sweater sleeves

Yea!!! They're done!
Spent 11 hours in lectures today....which was pretty much hell! About half of them were good ones...the rest....torture! San Francisco has been crazy this weekend. The sidewalks are packed with people even at midnight! So we were amazed when we came out of our dinner lecture tonight at eight to find everyone had gone home. Yea!!! It's a lot nicer out there now. Driving was crazy when we got here...it usually is but it was extra crazy downtown.

Anyway... I'm about to cast on a new project! A vest from recycled sari silk.
Here goes!!!!

Conference

Hello my knitter friends from San Francisco!!! The conference is going ok...busy....lots of lectures. So....I pulled out my needles to knit today and realized that the next step on my sweater sleeves was to switch to bigger needles....which I left in the room when I sized the amt of stuff I was dragging around in my bag...so of course, I went out at lunch to a fabric/yarn store and bought some new size 8's hehehe. Didn't want to waste a whole day!!! So, I did make some progress on those sleeves! Yea!

Tonight is an alumi reception for a couple of hours. Since it's Memorial Day weekend, some of the yarn stores I wanted to visit are closed so I guess I'll have to wait til at least Tuesday to do that. The weather's been really really nice! And I'm walking my butt off, or at least trying to make up for the extra calories I'm consuming. :)

Are you all knitting away at home?

Secret pals secret gifts....

Tonight I made the first of my secret pals gifts!!! What fun! I can't
wait to drop it in the mail to her tomorrow.

Also went to sweater class #3. Learned all the different ways to do increases and a few techniques for decreasing too. I'm all ready to start my sleeves and sew them on.

AND... I'm off to San Francisco on Friday, will be there at a medical conference for 6 days. Last night I did a little "research" and made a list of all of the LYS in the area where I'll be!! Yipeeee I can't wait to go shopping. My spoilee likes chocolate....all types...hmmmm seems to me there is a fairly famous chocolate source there hehehe.

welllll I'm tired....Craig Ferguson is on... I love that guy! But he's on too dang late, I've got to learn how to use that dvr thing.

oh btw....here's a pic of my finished bag. If you like this, go to the website for La Lana wool and look at the one Janet Scanlon knitted for them, $$$$$ but just beautiful! I want it!!!

My Bag:
Pattern: My Constant Companion from Knitter's Stash.
Yarn: Cascade 220 double strand throughout.
Needles: US 11 Circular (29 in).

And they did knit until they dropped...

Stitches.... After the second night of staying up until 0230, my sister woke up and discovered she had a few holes in her baby sweater front she'd been working on while falling asleep at the needles! But it was worth it.... we had a great time, knitting, teaching my niece Jenny to knit, eating and watching movies. And of course visiting our LYS. Our friend Julie (aka "chopped liver") stopped in for a little while on both days....she's knitting away at her grandbabies little sweater.... and doing a great job!!!

(That's my sister Teri and niece Jenny in the pic)

I was able to finish up the "My Constant Companion" bag from Knitter's Stash. Got it felted and when I went to put it together today, I discovered that I was supposed to knit two handles (it pays to read the directions and not just look at the pictures ...duh) and I'd only done one. So today I whipped out another I-cord which is waiting to be felted. I was in the process of sewing on the pockets when I stopped to write this, sooooo, when I get it completely finished... I'll be posting a pic! I have to say, I just love it! It's turned out so nicely, exactly what I wanted. I can't wait to stuff it full of yarn.

Today was Sunday yarn worship at KnitWits. We had a huge turnout which was fun. And I worked on some swatches for sweater class. Then I played around with some recycled sari silk, figuring out the gauge etc... and deciding what to do with it. I've been wanting to knit a vest with it so I think that's what I'll work on next, or at least really soon!

Back to the pocket sewing ...

Secrets.....

Could it be....I have a Secret Pal? Somebody has been sneaking into my blog and posting anonymously...... and she thinks I'm "very interesting" ....hehehe.

Yarn Worship - every other Sunday, a group of my knitty friends and I meet at one of our "LYS's" and we sit and knit and yes.....covet and worship the yarn in the store.....such fun!!!!

So, I might have a secret pal....but I still have no info on the pal I get to spoil darn it.... Hopefully soon!!!!

OH.... this is a girls knitting, chick flick watching, chocolate eating weekend. My niece is driving up from Modesto, and she gets to learn to knit with her mom and I and a few friends.

Knit til you drop!!!!

Knitty Friends Are the BEST!

