Big Sky Yarns & Crafts

More Spring Knitting

Look what I received in the mail yesterday:

Whoo hoo! Knitting magazines never cease to thrill me. To see so much finished knitting is such a joy, even if I don't particularly like the patterns. I love to search out all the different yarns, read the patterns to see how "that" was executed, whatever "that" was.

I loved the cover shawl, though I usually am not into lace knitting. Here is the full shot:

Don't you just love the drama? 

Other designs I was particularly smitten with:

More drama.

If I could fathom sleeveless anything at this point, here is a lovely one:

Of course, if you put anything in front of an ocean, I will love it.

The cable collar on this one tickled my creative bent:

Besides the actual patterns, two advertisements piqued my interest. Most important -- LOOK! A new cotton from Cascade :

 

I cannot wait to try.

This book looks wonderfully sensible and fun -- 60 patterns!!

 

They say "Quick" but do you see those two color blue mittens? Colorwork is not quick for me, though I am getting better.

Other news from the homefront: Kate was so offended by the empty ketchup bottle at lunch that she had to cover her eyes with her leopard hoodie until Wade moved it off the table.  Wade said she was being rude and she shouldn't cover her face when at the dinner table. (MY child said this -- truly stunning.) 

My kids never cease to amaze me on so many levels. Knit on.

Gone Dark

My  husband and I are totally addicted to the television show 24. When Jack (the beautiful Kiefer Sutherland) ceases contact with everyone, he says he is "going dark." So, my friends, I inadvertently "went dark" as I submerged myself into designer mode. I should have seen the warning sign:  I didn't even finish the kid sweater as planned during the Super Bowl, but instead worked on designing a new project.  Here is the current state of the baby (actually age 2) sweater:

Pathetic, no? That baby should have been finished weeks ago. I am just finishing that one sleeve and finished the second ball. I'll need just a smidge of the third ball to call this one a wrap. Before the child is two, so I cannot lose sight of the goal.

Twist Collective, the beautiful, beautiful online knitting magazine's deadline for Fall 2010 was Friday so I have been knitting and typing my little fingers off preparing submissions. I did get those emailed in time and now am working on something for Knitty's March 1 deadline.

So this is what I  have been doing. And because I can't show you squat, let's look at others' knitting and drool appropriately. I have purchased more spring magazines than usual, confirming the fact that maybe the snow will melt faster if you look at more short sleeve sweaters.

First up is Creative Knitting. I mostly purchased this magazine for this hat, by the brilliant Cecily Glowik Macdonald, who is everywhere and everything. Besides being in almost every knitting magazine simultaneously, she also works for Classic Elite Yarns. So often if I like a design in a magazine I find out it is hers. She also designed my  favorite vest, which is also one of my favorite all time knitting projects. Here is her Springtime Beret:

which brings me to my next observation. Doesn't it look very close to this?  

 

This one is in Interweave Knits current issue:

 

My favorite was this sweater that looked nothing like spring (notice it is even gray?):

You make the buttons yourself, which makes me nervous, so I would attempt those first and if not luck, then the sweater is out.

I abolutely LOVED this issue, however:

Besides the cover vest, I am drooling over this:

 

She is musing, "Moment of silent reflection, please. I am in my skinny jeans."

For no reason besides craziness beyond all reason, I love this:

 

I even want the leggings. Yes, over the edge I am. When I lose my final pounds I will allow myself to make this tunic/dress/long-shirt-over-your-bumm-whatever-you-call-it.

If you are looking for Serenity Now in your knitting life, I highly recommend this magazine:

I'm not sure I have ever knit a Debbie Bliss design, yet I absolutely adore this magazine. It's only been out a little over a year (I think) but each issue is oversized, has gorgeous pictures and lovely settings. This particular issue I was smitten with the raspberries:

Or the sunset (with this fabulous sweater you cannot see, but who cares?)

Apparently, if you give me the ocean I will knit anything:

 

It is a lovely, lovely, magazine. And for a couple bucks I am totally transported. Totally worth it.

Knit Simple is still one of my favorites and here is the sweater I threatened to abandon all else for:

I am a bit squeamish, however, because I have a feeling I won't look like that with it on, you know? However, it involved purple and it has vertical lines, so I must remain positive.

To complement these spring designs, we must enjoy some bright spring yarns and because I love green, we must see green:

 

Ella Rae Shibu. I have not knit with it yet, but what is not to like about 90% silk and 10% viscose? Nothing, I tell you, not a thing. Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4"

One of my all time favorites, Butterfly Super 10, which is 100% mercerized cotton:

After blocking, I knit 5.25 stitches in an inch. I have many a sweater in mind for this. I also have a pretty royal blue in this yarn.

My new favorite which I am dying to try is Sublime Soya Cotton, DK which is 50% soya, 50% cotton:

 

Notice there are many shades of green. Never too much green.  I am in love with the vest on the cover of their book:

   
As well as this one:

What I really need is her hair, don't you think?

