Elinya Shawl Completed

Two weeks ago I started a new knitting project and today I am happy to report I completed it! It was an absolute joy to knit. As I keep saying, the yarn was like butter running through my fingers as I knit. I'm allergic to wool and this shawl doesn't make me itchy like so many of my other projects do. The combination of cotton and cashmere is a dream to wear and to knit with. Rumor has it the combination is known to pill, but I'm okay with that.

The first time I tried this pattern I really didn't understand the directions of how to do the picot bind off and it came out rather flat. The end result still looked alright to me and nobody would know unless I told them. This time around I decided to do some research and watch a YouTube video on the process to see where I went wrong. It took me a quarter of the way into the bind off to totally understand what I was supposed to do and understand the mechanics of the stitch. After fighting and fumbling my way through that first section it was a breeze after that. So glad I was able to pick up speed too, it was taking an eternity to bind off! 

Elinya Shawl pattern

I blocked it all out this morning and will weave in the ends tomorrow during my weekly knitting group. If you are a member of Ravelry.com here is the link to the pattern.

Newest Knitting Project

Back in February I posted about the Elinya Shawl that I had completed. Last week I decided to start another one. I enjoyed knitting of it as well as the results of the striped color work. As I was rooting around in my stash, I came across some yarn that I had not only forgotten about, but had set aside for another project. I felt they would be perfect for the Elinya shawl instead. The yarn had been bought at Tuesday Morning a couple years ago and is Louisa Harding Aimee in the colors Storm and Seagrass. It is made of 90% cotton and 10% cashmere and is so ridiculously soft. I love the softness running through my fingers as I knit it and can't wait to snuggle into this shawl when it is all done. Heaven!!!!

I've made it quite a bit farther than this photo, especially since getting stuck at the car dealer for three hours and then again at the DMV for another two and a half hours. This is the best photo of the yarn and color striping and I promise to show you the completed project.

Thanks for letting me share!

Knitting: Blue Boxy

Last year at this time I bought myself the yarn to make a sweater. A little birthday gift to myself if you will. Last week after 10 months of working on said sweater, it is finally complete. This is only my second sweater I have ever made and it's very obvious that I am still learning the ropes. In the end, I feel since I'm the one wearing it, the mistakes don't matter. The yarn couldn't be any softer and the color is simply stunning. Now I just have to wait for this Vegas heat to cool down to really be able to enjoy it.

In the beginning...

Completed and drying

The pattern is called Boxy by Joji Locatelli and I created from Cephalopod Yarn's Skinny Bugga in Fluorescent Millipede.

Weekend Project: Eternidad Cowl

This weekend along with all my ongoing projects, I decided to start knitting a new cowl. It is the first time I have had a pattern request I "drop stitches" on purpose. Believe me I was scared to death the first time I did so. Questioning the whole time, are you sure this is what the pattern is asking me to do? So far all is well and working out just fine. The stitches are very loose as I knit this weekend, because I am having the worst time with sweaty hands. Unfortunately the temperature decided to rocket into the 80's and my body is not appreciating the unseasonable heat. I figure it will all work out in the end since it is so hot here in the desert, a loose knit will be easier to wear when it is warm.

The pattern is Eternidad by Lisa R. Meyers. I'm knitting it with Yummy fingering super wash sock yarn from Candy Skein in a lovely Blueberry Cobbler. Here is a progress shot of what I have done so far:

Elinya Shawl Pattern Completed

I've been incredibly sick this last week and haven't been able to stay awake for very long. Knitting in bed between naps and covered in cats has been the routine recently. I was able to complete the shawl yesterday and had to brag. I absolutely love it. I ran out of yarn for the picot bind off, but still delighted in how it turned out. The shawl has been wrapped around me ever since completion! It is so warm and comfy. The weather here has cooled off again so I have been able to enjoy wearing my new shawl. Thanks for letting me share.

Elinya Shawl

Elinya: My First Color Work Knitting Project

I was about to start on a fun shawl pattern which would be my official first color work project. This pattern was sought out for the yarn I had in mind. Everything was set and ready when I won a beautiful skein of Cephalopod yarn in the luscious color of Green Huntsman. Needless to say, all bets were off. I had to knit this color right then and there! I dove into my yarn stash and found the perfect color to compliment this stunning green. I found my very first skein of Bugga from Cephalopod Yarns that I had won from a contest they had four years ago. Yes, I've been holding onto this for fours years trying to figure out what to make with it.

