Knitter's Haven

Rhinebeck 2009

SAD but true… I didn’t post right away because I hadn’t gotten around to photographing the loot that I picked up at Rhinebeck. YEP… ALL FOUR pieces of yarn. LOL. More on that shortly.

 

I actually was going to pass on going to Rhinebeck this year due to my lack of knitting mojo and my growing interest in quilting.  But I thought long and hard and decided to attend so I could spend time with the Whatchamacallits. The funny part is, this year I decided to catch a bus with a sister quilting guild! 

Two members from my guild attended as well. So I was amongst people I knew.

 

I am so glad I did go. I had such a great time! 

 

Since I made up my mind to go with about 3 weeks to spare, I decided I would complete an UFO to wear to Rhinebeck. My Wisteria.  I was relieved to have finished within a few days before Rhinebeck. I'm just so sorry that I waited so long because I just loved everything about it.

 

 

Here is quilt guild member Francine knitting on the giant sock!  It was her first year at Rhinebeck.

 

 

My birthday twin Shameka  was the first of the Whatchamacallits that I'd caught up with.

 

 

After spending close to an hour to get to them, I finally caught up with the whole crew. We always have such a good time whenever we are together

 

 

One of my biggest highlights was that I had a chance to meet Bonne Marie of Chic Knits. I am such a FAN of her and her blog. I’ve been reading it FOREVER and just had to tell her so. I mean, seriously, do any of you remember she was in the very FIRST issue of Knitty? I sure do!  Her pattern was the 3X Chic. One of my oldest UFO’s happens to be her Lo Tech Sweat.  I started it in 2003!! Geesh! I didn't even realize I've been blogging since 2003. Anywho, it's the Lo Tech Sweat. But she revamped and modernized the pattern and it's now the Basic Chic Hoodie. Perhaps I shall finally frog mine and start it anew in her newer style?So I very happily took a picture of her and Rosi-G. Sidebar: You have no idea how I wanted to scoot up in the middle of THAT picture. HA! HA! HA!

 

 

Every year I like to treat myself to a new basket, this one was oval shaped. In fact, that was the first item I purchased. I walked around with it yarn free for awhile until something spoke to me.  THESE spoke to me.

Here are my Rhinebeck purchases. ALL Blue Moon Fiber Arts. 

 

 

2 skeins of BFL Sport in the colorway STR-2.  It's actually more a hot pink with plum color.  This was a new to me item. I also bought these 2 skeins of STR. January One and Harlotty. I also purchased 2 packs of ChiaGoo bamboo needles. Oh and some wine.

 

Soon after I purchased my wine, I discovered my basket wasn’t up to snuff. In fact it was defective and I had to return it.  I had been unable to find another one that I liked. So here is the end result of that gosh awful disappointment!  BWAAAAAAHHHH!!!

 

 

My day ended with a nice cup of Peppermint Hot Chocolate and me chatting it up with Tawana and Rosi. Then we parted ways to our separate buses. It was nice to be home in time for dinner and a much needed nap!

 

 

Um Hello??????

I figure its about time that I post considering I've been paying to maintain this blog that I don't use. I'd seriously be surprised if this post is read by anyone.  This is going to be a quickie drive by post.

I've pretty much taken a break from knitting.  I've been doing alot reading, relaxing and I've been trying to spend more time on quilting. I think read more quilt/craft blogs than I do knit blogs lately.  I DID actually take some time out to knit this dress for my co-workers first grand-child.  This was a fast knit which was what I needed. Because I have no mojo, I was kind of anxious to be done with it.  I LOVED the results. Most importantly, I loved that it was appreciated!