I thought I liked this design

but my eye keeps travelling to her hips where the color change happens. Do I need this? No sirree Bob. Maybe if I kept both of the colors muted, I don't know. Does not look promising.

Think happy spring thoughts. It helps melt the snow. Knit on.  

  

Seriously?

For the first time, if I remember correctly, I actually stabbed myself with a US #1 double pointed needle squarely in the top of my leg as if I was an intruder I thwarted. I stopped myself dead in my tracks out of both pain and absolute shock that a knitting needle was sticking out my leg. Too much information? Sorry. I officially have a story now which I think is imperative as a knitter and it took me just shy of 6 years.

Hubbo and I were running typical errands today and I was knitting (surprise). I put my project down on my lap and leaned to my feet to retrieve the Costco list from my wallet to give to him. And that's when I bounced back up like a boomerang and announced I stabbed myself. Dan didn't believe me at first (understandable) and then when I actually had to pull the needle out, he too could not believe my stupidity. (No, he did feel bad, truly.)

The most tragic part is blood on my favorite jeans, which I promptly peeled off my body the second I got in the door. Good news: jeans are washed and ready for tomorrow. That was a close one.

On a completely different note, the kids and I were eating lunch Saturday in the kitchen when Wade taps on the window:

Wade:  "Mom, I know what is opposite of a window."

Me: "Really? What?"

Wade:  "A bed."

Me: (Not buying this) Really?

Wade: (smiling ear to ear most proud of his logic) Truly! A window is hard. A bed is soft. A window is fragile. A bed is strong.

Me: Well, there you have it.

One more before I leave you for today:  Kate learned knock, knock jokes today at school, which, if I have to endure, so must you.

Kate: "Knock knock."

Me: "Who's there?"

Kate: "Banana"

Me: "Banana who?"

Kate: "Knock knock."

Me: "Who's there?"

Kate: "Banana."

Me: "Banana who?"

Kate: "Knock knock."

Me: "Who's there?"

Kate:  "Banana. Wait. I did that wrong. Do it again.  Knock knock."

Me: "Who's there?"

Kate: "Banana."

Me: "Banana who?"

Kate: "Knock knock."

Me: "Who's there?"

Kate: "Banana."

Me: "Banana who?"

Kate:  "Knock knock."

Me:  "Who's there?"

Kate:  "Orange."

Me: "Orange who?"

Kate:  "Orange you glad I didn't say banana?" Smiling most triumphantly, she hopped off the couch and vanished. 

Whew. Global crisis averted. Knit on.

Rumor Has It

Rumor has it there is a football game on in just a bit ...

My favorite yarn store in Scottsdale, Jessica Knits, is having their 6th annual Super Bowl sale during the game. Is that not the PERFECT idea for such an occasion? I think so. My mom and I visit whenever I am in Arizona and someday I hope to participate in a great ritual such as that.

May your team win (good news -- you have a 50-50 chance), may the commercials be many and wonderful, may much knitting ensue and may my baby sweater be finished by the end. The end. 

Happy, Happy Wednesday

I think I have mentioned that my hubbo's days off are Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is my first day of the week to relish in the silence of my home sans kiddos or hubbo. Today was especially delicious because hubbo left for work early and I couldn't get back to sleep. So I stared in the darkness planning life in general and numerous knitting projects, realized how many projects I need to finish (both knitting and non-knitting) before I am allowed to start anything new and finally said heck with it and got up.

I was so happy to be by myself today I didn't even turn on the radio before I picked up Kate at 2:20.

H E A V E N L Y.

I worked hard on the final draft of a pattern which should have been sent to the test knitters WAY before now and am pleased I am truly on the home stretch.

Then I ate lunch in the silence.

For a soothing knit, here is a baby present:

From Cabin Fever, the sweater is The Tiny Top Down, #608. I have not knit this pattern before, though after an attempt at a giant screw up at the beginning, all is well now in Knitting Land. The yarn is also from Cabin Fever, the Cotton Tweed DK in the color Rhubarb from Wild Purls. It is a lovely cotton/acrylic mix (truly) with a whopping 250 yards per ball. I am only on ball #2. It is truly a top down as the name implies and is about all my brain can handle. Size 2 since I am too scared to knit something in a size 1 and have it fit any human that isn't directly out of the chute.

I have enough of this yarn to make myself a cute short sleeve sweater to boot. Don't laugh. This is but one of the brilliant plans that yet to leave my brain and arrive at anything remotely close to a knitting needle. We must think happy thoughts.

So, as I was saying, I was having a perfectly delightful day until 7 pm when my brain almost shut down completely by laying face down at my desk. It took everything in me to not climb into bed without saying goodnight to everyone. Plus, I am dying to finish those mittens. Apparently it IS rocket science designing a mitten, because the second time was not a charm and I'm about ready to throw this mitten out the window never to return from the incredible amount of snow we have currently. Actually by spring I may be able to look at it again without seething contempt. Maybe.

Here is the great Kate ready for school:

 

Notice the black headband under her chin. That is where it goes. Period. Don't try to talk her out of it. It does cover her ears so what else can I possibly expect?