Sex?

Break out the pink yarn - she's a girl!

Everything Grows

Ok, not everything - hubby finally got the tree chopped up and it is killing our grass, waiting for the city to pick it up sometime next week.



But the garden is growing (corn),



as is my tummy. Finally showing a little this week, which should shut up everyone who keeps saying "Are you still wearing your normal clothes?" and "Why aren't you showing yet?" (But I am still wearing most of my clothes.)

We find out the sex next week - exciting!

And the knitting has been growing as well, but with the crazy last 10 days we've had I've got no pictures. Tomorrow looks slower though, so fingers crossed.

FO Retrospective

OK, I suppose only one of these is really a retrospective, since I finished the other two this week, but at any rate, there is proof that I've been finishing things - and best of all, these were all gifts!



Pattern: Shrug This from One Skein Wonders
Yarn: Elann Highland Wool Chunky - about 3 skeins
Needles: Sz US 10 Clover Bamboo Circular
Dates: February 2008-March 1, 2008
Mods: Did more increases than the pattern called for, thus adding width and length. From Ravelry I learned that it ran quite a bit small, so I measured as I went and tried to make it fit my SIL's approximate measurements.
Thoughts: Quick, easy, but frustrating that the pattern really doesn't turn out a wearable size unless you modify it. I hope it fit my SIL - it was her birthday gift, but I haven't heard yet if it was a success.



Pattern: Simple Baby Cap #2 from Itty Bitty Hats
Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK (yellow) and worsted (purple)
Needles: Sz 7 Addi Turbo 16" Circular and Clover bamboo DPNs
Dates: Monday April 7-Thursday April 10.
Mods: I added the yellow brim as this is a gift for an LSU lovin' family.
Thoughts: Simple, easy baby hat. Made a lot of progress at knitting Thursday night. Maybe I should knit a baby hat every Thursday night!


Pattern: Flore from Knitwhits
Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK in green, lt. blue, lt. purple, pink and yellow - tiny bits of each
Needles: Sz 6 Addi Turbos and Sz 6 Boye 16" Circulars (clover bamboo DPNs for the top)
Dates: March 2008-April 6, 2008
Mods: none, other than changing the colors from the pattern suggestions
Thoughts: I was really nervous that this would be so fiddly that I wouldn't want to work on it. However, it went fairly quickly, and even the tacking down of each individual petal didn't take too long. It is super cute, and I would make it again.

I have been working on some other projects and maybe starting some new ones. More on them later this week (I hope). Oh, and the tree? Still hanging on the power line. C'mon power company!

Rotten Eye Candy

What we're dealing with this week. Two days, and no sign of the power company who are supposed to come get the tree off the power line. Thank you Texas storms. (And of course, it wasn't the two dead branches on the other tree, nor any of the branches that just needed to be pruned. Of course not.)

Single Sock Syndrome Strikes Again!

Sorry 'bout that break in posting - first I didn't have pictures, then I didn't have a cord to connect camera to computer, then Sock Madness round 2 started and I didn't have time to blog. I did finish my first sock on Friday (after working all week and being struck down with allergies), but sadly, I am out as of last night. :( On the upside, I am half a sock away from having a pair, and I love the pattern and yarn, so I'm happy with my new pair-to-be of socks. And, if I like the upcoming patterns, I'll probably keep knitting along. We'll see though, since I have some April goals to meet.

I did better than I hoped on my March goals, even though I totally sucked at them. Too much Sock Madness and housework over Spring Break really interfered with the knitting time.

March Goals:
Finish Log Cabin Blanket - DONE
Finish Embossed Leaves socks - one done
Finish Child's First socks - one done
Finish the peppermint socks - one done
Finish Devon - DONE
Work on Icarus (get through the repeats of chart 1) - DONE
Work on Rogue (up to the armholes?) - nope
Finish one front of Bristow - nope
Finish one front of Cambridge Jacket - nope
Finish front of Salina - nope
Work on Buttony - nope
Work on Isobel - a few rows
Finish half of mystery knit - 1/4 done
Finish one Solstice Slip sock - not touched


April Goals -

Finish Flore
Finish Embossed Leaves
Finish Child's First Socks
Finish peppermint socks
Finish Icarus
Sock Madness - I'm out already!
Shop model
LSU baby hat
Work on baby blanket
Start something for the baby
Work on Salina
Blog at least 2x week

I'd really like to work more Project Spectrum into my knits, but I'm trying (for the most part) to finish, and not start things. So we'll see. My April Goals are much more manageable than my March (and February), so I hope I can finish some things.

