What I'm Knitting

I am working on another pair of socks, in Louet Gems Fingering by Cherry Tree Hill in Green Mountain Madness. This is such a gorgeous yarn that I am tempted to go buy more in any of the zillion gorgeous colors, even though it's $11 a skein at the yarn store. It is strong and ropy and soft and doesn't fuzz or pill at all.

I'm a little nervous today because my husband is going to look at a car I found. It's a 1998 Camry LE, the same car as my dad has, in that pretty pale champagne gold color. Oh dear, am I turning into my parents? I'm hoping we can get a good deal on our Jeep as a trade-in. The air conditioning in my Jeep Cherokee no longer works and it has various other problems stemming from an intermittant electrical short (read, impossible to locate or fix...) I would love to buy a new car but I have a deep-seated dislike of owing anyone money, so I only pay cash for my cars. Thus, they are used and old (previously loved), but mine and paid for. I love getting the car titles that say "No liens recorded".

Knitting for Baby

My newest niece, Emma Lucy, was born yesterday. I started this sweater for her back in April, and I put in an hour or so last night weaving in ends and adding silk ties. It's ready to go with a china cup and bowl set and a pair of little shoes. The pattern is Lion Brand Little Luxury Kimono, and the yarn is Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK in Nest Egg.

This scarf is for Audrey, the 8 month old baby of a friend. She tried to learn to knit, but was too busy, so I promised to make a scarf out of this pretty Elann Baby Silk (baby alpaca & silk) in Raspberry. The pattern is Irish Hiking Scarf, available for free on Ravelry. I'm completely in love with that velvet ribbon (Rose Pink, from M & J Trim in NYC, they mail order if you can't get there.)

Maternity Sweaters to Knit

I am a firm believer that one should not buy too many maternity clothes. I only wore maternity pants and shorts, and then only in the last 4 months. Extra long tanks, drawstring pants and anything empire-waist will work for pretty much the whole pregnancy.

But the following knitting projects are flattering, and could be worn after delivery and after I return to my normal shape (thank you, Pilates).

Lacy Babydoll by Melissa Werhle in Expectant Little Knits
Rosebud Cardigan by Erika Knight in Knitting for Two
T shirt with Ties by Erika Knight in Knitting for Two
A-line jacket from DROPS design (I've already got this one on the needles)

New Knitting Books

I just bought some new knitting books (so exciting!):

Lace Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd

Just Right Wrap sweater

Lily of the Valley shawl



Hepburn Cardigan


Inspired to Knit by Michele Rose Orne




all images are copyright interweave press

Yarn Lust

Now I am the first to admit I have a lot of yarn. I have an extremely organized spot in the closet for it. I'm a very organized person. My underwear drawer is a masterpiece. Just don't look in the basement. Really. Don't.

My yarn is all lined up neatly in zip lock bags to keep out the moths. I am not buying any more yarn right now, because I have several projects in mind, and the yarn for them is sitting in my closet.

But if I were:

Inspired to Knit by Michele Rose Orne

ArtYarns Regal Silk in Cappucino

Colourmart 4/14NM double twist 100% cashmere DK in Brume

DROPS Kid-silk in 06 Light Grey Green

DROPS Alpaca in Raspberry (matches my blog!)

Just Right Wrap from Lace Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd

Thalia from Louisa Harding's new book Dauphine

From Inspired to Knit

Knitterly Resources

I spend a lot of time on the internet - I'm a programmer after all. Here are some of my best finds for knitters.

Ravelry is the best place to find patterns and yarns, discuss them with other knitters, and make knitting friends. It is really a remarkable site, and I believe the wait list is down to a couple of days now.

Garnstudio in Norway publishes DROPS patterns, hundreds of them, for FREE on their site, garnstudio.com. They bring out new collections every season, and their printed pattern books are also available for a couple of dollars.

Nordic Mart sells all Garnstudio yarns. They make a lovely, reasonably priced Alpaca.

Elann has a wide selection of their own brand yarn, and also some closeouts of other brands. Their shipping is expensive (they are a Canadian company), but the yarn prices are very low. I love their Baby Silk and Baby Cashmere blends.

Knit Picks is a great company that sells their own reasonably priced brand of yarn plus needles and patterns. Their interchangeable circular needles will change your life.

Yarnzilla sells lots of gorgeous luxury yarn, and is the place to go for a splurge. They have good sales, too.

Webs has a vast selection of yarn. Awesome sales, and they give a volume discount.

Knitty is an online knitting magazine that has free patterns every season and some interesting articles.

On the Needles

A-line Jacket, from the fabulous DROPS-Garnstudio folks, made in Wool of the Andes from Knitpicks in Iris Heather, on my pretty Knitpicks Harmony interchangeable circulars.