I haven't posted in awhile

I know I haven't posted in awhile - I do have a couple of finished projects I need to take pictures so I can post them. I really haven't done much knitting because my father passed away April 21st. I finished his sweater in March and he wore it constantly, however I never got a picture of him in it which saddens me. He was only 61 years old, I do feel fortunate to have spent the last year and a half with him. I will post what I have soon.

Status

I've finished Dad's Green Sweater last night - It turned out really nice.... although it could have been alittle bigger it's not as roomy as I thought it would be.

I started Anna's Very Berry T-shirt you can see it here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/very-berry-t-shirt

After researching this I'm probablly going to make it a couple of inches longer in the lace and chest area I'm using Plymouth Platinum yarn in a peach color it's really stretchy.
I have to have this one done by 3/20/09 and I just started. thank goodness she's only 6 and it's a short sleeve sweater

Pictures to come

Dad's Green Sweater

Here are a couple of pics of the sweater for
dad. I have the front & back done, one sleeve and half of the other one....













-
Valley Yarns
North hampton - Green heather - knit with US7 needles

Secret Pal Package

I received my 3rd secret pal package a few days ago.... with a note from my spoiler... here are a few pictures:
Enclosed:
- 1 skein malbrigo
- 1 scented candle
- 1 chocolate "S"
- makeup bag

Thanks Julie

Progress report

2/16/09 - I started Dad's sweater on 2/4/09 I've got the back done and 3/4 of one sleeve complete.... I'm hoping to finish everthing this week before it starts to get warm... hopefully he'll be able to wear it a couple times before spring.
- Yarn - Valley Yarns Northhampton in Green (heather) (I bought 8 skeins hopefully this will be enough)
- needles - size 7 with size 5 for ribbed edges

Blue Juliet - I've sewn in all the loose ends I just need to block it and add the clasps I might need to tighten the cap sleeves not sure yet will know after it's blocked with the clasps added.

Next on the needles - Anna's birthday present - not sure what I'm going to make yet need to decide and buy yarn......she likes pink but I might make a different color though, she has lots of pink already....

Packages from my Secret Pal

Here are the pictures
of the packages from
my secret pal - 1st & 2nd packages.....

Blue Juliet almost done

I'm almost done the Blue Juliet for my sister - only one more lace repeat and the garter stitch edging. It looks great I used only one strand of yarn so it wasn't so bulky - I'm really pleased with how it turned out. This was the SWS soy yarn kinda splity but not horribly so.

Man's "not so Aran" Aran Sweater FINISHED

Hi all,

Here are the pictures of my finished Man's not so aran sweater. This sweater took forever... an extra 7 inches in the body and 4 inches in the arms. It looks pretty good though :)

Progress

1/16/09 - I have finished the Man's Aran Sweater. YAY!!!! It looks great on him. I started this mid Sept and finished mid Jan. 4 months well I did add like 7 inches to the body, 2 inches to the arms and made the neck higher - running out of yarn - buying more getting the wrong lot number for one skein (argh), having to find a color close in another brand. This was definitely trial & error.
- Note to self: buy extra yarn ( I needed 6 more skeins of main color and I would have liked 1 additional of contrast color but did without - he's 6'3" with a long torso and arms)
Pictures to come this weekend hopefully with him wearing the dang thing
Later for now.

Ok, I know I've been totally slacking on the knitting and blog posting and picture taking.... That said, the reason, I haven't been happy with the Man's not so Aran, Aran Sweater. Well, I decided to finish one sleeve and sew it on to see how it looked. (Hmm, not too bad) Had my honey try it on. (wow that looks pretty good). So I've been furiously knitting on the other sleeve and am so close to finishing it I can taste it. :) Three more cable repeats until I bind of the black and then another 5 cable repeats before I can attach it to the other side. I'm so excited finally this thorn in my side will be done and I can start something else.. I'm sitting here giggling like a school girl.

I still haven't taken pics of the SSP gifts yet but I will.

Man's "not so Aran" Aran Sweater

Here are the pics of the Man's Aran Sweater - still incomplete, however I'm much further along than these pics.

Pictures of my blue Juliet

Hi folks,

I finally am getting around to posting the wip pics of the blue juliet... I been lagging on my knitting and haven't really worked on it much. Anyway, here they are:

Package from my Spoiler

I received my package from my SP spoiler - I need to take some pictures to post - thank you SP very much - my first package to my spoilee is going out tomorrow, sigh, I know it's late I have two packages ready so I will send one priorty and one regular mail..... Anyway I haven't uploaded any new pictures lately and I'm not real happy with the sweater I'm making so I've been lagging. Tonight is the night for that I think - so swing back by if you want to check out my progress on the man's (no so aran) aran sweater.

Holiday's

Hi everyone,

I've been very bad at posting on my blog, I'm going to take the time and catch up this weekend, well starting with this post. I've made good progress on the Man's Aran however it isn't complete - I'm not really happy with it so I'm dragging my feet. I'll post pictures of what I have done though. Also I have a status picture of the blue Juliet and new yarn stash pics....

I've been itching to start the Riding to Avalon hoodie, I have some Sable colored Jaggerspun on a cone I'm going to use but I friggin need to finish this Man's Aran - first.
Goals for this weekend:
- blog blog blog
- finish the Man's Aran
- start Dad's sweater (with new stash yarn)
- start Sarah's lace blouse (with new stash yarn)
- and oh I'm sending out my first package to my SP spoilee - I don't want her to feel I've forgotten or neglected her so I'll send her an email with tracking info.

