A Totally Knitting Weekend!

It was the best long weekend!  I managed to do almost all my laundry on Friday night so the weekend was clear of that pesky job.  I celebrated a Knit Wit's birthday on Saturday evening, so we didn't knit on Saturday morning which is our norm.  Which meant I didn't have to get moving out the door until later in the day, and I could just sit back and knit the day away.

Going into the weekend, I sort of had a plan as to some things that I wanted to cast on for the weekend, and so I prepared them.  Three out of the four I cast cast on, the fourth was put on the back burner, because, well, I've got enough on the needles.

Over the three days, I've made some practice on my Veronika, the pjknits KAL.

It was a hot weekend, but there was a bit of nice breeze on Sunday night, so I did get to knit a bit on the porch.

And finally, yesterday, I made into the back of Veronika.  It will be a while before the back is completed, because there is quite a bit of knitting to be done.

I cast on Turtle Dove out of Woolfolk Luft.  It really could have waited for the cast on, but I was kind of anxious to cast it on.  I've used Luft before in a cowl, but this time am doing a sweater, and like I blogged about before, it is not my normal sweater, but something totally fun.

And the last thing I cast on was a cowl for Baby Boy B's fiancée.  It is going to be just a fun knit and it is yet to be decided if it is a birthday present or a Christmas present.

There were several other things I was just dyeing to cast on this past weekend, but I'll save them for another weekend, long or short.  Have a great knitting week!!

So Many Yarns, So Little Time

My personal shopper brought this yarn home from Indy a couple of weeks ago.  It is Universal Worsted Mist so it has a bit of heathering in it.  While, it is not going to work for the baby blanket, I had originally intended on knitting out of it, I will use it for a second blanket for our granddaughter that is going to be born in December.

I like knitting a second blanket for my grand babies so they can use it for day care.

 As future blog posts will show, I am going a bit out of my wheel house this Fall.  This Woolfolk Luft yarn in a dark brown is so not me, and neither is the pattern I bought it for.

But, I think this sweater will be fun to knit and heck, I'm going to wear it.  The pattern is Melissa's from Espace Tricot.  I used Luft last year to knit a cowl for the 40 Cowls project and I've wanted to knit with it again only in a bit larger project.

I've got two other yarns coming in the mail, hopefully, next week, one is for Baby Sweet Pea's Baby Blanket, the other for yet another sweater.  I've got a lot of knitting to do this Fall, so I'd best be at it.

Hope you are having a great weekend and having some fun with your knitting, I sure am!

Finally Finished Friday

From DMC - Hug This!  The animal with velcro arms and the yarn to knit came as part of the kit.  All for a reasonable $19.95

Instead of knitting the pattern provided, I used the Grandmother's Dishcloth pattern and did a corner to corner little blanket.

The kit itself said there was sufficient yarn for a carriage blanket.  I had quite a bit left when I finished, so I could have knit this a bit bigger than it's 27 x 26 finished size, but I was really ready to be done with this blanket.

I'll gift it to the gal that does my hair in a couple of weeks, and tell her it is the perfect size for throwing over the car seat when transporting, and re-purpose later as a carry around blanket for the toddler.

Hey, tomorrow is September 1st and we are starting our first ever KAL via my You Tube Channel and the pjknits group over on Ravelry.  I would love to have you join us in the knit or if you have knit it already give us your thoughts too!

Have a great and safe holiday weekend!  Catch you on the purl side!

On The Needles This Week

My Ouzo is on the needles!  It is all stockinette for awhile, until I get to the sleeves and some lace on the back.  In the meantime, it is kind of boring.

But, what I am really anxious to get started on this Saturday, the first of September is Veronika!

Yesterday, the Tall Guy and I celebrated 42 years.  And because, we don't really buy each other anniversary gifts, we bought our own...mine was yarn, lots of yarn for many projects.  As soon as they start being delivered by the mailman, I'll show you what they are.

And on a Summer note, this is what is in our bush right outside our kitchen.  This is our second set of Cardinal babies in a new nest in the past couple of months.  How cool is that?!

