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pennyh knit and fit

Tomorrow is October 1st.  I think it is safe to say that Fall is on it it's way!  What better way to kick off the Fall season and some Fall Sweater Knitting is to re-affirm my plan for the Fall into yes, I am going to say it Spring!

Wouldn't it be nice if come Spring, you didn't have to listen to my continuing posts about losing weight and wanting some sweaters that fit?!

So, I am sharing with you above my link to my Pinterest board about Knit and Fit.  I loved looking at some of the pins and remembering just why I wanted to save them.  Some are ready-to-wear sweaters that I would like to reproduce in my knit wear, most of them are the look and everything that goes with them (because I am fashionably challenged) that I could imagine wearing some day soon.  There are also some pins on how get to my desired goals of slimming down and shaping up.

I'm stoked to get to knitting some of my ideas that I have pinned and I am especially stoked about Fall.  It is prime time sweater knitting and wearing!  Let the Fall begin.

What Are You Going To Do Today?

That's a question either the Tall Guy or I ask each other about every Sunday.  Our Saturdays are pretty routine now that we are one home owners, he does his around the house thing, I go to the shop and knit, then come home to laundry.

But, on Sundays, barring any commitments and that the laundry is done and the grass mowed, we pretty much hang out and enjoy the day.  Now that Poppy's ensemble is all done and ready to be Fed Exed tomorrow and while I wait for the yarn I ordered for his second blanket to arrive, I'm pulling out some of my WIPS for me.

It is quite freeing to be able to be knitting for myself for a bit.  On taps, is Chuparosa from Berroco Maya.

 I'm still pleasantly surprised as how soft the yarn is and how much I like it, but, it has some interesting hairs in it.  It almost reminds me as if I have a cat or a short haired dog that may have been around it.

It's a fact that I dislike seaming, but earlier this Summer, I decided it was high time that I took the bull by the horns and worked on that dislike.  I embarked on knitting Amy Herzog's Custom Fit Inlet Cardigan in pieces.  It has been sitting upstairs in the finishing basket for quite a while, all blocked and ready to be seamed.  Today, just seemed like a good day to dust off Chris Byslma's Craftsy Seaming Class and pull out the pieces of the sweater and maybe manage to sew some of the pieces together.
I managed to get the shoulders seams together.

Next up is the sleeve seams.  Normally, I'd just wing it, but I've decided to pin the garment to the sleeves as I would if I were sewing a jacket or blouse out of fabric. I pleased that the armscye and the sleeve are the same size and they "should" go together relatively easily.

And thats my Sunday in a nutshell!  What did you do today?

Finally Finished Friday

The Ensemble is ready to go -- 

The Teddy Bear Blanket

And the pea pod and hat!

Feeling so much better that these are done!

Two Bags and A Book

My new knitting bag arrived from Molly Aiken.  I got to pick the colors and they made it for me!  It is going to be perfect for Fall/Winter knitting.

From Little Skein in the Big Wool, I could not pass up this gem for Fall knitting!  I am a sucker for project bags and Snoopy.

Wool Week came in the mail yesterday.  Wool Week starts September 26th.  Read all about here .

Week is a world renowned celebration of Britain's most northerly native sheep, theIamShetland textile e sheep, the Shetland textile industry and the rural farming community on these islands. the rural farming community on these islands.

So Long

Summer and the Summer of Shawls!  Today is the first day of Autumn, how did that happen?

Originally, I was going to blog how I was still going to be knitting on baby stuff and how sweater knitting was going to have to wait, but after listening to the The Yarniacs Podcast this week , I decided that there is plenty of time to knit on baby stuff for this Fall/Winter.  I've spent the last couple of months fully engrossed in baby blankies and it is time to knit for ME!

I am pretty stoked about knitting some sweaters for me and equally stoked about getting some off of needles too.  I love the change of seasons and even though I vow to be ready, I am never quite ready.  In the coming weeks, I hope you will stick by the blog while we get back into sweater knitting mode and all that entails.

Until then, get out and enjoy this drop dead beautiful Fall Day!  I am.

What's On What's Off

Poppy's Teddy Baby Blanket is finally off the needles and soaking in the tub while I type.  I'm telling you, I've been sweating this one a bit.  I am hoping to get it blocked, dried and FedExed by Thursday.  Even though, we've got about three weeks, I've just got a feeling I shouldn't hold off getting this over there fairly soon.

The Peapod is just barely on the needles, but this isn't something that has to be sent.  I can take it with me when we go over after Poppy is born.

I am so super happy that Fall t.v. shows are on again.  My fave is The Voice and this looks to be a super good season again.  But, of course, I am DVRing it because I gotta keep my eye on my Cardinals too.

These Are The Sundays I Love

It is beautiful outside, the sky is critically clear, there is a slight breeze and the sun is shining.  And the laundry is all done, and the rest of the day is mine.

I spent the morning out on the porch knitting with my cuppa and just enjoying it all and the quietness before all the people get moving.

And I found the perfect use for my yarn bowl, besides a decoration!  It keeps the yarn from falling off of my lap and onto the porch.  It's perfect just like that sky behind it.

My whole project today while watching the Cardinals and the Emmies tonight is the Teddy Baby Blankie.  I've only got one more block of teddies to knit and the border and I am hoping that it can be on the blocking board by tomorrow night.

I'm cutting this one a bit close for comfort, even though Poppy is not due until the 14th of October, you know how babies are!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday too, go out enjoy the sunshine for a bit before the baseball and football games if you can.  See you on the purl side!

September Cuteness!

Are You Ready?

