A Completely Finished Object!

The Baby Hoodie Cardigan is done!!

But it's going to a different recipient than I originally intended!

I had intended to give this to my friend and coworker, Tabetha. But last night at the market I ran into the aunt of my friend Michael. Michael and his wife Amanda had a baby last December, Isabella. I had made Isabella a blanket and a Koigu hat. Aunt Pat told me Michael and family are coming out (they live in Chicago) for the long weekend.

So Isabella is getting this one.

You may notice that the left sleeve is longer than the right sleeve! I don't know how that happened, well obviously I knit one longer than the other, but I thought I had been good about measuring and keeping track. I've been pulling and pulling on the right one to try to make it longer!
I'm hoping it won't be noticeable when it's on Isabella!

I cast on for Picovoli and have been steadily working on it for the last week or so, but I think I may have missed an increase a couple of rounds back. So now I've lost interest in it!
I'm using Berroco SoftTwist in navy, which is really nice, but I'm afraid I might run out of yarn.....so I may frog this too. I'm just in a frogging mood! (see below!!)

Goodbye Klaralund!

Hello Moss Rib Stitch Pullover. I finally worked up the nerve to frog Klaralund. I like the pattern, I like everyone else's version of it, but it's just not me. So she's gone and sometime soon I will cast on this pullover from Saturday Sweaters.
I love this book. Lots of cute, wearable sweaters. That's my new knitting rule.....knitting only truly wearable garments. My One Skein Wonder and cute little Ponchette are being frogged soon.....both are cute, but I'm not a One Skein Wonder or Ponchette kind of gal!

More Stash Enhancement!

We finally made it to the Tall Mouse in Cerritos today. It's not that far, maybe 25 miles or so, but we measure everything by freeway time rather than actual miles. Luckily today our freeway time was not bad, about 30 minutes each way.

I was expecting a nicer version of Michael's or JoAnn's, but I was pleasantly surprised! Much, much nicer! They had a nice selection of yarn including Cascade, Berroco, Online, KFI, Noro, as well as Patons, Lion Brand, and Red Heart. They had a sample of this vest made up and it was really cute, so my mom bought the book A Good Yarn for me. I bought some Cascade 220 for it, but now I'm thinking I might use it for something else. I also bought another skein of the pink Cotton Tots for Noey's sweater, because silly me didn't get enough the other day! (you think I would've learned after I had so much trouble finding the Sunshine for the baby hoodie.....and they did have that color too!)

Speaking of the Baby Hoodie Cardigan.....it is finished!! (well, almost!) I got the yarn Thursday morning and finished it Thursday night. I seamed up the hood, and just need to weave in the ends. The Fitted Tank is almost done as well! I'm just about to do the neckline shaping on the back.

I FOUND IT!

FINALLY!!

I found the Bernat Cotton Tots today!! Whew!

Today is Noey's last day of kindergarten (sigh) so I took the day off since I have to pick her up early anyway. I decided to give the local craft/yarn/fabric stores one more try, and what do you know, I found it at my first stop! Yay! I can finally finish the Baby Hoodie Cardigan!

(a special Thank You! to

Karen for offering to look for the Cotton Tots in her area! and to Sue

and Katt for sending well wishes my way....it worked!)

I have been knitting!! I have finished the knitting portion of Sitcom Chic! (and it fits, and it's cute!!) I just need to weave in the ends and sew up the arm holes. I am extremely proud of it and of myself.....it's my first garment for myself!! Pictures to follow when it's completely done! (Joe says I can't call it "done" until everything is done!) I've also been working diligently on the Fitted Tank. It's close to being done, then I can start thinking about my next project.

While at Michael's I felt it necessary to reward myself for all my trouble in searching for the Cotton Tots! The pink Cotton Tots is for a hoodie for Noey. The blue Wool Ease is for a vest for me. I also picked up two pattern booklets.

I'm exhausted!

This end of the school year stuff is killing me! It's been chaos around here what with parties, graduations, presents needed, year end performances, and it all seems to be doubled because I work in a preschool. One more week!

I've been working on the Fitted Tank and Sitcom Chic simultaneously and am making pretty good progress on both. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for both of them.

I had a little stash enhancement. I couldn't resist Webs annual sale, so I bought some Cascade 220 (for $3.79 per skein!) for an Easy V-Neck Raglan or a Top Down Vest. I also got some Saucy cotton for CeCe. I like the color, but I do not remember ordering that color! Isn't that strange? Surprisingly I have two unfinished dresses that would match that color!
Inspired by Bron's Cotton Ease countdown, I've been collecting patterns to use with my Cotton Ease stash. I love this Paton's pattern book....I like all of the designs in it and have enough CE to make most of them!

Stalled out....

......the current state of the Baby Hoodie Cardigan. I have searched all over town, twice, and cannot find one lousy skein of Bernat Cotton Tots in Sunshine!! I tried adding a sleeve of some variegated Cotton Tots, but I didn't care for it at all. I could order a skein online, but I hate to pay $6.00 of postage for a $3.00 skein of yarn!!
My mom and I are going to a store called the Tall Mouse (?? I think??) on Saturday and I'm hoping they have some. One of my mom's quilting buddies told her about this store. Supposedly they carry fabric and yarn. Keep your fingers crossed.

We had a baby shower for Tabetha, my friend and coworker, last Saturday. Not a great picture, I was way in the back of the room, but here she is after opening my gift.

It was very well received by the crowd. I was flattered and embarrassed by all the attention it got.

My Baby

is no longer a baby!

We're counting down the days of Kindergarten....only 11 more days!

This is Noey's most recent school picture. (who knew they took 2 pictures during the school year?? I would've gotten her bangs cut!) She looks all grown up, doesn't she?

I have no real knitting news to report. For the past couple of nights I have gone to bed when Noey has (around 8:30), and then today I forgot to bring my knitting with me to work on in the car while waiting for the child! (45 minutes of good knitting time gone to waste!)

I have resurrected Sitcom Chic, and whatever I thought the problem was seems to have corrected itself! I'm hoping if I put the Fitted Tank away for a while it will magically correct itself too! I have started the Candle Flame Shawl for the Amazing Lace but haven't gotten very far. I'm still doing the garter stitch border and it's darn hard working with laceweight yarn and tiny needles!!

Let's Meet the Team

Noelle and I have joined the Amazing Lace. Here is our introduction. (just imagine Phil saying this!)

First we have Karyn (not pictured) a world traveler, (London, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Sydney) she has never ventured into the world of lace knitting. (or is it knitting lace? we'll find out!) Karyn has been knitting for 1 year and 8 months, and will be doing all of the actual knitting content.

Next up we have Noelle, who is a pretty good little traveler herself (Hawaii, Florida, Catalina, Pismo Beach). Noelle will be in charge of supplies and team morale.

Our third member of the team is our handpainted yarn in a subtle pink and green colorway. Originally from Uruguay, our yarn was flown in especially for the Amazing Lace.

Wish them luck....they're gonna need it!!

Welcome to Frustration Central

Home of the incomplete project!

Here is the front of the Fitted Tank. I didn't want to get too close to the neckline because it is scary! But even at this distance you can see how horrid it looks!! I've just decided to move on to the back and hope for the best!

Today, after church, I finally mustered up enough patience to take Noey into Michael's to get the Cotton Tots. After we did indeed look at almost every item in the store, we discovered....THEY DID NOT HAVE MY COLOR!! They had every other color of Cotton Tots, just not mine, thank you very much! So, taking a deep breath, I took Noey into JoAnn's, and guess what? THEY DON'T EVEN CARRY COTTON TOTS! So, there you go! The shower is now 6 days away! Good thing I already have one set to give the mom-to-be. I'll just have to order my one skein and give her the sweater after the baby comes. (I don't even have a picture of my progress because my camera decided to quit working!!)

Happy Birthday Joe!

We had a long, full day! Joe, Noey, and I started out at gymnastics early this morning. Then we picked up my mom and headed to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach to celebrate Joe's birthday. (my dad stayed home - he's doing well but not up to a lot of walking)

It was HOT and muggy, and did I mention HOT? but we managed to have a great time. We have been to this aquarium at least 10 times in the last couple of years but Noey loves it every time.
Later Joe, Noey, and I went to Hof's Hut for dinner to end the celebration. Joe is a workaholic, and we don't usually see him much on weekends, so this was a nice treat for all of us.

I don't have a lot of knitting news to report. I still haven't gotten to the store to pick up the Cotton Tots to finish up the Baby Hoodie Cardigan. I have to finish it by the baby shower next Saturday.

I didn't have anything to work on in the car on Friday while waiting for Noey, so I was forced to work on the Fitted Tank. I figured out how to do the decreases, but the neckline looks horrible! I'm hoping it will look okay in the end when I pick up and knit around the entire neck.

Attention all Karens who knit: Head on over to Karen's blog (Pink Acrylique) and sign up for the Knitting Karens Webring!!