Look who hatched

One of Delaney's eggs hatched! She was so happy! (now to make the sisters) :o)

Did I mention its a.....

GIRL!
Now to pick the names....

In knitting news, I have been on a finishing rampage. I can't even imagine what it would feel like to have a "clean slate" and have no WIPs... That probably and realistically won't happen. So, I cast on for another Yvette poncho. he he.
I also had a brainstorm for some fingerless gloves that will be named, "Cold Hands, Warm Heart." I can't wait to swatch. I have the design all planned out. The best part of it is I will be making them out of beautiful alpaca that a friend got for me in Vermont (just because she was driving by an alpaca farm and thought of me) - nice friend huh? I may submit the pattern to knitty or something, so I am not going to post anything else on it... Isn't the mystery intriguing?

Upcoming Classes at Yarn's With a Twist

I will be teaching the following classes are at Yarn's with a Twist in Chaplin, CT.







Saturday, September 27, 2008 - 3:30-5:30pm. Robin's Eggs to go with the nest.







Saturday, Baby Robins ( have to check this date..)







Friday, October 17, 2008 - 11am-1pm. Needle felted pumpkin(s).







Friday, October 24, 2008 - 5:30-7:30pm. Needle felted pumpkin(s).








Loppem Sweater Class







Saturday, November 1, 8, 15, 2008. 3:30-5:30pm.







Extra help with me by arranged appointment through the shop.

Yvette Mini-Me Pattern

Yvette Mini-Me for Delaney

Yarn: Super Bulky
Needles: size 17 US/12mm straight and circular about 30”
Gauge: 7 st and 11 rows = 4” x 4”

Finished length (approximate)= 14”
Finished width at neck (approximate) =14”
Finished width at shoulder (approximate) =22”
Finished width at bottom(approximate) = 32”
Notes:
The cable band uses 1 stitch at the L side of RS work as a border. The body of the poncho will be picked up around this stitch and not interrupt the cable design.

Key:
K – knit
P - purl
C3R – sl 3 st off needle hold at back, K3 st, K3 st off cable needle
C3L – sl 3 st off needle hold at front, K 3 st, K3 st off cable needle
K2tog tbl – Knit 2 together, through the back loop
Rnd- round
Pm – place marker
Beg – beginning
Sl – slip
St – stitch
Yo – yarn over

Instructions:
Cast on 10 st using longtail cast on.
Purl one row.
Begin Cable Braid Pattern.

Cable Braid Pattern:
Row 1: C3R, K3, K1
Row 2: Purl row
Row 3: K row
Row 4: P row
Row 5: K row
Row 6: P row
Row 7: K 3, C3L, K 1
Row 8: P row
Row 9: K row
Row 10: P row
Row 11: K row
Row 12: P row

Repeat Cable Braid pattern for about 23” giving the band a slight tug to stretch. End with a P row. This is about 5 repeats of the pattern. You can add/subtract/adjust the K and P rows if you need more length, or would like the cabling to be closer together.
Graft edges together with working yarn using Kitchner St.

Pick up 48 st around cable band using the one K st as guide. PM for beg of rnd. K one rnd.
Note: There will be 8 shoulder st, 16 st for front, 8 shoulder st, 16 st for back.
Increase Row: K 8 pm, yo, K 16 pm, yo, K8 pm, yo, K16 pm, yo. (4 st increased, 52 st total).
Next row: K rnd.
Inc rnd: *(K to marker, sl m, yo), repeat from *. (4 st inc, 56 st total)
Next row: K rnd. You may remove all markers except for beg of rnd.
K until piece measures 11” from top edge, or about 7.5” from where picked up under cable band. You may adjust length as needed.

Begin Broken Ribbing:

Broken Ribbing:
Odd rows: K1, P1, repeat until end of rnd
Even rows: K rnd

Repeat Broken Ribbing odd/even pair a total of 3 times.

Cast off using following method:
*(K2tog tbl, sl st on rt needle back to left needle.) repeat from * until all st are cast off.

Weave in ends and block.

Stash

I cleaned out my stash this morning! Ahhh. I separated into 3 piles:

• Donate - will be going to the local senior center


• Swap - will be going to the swap at the Knitting Nook in Coventry - January I think?