 

The bulk of my time has been spent working on this Paper Lantern quilt.  I've been working off again and on again for MONTHS. It first started out as my quilt guilds workshop project. I originally planned on making it with 9 blocks. Then 12 blocks. The twelve blocks soon became 20. I finally put my foot down at 25 blocks. The original pattern calls for 30 blocks total. When I sewed on the last border I was just happy that it was done. Then I laid down and... I JUST WASN'T FEELING it.  It seemed off to me.  I felt the borders were too busy and taking away from the center of my quilt.I worked so hard on the blocks and yet my eyes kept going to the borders.  The borders are beautiful flowers. But to me, on the quilt, they look like red and white fireworks!

 

It seems that I quilt like I knit. I wasn't pleased so I ripped the borders off. I havent' decided if they will become binding or end up on the back. But NOW, I am just really over the moon with this quilt. Oops... I mean quilt top.  I still need to piece the back. I will probably use some scraps.  Then, I'm sending it off to be quilted.  I hope to have it completed in time for when I return back to my quilt guild in September.

 

 

I already have moved on mentally to my next quilt project. I have a few ideas in my head but picking which to do next is the hardest. 

I plan to HAVE to cast in within the next 3-5 days for a test knit pattern. It would be easy to say secret but everybody always has a secret project. LOL!

Also... I have actually been crocheting a baby blanket for a good family friend. Hopefully, by the next time I blog I will be able to show that!

Til Next Time....

Full of Surprises

I can totally preface this entry by asking if you are surprised that I posted before another full month has gone by?

It feels like alot has gone on since the last time I posted.  Let's see, DH and I celebrated our anniversary. He surprised me and pimped out my sound system more than it already was.

I finished my Octagonal Lace Baby Blanket. Sorry for the soft edges. Red is kind of hard to photograph.

   

I absolutely LOVE how it came out. Seaming the pieces that much didn't even bother me as much once I got started. Now it's time to gift it to the recipient.  Ha Ha....This is where things get a little kooky.  I was told the recipient is a girl that was to come into the world on Feb 10th.  The thing is, SHE turned out to be a HE and HE came into the world on Feb 17th. Oh and the biggest surprise of all...Can I get a drum roll please??????

HE's my FIRST GRANDSON!!!!  No. Your eyes are not deceiving you. Yep... Yours truly is an ahem cough  hack  grandma.  In case you're wondering, I will be going by the name Lita for now. As in abuelita.  I have such amazing friends that planned to gift this Lita's grandson that we were all thinking would be a girl.  Maybe my friend will tell you about it herself one day.  All I can say is I was more than relieved that I made the blanket in red and not pink as what I was originally planning to do.

I don't even think I can top that with how excited I was when I got home last night to see DH had a surprise in store for me. I got two words for you on this. Oh Bay-bee!

 

 

I've been admiring and salivating over one of these babies for the longest. I never expected to get one anytime soon. I was kinda on the fence with it. So far, I can tell you, it doesn't disappoint.

That's about it for me now. I'm all surprised out. I might surprise you again and be back soon with another blog posting.

Happy Knitting or whatever it is that keeps u going (:-)

So I'm good for a Month

Or Don't Mis Take my lack of blogging...as a sign of no knitting. 

I couldn't couldn't make up my mind which title to go with. But the latter seemed kinda long winded. Oh well.

It seems I really am only good for a month.  It was exactly one month ago since my last blog posting.  I've been knitting.  That's about all that I've been doing is knitting. I'm just REALLY lazy with the whole taking pictures. It's my biggest shortcoming when it comes to blogging.

I currently have 3 ACTIVE WIP's at the moment.

Wisteria - Sorry no pics...

D'Lado Cowl - This has been my in between knit. I've been knitting on this when I was NOT knitting on the my soon to be a full fledged FO!

Octagonal Lace Blanket

 

This is the soon to be full fledged FO. I'd been working on this since January. Now it's all knit up and wanting to be seamed so it can look like a blanket. This is for a very special person in my life.  AS you know it would have to be considering its a blanket AND it involves seaming. I KNOW I've mentioned my requirements for gifting baby blankets long ago. The biggest requirement - I must be somewhat close to that individual and/or like them. LOL. I can't wait to seam this bad boy up. I'd like to say, I'm going to sit down with a glass of wine and seam. But I will get too relaxed and sleepy.

