Late Day Entries

Tonight I just squeezed in my entry for the Winter Wonderland Pincushion Challenge. When I think of winter I think of light blue and sparkly soft snow. I chose some blue fabrics from my stash, strip pieced them and added some sparkly beads. I backed the piece with white chenille, snipped the edges with my pinking shears and called it a day. My pincushion collection is beginning to get quite large.
I know I'm going to disappoint Splatgirl here but all we did for WFDW was go through the drive thru. So sorry Splatgirl. ;-(
Um...have you heard what the high temp on Sunday in MN is supposed to be? Yea that's right, -2º. Yes you heard me, negative two.

Dog KAL Update #4

Emma is modeling the yarn that her momma will use to knit her a sweater, she's a cutie.

Siris still doesn't have a sweater to call his own but dang he's cute in his new pajamas. He's also modeling a sweater that his mom knit for the GPA-MN Craft Sale.

And speaking of the GPA-MN Sale, Splatgirl made some super cool Greyhound collars that she's donating.

Last week when I said I was going to get started on Casey's sweater I didn't lie completely, I managed to get the swatch finished. I also figured out the knitting math since I had to increase the size of the pattern significantly. The book states the patterns aren't written for extra large dogs because they're least likely to wear a sweater. Hmmm, interesting.



The other day I was walking Casey and he was wearing his ultra cool coat that he got for Christmas that lights up at night so we're more visible and such. Anyhoo, the neighbor lady yelled out "nice coat Casey!" and then asked me if he gets embarrassed to have it on. That's so weird.

To: Me From: Me

I've decided to do myself a favor and knit up some things that have been hanging over my head for a while. The first thing is a Wobbly Circles Tote by Leigh Radford in Interweave Knits Spring 2006. I joined a Wobbly Tote KAL way back when but I never started the tote. In honor of trying to knit out of my stash for as long as I can this year I'll be knitting this bag for me, for the It's Not a Gift KAL. I better get on it though since the knitalong ends February 28th.

On a Roll with Bowls

This past Christmas I gave my Mom the bowl pattern from One Skein written out with a hank of Malabrigo. She's been on a bowl knitting frenzy ever since. Yesterday when she arrived for her dental visit, she brought me one she knit from Noro Kureyon in perfect colors for me.

This Little Piggy Went to the Yarn Store...

Surprisingly, I've had no trouble finding plenty of suitable yarn from my stash to knit all the projects I've started so far in 2007. Well, almost. I did buy 4 balls of yarn at a big box store for a couple of items. Just recently, I've added this cute little pig to my studio. He'll catch my spare change which will turn into yarn at a later date.
I feel like such a bad blogger lately. I have been knitting so I'll be getting some posts going soon. Do you remember the too-small slippers I knit for my niece? They found their way to a new home today, a little girl who adores pink and loves running & sliding on the kitchen floor...these slippers are perfect for her.
Have any of you tried Google Reader? I've switched all my blogs to this system, do you have any tips?

One for You & One for Me

I spent the weekend up North for my family Christmas / bar hopping / karaoke singing / relaxing yearly get together. My aunt is always such a fabulous hostess so I knit her up a nice cotton face cloth while I was there. Since I had quite a bit of yarn left over, I also knit one for myself.
Pattern: A basic dishcloth pattern given to me by my mom
Yarn: Araucania Nature Cotton, 1-105 yd skein
Color: 17
Needles: Size 8 straight birch
1st cloth started & finished: January 20, 2007
2nd cloth started: January 22, 2007
2nd cloth finished: January 23, 2007
Knit for: One for my aunt Debbie & one for me!

Dog KAL Update #3

Mast is protected from the cold but not looking all that thrilled. Great job Splatgirl!!!

Kelly's little canine friend Buca is waiting patiently for his sweater while Kelly finishes up a couple of other things first.

Siris doesn't have a sweater quite yet but doesn't he look great in his jammies??
It looks like she'll have a knitted dog toy pattern posted soon!

I've created a Flickr group for all of our photos so if you're knitting in the knitalong, join the group!!

I've gotten as far as choosing the pattern and gathering the supplies for Casey's sweater. Since I'm stranded at home without a car today, most likely I'll be casting on.

Will I Read These?

Happy Birthday Mom!

These are the 3 books I've chosen as extra credit if I read my original 12 and need more. I hope I can get these read too. If I do I'll reward myself with something like a trip to the bookstore ;-)

Dog KAL Update #2

Kelly from Knittn' Yarns is going to make a sweater for a friends dog, an adorable puppy named Buca.

Look at where a couple of bad movies got Splatgirl, Mast is going to have a completed sweater in no time!

It looks like Felted Kitty already finished a coat for her little baby, jeez...these little dog knitters have it easy!

Knit Think is going to knit a dog sweater even though she vowed not to join any knitalongs.

