A Sign of Spring

You know it's here when I haul out my spring bags!

It Started Gloomy

Rain and chilly. I spent the morning at my mom's house going through some stuff that is still there. Oy. We still have a bit to get rid of before we close on the house on the 9th of April. I did not realize still how much cleaning stuff and plastic bags that were still left in the house.

Just a bit more furniture to divest ourselves of. Hopefully, my nephew will get his things early this week. Then the plan will be to make a call to some charities to see if they need the last few pieces of furniture.

I am working to having it all cleaned out by next weekend, so we can say we are done by the start of that week.

It was funny when, some of the pieces went out of the door yesterday and today. The organ, my niece took...I remember when Dad bought it as a surprise for my mom one Christmas. He was on the road when it was delivered and I was at the house with her when they delivered it. It was so nice to see it go to someone who will have some fun with it!

Then, today, a friend took a chest that my Dad used. I could not remember a time when he didn't use it, so it probably dates back to when they were first married.

There were just little things. A scrap of fabric, a blanket that Baby Boy B always covered up with when he was at Grandma's house (it is so threadbare, but the minute it came in the house last night, he snatched it up for his bedroom), lids to pots that were around since I was tall enough to see the stove, and a stupid old board that we got to use when were sick to eat in bed with and then later do homework off of from the couch. Stupid little memories.

And the sun is shining now...

I Think I'm Done

wearin my winter sweaters. I wore one yesterday for the last time. I'm sad cause I like my winter sweaters, but not sad to see the crisp temps go away. At least for today the sun is shining for a bit and it's going to be mid 50's today before the rain starts in...but next week looks really good and it might be time to get the pedicure appointments made.

For a bit now, I'll be working on some Spring Sweaters. Last week during the sale at Knit 4, I was a smart woman. I bought just one skein of this yarn. It goes really well with the yarn below, but before I go full tilt and buy lots of it, I want to noodle on it for awhile.

I've loved this since last year. So, not one to pass up a deal, I had to buy enough for a sweater. I am not sure which sweater yet, but I know it will be a top down from Pure and Simple.

Those Pure and Simple patterns are my favs for now. I really like the way they fit when I am done.

For now, I'll knit a bit on Spring before the realization sets in that Knit Camp is just around the corner and I need to be working on my project for the contest!

Really Cool

Got to wear my Wabi Sabi one more time this season...it is suppose to get down to 25 tonight. Tomorrow, I may get to wear another sweater before packing them up!

Yes, I'm ready for some sun and warm temps, but remember it is just March still.

Last Night

It was pointed out last night that I wasn't wearing anything that I knitted and that was unusual. My response was I really don't have that much for Spring/Summer that I have knitted that I could wear.

I spend most of my knitting time, knitting on Fall/Winter Sweaters which I wear as much as possible. And yes, I have loads of wool yarn for sweaters. But when I look at my Spring/Summer yarns, I really don't have much for outer sweaters to knit.

I have several potential yarns for tanks, but what I really need and would enjoy wearing more is over sweaters.

This little sweater is yarn from last year, Soleil. Originally, it was suppose to have a strand of shiny Bellagio mixed with it. But, when I tried many swatches this year and last, it was just too darn heavy together.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a sort of epiphany with it....why not knit it by itself and deal with the Bellagio separate. Shazam, as Gomer would say! I actually like it.

I took a pattern that I knitted last winter and love, and am creating a spring short sleeve cardigan out of the Soleil. I could say I am designing it as I go....but really, I am just creating something workable from someone else.

Cardinal Kiss Up Day

Yesterday at work, the Cub fans had to pay the piper....after our contest last year, they had to wear the Cardinal Shirts all day and buy lunch...it was a fun day for us....granted some of them had meetings off site and had to dress appropriately for it, but when back at it they were supposed to put their Cardinal shirts back on.

A couple stretched it, but still we had a good day....In just a few more days the contest starts over again, and we are hoping for a similar outcome this year.


For this next season, we have even more who want to get in on the act after seeing how much fun we had with it.

Susan, here, has her Cardinal with a noose wrapped around it's neck. It was cute, but not as cute as my garb a year ago when I had to wear the other team's shirt....with "not a fan, just lost a bet on the back"

Let the season begin, we're ready for them!

Striking The Pose

Here is Christiane striking her pose for the runway....today Knit Four Together, tomorrow New York City!

What a fun day at the shop. As it always is!

Copy and Paste

Here's some more knitting to look at....use those leftovers for a good cause?


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1254021/Knit-cluck-Somerset-craft-club-keeps-bald-rescue-hens-warm-knitting-woolly-jumpers.html

Did You See Jane Pauley on Today?

You have to check it out...the feature is Betsy McCarthy, Knitter....I took a class from Betsy some years ago. It is so cool to see knitting featured here. Check it out!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/35776845#35776845

If all goes well, it looks like Mom's house will be off the market on April 9th.

Just A Thought

Okay, Spring first! Today, I am going to look at what I want to knit for Spring and Summer. I want to be able to wear them this season so I had better get started knitting on them.

I am up to the sleeves on my Windowpane Cardigan and will continue to work on it as it will be a great sweater to wear this Spring. With a look at the weather channel today, it looks like it is going to be in the 50's so it looks like a thaw might be coming for most of the week.

With just a side note, look at what Marc Jacobs is showing for Fall 2010....but first lets have some Spring, we can think about Fall when it is 90 this Summer!

Straight From The Workshop


From my trusty Knitting Workshop book and following along on the DVD...last Monday, while I was taking my mental health day or recovery from camp day, as I call it, I popped in EZ to keep me company.

While at camp last weekend, I learned how to knit two colors with my left hand.


So to keep it fresh in my mind and hand, I decided to knit the two color hat from the workshop. I knitted one sometime ago, but using my right hand. This one went much smoother and I like it.

It is going to Knit 4 Together today to put on the Giving Tree for next winter.


This time, while watching the DVD, I made better note as to how to do the decreases at the top and the blocking over a coffee can.

At the end of this lesson, EZ pull out some more hats....I have to admit they are calling me for using up some one skeins of yarn that I have. Actually, the whole book is calling me as well as a sweater that I have not completed in years...it needs the color work ripped out and knitted with the two in left hand method.

Maybe later!

Door Prizes and Stash Enhancement

The really nice thing about Arnhild's is that everyone gets a door prize. Mine was a button spacer. I had one of these once when I was sewing a lot. It's a handy little gadget to have and I was pleased to win it.


The only yarn I bought the whole weekend was this Zauderball on the way up. Can you believe it?

No Medal For Me


Even though, I had good intentions. I knitted a whole evening on my intended project until I decided I just really didn't want to knit on it.


Then my Lana Bambu came in and I started it and just could not put it down. I spent all last weekend knitting on it. It's going to make a great Spring jacket if I hurry.



There were some winners at Arnhild's this weekend. Well, we all actually got a medal, a chocolate Smiley face that I promptly ate on the way home.

What I Learned At Camp


Or the price of admission. I came away with some great ideas and met some new friends. But the highlight of the weekend for me was yesterday morning.

It may not look like much, but I learned to continental knit with two colors on one hand.


I'm going to try a hat first to keep it fresh in my mind. I've knitted with two colors before, but either one in each hand or dropping and picking up with the right hand. Neither of which has given me very good results.



Someday, I hope to do one or two of these!

What a great display in honor of our weekend and Lisa, our instructor, assures me that I can do any of them now a lot quicker than before.


We'll see!