I'm concerned that my Wisteria is about to become a back burner knit. I recently got a surprise package of yarn in the mail a little over a week ago. How great is that? I've already cast on for what's to become a Cowlneck Cable and Lace Sweater.  Necia, Rosi and I are having a KAL. Pardon the crappy camera phone pic.

I'm honestly not sure just how much knitting will take place this weekend. I'm off to the dentist first thing tomorrow morning to get a cap on my back tooth.  Then I'm heading over to the once a month quilt guild meeting. I recently purchased some fabric to make a baby quilt for somebody. But all I can bring myself to do is touch and ogle it.  I will probably return home from my inspirational high raring to go and start a new project.  Hopefully it won't get overtaken by my inability to get up off the couch if I sit too long.  At least I have a long weekend to look forward to. 

I'm up and out. Have Happy Valentine's Day!

D'Lado

Wow. Where has the time gone? 

 

At least I come back to you bearing my first FO for 2009.  It was a quickie instant gratification project too. It was truly a win win situation too. For starters, I was really in need of a new hat.   Also, it pained me that I gifted a good friend with a hat and a cowl for Xmas. I didn't have one that I was willing to wear that was crafted by me.  I actually bought myself a hat! I cringed as I typed that. BUT in my own defense, I will add that it was NOT a knit hat. It was made of corduroy.  I REFUSE to buy myself a knit hat when I can easily make one for myself. 

 

   

 

So I was more than happy to give myself the excuse that I had to test knit this hat for my girl. It’s D’Lado by none other than Rosi G!   The pattern also has a matching cowl. Which I've yet to start due to time management issues on other knits. 

 

I think I must have gone through swatching 2-3 other yarns before deciding on Socks That Rock Medium Weight yarn in Rooster Rock. I ended up selecting this yarn because the gauge on Rosi's orginal is closest to a light sport wt.  But you know the golden rule of knitting.... CHECK YOUR GAUGE.  I kind of have to chuckle to myself when I think about this particular yarn and colorway. You see, Rosi and I were together when we bought the same color  on our very first adventure to Rhinebeck.  That was two and a half years ago. The Blue Moon Fiber Arts booth was the first booth we hit.  Boy have we come a long way. I think Rosi knit hers up eons ago into some socks. I never enviosioned mine becoming a hat and a possible cowl.  If you don't know it already, she also has a matching cowl. I'm hoping I have enough yardage and time for both.

 

Anyway, I just wanted this post to be about my new knit. I've got more to talk about but no pics to back it up with.  I hope to check back in another day or so.

 

HAPPY KNITTING!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I will be back in a few shakes. Just checking in.

YES WE CAN!!!!!

YES WE DID!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you get your Vote on????

VOTE!

VOTE!

VOTE!

The Aftermath

YAY!!!! Yes I finished the vest in time.  DH surpised me and made arrangements for me and some friends to go to the movies to see Secret Life of the Bees.  I read the book long ago and was excited to see the movie. Which was GREAT by the way. During lunchtime Friday I had bound off my last stitches.  I had to wait until I got home after the movie to seam the pockets and add the buttons.  A big fat THANK YOU to my ace boon coon/Rhinebeck shopping partner in crime Rosi G, who kept pushing me on and telling me she had faith in me.

I'm both happy and sad that Rhinebeck has come and go. It's always kind of bittersweet for me.  I'm all amped up and semi stressed before it happens until I arrive.  Then after everything is said and done and it's over, it's like crash and burn.  But in a good way.

My partner in crime was the same as last year - Necia. We had a nice pleasant drive to Rhinebeck. I think our "traffic" was waiting in the car to get into the camp grounds.  Then it was ON.  While I waited for Rosi to arrive with her cough cough entourage, I checked out some booths.  I watched Necia give a demo on a spinning wheel.