I'm looking forward to finishing Icarus so I can start some new lace projects. I have all the repeats of Chart 1 done, so it's just 3 small charts and I'm done! I think these charts will go much more quickly, not just because they are "shorter" but because they are more interesting than chart 1.

It also appears that I've joined the single sock movement again, since I have four lonely single socks right now.



Embossed Leaves and Reversai


Child's First Sock and Peppermint sock


However, all but Embossed Leaves have a mate started, so there is hope for them (and me) yet. I've really been enjoying the patterned sock lately, so I'm hoping to see more of those in the near future. We'll see though, with all these baby knits coming up!

OK - I've got to complete goal #1 today, as it is for a birthday present that I have to deliver this afternoon. I'll try to keep up with that last goal - with the nice weather and sunshine, picture taking is much easier, so hopefully that will help. Have a great Sunday!

Spring Break Knits

First, thank you for all the well-wishes - we are very excited here.

We did manage to finish quite a few projects over spring break, and I'll lead with what you really care about - the knitwear.



Pattern: Zombie Socks from Sock Madness
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in Lenore
Needles: Chiagoo DPNs 2.75mm
Dates: Thursday March 13-Thursday March 20
Mods: none
Thoughts: very stretchy sock. Even though my gauge was perfect, these are a little big. But they turned out fine besides that, and I'll still wear them. The yarn bled all over my needles and my fingers, so I'll be careful washing them.


Pattern: Log Cabin Blanket
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in 5 colors
Needles: Sz 8 Susan Bates Circulars
Dates: Um, August 2006-March 2008. Yikes
Mods: none
Thoughts: This didn't turn out as big as I had originally envisioned, but I just needed it to be done. It was gifted to The Girl for her 10th birthday on Friday, and she seems to really like it, so that's good.


Pattern: Devon from Magknits
Yarn: Rowan Cotton Glace - 1.5 balls in white, purple and green and just over 2.5 balls in brown
Needles: Sz 3 Susan Bates Circulars
Dates: September? 2007-March 2008
Thoughts: This has been mostly done since the end of January - I ran out of brown and kept forgetting to buy another ball, and then I had to spend 3 hours weaving in ends. Ugh. But it fits great, and I really like the colors, so overall a winner.

I did get a bit of other knitting progress made, but I'll save that fodder for another day!

Eye Candy Friday

Hopefully this will fully explain the lack of knitting and blogging around here! This little knitter is due in September, and you can expect some baby knits to show up soon!

2 more days

Until Spring Break. I think I can, I think I can.

Nothing like waiting until almost the ides to post the goals for the month, eh?

February pretty much sucked for the knitting - let's take a look.
February Goals:
Knit at least 8 panels of Log Cabin Blanket (take on retreat) - NOT DONE
Finish fingerless gloves for hubbo DONE
Finish hat for hubbo DONE
Finish Zuluknitty socks DONE
Finish Embossed Leaves socks NOT DONE
Finish Child's First socks ONE DONE
Finish at least one peppermint sock ONE 3/4 DONE
Finish Devon NOT DONE
Work on Icarus (get through the repeats of chart 1) ONE MORE REPEAT TO GO
Work on Rogue (up to the armholes?) NOT TOUCHED
Finish one front of Bristow HAHA
Finish one front of Cambridge Jacket NOPE
Finish front of Salina NOT EVEN CLOSE
Work on Buttony NOT TOUCHED
Finish Noro Scarf - DONE
Work on Isobel NOT TOUCHED
Finish half of mystery knit NOPE
Finish one Solstice Slip sock HAHAHA - ONE REPEAT DONE

It's pretty sad really. So the March goals become easy.

