Holiday Hybrids

i have been so busy lately. too much going on in this house - including a tree falling on our car, eeks!!!! i have been getting some knitting done though. have been totally feeling the holiday crunch. of course, i took on too much and now feel like i can't get it all done.

here is the list:

seamless hybrid for my brother - done

seamless hybrid for my brother in law - done

little scarf for mother in law

little scarf for mother

norah gaughn tank for my sister - almost done

socks for brother's girlfriend - one done

something for dad?!?

cth sweater for niece - needs a little finishing

baby surprise jacket for niece - needs buttons and two seams sewn.

ok - i guess that looks doable - i hope...

i gave the boys their seamless hybrids on thanksgiving since they were also their birthday presents. the fit is perfect! here they are on ravelry. i think they like them - what do you think?

promise to post any progress this weekend!!!

Summer Knitting Wrap Up

i really didn't think that i got a lot of knitting done this summer - but as i was putting the projects on my ravelry page they added up. there are a lot of little goodies to share - so here are the photos with links to ravelry so you can read about them in more detail - if you'd like!

the baby bog for e - this really deserves more of an explanation but e broke her arm this week and we have just been so tired over here that i just don't have the energy :( the good news is it fits over the cast!

h's star wars sweater - love, love, love!!!!! - also probably deserves more explanation... i will try to blog about these two another time.

a little t-shirt for a good friend's daughter - i think she looks awesome and seems to love it.

another february baby sweater for e:

herringbone rib socks:

cashmere glittens - perfect for iphone using:

that's it for now. right now i'm working on a whole bunch of holiday presents and even have some mostly done. also trying to get in some spinning time - i bought a ton of fiber this summer!! hope to get some pictures up soon :)

i know my explanations were pretty brief - so feel free to email me if you want to know more.

until next time - happy knitting!

Yay Handspun!

there really isn't anything more to say!

from this:

to this:

yeah, yeah - i know, could use some blocking...

Quick Projects

the heat of summer makes me want to just knit lots of quick projects. i haven't been writing about it that much - but i've got some stuff ready to show off.

e has been a freak for yo gabba gabba, so i thought it would be cute to make her a foofa - she's pink and happy... i told h of my plan and he immediately requested his favorite, plex - a magic robot. here they are - foofa and plex:

i'm quite proud. kept a picture of them on my phone and just referenced it as i knit - i think they came out cute and the kids are huge fans!

i had been wanting to make the whisper cardigan from interweave's spring issue for awhile. when i realized it was my brother's girlfriend's birthday i had found the perfect reason.

it is made from yummy malabrigo lace - you can get all the info on ravelry.

another project that i am quite proud of is my recycled pucker from norah gaughn. a few winters ago, i had made a rowan sweater out of some noro cash island. i loved the yarn but the sweater was huge and i could never wear it. i had used around 20 skeins of it, too! so for the pucker i just knit directly from the old sweater instead of frogging the whole thing.

i got this lovely little short sleeve sweater out of just the cowl and sleeves of the old sweater. i can't wait to wear it this fall and i think i can get another whole sweater out of the front and back.

A June Post?

i realized that i hadn't been posting in a while (even though i'm not really sure if anyone reads this) so i thought i would try to get something up for june...  i have been pretty productive - i've just been busy with the kids and haven't had the chance update.

first up is the amazing pie are square shawl that i made for my mother's 60th birthday.  it is made from the most luxurious cashmere from colourmart.  i used four different lace patterns and carried them over to the front.  if you are looking for more info - ravel it :)

and mom, if you are reading this - how about hooking me up with some better shots.

here is the most amazing little t-shirt for e.  i was able to use up some rainbow colored koigu from my stash and finished it in 2 days.  doesn't she look adorable?

i also finished the cutest little dress for e but it was a test knit i did for my friend and i'm not sure if i can publish any info on it yet - i promise a picture as soon as i get the ok.

i've also been doing some spinning and i've been trying to get those pictures up on flickr as soon as i can.  there are now links to my sets on the right - you can probably keep up with my knitting faster there than my posting :(    

i'm trying to only spin for projects - otherwise i could see myself ending up with a whole bunch of single skeins.  right now i'm working on a baby bog for e made out of some awesome alpaca/merino batts i bought from spinknitandlife on etsy - they are amazing!  definitely check out her stuff.

that's it for now - i'll try to update more often from now on :)

A New Purchase

i know i said i wasn't going to do it until both kids are in school but.... i bought a spinning wheel - a little ladybug!  i love it, it is so cute and i think i am really going to like spinning.  but it is definitely going to take quite a bit of practice...

here is a shot of my first skein:

i washed it to set it and will take another shot after i ball it up.  i feel like my four old after he gets a new truck!!!!

since i last posted i have a bunch of finished objects - here they are:

a clapotis for my mom for mother's day.  you can get all the details on ravelry.

a blinged out tank for myself.  details here.

some napkins for my sister's mother-in-law for mother's day. 

a cute little dress for e out of some fabulous japanese fabric.

some pants for e out of more fabulous japanese fabric.

and finally some progress on the pi are square shawl.

Smocking!!!

i have just discovered the wonderful world of smocking - what a great way to make a cute little girl dress, impress everyone, in under an hour!!  heather ross, the author of weekend sewing, came to brooklyn general to do a demo.  i wasn't planning on going but i am glad i did.  i never would have tried it - but she showed how easy it was!  here are the first smock dresses to come off my trusty little necchi:

this one was for my niece.  the fabric is a little japanese floral from purl patchwork with ribbon from brooklyn general.

this one was for my 4 year old son's future wife ;) - she picked out the fabric from brooklyn general and i picked out the matching ribbon.

i'm really happy how they turned out and see a lot more of them in my future!

on the knitting front - i have been making a lot of progress on my mother's day presents.

an hourglass sweater for my mother-in-law.  made out of some great manos silk blend.  it will pill like crazy, but how wonderful to work with and feels super soft.  all the details are here.

a clapotis for my mom - a little more than half done.  i had some noro silk garden sock left from my sister's chevron sweater and thought this was the perfect project for it.  ravel all the details.

and here is a picture of b in the finished tomten, as promised.  i love it on him and he wears it all the time!

i think i am ready to start working on some adult sewing projects. i bought some amazing vintage fabric and am going to attempt the summer shirt from weekend sewing - stay tuned!