Beret!

I love this beret!

Quick! Easy! Fun!

What more could a girl need for a quick summer knitting project?

Well, maybe a bit of entertainment...

I quickly decided that I needed to know more about Crazy Aunt Purl while listening to an interview with her on a Knit Picks podcast recently.

This woman is hilarious! I just couldn't get my hands on her book fast enough.

Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split

That's some title! You don't have to be a knitter to appreciate her humorous story!

Back to the beret; a few specifics...

I used some fantastic handspun wool from CosyMakes.

It seems I could have gone down a needle size, but rather than rip it back and repeat, I opted for felting. One cycle through the washing machine felted this hat just enough for my perfect fit. Now, I just have to wait for cooler weather to wear it!

I can wait.

Happy Hobbies!

Wee knits...

My first baby knits for a special little bundle we have yet to meet!

(this little giftie was shipped off to the little darling last weekend)

The Baby Belle Sweater and yarn purchased at the

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival from CosyMakes.

The Jelly Bean Baby Socks are my first ever socks

(mighty or tiny) from Spud & Chloe.

Loved knitting both patterns.

I had to rip back many times, but learned so much.

Knit love, I tell you!

Happy Hobbies!

The 2010 Knitting Olympics

Thank you Yarn Harlot!

I'm taking on the challenge...

a never before knit...

my first sweater!

Garter Lace Jacket

from Ann Bud's book

Simple Style

I cast on tomorrow night during opening ceremonies!!

Happy Hobbies!!

In the knitter's lunch box...

HobbyHubby and the little people gave me the simple yet effective shawl pattern for Christmas and some lovely Noro sock yarn to go with it.

Been working on the piece for about a week and a half now...

What a simple and calming pattern...

Back tomorrow with some more quilting....

Happy Hobbies!

Handmade Christmas Presents III

Well!

I planned to post about all of the Christmas knitting that I completed.

Apparently I didn't take any pictures. Hmmm... What was I thinking?

So here is the run down of knitted items linked to the patterns.

• 2 sets of fetching gloves
• 1 tudora
• 1 set of fingerless (communion) mitts from Knit One, Embellish Too sans the embellishment

Not quite as many things as I thought...

Oh, right, I spent hours of my knitting untangling yarn.

Happy Hobbies!

Knitting...

I spent last weekend with 3 of my aunts. We watched movies while they all sewed and I knitted. It was wonderful to just be with them and have no cares.

We watched Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Where the Heart Is, hmmm, now I can't remember what else. Anyhow...

for me

sneaks peeks for Christmas gifts...

Happy Hobbies!

Basket of Christmas Ambition

Just been working on my Christmas list...
Who? What to make? What supplies?

Yarn! Didn't you know?
I found some yummy yarn in my own stash for a few projects and then headed on over to the yarn shop with Eve and picked up a few other delicious treats!!

I'm feeling full of energy and ambition and I'm calling this basket "ROUND ONE!"
Are you with me?
What is your medium going to be this Christmas?

Happy Hobbies!

The Cozy is Finished... Finally!

I finally finished the cozy about 2 weeks ago,

weaved all the yarn ends in last week,

and washed and blocked it last Friday...

Blocked and drying.

The pattern up close.

I'm so pleased with my first lace pattern;

even if it was a 10 month project!

Happy Hobbies!

FKO- Finished Knitted Object

I finished my Noro Cabled Purse last week,

blocked it over the weekend,

and added the button tonight!

As evident in the lower right corner, I missed a cable,
but decided the mistake adds some character.

Besides, I refused to rip it back for correction.

I decided to use it to hold my crochet hooks and

a few of my other knit and crochet notions

(per a pal's suggestion).

I think it will be a lovely addition

to my knitting basket!

Happy Hobbies!

All things knitty....

...in my happy little basket.

I've noticed lately that my basket has been near as I make my way through each day, settling with it into the various nests about my home.

The lovely pink alpaca silk cozy less than a skein away from finishing, the little Noro cabled purse in need of a crocheted finish, 2 skeins of tweed intended for some Dashing mitts for HobbyHubby, and a copy of Knitscene with endless possibilities keeping me constant company.

What motivation for getting my daily chores accomplished!

Happy Hobbies!

Road Trip: Knitting on the Go

I worked on this hat, a late Christmas present for

my brother-in-law (shame on me),

while on the way to WV.

I finished it while relaxing at my aunt's!

HobbyHubby delivered it last weekend and it fit perfectly!

Happy Hobbies!

Road Trip: Shopping Day, Knitting Shop

The aunties surprised me with a stop

at the Knit 'n Hook Yarn Shop.

This is a nice little yarn store in Huntington,

with the sweetest owner!

I didn't purchase any yarn, but did buy these two patterns.

I've since set to work on a purse from the Ann Norling pattern
using some Noro that had I in my yarn basket.
I'm enjoying the cables.