Later for now

Secret Pal 13 Questionaire

I'm so excited to do my first Secret Pal - here are my answers:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? My favorite yarns are wool - wool/blends What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Hmmm I don't think there are any fibers I absolutely don't like - I can always find something to make with almost anything.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Haha - zip lock bag

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I've been knitting since I was 8 so that's -- hmmm do the math - 29 yrs. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I'd say intermediate to advanced - I'm also left-handed so I usually do the patterns for cables backwards :)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No I've never made one of those

5. What's your favorite scent? I am partial to fruit type scents (flower scents make me sneeze)

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? I am happy to say yes Favorite candy? Gosh I have to pick just one? - hmmm I'd say my all time favorite is Dagoba chocolate with lavender and blueberries, but that is difficult to find - so here are a couple more (Ferrero Raffaello Almond Coconut Treat Candy, Lindt white chocolate truffles).

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I've done all sorts of crafts, pottery, weaving, paper making I'm pretty handy.. Do you spin? Actually I took a spinning class at UC Davis Ext. Eperimental college a couple years ago... however I do not own a wheel or drop spindle. (It was fun I even participated in the sheep to shawl contest at the Lambtown festival that year)

8. What kind of music do you like? I like all kinds of music Rock, Alternative Rock, Oldies, Blues (just no rap or country) Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes it can

9. What's your favorite color(s)? I like earth tone colors mostly (green is my favorite though) Any colors you just can't stand? Like I said before about yarn - I can always find something to make with any color as well as type of yarn.

10. What is your family situation? I am single but taken, dating a wonderful guy, no children. Do you have any pets? I live with 2 cats (Thumper & Gaby)

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I do wear scarves, hats and mittens ( Ive never worn a poncho)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? sweaters (however I plan on making a whole bunch of clog slippers this year.

13. What are you knitting right now? I have on my needles right now - the Man's Aran Sweater for my honey, Juliet in Blue for my sister, Lace Blouse for my niece, and black cardigan for my mom.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Definitely

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I like both - I just got a whole bunch of needles from a co-worker whose mother passed (she had a ton of straight and circular needles) Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Bamboo are my favorite

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I have a yarn winder but no swift

17. How old is your oldest UFO? LOL about a year and a half

18. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween What winter holiday do you observe? Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? not really - no

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Hmm not really I have to really like the majority of the patterns before I purchase a book. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Actually I don't subscribe to any magazines - I like going to the book store to see what's newly in (However Interweave knits seems to be my favorite)

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I haven' tried Fair isle or Enterlac yet

22. Are you a sock knitter? I've only knit one pair of socks and I frogged them What are your foot measurements? I wear a womens 7 1/2

23. When is your birthday? August 5th

24. Are you on Ravelry? YES If so, what's your ID? suzknit

Wow that was alot of information. Hopefully I've given whoever enough information.

Man's Aran Sweater update

Here's my update on "W"'s sweater

10-15 - Well I separated the body to start the sleeves, knitting and knitting the stockinette right before the neck

10-23 - and I thought to myself (I should have him try it on to make sure it's long enough) sigh not long enough at all, I had to ripp it all out - crap. I guess it's good I had him try it on - I need to add like 7" to the body. I'm panicing now though because I don't have nearly enough yarn to add 7" of body to this.

10-27 - Last night I went to Michaels, where I bought the Patons classic merino and they had 3 skeins in the bin only. Deep breath, HA that was the dye lot number I needed - phew! I'm hoping to finish the extra 7" of body tonight so I can separate tomorrow... I need to finish this so I can start on something new :) I'm itching to start on Sarah's blouse....

Secret Pal 13

I have signed up for secret Pal 13, I'm kinda excited this will be my first secret pal experience...

I've also been plugging away at the men's (not so aran) aran sweater, W indicated that he didn't want all the cabling and pattern through the body of the sweater so it's just boring stockinette.... I did make it in the round and have separated the back to knit the arm holes, it just seems slow going.

There is no progress on the Blue Juliet as I've been spending all my time on W's sweater, the same goes for the Apres' Surf Hoodie and Sarah's Lace Blouse....

I have a tendency to not blog if I don't have pictures to share, sorry for that - hehe, I might put a progress shot up on the W's sweater and the blue juilet becuase I do have pics. Look for it soon :)

Alexis' Baby Blanket

When Alexis was a baby I made this for her. She still uses it in the car when they go places.....

I can't remember the brand of yarn - however it's cotton.... lace edging in blue

Blue Juliet

My sister really loved my red Juliet - so I've decided to make her a blue one.... I picked up some Soy Wool from Patons SWS Solids knitting on size US 6 kneedles swatched and started - pictures to come.....

Knit with US 6 needles
Patons SWS Solids - color blue

Surf Hoodie

I've also swatched for the Apres Surf Hoodie using two strands of the Jaggerspun 2/18 Zephyr wool - silk in sable. I can't wait to make this.... Pattern is in Interweave knits Summer 2008 issue.

Knit with US 2 & US 3 circular needles
Yarn - JaggerSpun Zephyr (wool/silk) 2/18

Aran Sweater

I started the Man's Aran Sweater from Knit N Style April 2008 by Melissa Leapman. I've decided to make it black with white trim - we will see how it goes.... pictures to come when I have them










Knit with Patons Classic Merino Wool
Size US 3 & US 4 knitting needles