Spring Knitting

The weather is finally getting warmer, the icy winds have subsided and the sun is shining in my little corner of the world. 

Like many knitters, spring inspires me to start new projects. I have so many on my Rav queue that it's hard to pick just a few. Though I'm going to try. I've promised myself that I'll pick 3 projects and stick with them until they're done. We'll see how it goes. 

First up is Viajante by Martini Behm , the pattern that's causing a wave of adolescent like giggles and a massive knitalong on a certain Ravelry group. 

The name while seemingly naughty is actually rather tame. Translating to "traveller" in Portuguese (according to babble fish) it's a bit of a let down to my 12 year old sense of humor. 

Nonetheless, that certain Rav group isn't letting something as simple as the actually meaning of the name get in the way of their fun!

Many a knitter has cast on Viajante, the resulting knits are beautiful, light, and versatile. The pattern is an interesting concept, using an unusual shape and easy lace pattern to create an awesome knit. 

I've put Viajante on my Ravelry Queue and ordered some lovely Tanis Fiber Arts Pink Label Lace  in the Poppy color way. As soon as my lovely yarn arrives I'll be casting on and stifling  an internal giggle while I knit on my giant, red Viajante. ;)

The second of my 3 spring patterns will be part of a KAL hosted by the wonderful Knitty or Nice. For this KAL we're using the pattern the Great Divide Shawl by Michele Brown. Another simple knit but that's the way I like them. With 3 kids and a lab of doom, my knitting time is short. Great Divide is a simple triangle shawl with stripes of contrasting colors thrown in with a little texture for interest. I think this well be a great knit to take along to my weekly Pints and Purls meet up.

Last but not least my third spring pattern will be the Honey Cowl from Madeline Tosh. I attempted to start this pattern a few months back but never really got going on it. It's a lovely knit  that will be great to wear on this still chilly spring mornings. I'm using Malabrigo Rios in the Lettuce color way. Malabrigo is as always a lovely, squishy yarn. I can't wait to wear this knit!

 

Bit off more than I can knit

As most of us are, I've been competing in the Ravellenic Games this year. I queued several projects, some new ones and some WIP's. I really believed that I could knit/finish all this projects by the August 12th deadline. Sometimes I really believe that I knit faster then I actually do. Like if a birthday/baby shower/ random gift giving event is coming up in the next 2 days or so. I say "Oh, I'll just whip up a hat/gloves/sweater" like it's no big deal. Yeah, I don't knit even half as fast as I think I do. Add 30 week pregnant lady exhaustion, the fact that Mat and Bells aren't in school yet and that I need at least a 2 hour nap every day....not much knitting has gone on lately.

I have finished one project and I'm pretty proud that at least I got that done. Excuse the crappy Iphone pics and the fact that I'm not wearing make up. I'm just too tired lately.

I'm going to make an attempt to at least cast on my Honey Cowl. We'll see how that goes. 

Let the Ravellenic Games Begin!

I'm working on a few project for the Ravellenic games. First up is my Robin's Egg Blue Hat . I'm knitting it with Berroco's Peruvia Quick in Aquamarine ( I bought a ton of it for an Owl's sweater and then I got pregnant, so I'm using it for other stuff).

I'm almost done knitting it, just a few more rows!

Next up is my Honey Cowl using Malabrigo Rios in the Lettuce colorway. Ha! My dachshund photo bombed my yarn pic! Silly weenie. 

Speaking of weenies, I don't think I've introduced my Charlie to the blog yet. His official name Baron Charles Von Weinerstein, but we just call him Charlie or weenie. 

He's adapted to our family quite well, Aspen our lab loves him and he loves her. He behaves well with the kids and they enjoy taking him for walks. 

We had him neutered on Friday due to some spraying issues and he seems to be healing well from the surgery. Here's a very embarrassing picture of the weenie post surgery, shhh don't tell him I posted it. 