My knitty friends ... and you know who you are .... went away to their LSI conference....and shopping too apparently...because look at what they brought back for me!!! I just love it!
You ladies are the best....thank you so much! I can't wait to pack it with my next project....hmmm whatever that may be. I'll pack it up and bring it to yarn worship on Sunday!
See you there!

little bitty sweater

well....the front and back of the toddler cardigan are done woohoo... and I successfully seamed the shoulders tonight! have to wait for the next class to start the sleeves, about 10 days away dang it. So, I'm working on the big felted knitting bag from the book "Knitters Stash" instead. It's huge!!! hmmm what else, my dad's in town, my son turned 24 today, and tomorrow is Mother's day! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOMS!!!

Anxiously awaiting word from SP8 ... oh where oh where could my secret pal be?

Me Me Me.... or ... SP8 questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
My favorite yarns....oh that's a toughy! I really like Noro yarns (who
doesn't right?) And though I've yet to use it, I'm pretty taken with the Manos
del Uruguay too. I've done quite a bit of felting, so I've used cascade, and
love it of course. I have to say, I'm not all that fond of the fake fur
stuff....at least not when knitting with it by itself. Too slippy slidey

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Aaaahhhhhaaaaa hahaha. Storing my needles in something, what a great idea...
I should get something. Right now, they're kinda scattered about. Usually I
keep a few pairs in my project bag, and I have an old dresser in my spare
room that I'm keeping my stash in and there's a drawer for needles.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've only been knitting about 3 or 4 months, but I've not stopped since I
started. I think I'm probably an advanced beginner. I've
made a bunch of scarves, I've made socks, felted purses, learned to cable and
am taking a sweater class right now.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Noooo, I don't have a wish list on Amazon, what a great idea! As soon as I
finish this post I'llcheck that out!

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
hmmm my favorite scent (this is fun), for bath products, I like the madarin
scents, or green tea type scents, I'm not that into heavy floral or heavy
fruity scents really and for candles, I like vanilla or spice/cinnamon
scents, citrus is nice for

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Milk chocolate.....chocolate....chocolate....mmmmm.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I like just about everything really, I haven't done a lot of craft stuff or
sewing for the past few years (been in school) but I'm back now! I like to
work in my yard and flower beds. And mostly, I'm just so into knitting! In
the past I've cross stiched, sewed, done fabric crafts, quilted, done tile
mosaic crafts... I'm open to alot of things! I do not spin....but, I would
love to!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like all kinds of music EXCEPT Rap! My computer and car stereo play MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
hmmm I'm a redhead, so I tend to stay away from the red/orange palate as far
as clothes go. Otherwise, pretty much anything goes I guess...

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
My son is grown and has his own house now, and my only
indoor pet (if you can call it that) is a goldfish, and anyday it may go
live in a water garden outside...just one more sassy comment....and that
fish is outside. Oh, and i have a cat who thinks she should live inside, but
she doesn't.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I do wear scarves and gloves, don't wear hats as a rule or poncho/shawls.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
So far I'm having fun learning new things. I love to knit the felted bags,
and the socks were fun. I am definately looking forward to making big girl
sweaters though (I'm learning on a baby sweater).

13. What are you knitting right now?
Right now, I'm working on a scarf, it's in a k2p2 rib pattern, made from
Merino Frappe by Crystal Palace.
And a baby sweater, and a pair of socks.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I love handmade gifts.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I seem to be using circular needles alot, Bamboo...but I like straight
ones too. I also recently used some addi turbos for a pair of
socks ....really liked them!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Not yet :)

17. How did you learn to knit?
My mother taught me to knit when I was about ten years old. But I just made
one scarf and didn't knit again until this year... I bought a "Knitting and
Crocheting for Dummies" book and taught myself....and then discovered my
LYS and have received a lot of help from the ladies there.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
Don't hate me... it's a couple of weeks old. A pair of socks... and a few
bags that need buttons etc.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
My favorite holiday, would have to be Christmas. It's the one we make the
biggest deal about, and the one the whole family usually gets together for.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Well.... apparently, I collect yarn and needles and patterns now....who
knew?!

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Yes, I'd love to have the Vogue Knitting Stitchionary. I love that book and
I'm dying to learn new stitch patterns!! So far I haven't subscribed to any
magazines....so far.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I love the look of some of the lace stitches. I need to learn to do a yarn
over for those I think .... first things first I guess.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, yes I am a sock knitter. My foot is 8 1/2 inches around and 10 inches
(that can't be right) long.

24. My birthday.... Feb. 7.