The mailman though is really trying to entice me to move toward Fall knitting, because he keeps bringing me Fall Yarn Catalogs in the mail.

I usually get a few ideas from these catalogs, especially the Webs catalog, of sweaters that I want to knit, but interestingly enough, they are just not there for me!

What is doing it for me is some of my favorite designers that are coming out with their Fall Designs.  Here they are to tempt you!

 Brooklyn Tweed Fall 2015

Chic Knits

Joji Locatelli

Heidi Kirrmaier

Ann Hanson

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Reading Variegated Colorways

I always wondered.

You Don't Even Want To Know

What I am planning next!!  After getting a good look at Poppy's room this weekend, it became quite evident when I got home, that he needed a baby blanket to go with the room.

BUT, I've got a butt load of this blue yarn and a healthy start to the Teddy Bear Baby Blanket.

BUT, I have been known to knit three baby blankets for one baby (Mona Lisa)
 one for the hospital in the pre-requisite pink,

one in the colors of her bedroom,

and one just for daycare.

And I have a few yarns to get me started on his blankie for the bedroom, but not all the colors, so I am off to order some online.  The plan is for a blankie similar to the Whale Blankie that I just finished only using planes, trains, autos….and did I mention that his due date is one month away?  I gotta a lot of baby knitting to be done!

Now, if I just knit more, eat less, I could be down a couple of pounds the next time I head over there!

Packing For A 48 Tour

We are heading out for an overnight trip to see Mona Lisa.  We'll be back on Sunday.  Most of today will be spent at a shower for Mona Lisa's new cousin-to-be and a birthday party for her maternal Grandpa.  So, why does it seem that my normal knitting bag is just not big enough to hold everything I want to take?  (I am on the search for a new knitting bag that is sharp and classy STILL, I may have found one but it is still about 3 weeks from reveal).

 Even though I have told myself that I am going to be knitting on Poppy's baby afghan whenever I am not in the presence of the kids.

I am taking along my next Hospice Home Prayer Shawl, as it is a simple pattern to knit in public and hopefully, I can finish it or at least use up the yarn I have wound and tossed in my bag.

Hard to believe that is all I am taking, isn't it?

Finally Finished Friday

I did not get to wear my new shawl for the wedding last Sunday, it was done and blocked in time, but just way too hot (read as high 90's and the wedding was outside).  That is a problem with a Summer of Shawls, sometimes it can be too hot!

The pattern is Meadow Grass and is a free pattern.  The yarn, Ultra Pima Cotton.  I've had the teal for at least two years.  It was originally to be a sweater, but with my purse to match, I just knew I needed to use it for the shawl.

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Hand Washing Wools

It Was A Beautiful Wedding

Our Knit Wit, sister, Kendra got married today.  It was hot outside, but a beautiful day all the same.  Her sons walked her down the brick aisle at Wildlife Prairie Park.  They also were her attendants as was the groom's sons for him.

Congratulations Kendra and Tim!

And no, we did not knit at the wedding (but one of the other attendees was), and yes, quite a few of us were knitting during the reception.

What's Off The Needles

Normally, I'd wait until Friday, but I'm pretty proud of this one and glad that it is done, so I can move onto the next baby sweater that I need/like to have done in a month.  But, in the mean time, I give you the Whale Blanket!

A little blocking and it will be ready for the shower next weekend.

Finally Finished Friday

Our Knit Wit, Kendra is getting married on Sunday.  Over the last few months, we have all been knitting in secret The Bamboo Wedding Shawl, passing it on under cover of a Disney bag.  Last night at a birthday celebration/the knitting version of a bachelorette party, she was presented with the shawl as our wedding present to her.

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In Depth Top-Down at Quince and Co.

Let's Talk About Sweaters

Ok, so all of a sudden it feels like July instead of September, but this is the perfect time to be talking about and starting to knit some sweaters so you really will be ready with a new one when Fall makes it's official debut!

Let's start with what you like to wear.  Open up your closet and look at what is hanging there.  What are the styles?  Is there one or two that you really have a lot of?  When you go shopping, do you gravitate toward a certain style?  Do you prefer a pullover or a cardigan?  V-Neck or Crew?  Full length sleeves or 3/4 sleeves.  Maybe that should be the basis for your first sweater this Fall.

What is your inspiration?  Do you have a designer that you lean towards in Ready-to-wear or knit design?  In the past I've blogged that I am a Mizrahi fan and have been for about 25 years.  Too bad, he doesn't have knit designs.  But, wait a minute, there is no reason with all the designs out on Ravelry that you could not duplicate your favorite designer into something for Fall!

Next, what about color?  Do you have a favorite color or do you like them all?  You all know that my fave is Caribe Blue, but with Fall coming, I'm going to have to put the Caribe Blues away, but luckily, Teal is a big Pantone Color for Fall as well as Vogue Knitting did a big spread on it in their latest issue. What is your favorite color and is there a Fall tone of it that you can knit your Fall sweater from?

Got Yarn?  I know I do!  And some really nice sweater quantities too!  As much as I like the fast knitting of worsted and bulkies, lets face it, I don't have the body for the heavier yarns.  So, my sweaters this Fall have got to be DK or Fingering Weight.  I've even got a couple on the needles for Fall for from Falls gone by, that I am going to give the college try to complete this Fall for sweater wearing.   Lucky for me they are still in style!

Top Down, Bottom Up, Pieces?  For me, I'm a fan of top down, but maybe that is because I am just lazy and dislike sewing up!  What is your preference?

Our late Summer has given us some more time to start knitting sweaters for Fall, what is yours going to be?