Weekend Happenings

On Saturday, I decided to tackle the Yarn Room.  Go through a few yarns that had been given to me and donate them to other good causes.  After I did that, I decided to go through canvas bags on my hall tree and cut bait with some of them.  This is what I came up with...lots of needles, lots of empty canvas bags and quite a few projects that needed to be tossed out.  And I did it without feeling guilty. They all served a purpose at one time, but it was time for them to go, there was never any hope of them growing into real finished projects.

And today, I decided it was time to take a break from knitting on the most boring baby blanket ever, and do a bit of swatching on future sweater projects.  First up is for my Veronika that is slated to be cast on September 1st.  Which just so happens to be the first day of a long holiday weekend.  The yarn is YOTH Father.

And second up is Magpie Fibers Solstice and this is swatch is for my Ouzo.

It would seem by the looks of these two swatches that I plan on wearing a lot of denim with them.  Ah well!

Let's Knit - Veronika Cardigan

At first glance a couple of years ago, I was kind of ho hum about the Veronika Cardigan,  thinking there is no way I could wear it. Then, this past June, I got to try it on at ZK and fell in love with it and got reviews from my peeps that I could wear it.  Several at our table at ZK have since cast it on and I've been wanting to ever since.

But alas, I've had a couple of things on my list that needed a bit of attention...Until, I started getting super jealous of theirs and was ready to cast on last weekend.  Then, I was  enticed by another friend to cast on the first of September.  I am hoping if you are reading this, you might want to knit along with us.  I have added a thread on the pjknits group on Ravelry if you want to join in the fun of knitting this sweater together.  #tags on Instagram are #pjknitsveronikacardi  #veronikacardi if you want to join in there, or you know I'll be posting here progress as well as on You Tube.

I think this is going to be a perfect transitional sweater for me, for wearing late this Fall, throw it on in Winter and into Spring next year!  I chose my color way at Stitches Midwest earlier this month from YOTH Father in the Concord Grape color.  It is going to be a great go to with all shades of denim, brown and black, all of which I wear a lot of no matter the season.

And now to swatch.

Finally Finished Friday

Fine Sand by Heidi Kirrmaier out of Rowan Purelife Revive

I am lovin this finished sweater for My Sweater Project!

Wednesday WIPS

This is a cut bait week.  I tried finishing the front of this Tee, but finally on Sunday afternoon, I decided it was time to give it up and toss it into the bait box and let it go.

I just was not feeling it, the yarn was a bit stiff.  I had great doubts that it was going to fit me when I finish it.  And to be perfectly honest, it wasn't fitting any of  the criteria for my sweater project.

The sleeves were not going to cover what I needed them to cover, and most definitely the whole sweater was going to need a tank under it.

It just was not me and I feel so good to have this one crossed off the list!  One WIP down!

What's On The Needles This Week?

After a weekend of wanting to cast  knit on all the things, the start of the work week has me a bit more focused.  I did cast on a couple of things and one got frogged for a later date, but the second remained on the needles.

Mainly because it is for a baby gift that I want to give to the baby's mother in a month, so I figured I better get cracking on this blanket.  Believe it not this yarn from DMC is classified as sport weight.  I really thought it was fingering.  I am knitting one of the Grandma's Washcloth patterns, a nice easy pattern that can be knit in public quite easily.

Getting a bit of knitting time is my Upside Down.  This is going to be perfect for early Fall, so I'm knitting a bit on it this week too.

I'm also knitting one block a night on my mitered square blanket.  It had been sitting in the corner mocking me for not getting any time in my hands that I decided it was time to get to working on it.  I'll show it when it is not so ragged looking with stray ends hanging out.

That's all I'm knitting for now, (subject to change)!

Episode 12 - Transitional Sweaters

Episode 12 of pjknits  is up on You Tube - here

And please join the pjknits group on Ravelry  -   here   where you can find all the show notes and another contest!