I got to meet Necia's cool friend Brandon who walked around with me for a little while as he waited for her demo to end.

Some of my biggest RB moments was meeting and talking with Scout of Scout's Swag while she was trying to figure out what wine to buy.  I got to meet my secret pal Catherine. Hey Catherine!!! It was SOOOO good to meet you. I'm convinced we were supposed to meet.  Rosi and I were in one of the booths and there was Catherine who saw me first. That was fun. My one regret was that I didn't get a picture of us together. I ran into Whatchamacallits Chante and my "twin" Shameka. I miss you guys!

I also had a chance to chat with Twist Collective pals Irene and Ms. Kate Gilbert herself.  Kate was wearing her FABULOUS Wisteria sweater. Irene let me keep touching all over the long cardigan she was wearing.  It is TRULY a work of art. She mentioned that it's going to be in the next issue of Twist Collective. LOOK!!!

Of course there was shopping.

Briar Rose Coriredale for a scarf and hat.

A couple of skeins of Fourplay for a sweater

Misty Mountain Farms for an Alhambra

Shelridge Farms for a sweater.

Times Remembered alpaca yarn. Just because.

Oh and there is another basket this year. Lantern Moon this time.  I also got some wine. Yum.  The night would not have been complete without dinner with the girls.

Yeah I know how to jack up a picture. Ya think I was tired?

How about I fell asleep on the floor when I got home. LOL!

Touch and Go

I have alot to say and not alot of time to do it. I have been quietly crafting. But I'm so darn amped up I feel I could scream from the rooftop!  As I mentioned in my last blog post, I've had some deadlines to meet.  I worked so hard on them last week and over the past weekend and am happy to say I got everything done in time.

This past weekend was the monthly meeting for the Nubian Quilt guild and I participated in a workshop.  I had such an amazing time and I think I was on a high from the workshop.  I'm not going to go into too much detail about the workshop as I am saving that for a separate post.  But I will say that I had to prepare and do homework for the workshop and it involved working with paint.  Once I do some touchups to my work, I will post it here. I also had participated in a quilt block challenge and that was due on Sat as well. We had to make 2 quilt blocks one that would be in a group quilt and the other to keep for ourselves for a small wallhanging. This black & white and green batik were the challenge fabrics in which we are to add two fabrics to create the block but they could not be in the colors black or white. Hope I'm making sense.

Here is what I came up with. I didn't know which one to hand in, so I gave in both.

I also participated in the Ravelry Red & White block swap. I was working with this lovely pile of reds and whites.

We had to create 7 blocks for swapping. I was able to do 3 blocks the week prior. But I had been so busy preparing for the Nubians with workshop homework and the challenge blocks, I had no choice but to sit down and complete the last 4 blocks on Sunday.  Here are all 7 blocks that I made. I can't wait to see what I get from the swap. Click to enbiggen if you want to see up close!

Lastly, I do have one more deadline to meet. That's the vest I've been working on for RHINEBECK! I've been working hard on this. I'm close but not quite there yet. I think I'd been subconsciously sabotaging myself with this. Last week Friday, I was trying to be slick by sneaking off to Joann's before I picked up DH at his job (remember we carpool).  Anyway, I get the phonec all inquiring about my whereabouts.. But me, I'm so slick, I'm like I'm in the car (I was) and 8 min away. I get there and as I wait for him to come out to the car, I realize I messed up BIG TIME. I forgot my knitting bag under my desk at work!  Long story short, he got a ride home from coworker and I hightailed it back to my job for my bag.  I seriously considered leaving it there because I anticipated not knitting over the weekend and I was right to a degree. I was able to put in some knitting time on Friday night while at a friend's home.    Oh and then Tuesday, I left an extra skein at home. So that put a stop to my knitting in the car on the way home.

As of yesterday afternoon, this is where I was at. I am a little further along since that photo. Fingers are crossed. Honestly dunno if it will be done in time. Wish me luck!