All Ruffles

For Valentine's Day Eric went and got a lovely chocolate cake and Chicago Style Hot Dogs for lunch.  We decided to keep dinner low-key and went to Vinny's Italian Grill for dinner.  This gave me a chance to wear a very cute skirt I bought at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, but hadn't had an occasion to wear it yet.  The skirt and corresponding top went very well with my newly completed Just Enough Ruffles Scarf (ravelry link).  You can't see the cute skirt in this photo, but my scarf looks lovely and it is very warm which was good because Valentine's Day was a bit chilly.

I didn't get my French Market Bag completed before my class yesterday, but I am getting close to the end of it now.  I've got about 17 more rows before I start on the handles.  It would be great if I could get it done before tomorrow afternoon so I could take it up to the Knitting Nest to use their washer for the felting process.  My washer is a front loader which apparently doesn't work well for felting.  Learn something new everyday!

Going for the Gold!

Due to my involvement in the Ravalypmics, I've actually watched much more of the winter Olypmics than I ever had.  I am really enjoying it and the knitting is coming along well.  My French Market Bag is probably about 40% complete.  I am trying to complete it by this Friday.  It doesn't look like much now, but I think it will look very nice once it is complete and felted.

Surprise...it is green!

My only problem is all of the other projects on my needles haven't been touched.  Oh well, I'll get to them at some point.

One project that I have not ignored is my first toe up sock.  I had a couple of missteps in the beginning, but after frogging once and tinking back another time, I have fixed those problems and I am now making good progress!  I will share some pictures it soon.  The yarn is gorgeous and I can't wait to wear them.  Yes, I now understand the sock obsession that many knitters talk about.  I am so proud that I can use those little teeny tiny needles.

Between the bag and the sock, I've learned some more techniques and continue to grow as a knitter.  I am not sure what I will attempt next, but I am looking forward to whatever comes next!

Olympic Knitting!

Well, the Olympic starts this weekend and I just recently heard about the Knitting Olympics or the Ravelympics.  What a great idea!  Knitters are so inventive.  Anyway, I've been searching for a project of my own to work on as a Ravelympics project.  Luckily for me the Knitting Nest has a class tonight on the French Market Bag (ravelry link...so cute!!) that I have been wanting to learn and it is just in time for it to be my entry into the Ravelympics!  It is cool to think about all the knitters all over the world watching the Olympics and knitting away!


I got a lot of projects of my needles lately so it is time to add about 5 more on the needles.  I am working on a new pair of socks, Cigar gloves for the hubby, another test knitting of the kitty hat and gloves for a friend.   And of course now I'll have my new bag to work on.  I'm glad that most of these projects to not have a due date.  I've been particularly enthralled by my first toe up sock project.  The colors are to die for.


I hope to have some more pictures to share with you next week.  Enjoy the Olympics!!

Sock Attack!

I just got another project off the needles!  The second sock from my first sock attempt is complete.  This is a great sock for newbies (Ravelry link) to learn the basics of sock knitting.  Staci Perry, knitwear designer and knitting instructor for the Knitting Nest in Austin, has a great pattern for learning the basics and the pattern includes some very well done videos of each step.

Here is one of my lovely socks:

I love the color!  The yarn is Cascade Yarns 220 Quatro Moondance.  I still have have half a skein left so I might have to make some gloves to go with these.  These socks are great for wearing around the house with slippers.

I start my first real sock this weekend.  This time from the toe up!!

Have a great weekend!

Kitty Kat Knitting

I have, happily, been a very productive, new knitter lately.  Last night I completed my first gig as a test knitter.  For those who are new to knitting, when a designer has a new pattern or has made significant changes to a pattern, they will often get a few people to test the pattern for them to give them some suggestions to improve the pattern or make it clearer.  I was drawn to the idea of this as soon as I heard about it and I joined a group called "Free Pattern Testers" on ravelry.com.  Not only do you get the pattern for free, but you get a little insight into the designing process.

Here is my Kitty Hat  by designer  Adrienne Enriquez. (ravelry links) I used Cascade 220 Camel for the body and scrap yarn for the face and ears.

This hat has already created a quite a stir amongst the crazy cat ladies in my life!  I will be making at least two more of these.  

If you a beginning knitter or just have never done any test knitting, I highly suggest giving it a try.  It is a good way to meet other knitters and expand your knitting skills.

Finally, a Sunny Day

It has been cold and gray in Texas for longer than most of us like.  This had kept me from taking pictures of my latest (and largest) finished project.  This Saturday stayed cold, but was at least it was sunny so I could take a couple of photos.  May I present to you...

my Clapotis (ravelry link).  The color is more spectacular than I could have imagined

You would never know a new knitter made it and this pattern looks much more complicated than it really is.  I encourage those of you who are also new knitters to give this a try.  I think you will be happy you did!  I will definitely make another one in something lighter that I can wear in Texas more often.