Another Great Weekend

Another Stitches Midwest is in the books.  Later this week, I'll show my shopping. And yes, there will be a You Tube Podcast about it as well.

What a fun time it was and there is so many things I want to knit on now!  Even though, it is still Summer, and the temps in Central IL say it is Summer, I'm ready to cast on some Fall/Winter knitting so I'll be ready when Fall comes.

While at Stitches, I really pared down the projects I took with me to two. And only ended up knitting on my one wrap.

Here is a before and after picture.

I'm super pleased that I didn't overpack my knitting  on this trip, but rather stayed focused.  Wish I could say that was the case right now with my purchases.

Until later, have a knittingly fantastic weekend!

Heading Out To Stitches Midwest Tomorrow

It's here! Stitches Midwest and the last of my Summer Knitting Travels.  I am more prepared for this adventure than I have been for any of them. Well, except for some speed drying I am doing on my Fine Sand sweater.

I stayed up til it was finished last night, got up early this morning to weave the last sleeve ends in and then started the blocking.  Originally, I was just going to wet down the hems and the front garter band because I knew I was going to have a very limited time to get it dry today.  Then decided I had better get it all wet.  As expected, it was still very wet tonight when I got home from work, so I started following the sun with it to get some fast drying.  I'll bring it in shortly and throw it back on my table with the fans for the rest of the night, and it should be done by packing time tomorrow.

 I've got my list.  I am taking less bags than I have ever taken before and that goes for the knitting as well.

I am taking only two projects to work on.  My wrap from the Magpie Fibers yarn I bought last year and a cowl for the 40 Cowls project should I need it.

I'm going to concentrate on the wrap most of the weekend.  Tomorrow morning, I'll move the progress keeper to where I start it on the trip up and we'll see how far it gets by Saturday home time.

Have a great weekend, and I'll blog next week about Stitches Midwest!

It's Up!!

Episode 11 is up on You Tube where I talk about getting ready for Stitches Midwest starting this Thursday!

In the episode, I talk about a giveaway I am doing in my newly created Ravelry Group - pjknits

Check the episode out, join the Ravelry group and enter the giveaway contest!

Finally Finished Friday - My Sweater Project

I finally got my Featherweight out of Three Irish Girls Yarn blocked and picture ready.  I bought the yarn last year from their booth last year at Stitches Midwest after seeing and trying on a peach one.  I loved it from the get go and knew I had to knit it as soon as I saw the turquoise yarn.

I have a few issues with the finished project among them lately seem to be having some of those bleeding issues when I go to block these bright colors.  My fellow peoria knit wits keep telling me about a product called Color Catcher, and I need to add this to my shopping list.  

I always have an issue with the ribbing bands on sweaters like these.  No matter how much I pin those bottoms down they always want to pull up like above.  I wondering about a solution to that?

The reason I loved this Featherweight from first sight in their booth was that it was knit on a larger gauge than normally, which gave length to it and to the sleeves.  In my quest to do both, I did not have sufficient yarn to make the sleeves have a great transition from the body, and had to use almost every bit of the colors to get them to be where I wanted to.  

I am not going to say that this is my fave sweater of all time, but rather, one I can see me throwing on to wear on the weekend or dashing out somewhere.

It will remind me that I need to up my sweater knitting game this Fall and knit better sweaters not just faster sweaters!

Happy Weekend!

What's On The Needles This Week?

I am knitting along on my Fine Sand out of Revive.  This body seems to be taking forever!

 I knit on it all Knitting Camp long and have been pretty much knitting on it only, well except for when I have gotten really bored with it, and wanted to see how my latest wrap knitting will look.

And then, this is my take to work knitting.  It is easy to grab and go.  And the Tall Guy has remarked how pretty this one is.

Have a great knitting week!

