Little Ponies and Big Kitties...

Well, the Pony Blankie was a smashing success...thank goodness cause if someone had said they didn't like it, I may have lost it completely. That border around the outside of the blankie is knit in a strip and then sewn on - it was around the halfway point of the border that I started to wonder why I ever decided to knit a baby blanket with a stupid border that needs to be stitched on. But the main blankie bit with the ponies was super easy so I'm not going to complain about it anymore. Plus it was an extremely affordable project yarn-wise. Of course if you take the time spent stitching border to blanket into account, this project is clearly priceless. ;-) Hmmm...that doesn't count as complaining, does it?





I also spent some time knitting a kitty hat for my friend Alison's birthday last week. We've decided to make last year's ski trip an annual event and she loved my kitty hat from last year so much that I decided she needed her very own for this year. Isn't she cute!?!

I call this one "Happy Kitty"...


A few more drinks at the birthday party and I ran into "Angry Kitty"...note the laid back ears. That is a sure sign of an angry kitty.


heh heh...

Oh - and one more thing - have you all seen Janine's latest pattern?? It is called Candlelight and is perfect for those of you who, like myself, want to try a lace kidsilk haze project but look like a dork in a shawl. I've already ordered my copy and am thinking of a black one for the holidays...check it out!!

Undecided to the End...

What have I been up to lately?? Well, a good friend of mine is having a baby shower next Sunday and I've been agonizing over what to make her. I finally decided on a baby blanket of some sort and then spent 2 or 3 days looking for a pattern that was not gender specific. Purple is her favorite color and isn't too too girly so I decided the blanket would be purple.

Right...I had a color. Now a pattern...Friday I cast on for a lacy throw type baby blanket and worked about 4000 stitches before I decided that it wasn't appropriate to swear that much while knitting a baby blanket and that the baby would be out of diapers by the time I finished the thing. So I ripped it out and cast on for this...it's called Pony Blocks...whatcha think?? There really is no turning back now even if you all hate it - only one more pony strip and the border left to knit but I like to torment myself over whether I made the right decision or not anyway.


(This is a terrible photo - I was late for work this morning so tacked it to the spare bed fairly quickly - the top of the blankie is cut off - it is 3 blocks high. Crap - I think it's dirty!! How did that happen!?)

I do think the little ponies are cute though...



I'm also knitting on a lace scarf and some log cabin socks - I'll post some pics of them another time. And Salina waits to be seamed and finished while I'm under the baby deadline. By the way, I'm planning to do a baby blanket for Brad's sister for Xmas as well. Possibly something with ducks or teddy bears on it - anyone have any good ideas??

A few (hundred) of my favorite things...

The lovely and talented Black Olive tagged me for the favorites meme and I've got to say this was kind of a hard one for me. In all honesty, I have a very difficult time picking favorites in anything (maybe cause I'm a Libra?) but I'll give it a shot.

What is your all time favorite yarn to knit with?
Right now I am having a torrid love affair with Rowan Felted Tweed - love working with it and love the fabric it is producing for Salina. My other favorites include just anything containing cashmere. Sigh. That Handmaiden 100% Cashmere I used for this scarf was...um...FABULOUS.


Your favorite needles?
Hmmmm...I'd honestly have to say I don't have favorite needles at this particular point in time. Isn't that horrible?? I don't even own a pair of Addis - *collective gasp*. I know, I know.

The worst thing you've ever knit?
The worst thing I ever knit was a variegated acrylic checkboard giant turtleneck sweater. I actually never finished it - pieces of it are still filling the closet. And by giant turtleneck - I don't mean the sweater itself was big - I mean the actual turtleneck was big enough to make a whole other sweater. Honestly...I'm 5'2 - what was I thinking??

Your most favorite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it...but it was the most fun to knit)
I like knitting things that have a little interest, a little fun. Clapotis was fun - I loved dropping the stitches. And anything lacy but not too complicated like Orangina is right up my alley too - I like watching the pattern emerge. Cables are always good to add a little interest to a project.

Most valuable knitting technique?
That would be proper finishing techniques. I used to rush through the finishing on a sweater just to have it done and many times I ended up unhappy with a project because of sloppy finishing. I have learned my lesson. I now give finishing the time it deserves and if a project needs to be blocked then it gets blocked. No more impatience.

Best knit book or magazine?
I like to keep Vogue Knitting handy when I'm working on something that I may need reference material for. As far as patterns go, some of my favorites books are Handknit Holiday (wasn't expecting there to be so much in it quite honestly), Rowan Vintage Knits, Knitting for Two. And of course magazines like Interweave Knits always have something worth checking out.

Your favorite knitblogs?
I read a lot of knit blogs but I do have a few favs. In no particular order:
1. Anna - an extremely talented designer/knitter who is constantly posting new projects and techniques. Anna was one of my first knit blog "friends" and she is an absolute gem.

2. Fluffa's projects are always stylish and beautifully finished. And her photography is wonderful.

3. Sweet Georgia has some of the best photography that I've seen. I only recently happened upon her site and was very impressed with her projects and pictures.

Other sites that I check out almost daily are:
Domesticat, Knit and Tonic (so funny!), Knitting on an Island, Lolly (sweetest girl ever), Mustaa Villaa, NOthin But Knit, PassioKnit, Streets and Yos. I'm going to stop there - I could go on and on quite honestly.

Your favorite knitwear designer?
I'm a big fan of Kim Hargreaves for stylish, wearable designs. Alice Starmore's Fisherman Sweaters are incredible and intricate - like works of art quite honestly. And, of course, there are several budding knitwear designers right up in my favorites - Anna does lovely and very creative work and Wendy has some great designs as well.

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it!)
While these are not the most attractive thing I have ever knit, they do get a LOT of wear cause they're so soft and warm! They're my Fleece Artist mellow yellow socks.

Happy Halloween!!

Otis was a good sport through what has become the annual Halloween dog torture. In fact he seemed to kind of enjoy his costume this year. It looks like Bigsy even wants in on the costume action (or at least the treats).



"Can I take it off yet??"



In knitting news, I'm almost to the cap shaping on sleeve #2 - there is a good chance I could have a finished Salina by next week.