oh ya...

I just tried to make a pair of pajamas for myself. Foolishly thinking that if I chose a pattern size big enough for my bust, it would fit. However due to the nature of the pattern, and the assumption by pattern companies that everyone wears a size B cup, it ended up being a disaster.

Ya, now I remember why I knit.

(ed note: I will say that the lovely Venus of Willendorf is a little thicker thru the waist than I am... but it's nice to know that I could be a fertility symbol to some cultures. Just not mine.)

One more finished in May...

Did a quick baby blanket for some friends expecting their first baby. I have to say that I would make this one bigger for me (I love the colors!).

Let's do some project stats, eh?

Pattern: just a simple crochet square. I alternated the dc colors with sc white ending with a round of hdc followed by my favorite edging: reverse single crochet. Finished blanket is 48" x 48" (and just in case anyone is interested, I used a size J hook).

Yarn: Vanna's Choice Baby in Aqua, Mint, Bluebell and White.

Overall Impressions: Very happy with it. I personally love the colors, and think it's appropriate for either sex. While I usually prefer a lighter weight yarn for baby things, this is soft enough that I'm happy with it.


I will say baby things are one of the few things I make as gifts. I don't think most people appreciate hand made itmes (not all... but I don't risk it). However, handmade baby things seems traditional.

Whew, just sneaked that project in by the end of the month, which keeps me on track for my goal of finishing 24 projects this year.

Bee Balm

Took about 2 days for Bee Balm to dry. Finished it up today and I am so totally in love with it. The yarn is soooo soft. The pattern so very stylish.


Let's do some project stats ('cause I know you're going to run out and the get the yarn and pattern to make yourself one... right? heehee).

Pattern: Bee Balm by Fiona Ellis (pattern can be found in the Nashua Handknits booklet called "Style: Lace & Eyelets).

Yarn: NaturallyCaron.com's Spa in Ocean Spray (shocking color choice for me, eh?)

Problems with the pattern: none that I remember.

Changes to the pattern: only change is the buttonband. Instead of the knitted band I did one row of single crochet then a row of reverse single crochet

Overall impressions: YAY! Wow! YUMMY! The yarn is soooo soft and drapey (yes, it is very splitty, so just be sure to use dull pointed needles). The lace border is stunning and the overall design is beautiful. If I had seen this cardigan as a ready to wear, I would've purchased it. That's how much I love it.


Now the yarn does say machine wash and dry... but I'm not going to take the chance. I'm a little concerned about pilling, so this will be handled with extreme care.

One thing I wall add... I need to make something in a different color. I've used the same spool of thread to sew on my buttons for the last 3 projects...


Oh, and the button rocks too.

Now I just need to finish the baby blanket I'm working on (almost there... photos soon). Then I'll work on a non-green project. Maybe.

Busy Little Bee

My Bee Balm is currently blocking. Now I have no idea how long it's going to take to dry, as it's a wee bit muggy. However, I actually had to re-wet it after pulling it out of the spin cycle on the washer. So it might not take as long as say... a cotton.

I'm thrilled with this so far. The color. The lace. The cables. The drape. We'll see how it fits when it's done, but I'm pretty excited about it right now.


Well... what shall I do while I wait for it to dry? Vacuum? Laundry? Cast on a new project?

Ah ya... blogging...

So between Fallout 3, Facebook and Ravelry, my poor blog is left to last for updating. I don't really want to neglect my blog. It is my main diary for my projects, and I like having the records of what I did on projects as they were happening... so let's see what I've been up to.

Well, Fallout 3, mainly (aaaah, downloadable content, how we love thee). That doesn't mean I'm not knitting.

Julie and I got together this week to get back to work on Babette.


All the squares had been completed, so it was time to start seaming:


We'll get together again this coming week to finish it up and it will be ready for the Relay for Life fundraiser.

This is an excellent two person project (even if I used a size G hook and I believe Julie used a size C... heehee, our squares came out to the same size). We simply split the number of squares in half, then mixed them all together, then split them between us again to seam up the sections. I have to say I was shocked at how we could not tell our squares apart (especially considering the differential in hook sizes!).

This pattern is quite brilliant. I'll do a full recap when I have a finished photo, but I have to say that I will absolutely make this again (to keep). I can't say how much I love the food coloring dyed yarn!

I'm still plugging away on Bee Balm, with just the right front to finish up. Fabulous pattern and I'm absolutely loving working with the Spa yarn. No new photo today, as I'm finding the yarn to be very hard to photograph (and it's kinda crappy out, so it's just too much work).

Of course I'm stalking more projects, patterns and yarns. I really do owe Matt a project, but I'm so digging knitting with Spa right now... and cute little summer cardigans, that I'm neglecting him. Eh, he'll get something in the fall...

I really don't need an other hobby...

I spent this morning playing around with some Wilton food coloring and some yarn from Knit Picks. This could be dangerous (and I might have to actually learn what I'm doing).

The photos never quite capture the true essence of the colors, but it's the best I can do.

First up: some wool/alpaca/nylong fingering weight. Two skeins will make a nice sized shawl:


Next up is the same yarn, but in blues:


The fun thing about this one is that I only used one color. The dye seperated in the pot to give me the variation (which I couldn't have done if I had tried, right?)

This one is still drying, as I ended up throwing it back into the dye pot. It's a wool silk blend fingering weight. It didn't come out anything as I had planned. Before the second dip, the colors were very muddy. (the photo is a little washed out, as it's outside in the sun).

The color ended up being a very gothic dark red. Again... will make a lovely shawl (I hope... have no idea about how any of these will knit up).

I really have been enjoying the process of dyeing. Matt doesn't love the smell (so I did it while he was racing this weekend). Just need to get some knitting done now!

Not so Busy Bees

The back of Bee Balm has one more inch to go before shoulder shaping. It's needed that inch for the last 30 rows. Makes total sense. Knit knit knit, measure, knit knit, measure, knit, measure... yet the fabric simply DOESN'T GROW!

I can't wait to tackle the fronts and get back to the pretty lacey section again. While the cable section is easy, the lace border is what makes this cardigan... and it's a lot of fun to knit.

Off to knit 30 more rows and remeasure... then knit, remeasure... then knit, remeasure.

Sunflower in Soft Sunshine

Wow, is the weather dreary. It's been raining for days. So what's a girl to do????

Cast on a new project, of course!


The pattern is the cover project from the Nashua booklet "Style: Lace and Eyelets", which is where Bee Balm comes from. I loved how the Spa was knitting up, so went and got some more.

This is a bit of an experiment for me, as you can see: the yarn is not green. or blueish green or aqua or mint. It is, in fact, yellow. Soft Sunshine, to be exact (how can I not knit a pattern name "Sunflower" in a yarn called "Soft Sunshine"?).

I don't normally wear yellow. Okay, I never wear yellow. However, this one just called out to me. The pattern has a deep scooped neck, so it shouldn't be too close to my face. Fingers crossed, I'll be able to wear it.

So we'll see. I wish the weather was a bit better, as the photo doesn't do this color justice at all.

Meanwhile, I've got to finish up Bee Balm (the back is just about done) so I can concentrate on Sunflower!