No Title Can Describe This…

The wind chill is -36 degrees. No that’s not a typo. And yes, my kids had school. No they won’t play outside for recess. Am I going outside today? No way!!! A grocery run is in order, but too bad. This is what it looks like out my sewing room window.

Too bad you can’t hear the wind. It’s gusting to 44 miles per hour.

My house is messy. I should pick it up. But I have this:

And I’m playing with this:

To make 36 of these:

This fabric is My Valentine by RJR. The pattern is My Cotswold Cottages by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts. The book is just called Houses. Now I’m not usually a house kind of girl, but for some reason, I love this pattern. I’m going to have to do more pieced blocks around the outside to get it big enough for my king size bed with really fat mattress. Look to see the completed quilt for Valentines Day of 2010!

I love my mailman. He brings me yarn. Today he brought me this:

It’s called “Snow Squall”. Anne Hanson of knitspot is designing a shawl using this yarn. There are snowflakes in the pattern. If you look closely at the yarn, you should be able to see all the colors of snow in it. If you’re thinking, “Snow is just white,” that means that you live where there isn’t snow. I tried to capture a closeup but I didn’t succeed very well. There’s even a very faint hint of lavendar in it.

I love the Sweet Sheep’s card. Candy for Your Stash! The yarn also came with a pink heart shaped sucker. Oh, and it was wrapped in hot pink tissue paper.

So, let the wind blow!

Modular Madness

True Confessions: Modular Editions

There’s a fine line between creativity and craziness, and I think I’ve crossed it here. We’ll start off easy and progress to insanity.

First is a Vivian Hoxbro pattern that I’ve only played with a little bit. It’s the Wine Leaves sweater. The colors are much better than this photo.  It’s done on 2 double points.  I think they’re size 3.  I may not be feeling the love on this one.  There’s not even enough done to frog!  Those little squares are probably 1 1/2 inches!

The next project is almost finished. It’s the Dancing Crayons Poncho from Chris Bylsma. It’s a gift that I need to finish.

And then there’s one more project for Honey. It’s my adaptation from a pattern in the book Dazzling Knits. My photos aren’t the greatest. I’m going to fill in the bottom with half triangles and pick up stitches for a ribbing on the bottom. The colors are deep and rich.

This is a project that I have to get back at. I never would have looked twice at the pattern in the book. I saw it in person and loved it. It’s in the Module Magic book. The pattern is called Nevada City Windows. It’s knit with Brown Sheep worsted and assorted Noro Kureyon colors. Here’s a glimpse.

What’s this?

It’s lots of Koigu, that’s for sure. What’s it for?

What are these for?

This!

It’s the Magique Cloak from Knits from a Painter’s Palette by Maie Landra, the genius behind Koigu. Will I ever make it? I don’t know, but just looking at those gorgeous colors makes me smile.

Speaking of Koigu, I got three more colors done on my second Koigu Shawl.  I just love knitting with this stuff.  It’s soft, stretchy, and the colors are amazing.  Here, take a look.

I just hope it doesn’t look like someone threw paint at a billboard when I wear it.  There are four more colors, but it’s getting slower.  I’m up to about 540 stitches per row.

I also worked on the last Socks that Rock 2007 socks.  The first one is done and I’m about 3 inches down the leg of the second.  I put in just a few minutes on the Irtfa’a shawl.   I really need a block of time when it’s quiet to work on this.  Both the front and back rows are patterned, so there’s no break.  Thinking is hard work for me, ya know!

I also finished the valance for my laundry room, but I forgot to take a picture.  It’s OK, but not wonderful.  I’ll post a photo next time.

Oh, and Helen nominated me for this award.  She said I make her day even if I am “an evil temptress”.  What did I do?  I only gave you a few yarn and project ideas.  Oh, well.  I can just call her “that knitting lawyer lady”.  Ha! Ha!

Anyway, if you’ll look back here, you will see that I was nominated before, by someone that didn’t call me names.  (Just kidding Helen!  I can take it.)

I have to go put away last weeks laundry, so I can start this weeks!  Job security!   And the Koigu is calling!

Tiny Needles!

It’s True Confessions: Tiny Needles Edition.