Happy Hobbies!

More knits...

Another set of Fetching Gloves to be exact...

I'm using Rialto Aran from Debbie Bliss.

Happy Hobbies!

Christmas knits...

for the little people...

Pink Alpaca for Little Miss!

I gave it to her and then she saw the book, Knit One, Embellish Too, that Auntie B. gave me for Christmas! Little Miss decided she needed a snow flake and a tassel just like page 72! What could I do, but try something new? This great book includes great ideas for the embellishment challenged like me. I'm sure I'll be sharing more of these projects soon!

Little Mister loves his hat with the self-striping yarn and he informed me later that he was thinking he needed a new hat to match his brown coat. He has since requested a scarf to match!

Happy Hobbies!

Monday bits...

Little Mr. Man and I spent some time this morning watching the birds since he was home from school with a nasty little cold.

The birds really are quite lovely against the white snow!

This picture doesn't do the birds any justice, but isn't there something about that gray?

This pair of fingerless mitts is on it's way to a best friend in Massachusetts.

Happy Belated Birthday E!

More of these are in the works...

I just started another pair over the weekend.

Christmas is coming!

This little note taker was delivered to another birthday girl this morning!

Happy Birthday J.!

My aunties suggested the little felt bird on the bottom.

Isn't helpful to get a few more pair of eyes to point out what should be obvious?

Happy Hobbies!

Bits and Pieces...

My Status:

I recently resigned from my job (that I love) and am so very happy with the decision I made. However, I will continue to work until my replacement is hired and trained. Hopefully sooner rather than later! My hope is to have most of December free for enjoying the Christmas preparations and last minute gift making, but I'll happily go with whatever happens. Regardless, I'm making plans for the future including getting back on a regular schedule for home-keeping, mothering and hobbying. At this point all of those things are being handled in an exhausted haphazard manner and I feel as if I'm riding on a roller coaster in Chaos Land!

Progress:

I'm about 10 rows from finishing the second "fetching" glove. I'll give a peek of the completed project in a day or so. I completed another note taker for my sister-in-law's birthday. I made some improvements as you can see below.

Weather:

After spending Saturday afternoon taking care of some of the outdoor fall chores, we woke up to this on Monday morning. My little people thought it was "soooo beautiful...." It really is but I wasn't prepared to get the rest of the winter gear out yet!

Happy Hobbies!

Cables and a Tiny Tale of Dinosaurs

I did it!

Cables are so much easier than I thought.

I know, I know, my pictures don't really show them all that well.

The finished project will photo better!How funny is this?

We tucked the little people in and came into the hall to see some of our friends heading out!

Wonder where Mama Dino is taking Baby shopping?

Target? The mall? It must be Barnes & Noble.

Oh to be a 5 year-old!

Happy Hobbies!

For Little Miss...

I finished knitting this scarf some time in early June

but still needed to weave in the ends and felt it.

So last night I finally finished it!

I ran it through the Hot/Cold cycle twice last night and

now it is felted to perfection for Little Miss almost 5!

She was pretty pleased with it and it added to the kitty cat's costume!

I'm working frantically on my Cozy.

I was hoping to take it on vacation and actually use it on the cool evenings!

Yeah, well, uh-huh, drat....

I let you know how it goes!

Happy Hobbies!

100th Post!

I guess I left you folks hanging for a bit.

busy... busy... busy...

here.

I'll tell you what I've been up to, but sadly no pictures today.

A new gal pal taught me how to spin with the drop spindle last week.

Oh so FUN!

I've been knitting on my Cozy!

More fun!

There has been some de-cluttering of the home.

Not so much fun!

There has been far more job related work than planned.

Less fun! But, at least tolerable!

(on a good note I'm not thinking about work at all for the next 2 and a half weeks.)

No emails, no phone calls, no WORK work! LOL!

Getting ready to go north in another week!

Fantastic fun!

Okay, so if you're still hanging on, here is the give-away part!

To celebrate my 100th post I'm giving away a little charm pack

I picked up awhile back!

Leave me a comment,

telling me what project or projects you're in the middle of,

for a chance to be the recipient!

I welcome the usual small crowd of people who comment

and all of you folks that lurk too.

I'm always open for a chance to get to know you.

I'll pick a winner on Friday at noon!

Happy Hobbies!

Cozy

I started this Cozy about a week and a half ago.

I have finally veered away from the Noro and Cascade to try something new...

After some much needed direction from the local yarn shop, I am using Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk.

Oh so lovely to knit with on my happy turbos. JOY!

I'm new to the lace pattern thing, but am really enjoying it...

In fact, I'm already thinking about the next one I want to knit!

(Remember how I got obsessed with the felted bags? I think I made 6 of those.)

I need to get caught up on the quilt along.

Maybe I'll sew tonight?

Maybe not!

Let you know tomorrow!

HAPPY HOBBIES!