea

Yarn: Stacy Charles - Mosaic

Color: Magenta - 113

Ravelry

(pattern not yet published - I'll update links when available)

And...I can't forget to share a sample knit I finished up a little bit ago.  These samples are for Debbie O'Neill.  With the pattern being on the back of the leg only, these knit up really quick, too.  I just love how this colorway knit up.

Cascading Leaves Socks by Debbie O'Neill

Yarn: Pagewood Farm - Yukon

Color: Forest Camo

Ravelry 

Some lace...

I've recently finished some lace projects...not to be confused with lace weight.  I love lace patterns because they are so forgiving.  Lace stitch patterns tend to hide changes in my tension much better than garter stitch and and even more so than stockinette stitch.

I was fortunate enough to do another test knit for Kirsten Kapur of Through the Loops.  The Snow Drops & Snap Peas patterns can be purchased individually or as an e-book set.  This set is a great gift giving knit because they're such quick and easy patterns.  I finished each mitt in one evening and the hat only took a few more.  I will be donating this set to the Salinas High School 20 year reunion's auction to benefit the Mr. Getris Scholarship Memorial Fund.

Snow Drops & Snap Peas Slouch by Kirsten Kapur

Yarn: Dream in Color - Classy

Color: Blue Lagoon - VM160 

Ravelry

Snow Drops & Snap Peas Mitts by Kirsten Kapur

Yarn: Dream in Color - Classy

Color: Blue Lagoon - VM160  
Ravelry

This next lace pattern was just something fun for me.  After a summer of test and sample knitting, I wanted to knit something just because and just for me.  This vest is perfect!  It will still be warm for more than a month so I'll get to enjoy it without long sleeves for a little longer and it will help keep me warm in the cold office at my new job!  :-)  Oh...and have I mentioned how wonderfully soft this madelinetosh yarn is...heavenly!  

(Yes...another crummy self portrait, but look at that sky and those Rocky Mountains!)

Crystal by Mel Clark 

Yarn: madelinetosh - pashmina

Color: Rose
Ravelry 

2010 Rockies Stitch 'n Pitch

Last night marked the annual Colorado Rockies Stitch 'n Pitch.  A group of us from a local knitting group carpooled down to participate in the festivities.  I didn't actually get much knitting done as I ended up messing it all up shortly after the game started.  All was well in the end...it just allowed me to watch more of the game.  The Rockies pulled thru with an exciting win! 

That's me (in the pink) working on Crystal.
Photo courtesy of Emmy
 

Curatio!

When I say that in my head I feel like Harry Potter.  :-)

This is a test knit I did for Through the Loops - Kirsten Kapur.  It's a beautiful triangular shawl with such fantastic texture...the wrong side is just as beautiful as the right side.  My gauge, of course, was much smaller than the pattern.  I'm such a tight knitter and should know better but I always think I can block it out.  When will I ever learn that blocking is not a cure-all?  :-)  Anyway, regardless, this is still the largest shawl I've knit to date.  It's so beautiful!  I know I keep using that word but I can't think of a better adjective.  It's the pattern, the texture, the color, and of course...the yarn.  The yarn was so soft and wonderful to knit with and only increased exponentially after washing. 

Ravelry: Curatio

Pattern: Curatio Shawl by Kirsten Kapur

Yarn: madelinetosh - Prairie

Color: Winter Wheat

Not for lack of...

Though I haven't blogged in a bit, it's not for lack of knitting.  I've actually been pretty busy...most recently with test knitting...and sock knitting.  In this post I'll show off the socks that I test knit for Cookie A's upcoming book, Knit.Sock.Love.  The patterns I test knit had all been previously released but she wanted all the patterns test knit in the new book format.  Here they are in order of completion.

Ravelry: Monkey

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn - Sock

Color: Arbol - 858

Ravelry - Hedera

Pattern: Hedera by Cookie A

Yarn: Sunshine Yarns - Classic Sock Yarn

Color: Split Pea

So these...are not done.  I've only completed one sock so far.

Ravelry - Lissajous Stockings

Pattern: Lissajous Socks by Cookie A

Yarn: Louet - Gems Fingering Weight

Color: Cloud Grey - 21

The Monkey and Hedera patterns were surprisingly easy and fast!  I loved knitting those patterns.  The Lissajous Stockings turned out beautiful...but they were hard.  Hard on my hands and hard to knit.  The heel flap has cable crosses on the right and wrong sides...not an easy feat for me.

Pink Dandelion - Samothrace Shawl

Last year, a couple of my friends, Kristi and Debbie, launched their own yarn line, Pink Dandelion Yarns.  I was lucky enough to snag a skein from their first release!  Pink Dandelion offers great colors and their Nylon Sock is a good value for an indie yarn at 420 yards per hank.  Mine actually had over 475 yards!

Recently, I saw Kristi knitting a prototype of a soon-to-be self published shawl pattern.  And every since then, I've been bugging her to let me test knit the shawl.  She was finally ready for me to start last week and this is the result!  I love it!  Don't you just love those points...so cool.

Ravelry: Pink Dandelion Shawl
Pattern: Samothrace by Kristi Geraci

Yarn: Pink Dandelion - Nylon Sock

Color: Money (That's What I Want)

 This is a great shawl for those that are either intimidated by lace or don't like lace shawls.  I also like this shawl because it is not just a plain garter stitch.    Believe it or not, this is an instant gratification shawl.  The stitch pattern is so quick and easy, paired with the garter stitch, it really makes for a speedy knit!