And what about Casey? He's still naked but I've dug some promising yarn out of my stash.

A few more knitters joined the KAL this week, I've added them onto the participant list underneath the button on my sidebar.

REDy for shipment

This morning I finished the scarf I knit for the Red Scarf Project. I'll send it out to the Orphan Foundation on Tuesday along with a small gift card to Targe! and some snacks. This scarf also fulfills my knitting for the Hockey Knitter's Knitalong but there's quite a few hockey games left and I have some more red yarn so maybe I'll cast on for another red scarf.

Pattern: My So Called Scarf by Stacey of Sheep in the City, fun pattern!
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease 1-197 yd skein
Color: 112 Red Sprinkles
Needles: Size 11 bamboo straight
Started: January 2, 2007
Finished: January 14, 2007
Knit for: Orphan Foundation of America's Red Scarf Project

Reverse-Bloom Flower Washcloth

Does anyone notice a trend here?
Pattern: Reverse-Bloom Flower Washcloth by Cindy Taylor; Interweave Knits Winter 2003 & Weekend Knitting
Yarn: Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille 1 skein
Color: 5960
Needles: Size 6-16" bamboo circular & Size 6 bamboo DPN
Started: December 22, 2006 in CA
Finished: January 2, 2007 (my 1st FO of the year!)
Knit for: ? not sure, just trying to knit out of my stash!!

Another Test Knit

I finished this pair of socks for Larissa Brown's socks 101 knit-along. For details see the Flickr description, just click the photo below.

The weather hasn't been ideal for photography and it doesn't sound like it's going to get any better.

Dog KAL Update #1

There's been quite a response towards the Knit for your Dog Knitalong, it's great! Knit Think had a great idea, if you want to knit for a dog but you don't have a dog you can knit for a dog charity! She pointed me toward a local MN charity called Top Dog Foundation. This foundation is raising money to build a sanctuary for older, unadoptable dogs to live out the remainder of their lives in comfort rather than being euthanized at a shelter. Consider this or a local charity in your area. Now there are no excuses, come join us!

I've listed all the participants on the sidebar underneath my KAL button.

This week Splatgirl purchased the yarn for Mast's sweater and it looks like she's started swatching.

It looks like Pearl is nice and warm with her almost completed sweater over at Crafty Canines!

All I've done is chosen a pattern and I measured Casey, he was a good sport. Today I'll go shopping for the yarn.

Too Small ;-(

Unlike the slippers I made for my oldest niece which fit very well, the slippers I knit for the younger one didn't fit at all, my fault for substituting yarn and not knitting a gauge swatch. She tried and tried to make them fit but it just wasn't meant to be. So, I'll be knitting her a new pair.
Pattern: Fiber Trends Felted Clog, Child's XL
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool 2-240 yd skeins
Color: 43
Needles: Size 13-16" & 24" bamboo circulars
Knit For: Jessica but they'll be finding a home elsewhere
Started: October 27, 2006
Finished: December 16, 2006

2007 Stash Beginning

One of my goals this year is too knit out of my stash, mostly. I don't think I'd be able to keep myself from buying yarn until September 30th like some other bloggers are trying to do but I'm really going to try my best. If nothing else I'll finish up of some of the projects that have been gathering dust. Looking at my stash, do you think I'll be able to make it? ;-)

This is the main stash hideout.
Sock yarn. That bin is full of it!
A few skeins hiding in the pattern basket, and all the kitchen cotton behind it.

And last but not least, all the other nooks & crannys that hide yarn.

Slip Slidin' Away

Another Fiber Trends slipper, this is number 3 for me. I knit this pair as a gift for my niece Megan. Luckily I was able to deliver these to her in person, a rarity for the aunt of an Air Force brat. She loved them and they fit great, another gift well done!
Pattern: Fiber Trends Felt Clogs size Women's Medium
Yarn: Cascade Quatro
Color: Summerdaze (5018) 2-220 yd skeins, Green Tea (5019) 1-220 yd skein
Needles: Size 13-16" & 24" bamboo circulars
Started: October 7, 2006
Finished: November 26, 2006

"Brrrr, Could You Knit Me a Sweater?"

Do you have a naked dog out there in the cold? Then you need to join the knit for your dog knitalong. Splatgirl & I are hosting this knitalong which will run from now until March 31st. Knit a sweater for your dog or someone elses, use any pattern and any yarn that you want to. We're very lax on the rules around here. Sign up by leaving a comment to this post, updates will be given here each Tuesday...just get me a link to your post by Monday nights. You can email me using the "Mail" button on the top of my sidebar.
Do you need a pattern? Check out these dog knitting books or these links on the www.

Use this button but please save it to your own server.


Now let's get knitting!

Happy 2007!

What a difference a day makes!

We wish you all a great 2007!