I'm in love with the pattern and the color combination! I don't want to put it down! I have so much to do this weekend and I want nothing to do with any of it. I haven't been this giddy about a project in awhile! Here is a sneak peek of what I have started.

Thanks for letting me share my excitement!

When Passions Collide!

I have been slowly working my way through the lesser known Grimm's Fairy Tales through the creation of drawings. One drawing I did based on the tale "Seven Ravens"involved coloring a LOT of hair. It was by far the most time consuming part of the project. Since the completion of this drawing I have been sensitive to color combos similar to what I used in coloring the hair. Cephalopod Yarns must have heard my prayers, because they came out with a new yarn color way call Kalamazoo that fits the bill. Kalamazoo embodies the black with a multitude of purples, blues, teals, and glints of magenta that I painstakingly added to her hair.

To combine both my loves, I am now knitting using the Kalamazoo to make a shawl (my first). I'll keep you posted on the progress.

I love kismet!

Cowls - Knitting During the Plague

Sorry for my absence, life has been insane lately.

I visited my parents last weekend as when I was there I knit my first cowl. Just as I was packing for my trip I received my shipment of Cephalopod yarn. Upon opening my package I was instantly and madly in love with the Forbidden Isle color. I had to find the perfect pattern to showcase this yarn and to work on throughout my travels. The night before I left I cast on my stitches and was even more in love with this yarn than before. I have been stashing this away for "just the right pattern" and had never actually knit with it. OMG! This yarn is like velvet chocolate running through your fingers as you knit. Needless to say, I was like an addict knitting my cowl all weekend. Two addictions were born with that project, cowls and the need to knit more projects with Cephalopod yarns. (sigh) My addiction to cowl making is the ease to which it knits up so fast and the other is the aesthetic and functionality of a cowl. I  love the snuggliness of scarves, but the long tails aren't that functional when they are in your way or getting into something. Cowls are the snuggle without the mess and are like a knitted necklace or other wardrobe accessory one wears to spice up an outfit. Joy!

I have had the plague and am trying my best to knit through my stashed yarn. I knit two more cowls this weekend. One I redid 3 times, because I didn't like how it was turning out functionally. There are dozens of things I need to do and feel no desire to do any of them. All I want to do is knit. I can't tell you how regretful it is that I live in the desert and it is still in the 80's. I'm wearing a tank top and flip flops. If I could move my job to California and was able to afford to buy a little bungalow cottage, I would move back in a heart beat. (big sigh)

Knitting for Charity - Preemie Hats and Baby Booties

I was touched by a posting on the Eat.Sleep.Knit discussion board on Ravelry of a tale of loss and recovery. One of the moderators of the group asked for assistance in making hats and baby booties for preemies after she recently lost her baby prematurely. I jumped on the chance right away and made my first baby hat! First thing this morning I also made a drawing and framed it for the person requesting assistance. I'm not sure if I should share her story or not, but if you are a member of Ravelry please check out the group discussion.

If you’d like to join us - and we hope you will - you can send your knitted items to:

Eat Sleep Knit
ATTN: Knits for Preemies
6400 Highlands Pkwy, Ste I (the letter not the number)
Smyrna, GA 30082

They’d like to make the donation on July 26th, which was her daughter’s due date. If this is something they get a lot of interest in, they’ll keep doing it on an ongoing basis.

Ravelry has lots of patterns for preemies, like this Preemie Hats for Charity pattern or these darling Olivia Preemie Booties. Or if you’d like to make a blanket for swaddling, the size should be roughly 18’ x 18”. All of the items are of course small and most knitters will find they knit up in less than an hour. The hospital doesn’t have any yarn requirements except that ideally items should be knit in more traditional baby colors like pink or blue, pastels, as this can be more of a comfort to grieving or scared NICU parents. Oh, and it definitely does not have to be knit in yarn from ESK - we’ll just be thrilled that anyone wants to do this with us.

Here is my donation that I am mailing off today. I was so excited to wrap the picture I made that I forgot to take a photo of it prior to wrapping and sending. Ooops!