Estes Park Wool Market - 2010

This past weekend marked the 20th Annual Estes Park Wool Market.  Unfortunately, it was a wet and soggy weekend so I didn't take the time to see any animals or shows.  I did, however, shop the wool market!  Look at the pretties I found.

Lower left-hand corner: Creatively Dyed Yarn - Calypso - Gentle colorway

Remaining pics: Plain & Fancy - Sport - Banboo, Bamboo/Dk Brown, Brown

For the Plain & Fancy, I will be making the Colonnade Shawl by Stephen West.  And I've already started knitting a pair of socks out of the Creatively Dyed.  My first try at 2-at-a-time!

(You'd never know they were coming from the same skein of yarn.)

 We've had a lot of precipitation this year and many of our bike paths and pedestrian bridges are flooded from all the rain fall and snow melt.  After the Wool Market, we all headed into town and warmed up at Kind Coffee.  The coffee shop has a little patio along the Big Thompson River (I believe) and it was running fast!  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  The little video clip I shot gives you a better idea of how fast it was running and how loud it was.  All in all, it was a great day, despite the weather, and fun to be in the company of knitters for a day.

Peony

Fresh cut from my yard.  So pretty.  In a house full of boys, I don't often get pretty.

Herbivore

Oooh...my latest knit!  And I love it.  I love the drape and weight of this shawl.  This yarn is a wool/silk blend that gives this shawl beautiful sheen and drape.  The weekend is going to cool off considerably around here so it will be the perfect occasion to wear it at the Estes Park Wool Market.  The colorway is a bit funky and typically not something I'd pick for myself.  But Mew Mew's was having their 4th Anniversary Sale and I was intrigued by it, I figured it would be a good time to try it.    This is my first Stephen West knit and I'm really happy with the result.  The design is interesting and classic...not to frilly or funky for me.  I've been dying to knit his Daybreak and Colonnade patterns, too.

Ravelry: Herbivore

Pattern: Herbivore by Stephen West

Yarn: ShibuiKnits - Staccato

Color: 50's Kitchen - 151

So far today...

This is where I've been sitting most of the morning, admiring the beautiful weather we've had the last couple of days.  It's so nice being outside before it gets so hot...and the boys love to be outside so it's much more peaceful for me.  :-)

I have my knitting, my coffee, and my computer...bliss!

The girls enjoying the outdoors with us.

Our peony bush is in full bloom...it's beautiful.   

The latest

Gosh...it seems like it's been forever since I've blogged.  I know what people mean about the summer getting so busy.  My niece graduated from high school last week so we've had two weekends in a row of functions in her honor.  And now that the birthday festivities are over and done with, I actually got some knitting done.

This is going to be Part II of my great unveiling since I had a Part I.  Though the shower was for three pregnant woman, you will notice that there are only two in the pictures.  That's because I didn't have any of Kristi's gifts done by the time the shower rolled around.  Alas, I still do not have any pics of her but I do have pics of the items that were gifted to her.  The first project is a WIP that was started back in January for Kristi who's baby shower was back in August and who's baby was born back in November.  So needless to say...this is a little belated.

 

Ravelry: Log Cabin III
Pattern: How to Build a Log Cabin by Cara Davis

Yarn: Dream in Color - Classy

Colors: Flamingo Pie (VM410), Cinnamon Girl (VM11S), Good Luck Jade (VM410)

This sweater was finished shortly after the baby shower.  I had a hard time finding a pattern that I thought would do this yarn justice.  What so special about the yarn you ask?  It's Kristi's own handspun!

Ravelry: Garter Yoke Baby Cardi
 Pattern: Garter Yoke Baby Cardi by Jennifer Hoel

Yarn: Handspun by Kristi

 Ok - now on to stuff for me.  :-)  

I finished a test knit for a fellow Malabrigo Junkie, Tori Gurbisz.  I knitted my first shrug back in April and fell in love with them.  This shrug was knitted in lace weight and has such a great feel against my skin.  My first garment in lace weight and I can't wait to knit another.  I'm now on the hunt for a lace weight cardigan.

Ravelry: Dulcet

Pattern: Dulcet by Tori Gurbisz

Yarn: Malabrigo - Lace

Color: Apple Green - 11 

I'm waiting for the pattern to start another test knit.  I can't wait!  In the mean time, I'm keeping myself busy knitting a shawl.   I was hoping to have it done by tonight...but I guess I can give myself a few more days to knit it.  :-)  Ta ta for now!

The grand finale!

This post is a little tardy...it took me a while to recover.  The last day of birthday celebrations was on Sunday.  We spent the day at Grandma and Grandpa's...probably the most relaxing of all the birthday festivities.  The boys opened up the last of their birthday gifts, from the family.  It seems the overwhelming favorite this year was anything Star Wars...and anything Star Wars with a light saber...and anything Playmobil came in as a close second.  Here they are anxiously waiting to open gifts.

Yesterday they were playing outside wearing one of the gifts they received on Sunday, knight cape and helmet.

According to the boys, they were showing their mean faces.

And now that the birthday festivities are over and done with, I can get back to knitting.  With all the season finales on t.v. right now, I have almost finished my log cabin blanket!  I'm hoping to have pics up over the weekend.