Episode 10 Show Notes

Episode 10 of pjknits can be found on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e10UTY5Kcio&index=1&list=UUCbl7nVHMxyzyF8SdRcoCzQ

Fruity Knitting Episode #57 Interview with Meg Swansen

Lerwick Harbour Hap Shawl

Alter Knit Stitch Dictionary

Ullcentrum Swedish Gradient

Fine Sand -- Rowan Revive

Upside Down - Shibui Pebble

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/laine-magazine-issue-5

Confidence Shawl/Kerchief

Ahhh, Knitting Camp

It was another wonderful knitting camp!  I learned so much and I have so many new ideas that I want to incorporate into my knitting!  So many wonderful things to see and so much fun and laughter with new and old friends.  They all inspire me!  And make me want to be a better knitter.

Tomorrow, I am going to do a new YouTube Podcast to talk about the weekend.  And then on Thursday it is back to work for a couple of weeks until Stitches Midwest.  After that,  I'm staying put until after the first of the year, when January Thaw comes around.

I've got plenty of knitting to keep me busy in the months to come and am so super excited to share it here and in video, but in the meantime, here are some pics from Camp, I didn't get too many as the iPhone camera just doesn't do justice sometimes.

 We had four Lindas at our camp.

Just a couple of the Contest entries.  The contest theme was Circus.

An intarsia knit rendition of a book cover featuring a Circus Tent.

A tightrope wire act that was strung across a piece of yarn and as she entered the stage with an assistant, the act looked like she was actually walking a tightrope wire.   So stinking cool.

The tattooed lady!  Leave it up to Linda to come up with this one!  The blowup doll actually has her face printed on it!

And table mate, Susan's Dumbo, he was just too stinking cute!

But, the winner was, Bridget and her costume full of cars.

As opposed to, how many clowns can fit into a car.

Just another great camp with a trip to the farm to stock up on some fresh cheese curds that squeak ( a sign of freshness!)

Finally Finished Friday

Finally after almost two years, and getting a skein to finish my border a year ago, my Lerwick Harbour Hap Shawl is finished.  I love this pattern from Denice at Lost City Knits.  And the yarn, Foothills Fingering is a fave to work with and wear.

I was such a procrastinator on this one.  And so you can see why I need my little playbook of when I need things done by and what I should be knitting on.

As we speak it is in our hotel room, waiting for it's debut at Show and Tell!

Then I'll cover up with it to keep warm.  I cannot wait to cast on another hap, perhaps with a different border next time.  I've already got the yarn from Denise, waiting at home.  But, probably won't until next year because I have lots of knitting to keep me busy until then.

Have a great weekend, I'll blog about camp next week!

Gone Camping

Linda and I are off to Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp.  Knit on with Confidence and Hope!

Camp Preparedness

It's Camp Preparedness Day.  Despite the fact that work keeps trying to rear it's ugly head and ruin the good feeling I had going, I am motoring through it and getting ready to take off tomorrow for my annual trek to Marshfield WI with knitting camp roomie, Linda.  

When I stopped to think about how many camps I've/we've been to I came up with this being my 15th year, not consecutively, Linda and I's 11th year of going and Schoolhouse Press's 45th year of knitting camps. WOW!

Trying to figure out what projects to take to camp is harder than trying to come up with what clothes to take!  But, I've narrowed it down to four.  All four came out of my notebook ( I can tell it is my notebook because it has my name on it).

About a month ago, I decided to get serious about my knitting timeline and objects that have sort of a deadline and made a page in my notebook for every month from June through December.  On the pages, I made a rough thought of knitting projects I would like to have done and some soft due dates.

I am pleased to say that June was a success and July is looking pretty good too.

At the bottom of the pages, for each month, I penned in what I might like to be working on for certain time frames.  And by soft, I mean, subject to change.  Already, the Vertices Unite is not something I am taking to camp to knit on, but rather, another wrap that I bought last year at Stitches Midwest and hope to have done to take with me there.

I know, I know, some may say this takes the fun out of it, but for me, I needed a clear thought as to what I need to be knitting on and when.  And I'd like to say that it is helping to NOT buy yarn, just because.

Hey, it is my story and I'm sticking to it.  Keep Kool Knitters!

Finally Finished Friday

Fir Cone Lace Simple Shawl by Cheryl Oberle

Happy 4th of July