Thank you,

Knitted Fingerless Gloves in Alcidina Stargazer

Cruising through Etsy, I found Alcidina's wonderful shop selling the most beautiful yarn. The person who taught me to knit warned me of the day I would spend $20 on a single skein of yarn and I laughed at her and the idea. Alcidina's Stargazer was the yarn that brought me to the dark side and was my first "expensive" yarn. I simply could not be more in love with the colors! I was completely mesmerized at watching the colors as they slid through my fingers as I knitted, getting excited even when it would get to my favorite part (the deep periwinkle). 

I loved the yarn so much that I wanted to use it in a pattern that would allow me to love and pet it all the time. What better way than to have it made into gloves for my hands to pet. The only downside is I live in a scorching desert and will have to wait to wear them. I have yarn left over and not quite sure what to do with it. I'm also new to this "wrap your own ball" thing and not quite sure how much I have left. I'm guessing about half, but not really sure. This was the first project done in the round in multiple sections. I couldn't be more proud of myself for the thumb section! I definitely learned a lot through trial and error. I had a difficult time reading the pattern so I used one pattern for the instructions and another for the measurements.

My initial pattern I had picked out for this was more complicated, but sadly got lost in the variegated color way of the yarn. I still plan on knitting the other pattern, but with a simpler color scheme. I can't wait to share that one with you when I make it!

Please check out the pictures below of the yarn and WIP shots! 

Thank you,

Mitten Lotto Winnings

Awhile back I wrote about the yarn I purchased from Eat.Sleep.Knit and the sweater I plan to make from the yarn. Inside my package was a scratch off lotto ticket. Very exciting, right? With this ticket I won a mitten kit that I got to pick the color scheme for. I of course picked the blue option and mailed off my winning card. I am so excited to share that I received my prize yesterday! It included two yummy Madelinetosh yarn skeins and the mitten pattern. And yes, I hugged the yarn over and over when I opened my box! I don't feel the two colors go that great together and I plan on using the Yarn Love Marianne Dashwood in Sparkling Pool with the charcoal instead to create the mittens. I have always wanted to try this yarn out due to hearing so many good things. (happy dance!!!!)

Thank you,

Knitting for a Good Cause

A few days ago I found out about a fantastic opportunity to knit for a good cause through Cephalopod Yarns. What is this cause? Well it is "Americans are making afghans for Afghans". It is a wonderful cause and so nice to be able to put my knitting addiction to good use. They ask that you donate a knitted hat, socks, or mittens/gloves and in return you get a $32 credit to their store. Free yarn! You don't have to ask me twice! So I knitted up a brilliantly colored hat and am in the process of mailing it out today. I've got my eye on a beautiful yarn called Bugga in Ghost Moth, but to confess I love Golden Tortoise Beetle and Splendour Beetle too! Variegated rainbow colors seem to be calling to me recently.

The deadline is the end of this month to mail in your projects, so you better get a move on if you want to participate in this amazing opportunity.

Capucine pattern: Yarn is Loops and Threads Kaleidoscope in Carnival

Bugga in sport weight: Ghost Moth

Thank you,

Box Bag Addiction - aka "Bag Lady"

My Assistant Principal who is to blame for getting hooked on knitting has now gotten me completely addicted to box bags and deliciously expensive yarn. (sigh) So now I have a collection of 3 beautiful box bags, all of which I have purchased from Absolute Wonder on Etsy all crafted to perfection by Ginger! I truly can not say enough good things about the product or Ginger's customer service. I just received my custom order for cupcakes and sprinkles. To my surprise she added the cutest star on the zipper pull which totally made my day! Beuaty is in the small details and just when I thought the bag couldn't get any sweeter with the colors, sprinkles and cupcakes, I see the star! I am seriously crushing on these bags!

I think they are amazing individually or all together!

Let me know what you think and don't forget to check out her shop!

Thank you,

Sweater Project Proposal

Now that I have all the pieces collected for my sweater attempt, I thought I would share with you my vision. The first photo is of what the finished product is supposed to look like and the second is of the yarn I am to use to create it. I spent HOURS finding a simple pattern that I thought I would be able to accomplish on my first attempt. The pattern is called Lady Kina by Muriela. (fingers crossed)

© wranito

Marianne Dashwood in Armour by Yarn Love: Purchased from Eat.Sleep.Knit

I'd love to hear from you how you thought the pattern went for you or any tips or tricks I should know!