March Goals
February Goals:
Finish Log Cabin Blanket
Finish Embossed Leaves socks
Finish Child's First socks
Finish the peppermint socks
Finish Devon
Work on Icarus (get through the repeats of chart 1)
Work on Rogue (up to the armholes?)
Finish one front of Bristow
Finish one front of Cambridge Jacket
Finish front of Salina
Work on Buttony
Work on Isobel
Finish half of mystery knit
Finish one Solstice Slip sock

I'm hopeful that with 10 days of Spring Break coming up I can get most of this done. Don't laugh too hard.

I've also got my yarn wound and I need to grab some needles to get ready for SOCK MADNESS!! The only hope I have is to make it through round one, since it will be spring break. Fingers crossed.

With all this upcoming time off I hope to take some pictures of WIPs for you, and do an update of where things are. Right after I spring clean the house, put in a garden, do something about the muddy patches in the back yard, plant flowers in the front of the house, purge the closets, purge the bookshelves, clean out the garage, reorganize the study, learn to quilt and clean up the knitting corner. Just a few things on my to-do list.

In like a Lion

March is here, and with it, my first spring cold. With left me with little energy to knit all weekend. I did finish one project, but you will have to wait for pictures until it has been blocked. But, I did count up the number of projects I took and we have a winner!

I took 18 projects, so with a guess of 17 Chris is the winner!

I hope to be back soon with March goals and whatnot, but I've got to take my congested self off to bed now.

Ketchup

I really have been knitting! Need proof?


Pattern: My generic 72 st sock with heel flap and gusset.
Needles: Chiagoo sz 2.25 mm DPNs
Yarn: Scout's Swag in Zuluknitty.
Dates: Um, September 2007-February 1, 2008.
Mods: none
Thoughts: I love these socks. I love the colors. I love how they sort-of stripe. I LOVE the base yarn. I've worn them twice and it'd be more if I did more laundry. Love. Go get some yarn people. Run! Now I really want to knit up my other two skeins of Scouty-goodness. Yum.



Pattern: Improvised hat - basic hat pattern with garter border.
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Superwash wool in the new tricolor.
Needles: Sz 7 or 8 Clover bamboo DPNs
Dates: January 2008-February 1, 2008.
Mods: Hubby really wanted an earflap hat, so that was the original intent. However, after I'd finished the hat part, and was going to go back and add the flaps, he decided he liked it the way it was. Voila!
Thoughts: Love this yarn too - so squishy!



Pattern: Fingerless gloves from Weekend Knitting - Ann Budd
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Mist - about 1.5 skeins
Needles: Sz 7 or 8 Clover bamboo circulars
Dates: January 2008-February 1, 2008
Mods: None!
Thoughts: He seems to really like them and has worn them on the few cold days we've had.


Pattern: 1x1 ribbed scarf, inspired by all the other ones in the world.
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, and I can't remember the two colors.
Needles: Sz 8 Clover Bamboo
Dates: October 2007-February 25, 2008
Mods: None
Thoughts: Don't know why it took me so long to finish, but I love it. My only complaint was with one ball of Silk Garden that kept pulling apart, leaving me with way too many extra ends. Wore it today and got tons of compliments. It really is pretty.


OK! Now that I'm all caught up with FOs, I wanted to share some fun with you. My LYS is having a retreat this weekend. All knitting, all the time. I'm really hoping to come home with some more finished objects. But a little wager has arisen. Apparently there is a pool to see how many projects I will bring. Funny, right?

In keeping with all fairness, I think y'all should get a shot at a prize too. So, you are invited to take your own guess, and the winner will receive a little goodie from the stash. To keep it fair, let me tell you that I currently have 40 WIPs. I hope to finish up two of those before we leave, but no promises. However, there is always the possibility that I will start new projects (at least I can admit this, right?).

TO PLAY:
EMAIL your guess to knitnlit AT gmail DOT com, with the subject line CONTEST. I will not open those emails until I get home on Sunday night. The contest will close at 4 pm CDT Sunday afternoon. Please do not leave guesses in the comments - I will see those, and I don't want to be swayed! :) And, if you know me IRL, you are welcome to play along too.

I think this post is long enough, perhaps I'll be back tomorrow to show you some of the new projects I've started recently, but it'll more likely be next week. Until then, happy guessing!