Before we get to the UFO’s, I finished something! It’s Fanny! I griped and complained my way through the finishingof this project. I hate big needles and I was sure the sleeves would look like crap when I put them in, if they even fit. Then I looked on ravelry, and that really helped. I found a couple of cute finished sweaters. That got me going again. Let me just tell you that this is one of the most perfect sweaters I’ve ever made. It may have something to do with the cute little person modeling it too!

I should have adjusted the sweater a little before I took the pictures, but, oh well! It’s a little bluer than the photo. It’s not gray. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned it, but I hate gray. It’s not a color. Here’s a back shot. Isn’t that shawl collar awesome? She sewed up one of the sleeve seams and did a great job. I should have taken a picture. I had about two yards of yarn left when I finished. Yikes!

• The pattern:  Fanny in Rowan’s Big Just Got Bigger book.
• The yarn:  Rowan Big Wool
• The needles:  Size 15  Yuck!
• No modifications, except a few cables I screwed up.  Usually I fix that stuff, but this sweater was annoying me.

And just to show you that everyone needs a friend…

I couldn’t find her the other day. When I walked into the front entry, there she was, hugging her little buddy.

And now for True Confessions: The WIP’s are piling up. Are you shocked yet? I’m not near finished either. I don’t quit working on things because I don’t like them. I just see other yarn and patterns that need to be explored!

I don’t have a baby around right now, and I’ve asked my kids to not make me a grandma for ten years. So why am I knitting baby stuff? It’s so fun! I’m working on this Dale of Norway baby cardigan. It’s just too cute!

And there’s my darling Brittany Jumper by Minnowknits. It’s knit with Tahki Cotton Classic. (It really is knit on such tiny needles.) I’m making it longer and changing the pattern on the bodice. It’s a size 3 for a little niece that’s only 7 months yet!

The other two projects on little needles are two Hanne Falkenberg projects. Lascala has 480 stitches per row. It’s supposed to be knit in two pieces and grafted. I didn’t see any reason to do that, so I’m doing it all in one piece.

And there’s Mermaid. I’m over half done with the body. It’s a true brainless project, because of Amy’s spreadsheet.

I’m trying to finish my last sock from Rockin’ Sock Club 2007, because the first shipment of 2008 shipped this week. I’m trying to decide if I want to do a different toe, just for the challenge.

I’m also working on a quilted valance for my laundry room. I’m trying to make the laundry room inviting so that red wash machine and dryer want to come and live here!

Kid 2 (the one with the new sweater) is at a piano competition right now. Kid 4 is helping collect scores at a volleyball tournament. She’s only 9, but would be quite capable of running the tournament. So right now, only the boys are here. It’s nice and quiet.

Oh, I have a news flash concerning the college girl. When I talked to her last night, she was half finished binding off her Spider Web Shawl. She’s sending it to me to block. Maybe next week, I’ll get to give you a peek!

Have a great weekend. I may have a laundry room shot tomorrow. We’ll see.

Scarves and Purses and Hats, Oh, My!

Welcome to True Confessions: Accessories Edition. Without further ado, lets get going.

What’s this?

It’s the Weekend Getaway Satchel, by Marta McCall. It’s in the Fall 2005 issue of Interweave Knits. I call it the Mary Poppins bag. I have more embroidery to do, as well as the sides and back to knit. I’ve heard that putting this thing together can be not so fun!

This is a Prism Wild Stuff scarf in a Chevron pattern. All I have to do is weave in some ends and finish beading it. Unfortunately, the beading is slow, and I need reading glasses for it!  And who wears stuff like this any more?  I probably still will, because it’s much prettier in person.

A boring Booga Bag. ‘Nuf said.

The Herbie Hat by Knitwhits. Yes, that would be a tangled mess.

A poncho by Alchemy. The yarn is Synchronicity, 10 shades of green in yummy silk. It won’t be a poncho, but a wrap.

Do I really need two mittens?

I really did a lousy job on this. Good thing it’s too big so I can felt them.  Can you believe this is the only mitten I’ve ever made?

I have a FO to show you! But not yet, because the recipient isn’t home from Youth Group for her photo shoot. Let me just say I whined, fussed, and complained while working on it. I hate big needles. (Size 15) But it’s done, and I’ll have to say, it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever made. Having said that, I’m off to bed. You’ll just have to wait!