Tracy's Wish List

This year, I jotted things down as it occurred to me that I would like them. This helped prevent me from buying them for myself, and to compile a great wish list. I hope this is helpful for all you shoppers out there!

From Stitch in Time:
Claudia Hand Painted sock yarn
Assorted books at Stitch in Time (see my amazon wish list for books)
Gift certificates

Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa foot and body products

Fleece Artist sock yarn (one source is http://www.northernsunshinedesigns.com/)

Nice pajamas, size medium (all my larges are falling down)

Amazon wish list: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1SORKAJWPWJI6

Pink

Pink
Originally uploaded by Devine Knitting

Here is the Berlin Sweater from Simply Knits 3. It is warm, pink, and so comfy. The pattern is 2x2 ribbing but diagonally, so you move your stitches over every other row. That's a lot of ribbing! I do wish that it weren't so boxy and didn't have such long armholes. Next time, I will follow my gut and add waist shaping to pretty much anything I make again ever.

I used 6 skeins of Berroco's Ultra Alpaca, so this sweater was less than $50 to make. I trimmed the front bands with some chocolate brown of the same yarn that I had on hand (I needed to lessen the pink).

My favorite part of the sweater is the flare on the cuffs. I love it!

The UFO Poll

In knitting news, I am halfway through 2 big projects. I need to get some photos up of them, some recently finished things, as well as a truckload of yarn that I've acquired the past few months.

I'm loving the new Knitting Daily newsletters. Isn't Sandi Wiseheart doing a great job?

The UFO poll has me thinking about all the things I am not finishing and why. I should organize this on Ravelry (yes I got in!!!) but until I do all that, here's my list:

1. The Charley sweater for Rob. It's more than half-way done, but Rob lost 70 pounds between the time I cast on the sweater and got the back and first raglan sleeve done. Now I am torn between finishing a sweater that will certainly be too large or frogging so much cable work and ribbing.
2. Dale of Norway cardigan. The front and back are finished and even cut. It just needs sleeves. The sleeves seemed like a huge undertaking 2 years ago, but now I'm a much more proficient knitter now. I need to get on this!
3. Socks for Rob. One is done but might be a bit short, so I am loathe to case on 4. Socks for Marty. One is done and has been for a year or so. He will love these and I need to finish them!
4. 2 random kids' sweaters. No interest in finishing.
5. Felted slippers for my brother. I got halfway thru the first using Noro and realized that, to make a matching pair, I would need 4 skeins of Kureyon and wasn't willing to pay that much for a pair of slippers. So these need to be ripped back to the sole and started with some nice Lopi, with the Noro as a striped accent. Good for holiday knitting this year.
6. Charlene throw. I love this blanket, knit using Berroco's Chinchilla. I have about 1/7th done and just get so bored with the endlessness of it.
7. Gauntlets for Bethany. I am going to run out of yarn and can't finish these until I come up with a solution.

There are more. I know there are. I will add more later as I come across them. I also have the yarn and patterns for these projects:
1. Koigu Kersti sweater from Knitting from the Top Down
2. Noro Silk Garden sweater from Knitting from the Top Down
3. Knitter's Stash cardigan in blue Berroco Pleasure
4. Knitter's Stash cardigan in red Berroco Pleasure
5. Sweater for Rob in baby Alpaca
6. Watermelon mittens
7. Kiwi mittens
8. Beaded Christmas stockings for both boys in Ultra Alpaca
9. Socks for me
10. Socks for the boys

(There are more of these too!)

Pride

My 20-month-old has been saying "yarn" for awhile now. Usually when trying to touch it with banana- and oatmeal-covered fingers. But my eyes teared up this morning as I was walking him down the stairs, sock-in-progress in one hand and his tiny fingers in the other, and he said "knitting." In the cutest, sweetest voice possible. A couple steps later, he bent down to rub the dog's paw and say "tickle tickle," then kiss him on the nose. I think it's official now that I have the best baby in the universe.

Patiently waiting

* You signed up on July 3, 2007
* You are #12990 on the list.
* 1707 people are ahead of you in line.
* 18101 people are behind you in line.
* 36% of the list has been invited so far


I actually didn't sign up for Ravelry right away... I was there, I could have, but thought, nah, I'll wait til it's open to all. A month later, I went back and did sign up and am still waiting, patiently. I want to go there and see what people are making. I want to see if anyone else has knit the Berlin sweater from Simply Knit 3. Because I am having a problem with it. I wonder how long it takes to get 1707 people in?

Soccer

Tonight at my son's first official soccer league practice, I had a spare moment to pull out some knitting (the Cobblestone pullover that I had to cast on the other night, even tho my pink Berlin sweater is nearly finished and I have been so diligent about not casting on any other projects). Not three stitches in, 2 very friendly women nearly pounced on me to see what I was knitting. So fun! We talked knitting the rest of the practice. As it turns out, the two are sisters from South Africa whose mother is an award-winning knitter of the most complex kind. One sister, Louise, loves Kaffe Fassett and has completed many of his patterns. The other, Caroline, is more of a beginner but was inspired by our conversation to sign up for the class I take at my LYS. They both love Rowan and fine yarns and said that their mother could stock a store with her yarn room. I am so excited about spending more time with these delightful women at future soccer practices and games (now that it's a league, we have soccer two days a week)

Thanks for the kind comments on the beaded bridal bag. I am so darn proud of that bag!

Ta Da!

Finally, I am unveiling the beaded bridal bag that I knit for my sister-in-law. I am more proud of this bag than anything else I've made; although this was not the most-difficult project I've ever knit, it was the most laborious, enjoying, and completely dazzling thing I've ever done. The pictures cannot do it justice, but here they are.

First, the lining. What a royal pain this was! I had to do it twice because the first time, I used a nice trim that ended up making the lining to thick and the clasp wouldn't snap. So I did a simple machine stitch and it is just fine:


The handle was the only part I didn't do myself. I was going to use a chain but couldn't find one that matched the vintage look of the purse frame. I had an experienced beader do whatever she wanted, and she did a wonderful job:


Did I mention that my kid was the ring bearer? He did a great job and was absolutely adorable. I was sure that he'd cartwheel down the aisle or toss the ringbearer pillow up in the air. Instead, he walked nicely down with a great smile, not too fast and not too slow, and went straight to the groom to hand him the pillow. Precious. Halfway through the ceremony, he was heard by all as he asked, "Are they married yet?" He was perfect.


So here is the entire purse in various poses:




The frame is lovely. A replica of a vintage frame, I chose it for the hearts embossed in it:


By the end of the night, the ring bearer collapsed on the floor and put his pillow to good use: