Suede Poncho is done and I wore it today to the Peoria Area Stitchers Guild Luncheon. I loved wearing it and I do believe I could wear it to work because it is very computer typing friendly. The only thing you have to do is be sure to keep it up when going to the bathroom!! 

The Radical Knitters Unofficial Knit-A-Long Begins. These are my choices of Twisted Sisters Jazz yarn. Jo has hers and has swatched. Char is picking hers out and may go with one of the other patterns in their leaflet. We meet again next week! More pics then? 

Happy Mothers Day to Me! On Friday night, I went to put in my VCR a old old copy of Knitting Around that I taped probably 15 years ago off of PBS. It was not complete, and had stuff in between, but I cherished it! My VCR has been acting up, the minute I put it in, I heard this very nasty sound. I knew what happened. So, Roger came out and got it out for me, repaired it a little bit ( I just couldn't rewind it all the way) and tossed the old VCR away and brought up my spare from the basement. That is when I decided it was time to get a "real" copy of Knitting Around and complete! So I got on the net and ordered from Schoolhouse Press. And it arrived today! I am so excited, but I have stuff to do before I can sit and watch it. I am so excited though! And the weather has turned cool, so I think I will make a pot of Kona Macadamia Nut Chocolate Coffee and enjoy a few episodes! I may be a tad sleepy tomorrow, but I also have a dentist appt so I can sleep while they clean the teeth!! 

What am I doing this day before Mother's Day? Preparing for Willie's return in the next week. You see for the last few months as many know he has been away at college. Now, he comes home for not just the Summer but for who knows how long (if he finds a job here after his internship it will be a while, if not who knows where he will be) Anyway, I am cleaning out his room of as much of my stuff possible ( I have had control of it for the last four years while he was away, only taking my stuff out in the summer). So now I am rearranging a couple of pieces of furniture and decided to move my knitting bookcase. To do so meant taking them all out. So in doing, I am going to double check and enter those I don't have listed in my Hand D Base on my Palm. And since there is not much worth watching on t.v. tonight, I am going to look through them as I do. Ahhhh-what a great way to spend a Mother's Day Eve!! But, while moving stuff out I have come across about 3 boxes of books that I have not read! Between knitting and reading I should be pretty well set for a life of about another 50 years!  

Finally there is sunshine and warm weather. I put away my winter jackets and folded up the winter blanket! It will probably snow now. When I put the turtle necks away it got down to record lows. Sorry world! You can blame it on me. But if it gets too warm too fast then when will I wear all those spring/summer sweaters I have not completed yet??

I saw on the Knitters Website this afternoon the cover of the new Knitter's magazine. That must mean it is on it's way. Wouldn't it be nice if it came tomorrow?
I am ready for some new knitting magazines to look at. As soon as they come, I sit down and peruse them, hopefully this issue will have some things I just can't live without knitting! And you know what that means --Yarn Shopping:)

Not all of the Radical Knitters are ready to start the Pyth Jacket Knit-a-long (I have started mine) but soon we will all be ready with yarn and pattern decided? So here is last Thursday's Yarn Souvenir. Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed will be Carol Anderson's Tunic Sweater. Going to Knit Night tonight at Char Rickey's. It will be great to see her and see what she has been knitting! Chinese anyone? 

The Suede poncho is done, well at least knitted. I tried it on and was not too sure that I liked it. But then I started putting on the fringe, and have decided it looks good when it is laying there. I was only going to put fringe every so often, but decided it needs lots of fringe. I am waiting to post pic of it when it is all done. Maybe I can get Bob to take the pic of me with it.

Started the first triangle of the Pyth Jacket. The purple is dark to see when trying to count ridges. The pattern calls for size 7 needle, so of course I started with a 4, cause I always have to go way down, and for once I am using exactly what the pattern called for and I am getting the gauge.

The yarn is considerably finer than what I used on my first one, so this will be interesting to see what the fit is on it. I am going to make more triangles to make it longer and I bought an extra ball in all four colors just in case. I hope I bought enough. This is not one that I want to sit around with. It cannot be a WIP for long

I have had a GREAT few days! On Thursday, I took a half day off and spent the most delightful few hours with the Daytime Knitters of the Peoria Areas Stitchers Guild. This is a group of mostly retired ladies. What fun it was sitting around Norma's table knitting, eating dessert and drinking coffee.

After the ladies departed for home, Norma and I went over to Mary's in Eureka to see what was new there. Then we for a great dinner at Katy's in Washington. After all it was time to eat.

After Katy's we went to Knit Night in Morton and the new yarn shop Ewe-nique Yarns. One of our Radical Knitters, Linda joined us. Since I was just about done with my Suede poncho, I needed to stock up on yarn for a new project (I like to knit on yarn from the shop I am sitting in) so I got Debbie Bliss Aran tweed for Carol Anderson's Tunic Sweater (I made one years ago when I was much heavier). Now it is time for one that fits. I won't get rid of the too big one because it is nice and comfy at times. Weight Watchers would tell me to get rid of it, but I really like it so I am keeping it.

And then today, Norma, Jo and I went over to Needleworks in Champaign, mainly to buy yarn for the unofficial knit a long that the Radical Knitters are doing of Twisted Sisters Pythagorean Theory Sweater. Jo and I bought yarn for it, Norma bought a pattern book from them that has a different cardigan in it that she might get more use then the one we are doing.

I can't begin to tell you how gracious the ladies and gentlemen over at Needleworks are. I had not been there in probably a year, but they welcomed us like we were one of their regulars! Sharon is the sweetest women, she wound all of Jo and my Twisted Sisters Yarn (Jo had what 12 and I think I had about 16). Jo went to have lunch with her son and Sharon told Norma and I that we were going to eat with them. They were celebrating Matthew and all other April birthdays and there was an table full of food. Janice grilled hotdogs, brats and sausages. Kate had a great Ramen salad that she gave us the recipe for, Ray brought fruit and dip and there were sweets and breads galore.

We bought yarn, ate, sat and knitted and vistited like we were a part of the group. Needleworks is my kind of yarn shop, the kind that you always dream about owning or if not your own, one you want to be able to go to. Kind of like Cheers where everyone knows your name. If you get a chance you have got to go visit them and tell them that Penny sent you.

And now to complete the great few days I have been having, I am going to go sit with my coffee in front of the t.v. watching Cardinal baseball, and Knitting! How good can life be? Not any better. Pictures tomorrow-hopefully! Thanks to all of my knitting friends for everything you do with me!!

Char, Linda, Jo, Jan and Norma- Check this site out for prices on the kits for the Twisted Sisters Jacket.

http://www.greatyarns.com/kitsyarns.htm

and check Needleworks website for colors

http://www.cu-needleworks.com/news.htm

Hard to believe but my sons are 22 today! And this is probably the only time they wore the sweaters I painstakingly knitted for them. I am now the proud recepient of both. And my vow after these two sweaters was that they would have to ask me to knit for them if they ever wanted something. So far, Roger on the left, asked for a long scarf this last winter when it was so cold and he was working at Sears bringing carts in. Willie (Will to his friends) on the right, wanted a scarf too, but alas it got too warm before I finished it. It is currently a WIP sitting in a plastic bag with the knitting books. Maybe next year, I'll get it done. Time does fly doesn't it? 

Do you think I have enough jewelry? This is what keeps me busy when I am not knitting and yarn shopping. My two obesessions. This week begins an interesting week with the lia sophia business. I have back to back parties next Saturday and Sunday and then yesterday I got a wild one when I wanted to book one more for the month of April. Of course I gave the soon to be hostess and incentive, if she booked a party in the last week of April (which means she has to be fast with her guest list) she could choose out of a little box of discontinued jewelry! So she did and now booked it for next Tuesday which is Tuesday Knit Night at Lakeview Library. So I will miss this one knit night, something I said I would not do when I started selling lia sophia, but could not pass up getting one more party in for the month of April. Need more info on lia sophia? Check our catalog out at: www.liasophia.com/pennyhalverson Sorry, I have not spent enough time figuring out how to direct link the website, maybe that will be a Summer Project! 

This weeks challenge: To duplicate this sweater from this picture to written pattern. It is crocheted and I could do that but the fun of it all is turning it into knitting instead. Done of a very light weight cotton, very simple and just a slight cap sleeve. Of course those of us with fat arms would never wear it (another reason for getting those weights into the hands and off of the floor!) 

Are you sure you don't want to go to Stitches with me?? Char? Linda? I can be alot of fun! 

Not a knitting picture, but I sure do like this one from two years ago. It makes me smile and reminds me that it is now time to get out and be serious about running! Tomorrow night is Week 2 of Building Steam (preparing for the Steamboat Run) and I am not near ready for tomorrow night! It usually takes me about one week of bringing up the rear of the pack to get my brain wrapped around going out more than once a week!! Even if I have to do it myself. Gasp, Wheeze and UGH! To be continued... The reward is a beer at the end of the run. 

This pic is from Stitches 2 years ago when Horst Schulz did the Thursday morning session ( I was going to do the pic of Char, Linda and Char knitting but thought I might want to ask their permission first). I put it out there just to let you all know that the classes for Stitches Midwest 05 are on the Knitting Universe Website. I priced out the 12 classes that I want to take, the Thursday morning get together, the Fashion Show and the Student Banquet separately and for about $30 more I can take two more classes! Guess I better get serious now about a room mate! Any takers out there???? And I need to put my vacation request in, maybe I ought to do that first huh! 

I will see you a lime green and raise you 8!! There is a new yarn shop that opened in Morton a week and a half ago. They are open on Thursdays til 8 and I just could not resist going over and doing a little shopping since our regulars that I knit with were otherwise occupied. So I, swore I would never knit another poncho, just had to buy the suede for one. It is my color and lately I have been wanting to start something new and just did not know what that may be. Can't wait to do a guage swatch and begin. The other is Crystal Palace Summer Net that I am going to do a drop stitch scarf with. I am so excited! New Yarn Shop (knit night on Thursdays), new yarn and the sun is shining! 

A vice has been born. I am starting to decorate my son's room in the beach theme. The walls are already Orlando Magic Blue and I have started adding some accents to it. And of course the basket of flip flops with eyelash yarns are going to be part of the decor. One of the girls I work with gave me the idea to mix a sand type mixture to the paint when I get ready to change it and paint 1/2 way up the wall, making a beach. What a hoot! The only problem, it may have to go on the back burner until said child gets a job after his internship somewhere this summer. But I will file that great thought away for future reference. Until then, he will have to live with the semi beach theme! 

Some flip flops for my friend Kristy who is going to be married in Mexico in a week and a half. I gave her a little present of appropriate Mexico vacation stuff including these. The best thing is my friend Norma was my personal shopper. She picked up the flip flops for me and some other items and then she let me shop in her stash! I never had to leave the comfort of her home! 

And so I better start getting out there running again, so I can really wear it when I get it done. This book has a great pink cabled zip sweater that I want to do too. But I will not buy the yarn until I finish more of what is in the drawer from last Spring. Stay tuned! 

Years ago I bought Reynolds Saucy Cotton and had an idea as to what I was going to do with it. I bought lots cause I was much heavier . I ran across it about a year ago and I think I threw away whatever had been started. but realized that I still had a lot of it still left. So, I ordered yet another book from Patternworks and started this cover sweater then. I was a tad thinner then and thought "hey I can wear this" So as soon as I finished MIL poncho with sleeves, I decided it was time to pull out the spring knitting and get started back on it. So this is the current project that is in line for knitting and finishing NOW! And with it going to be in the 60's this week, spring is really coming, despite the gloominess of today! 

I have sort of sworn off of buying books and patterns of late, cause I have all these cool things I want to do that I already have patterns, magazines and books. But I could not resist this. Ordered it from Meg at Schoolhouse Press earlier this week and here it was today. I have already read it cover to cover. Although I never got to be at camp when EZ did it, I have many of her and Meg's videos as well as have been to Knit Camp with Meg twice. As I read through it tonight, it made me want to go back again. I became great knit friends with my room mate the second time around. Julie introduced me to so many other avenues that I probably would never have ventured out too! Isn't the craft of knitting do so much for us, besides giving us things to do with our hands? It opens us up to new friends, new places to visit and all kinds of great possibilities!

Finished the sleeved poncho for MIL's birthday in September. Have not blocked it yet, but I do think it needs it, especially for the bottom and the sleeves. Perhaps this is why it snowed on Tuesday, when I finished it! I am never this far ahead of myself with a birthday gift being done! Poncho is out of Encore Bulky. I hope it fits in the arms, cause I just winged it and made them longer than mine would be. She can always fold the arms back if they are too long. It has a little split created by the garter stitch. The entire ponch was done in the round from the top down except for the last 1 1/2 inches. I am so excited to have it finished! Now onto Spring in knitting and in weather. I have SPOKEN! 

What is this? Snow/Rain/Slush, two nights ago! I could not believe it. See I am of the belief that when the calendar says it is Spring that it should be Spring. Sunshine, warm weather and the absence of SNOW! And when Easter is this weekend (I know it's early, but come on), I insist on not having to wear a winter coat! 

It is finished! Finally the Sleeved Poncho is done. Pics tomorrow. It needs to be blocked. And I still am not quite sure that I like it for me. I am glad this one is for MIL's Birthday. Now, after I finished it tonight around 8:00, I still have not decided on what I want to knit next. I want it to be Spring, and I want to pull out something I started last year, but here are just way too many choices. I feel compelled to finish a couple of scarves, but tht does not make me go who hoo!

So I knit on the Caribe Blue Scarf while watching the Notebook. Oh, it was such a mommy movie. I loved it, and loved the ending! Now, I really need to go make a decision as to what is the next project to be knit. I have got to get to bed before 1:00. Tomorrow is knit nite so I gotta make a decision now.

I felt it my duty to blog today. I do not have anything to show, cause I am still knitting on the poncho with sleeves for MIL's bday in September. I am making myself finish it. I would like to be done by Tuesday Knit Night at Lakeview on Tuesday. I desparatately want to be knitting on something else, but I am making myself finish it first.

I did take a small journey into the Patternworks catalog and was writing up an order for a couple of Elisabeth Lavold books and The Opinionated Knitter. But, a small voice in the back of my head told me, rather reminded me that I still have a sweater in the works from Lavold's first book and I need to finish it before I go buying more books. See, I can show some restraint. One should not have as many books with nothing knit out of them. I am trying to wittle some of the stash down, as it really has taken over the house along with the lia sophia jewelry.

I am however going to call Schoolhouse Press tomorrow. I want The Opinionated Knitter and I might just as well get it from Meg as from anywhere else. Besides, I need to see if I need to renew my subscription to Woolgather or if mine just hasn't come yet! There are some things that I just can't show restraint on and anything from Meg Swansen or even remotely tied to EZ I just gotta have. They are my mentors!

Okay--back to that damn poncho!

Pattern for Yarn below. Pic is a little blurry but won't it be fun shopping for yarns to go with. It may take awhile but hey I've got time. Call it yarn souvenirs! 

A Canyon of Yarn. 

This is a pic of three yarns that my three knitting friends have recently given me when they have been on vacations. The first came from Jo from Tricoter last year, the second came from Norma when she was in Hawaii and the third from Jan when she was in Arizona this past month. Don't I have nice knitting friends? I am going to yarn shop for some yarns to go with it and will post the pic tomorrow of what I am thinking about doing with them. Then I will think of my knitting friends whenever I wear it! Maybe I should get my friends to go on a yarn trip to find the yarn! Lansing would be a good expedition! 

This pic does not do it justice, but my friend Jan knit this for me for Christmas. It has a silver thread that pops out of it. It is wonderfully long so I can double it up and pull it through making it tidy and warm around my neck.  

My friend Norma made this for me for Christmas. Does she know my colors or what! Some day it will hang in my business.  

Finally, I have arrived at the point of the Cabin Creek Poncho that I can start the sleeve. I never thought 14 inches of stockinette would ever be done. Now, onto the first sleeve. I guess once I decided that I wanted to knit it in Caribe Blue and Lime, that I lost interest, but I am bound and determined to finish it. It is for Bob's mom's birthday in September and I want to be a head of the game for once, rather than finishing it the night before. I had a pic to show of it part way done, but have decided to hold it until it is finished.

What I learned this past week? Several years ago, I said I would never knit a shawl. Since then I have made a liar out of myself and have several shawls in the works. Then, this past weekend, actually before that, but last weekend re-confirmed that I cannot be trusted to carry through my threats. When the Poncho craze hit, I said, I will never knit one, they are not going to hang around long. In the mean time, I have seen several in stores and thought how cheezy they looked for the price. So with that said and the fact that I not only bought yarn for one at Stitches last August and that I have also done the above mentioned one and have plans for another like it for me (but as my friend said, those two don't really count cause they are more like sweaters than ponchos), I was at the lia sophia rally last Saturday in Chicago and a lady had a poncho on she had bought in "Arizona", but it was light and airy, knit I hope out of a lt wt mohair and sparkly yarn. She had worn over a simple turtle neck and black pants. The great thing was she also wore great jewelry (lia sophia of course!) but the simplicity of her outfit and the poncho was made it so great.

So you know where I am going with this? The question is: is there still time for me to whip one up before they are out of style? Stay tuned!

I held out until Friday night before starting a new project! I was going to a lia sophia Rally in Burr Ridge on Saturday and wasn't driving, so I wanted to take something small. Low and behold, out of a shopping bag jumped this Sirdar Funky Fur Magic Yarn, my LYS owner bought especially because it was my colors, and into my hands and said just knit a couple of inches to get me started. Almost 3/4 of a ball later I stopped. I love it. Took it with me and knit just a bit on it, and now I feel so much better. I can knit on the poncho for my MIL birthday next September!