Sweet Summer

This year is flying by, it's hard to believe that July is almost over. It's been an insanely hot summer too, some days we've reached 108*, being pregnant in weather like this has been no picnic. Thank goodness for ice cold lemonade and refrigerated air.

The baby is doing well, growing nice and big. I have a cute little ultrasound photo to show you. It's a little hard to make out but Ashlyn is sticking her tongue out, little stinker.

The big kids are getting excited for school Mathias is going to be in kindergarten this year and Isabella is headed for head start. I took them both for haircuts last week and boy did they need them. My kids no longer resemble Cousin It. 

Last weekend Mat and I hit up our LYS Village Wools. I was searching for some wool to make a baby blanket and Mathias fell in love with a pot holder loom. Mat also found some beautiful electric blue roving, he wants me to teach him how to spin!! (squeee1!) A swipe of a credit card later and both of us were happy shoppers. 

Not much going on with knitting this week. I'm still working on my Wingspan. It's not a very entertaining knit and I'm not entirely sure I love the gauge it's coming out with. I'm using Poems Sock in colorway 960 Cotton Candy. It's a pretty sock yarn, very squishy and a little fluffy. 

Oh Baby!

Long time no blog!

I've been busy, lots of spinning, knitting, weaving and being a mama going on over here. Not a whole lot of cooking going on though. Summer is usually too hot to make anything more then BBQ. But for me that hasn't been the issue. Morning sickness has! We're expecting a little girl in October.

Morning sickness and generally pregnancy woes have really taken a toll on my energy levels in the past couple of months. Now that I'm in my 25th week, my energy finally seems to be recovering and I can get back to knitting and crafting like I'm used to.

I've been on a baby knitting jag. Lots of baby stuff flying off of my needles. I've been spinning a good bit and am starting to be able to spin really fine singles. I'm super proud of that achievement .

Here's an adorable little sleep sack I knit. Pattern is Owlie Sleep Sack, I used Knitpicks Brava in the Paprika colorway. For this yarn being 100% acrylic it's really soft and shows the cabled owls off.

Easy Peasy Newborn hat in Lion Brand's Sock Ease in the Red Hots colorway. The yarn is a little itchy, I hope it softens after I wash and block the hat.

Spring Time Baby Cardi was a fun and quick little knit. I didn't seem it quite right though but it'll do for now. I used Vanna's Choice in Kelly Green. The yarns a little on the rough side but it's inexpensive and easy enough to knit with.

Here's a neat little knit. The Inca-Dincadoo cardigan. I've never knit a cardigan like this before. Everything is knit in once piece from the back to the front and then seamed up the sides.  It looks kind of funny at first, but once you fold it, you can see what it will look like when your done. I used Viking Balder in Red. Great superwash wool yarn, lightly spun and very squishy to the touch.

Snow Day!

All summer and fall long I've been knitting my children little things. Hats, mittens and scarves here and there, to keep the inevitable winter chill away. We had a hot summer and lovely fall, warm weather was with us for longer than usual. Finally, a snow day came upon us, the perfect opportunity to not only make use of the little woolies I knit but to show off how dang cute my kids look in them. They begged to out in the snow and go sledding. No prob I thought I'll just dress them warm and we'll hit the powder. I open my knitting box looking for the little woolies I know I put there, to my dismay the box is empty. All the woolies are gone and neither of my short people have any idea where they've gone. Little mites not only pilfered the woolie box but they did it without me noticing. A search of the house high and low and nothing turns up, neither hat, nor mitten nor scarf. Dang it.

So, I did what any mom would do. I put socks on their hands and sent them out with their dad. I wisely stayed inside and knit.

Dyeing Handspun

There is nothing quite like hand dyeing your very own hand spun. It's fiber that you have taken from the very beginning, spun and turned into real, usable yarn.

I took that bare yarn and dyed it a brilliant robin's egg blue. I was hoping for the color to be a bit darker but over all I'm happy with the result.

The yarn is out on the patio drying, as soon as it's done I'll take a pic. =)