swatches   swatches swatches
I’ve got a copy of “Knitting Never Felt Better” by Nicky Epstein and HAD TO try out some of the swatches in the book… i didnt knit them up to be felted, i knit them to the gauge the yarn label called for.

these swatches are a mix of Moss (a new Loop-d-Loop yarn!) and Boise

this one was the most fun, even though i messed up on two rows
(tv  + swatching = no good!)

next stop… i took a ball of Karaoke and wound it into 4 balls.
they are so hard to resist… must.. go… knit… now
(or maybe crochet!)

my goal to “maintain” this blog is getting shoved under paperwork and knitting and running the store and web design and the band and the dog and house cleaning and . . . . .
BUT! it doesnt mean i dont care, here i am! with an update! ;-)

I know that if I treated blog updates more carelessly i could update more often, but i have that nuisance voice in my head that says “little is never enough”… help me, haha
The Lace Nightie is DONE!

i do need to block it… and it came out shorter than I expected, but i think it is because the drape of the yarn used for the pattern is much more than the Alpaca Silk… but i TOTALLY love this top, it feels great on the skin, a nice warmth, and it was a real blast to knit.

(jeez, “get any sun girl??!”   haha)

and I made a dk weight sock to match my sneaks…
where is the other sock??? hmmmm

-i also finished another sock
-i’m working on a top in laceweight Tilli Tomas silk
-i finished that baby hat in Vickie Howell Craft yarn
-lots of swatches done in the car
here is a test knit, random cables done in Karabella Boise

and a little pouch in Olympus herbs yarn!

you can get the pattern for it right here (a pdf file)
and the yarn for it here

and eek! a shoulder warmer!! hehe

the yarn is Llamajama pure sheep’s wool
i will write up the pattern soon…
pattern now available!   CLICK HERE
I used basic math with a top-down raglan technique

-Karabella Lace Mohair
-crochet hook N
didn’t finish it yet, will i ever? ;-)
pattern is the Round Crochet Shawl

i like the “Wafers” yarn on US 3 needles, left photo and top.
the   botton tube is US 5 needles

 Black Pearl Cashmere DK on US 5 needles?

 oh yeah!!!   got my first Poison Apple tshirt yesterday, must.. have.. more… (ps, this photo from his website)
i want him to make one with his logo on it too, so freakin sweet
 <– click to go to his website

     
pattern to be available at kpixie once i finish it…

and this garter stitch-lace test knit has been sitting around for a while, i wanted to see if i could make a new “beyond rectangles” kit with it… it is knit on US 5 needles.   Alpaca & Silk is one of my all time favorite yarns, the drape is beautiful is st st and it works lace really nicely.

this Karaoke test crochet was worked up in a  two hour  car ride, i totally love this color, the migrations to each shade is so cool… this was so much fun to crochet that i want to make some patterns using the technique.

also, i got a free sample of this “milky baby” yarn from Olympus, a whole box actually!   was picturing it as a bobble baby blanket… now that will be the day!   missa crochets a whole baby blanket on an F hook, haha!   challenge anyone?   ;-)

last but not least, a crochet set: neck and wrist warmers
pattern coming to the kpixie free pattern section
   
with the dreamy new make make yarn.   this is my #2 favorite yarn of all time, i simply cannot stop making things with it.   it’s like i’m back  3 years ago with Noro Kureyon, i couldn’t keep my little mitts off that yarn…

well, thats it for today girls….   oh wait!!   forgot to say i’m officially addicted to this blog

The first yarn is Plymouth Galway Heather, a worsted wool.
The orange yarn is Emmy Grande Herbs, my new favorite fingering cotton!

Each one came out wildy different… I did the bobbles in the cotton, not in the green yarn.   whats funny is that the pattern in the magazine looked different, more leafy.. maybe it’s just the way it is stretched out, hmmmm

  here is the Herbs yarn in their cute little bags, straight from Japan!   we’ve got the yarn at kpixie if you’re interested…

so i leave you with a photo of the dock in Maine, and my fishing tackle!   ;-)

See you in a week!

so Jessica and I went to TNNA in Indiana, and came across these light-up knitting needles… had to have them!   they are a bit expensive due to the fact that they are handmade in the USA, but they are too cool and totally useful…   i knit in the car ALL THE TIME, so now i can retire the ear-flashlight and knit on!

 
when off…                                               knittin on the porch

They will be on sale at kpixie tomorrow… i know some of you will want them for the novelty of it, but really, these babies are going to make my car trips and knitting in front of the tv more constuctive and way more fun.

and oh yeah!!   Glampyre scored a pair at the TNNA show…
ps. i got to have drinks with her in Indiana!   she’s VERY cool, i’m glad we got to meet.

i  just had to have this colorway for myself!
it goes great with jeans (my everyday wear)

knit on US 13   (i think.. or US 11)
18 sts across
finished size:   8″ x 20″ rectangle

 
josie says its her new poncho/neckwarmer
i’ll buy that, she looks great in it!!   hahahaha