• Trash - little scraps of yarn... What was I keeping this for? I puzzle myself sometimes.

I also ripped apart 2 projects from the Rowan Big Wool book - "Suzie" and another one that made me look like I was wearing a life preserver. So, the life preserver will turn into a poncho for Delaney modeled after "Yvette" by French Girl. "Suzie" will become another "Yvette" for me, but this time in purple and a bit longer to cover baby. :o) It feels so good to be making things into something Delaney and I will actually wear.

ps. finished Desiree last night! Just needs to block and model. :o) This will probably be my winter jacket because I will be able to adjust the closures over baby.

Knitting Date, Class and SURPRISE!

Knitted the Vine Lace Baby Hat on Saturday from Knitting Daily.

I had a knitting date with my friend Deb http://www.livnletlrn.blogspot.com/ last night. She and her family spent the day vending Glastonbury Glassworks at the Coventry Farmer's Market. Got this cutie stitch marker! The sheepie has a bow in her hair!

I taught the Robin's Nest class on Saturday afternoon. Everyone did great. We will do the eggs next week.

I also had the pleasure of attending a suprise birthday party for Sam! Sam was suposed to come to my class Saturday and emailed that she couldn't attend. She said that she could tell that something was up - her husband was cleaning! I thought that was so funny. Then she decided that her family wasn't surprising her and came to my class. We all met at the local church and had a balloon happy birthday parade to walk down to her house. She was so surprised because she had just given up on thinking she was even having a surprise party. Her sister Lauren made the most beautiful cake. I wish I had a picture (Lauren, if you read this, you better send me one so I can post your beautiful work!!) Lauren made it a beach scene with seagulls, towels, pail, seashells, waves and sand out of fondant. It was amazing! Entitled, "Life's a beach!"

Wisteria and Recycling Tour

Wisteria finished. I am in love, and it was love at first sight. The pattern was a delight. I can't wait for the cooler weather to get here so I can wear it before my belly gets too big.

Also, I had the informative experience of taking a tour at Willimantic Waste Paper Company today along with other GO GREEN committee members. It was so interesting to hear about how our recycleable goods are processed and then baled for their next adventure. Trash is an international commodity and the processed/separated goods are sold to India, China and other countries and are then repurposed.

Here is a photo of one of the separators that sorts things from paper, to metals, to plastics.

This image shows a conveyor belt with people sorting out various recycleable goods. The recyclables are thrown into big piles which are then baled and sold. The following picture is an example of baled cans.

I was floored to see how much recycleable content is thrown away (not separated) from the bulk trash. It only takes one more second to throw something away in a recycling bucket versus a trash can. Willimantic Waste sorts through the trash to pull out the recycleable materials for residential waste.

I highly recommend touring a recycling plant. It is so interesting to learn what happens to our trash once we put it out to the curb or recycling depot. Green in action. Think about what you can do to reduce your waste!

Loppem finished, back to monogamy

Loppem is finished and ready for the shop. This yarn was so nice to work with. This style of cardi is great for baby bellies! Sandee had the exact buttons I wanted! Yeah!

So now it is back to project monogamy - Wisteria. I am half-way through the cabling at the bottom of the body.

After that I plan to finish Desiree and then maybe finish Ameran's Scalloway Pullover. We will see...

I am debating over what to do with the yarn from Ireland. Do I make Rogue or do I design a fisherman's sweater myself. Designing it will definitely make the sweater more special, but I really want to just knit Rogue. Time will tell....

Cheers!

Loppem, Wisteria and Baxter

Started Loppem the other day for the shop. I love love love the pattern. I think that it is so cute and wearable. I hate the directions. There are many mistakes, but thank god for Ravelry and the helpful people on it. A big thanks to "those who have travelled the path before." It is so great to be able to look up a pattern, click the errata part and then go research the KALs.

Also, I am really loving project monogamy. It produces results really fast. Who would have thought? (maybe it was also because my mom had Delaney all weekend?)

Wisteria was put on hold to do Loppem for the shop...

I belong to the Knitters and Crocheters with Boxers and I thought I would share this with everyone. Baxter does this funny thing where he wedges himself between the blanket and the back of the couch. He winds up covering himself with the blanket - most of the time it is only his front half, but I was able to catch him completely wrapped in it! Ha ha!