Neglecting Knitting?! Oh No!

Of course I am not intentionally neglecting my knitting. I have just stumbled upon a new obsession.



Meet my latest obsession. A sewing machine. *cue scary music* Seriously, what was I thinking? I wasn't. I bought it on a whim, at Joann Fabrics. I don't even know why I went in the store in the first place... but all of a sudden I was walking out with a Singer Simple. On sale for $99. (Could anyone really pass this up?) So, after getting it home and unwrapping everything I decide to watch the dvd a few times to see if it will help any. I watch it over. And over. And yup, again and again. Somehow I still mess up sewing and spend a ton of time just cussing at the stupid thing. Turns out I kept forgetting to put my foot down on the fabric and the thread kept bunching up the back. Oops.

Now I can't stop reading sewing books. Sewing blogs. Looking at pictures of homemade sewn items! I've taken on a few things so far, but nothing earth-shattering. A bag from Bend the Rules in which I forgot to fold down the top edges and it now has a rough edge. A tiny bag for my sister-in-law for her ITouch. And a headband, for me. Which is far from perfect. But I pretty much love it. :)






That is all for now. It's Sunday evening and all I have been doing is sewing and blogging! Now it is time to relax and enjoy my glass of wine for as long as I can before passing out on the couch...

a new year

I did not get a chance to post about Ishbel before the new year snuck up on me! I really did finish it in time, even before Christmas. Which is good, considering it was a Christmas present. And well received, I'd say. She changed her shirt to match the color so she could wear it that day. Woot. :) Always nice to see your knits appreciated.


Pattern: Ishbel (ravelry link)
Yarn: Bristol Yarn Gallery Buckingham, about one and half skeins (Just to add in that this yarn is very soft and I am so glad I was able to snag something so cozy at my extremely LYS... that is more of a sewing store)
Needles: Size 6
Thoughts: Loved the pattern, was fairly easy to memorize. However I'm still pretty sure I got off a stitch or two near the end. But you can't really tell. I will definitely give this pattern another go sometime. Probably in the near future, since I have joined the 10 shawls in 2010 group on ravelry! (When I told K this, he whined and said "No more SHAWWWWWS. Join the 10 scarfs/hats and mittens for boyfriend group!")

2009... I will give it a thumbs up. It was pretty good to me.

This year should be filled with wonderful things as well. Lots of knitting plans....

Duncan

This is Duncan.


We rescued him from Pet Refuge. He's between 3-4, and the vet said she'd bet everything that he is a full blooded english lab. He is pretty awesome... even though he looks at me like he is so much wiser than me.

A Year of Knitting

Well, I would say 2009 has been fairly good to me so far. Knitting-wise, of course. :)



Next year... sweaters!

Finished Things are Fun!

Warmest Mitts for K.


Yarn: Cascade Pastaza & KP Wool of the Andes doubled
Thoughts: AWESOME. Took me two and half days MAYBE to complete these. He loves them. I love them. I'm pretty jealous of their coziness. The pastaza seems like it would be itchy but it keeps his hands very warm.

And a Gretel hat for me!


Yarn: KP Wool of the Andes
Thoughts: Favorite. Hat. EVER. Seriously.. I never want to take it off. It is so perfect. I thought the cabling would be terrifying but it was actually fun. I even learned to do one of the cables without the needle.. I just forgot which one now. Oops. Everyone should have one of these hats. In every color. Would love to make one up in something yummy like malabrigo.


Ok, Moo is not finished. She is just cute and I thought she deserved a guest appearance in blog land. :)

Awesome

Knitting is sort of awesome. It's my way to escape and relax. Getting so wrapped up in charts and yarn and needles (ok, maybe not needles) is an awesome feeling. Especially when you end up with something that is finished and well... awesome. So, to catch up on all the things I never post.. let's start with the most recent..

I made a shawl. Woo hoo! This blog makes me look like that is all I make. But this is not true. I just seem to feel like blogging when I accomplish something that large. I bet it will take me a very long time to post anything about the mittens that took me three days to make.





So, the pattern is Springtime Bandit(ravelry link) and it was very enjoyable. Even though I messed up on the edge charts and forgot to really LOOK at it on the purl rows... hey, no one notices if I miss that single knit stitch in the middle of all the purls. Right? :) Of course not. The yarn is Patons Classic Wool Merino. It's warm and cozy and I love it. I would most definitely make another of these. Perhaps when my blocking skills gain a bit more patience..

I also made these amazing blue socks quite a while ago.



The pattern is Child's First Sock in Shell pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks. The yarn is ShibuiKnits... and the yarn rocks. I love it. I actually bought myself another two skeins of it in a honey color when I took a trip to my favorite yarn store this past weekend. But that's a whole different story...

Three Years Old

Happy Birthday to Miss Moolatte with Cream! :)  Or just Moo...  

You were once tiny and cute.

Let's look at your puppy photos today and remember how tiny you really were.  1 lb, 4 oz the day I brought you home.  Now you are a cow.  But I love you.

Happy third birthday, Moo.

(Yes, I may be lame for celebrating her birthday on my blog.. but.. she's my baby!)