New Pattern ~

For those of you who have read your Spring Interweave Knits, did you get past the ad on the back of the front cover? I didn't.... the summer top shown was so pretty, and the ocean behind her was so inviting...that I obsessed over the pattern for two weeks before I broke down and ordered it....

It arrived Saturday, and I think my yarn from last summer's tank top project will be perfect. It is called Premiere by Classic Elite Yarns, and it 50% pima cotton and 50% tencel ~ and it feels so soft. I'm not sure I understand why the pattern says to knit on straight needles (and not circulars), plus I'd like to knit in the round, and am not sure if the pattern needs to change... we'll see.... I'll keep you posted.

Meet Sawyer ~

Here is Sawyer, the lucky guy who has a mom & grandma that knit for him. Yup, one lucky guy! Plus, he is oh~so~cute and his blue eyes are the perfect compliment to this amazing sweater knit by his grandma. Looking closely, you can still see the aura of love and blessings knit into each stitch of this intarsia masterpiece. It is easy to see that lucky Sawyer can feel all the love and blessings!

He is so darn cute!!!

Colors of Nature ~

I could have called this post, "Colors of Chickens" as they are beautiful in so many ways. Here is our Sussex, Lemony Snicket, so beautiful in her iridescent black & white polka dots and vibrant red comb, enhanced by the turquoise of rockin13's hoodie. These colors make me want spring to get here sooner, so there will be more vibrant greens and spring yellows for inspiration. I am knitting on my purple ribbon tank top these days, as the thought of knitting on the browns of the alpaca hat seems to be too "winter" and I need some spring...brought to me by my spring chickens!

Michigan State advances!

"Fighting with a vim!" Michigan State has a great fight song, as I don't know any other school that fights with "a vim" as I'm not sure what a "vim" really is.... but the team just squeaked a win tonight and are advancing to the Elite Eight! Yippee! No knitting during this game, but some knitting fantasy. If you don't have time to knit a Spartan's hat for the next game, check out this site to order one!

Windy City Complete ~

This Windy City Hat is a great pattern. Fun to knit, as the lace is easy to knit and easy to follow. My kids love the finished hat, and asked if I would knit them hats out of this same pattern. Quite a vote of confidence for this pattern!!! This is knit with 100% alpaca, purchased at my local yarn shop, Cultured Purls. The reason for the many pictures is to capture the deep purple color as well as the lace pattern (plus rockin'10 is so darn cute!).
This is chemo cap number 2 for my sister's co-worker. We are wishing her best hopes and health as she goes through her chemo treatments.

I can't resist ~

It seems that Cascade Cloud 9 is irresistible to me ~ especially "half price and free shipping". How can anyone refuse this yarn with this sale? I ask you, "Who can resist this?" What a great color, the promise of daffodils and tulips, and ~ dare I say ~ Spring.... it is really wonderful yarn, so soft and so great to knit....

I am now looking for more deals of 1/2 off and free shipping...just so I can do my part for the President's stimulus to our economy...
How great is this yarn with our chicken!!!

New Mission ~

As I mentioned, while getting the yarn during the "Yarn Emergency" I picked up come beautiful yarn that was complementary to the "Emergency" yarn. The intent, I thought, was to use up the "Emergency" yarn with the complementary yarn in another hat.... good thinking, eh? This yarn is beautiful, 100% alpaca and deep purple. It will be another chemo cap for my sister's co-worker. I've heard this is a good pattern for comfortable chemo cap.
These pictures do not show how rich the colors are, so I'm showing two versions ~ one pic to show the lace, and one for the color. This pattern is on Ravelry, called the Windy City hat and has been great fun to knit.