Yarnathon - Helping a Yarn Addict

As I mentioned in my last post, I am setting a goal to be able to knit myself a sweater! I'm working my best to improve my skills, patience, and know how to accomplish this great feat. Knitting a sweater takes quite a bit of yarn and I just ordered some amazing and beautiful yarn. I would like to continue on this path of making magic, but the best yarns are pricey. This is where I would like your help!

Over at Eat.Sleep.Knit, they have a Yarnathon where you get cool prizes and rewards for yards of yarn bought. I'll earn $5 in store credit any time a new customer places an order after following a link from my site. I'll also earn 5 yards of Yarnathon yardage for every new person who simply visits their site from my blog!

Click the link in the side bar to help me with my Yarnathon! 

Thank you so much for all the love and support!

(click here to help me with my yards)

This is my dream yarn that I am saving up my pennies for! Four skeins makes a sweater!

Dream in Color Yarn - Classy - Emerald Darkness

Ravelry Projects and Updates

I hurt my knee about a month ago and am still dealing with doctors visits and physical therapy. Since I have been immobile and need to spend hours icing my knee, this has given me plenty of time to sit and create. I have not been inspired to draw or paint (feeling quite guilty about it too), but I have been drawn to my knitting. I have been a busy little bee with so many projects! With all my hard work and diligence, I have been making leaps and bounds with my skills and feel that recently it "clicked". With my new projects, I have been learning to knit with double pointed needles, use sock yarn, change colors within a pattern, and learn the basics of crocheting! The end goal currently is to be able to make a sweater and do it well. This will be a huge under taking and a longer process than I am used to.

I've spent the morning updating my Ravelry project photos now that I've figured out a better way to do so.  It's hard to get excited about my finished projects and accomplishments when I have a page full of ghetto photos.

 Here are a few of my recent projects:

Still plugging along with the BeeKeeper's Quilt. Hexipuffs are like crack!

Work in progress on bag.

Finished product!

Scarf WIP. Half way done with this one!

Fingerless Gloves

I just finished a pair of these. I started the second glove a year ago and had to put it down because I was too busy. I was intimidated to pick it back up because I wasn't sure were I left off in the pattern. So I finished it Friday night. Sadly it was horrible so I tossed it. After restarting my next try 4 times, I finally got in a groove and finished. (whew) I am proud to say it turned out better than the first one I made over a year ago. 

Ta dah!

The pattern can be found here at CreativeYarn! 

Box Bags

My friend who taught me to knit has gotten me completely addicted to box bags. She has various ones she uses for her knitting projects. I had been searching through Etsy to find one that I couldn't live without, since there are so many cute fabric patterns to choose from! Well I found the one I had to have! And like all addictions, I can't wait to find another one I can't live without! The turtle bag below is my first box bag and I look forward to showing off the next one to you as well! The cuteness factor is almost unbearable!

I bought my turtle box bag from Ginger at  AbsoluteWonder on Etsy. She had some cute surprises in my package that made my day and excellent customer service! I love my bag and it is very well made! There is a lot of love that was put into making this bag. She also makes the cutest stitch markers. Please stop by and check her out!

Knitter Beginner

Last year I learned to knit and have been an addict ever since. Knitting for me is a way to unwind. I love how I can sit back and relax while catching up with my Hulu shows while being productive at the same time. I prefer little projects like scarves and such. This gives me the sense of accomplishment, while they are simple patterns so as not to take up too much mental capacity. If it is complicated and I have to keep track of the counting, then it isn't relaxing for me. I am currently working on a scarf for my friend which I have named Neapolitan dream, made obvious because of the colors. If you want to loo me up on Ravelry.com I am TheConnie. I am not very good at taking pictures of my work and posting the completed results, but I do frequent Ravelry frequently for pattern ideas and inspiration.

If you're interested the pattern I used to make this scarf is the One Row Lace Scarf and you can find it over at Give Me a Purl. The yarn I am using is Bernat cottontots and the color is Doll House. It was on clearance at Michael's craft supply the last time I was there, so if you're interested I'd hurry on down there.