Some good karma

I whipped up this hat for my brother - his birthday is next week.



Pattern: Cap Karma Hat by Smariek Knits
Yarn: Wool Ease Heather - grey
Needles: US8
Modifications: I used Brooklyn Tweed's modified crown to continue the cables on up to the top.

It's a great pattern, and a super quick knit. I can't wait to see it on him!

I am addicted to Ravelry

I can't help myself. I spend hours looking at other people's projects, other people's queues, and searching out interesting patterns. I have plenty of projects in my own queue, but I can't help myself. Yesterday I discovered the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I don't know why I didn't pay attention when I saw it on Brooklyn Tweed's site, but when I look at all the beautiful versions of it in Ravelry I am in awe. Must knit one. Today, I somehow got caught up in looking for toys to knit. There are zillions in Ravelry. I added a few to my queue. Yesterday I decided I should try to knit a hat for my brother's birthday (October 30th). So I searched around for a suitable pattern and came across, the Cap Karma Hat. Again, Brooklyn Tweed's version is fantastic. If you have not signed up for Ravelry yet, please get yourself on the waiting list. Trust me, you will not regret it. It is really fuelling my knitting passion.

Also, my other newest love...Audible.com. I don't know why it has taken me so long to get into Audiobooks, but last month I signed up for an Audible.com membership and downloaded my first book, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, who also wrote the Kite Runner. I am enjoying it so much. It's a beautifully told story, and the narration is perfect. The deal that I signed up for includes one free book per month. I'm thinking of downloading the Friday Night Knitting Club next, but I'm open to other suggestions if anyone wants to leave me one in the comments.

I knit up a ballband discloth. Seems like everyone was making these for a while there. I don't have Mason Dixon Knitting, but I found the pattern online for free here. I may make a few more of these for stocking stuffers. They're quick and mindless - perfect tv knitting.


I received the yarn that I ordered at the TKGA Knit & Crochet Show. It is soooo beautiful. Interlacements Rick Rack II. Now I'm excited about starting a shawl in it.


Here's a couple pics of my cute hubby modeling the sunflower tam.

Sunflower Tam

I knit up a quick Sunflower Tam, from Knitting Nature. What a fun, quick and easy project. It took just two days, and I loved watching the design develop.



Pattern: Sunflower Tam from Knitting Nature, by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Moda Dea Washable Wool - free (in a gift bag) from the TKGA knit & crochet show in Oakland. It is a lovely yarn.
Needles: US 8 for the ribbing, US 9 for the rest
Modifications: I cast on 96 stitches for the ribbing, but in retrospect, 90 would have been plenty.

If I can find someone who will actually wear this, I'd love to knit it again. I received Knitting Nature as a gift last Christmas and I love looking at the pictures, but this is the first project I've knit from it.

Third time's the charm

I finished my third Wool Peddler's Shawl. The first one was for Pete's mom, then one for my mom, and this one is for Pete's aunt, who loved his mom's so much she wanted a matching one. Fortunately it's an easy and very comforting shawl to knit. The yarn is soft and squishy, the garter stitch is soothing. And the result is warm and lovely. So I'm pleased. It's still blocking, but here's a preview shot:


Pattern: Wool Peddler's Shawl from Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle
Yarn: Knitpicks Andean Treasure, Lilac - 6.5 balls
Needles: Knitpicks Options US 7
Finished Size: 72" x 36"

I'm now excited to start something new. I'm thinking about trying this Sunflower Tam from Knitting Nature, or some other fun hat project. Woohoo!

Our mountain getaway

I'm back from my little mountain paradise getaway. We spent 3 days at Sorensen's, a sweet little cabin resort 20 miles south of Lake Tahoe. This place is so awesome, surrounded by beauty and quiet and thousands of miles of spectacular hiking trails. When we arrived, the fall colors were in full display. The aspens were just gorgeous. And when we woke up on Wednesday morning, it was snowing! The world became a winter wonderland. So beautiful. We did some really great hikes. The dogs had a blast, and the whole thing was super romantic and relaxing.


Our cabin at Sorensen's.


Fall colors in Hope Valley.


We opted to head toward Mexico... but we never did find the lake we were looking for.


Fresh bear tracks!

I did accomplish some knitting. I made good progress on my Wool Peddler's shawl for Aunt Nancy. I think I can complete it in the next couple days.

I ordered (and received) a copy of One-Skein Wonders from Amazon. I was hoping to find some good, relatively quick Christmas gift ideas, and other ideas to use up random balls of yarn. I don't know yet though. So far I'm not extremely inspired. Anybody have any favorites they've knit from this book? I'm in the mood for some quick projects.

Mystery Solved

I completed my Mystery Stole 3 (aka, Swan Lake), and I'm quite pleased with the results. Not perfect, but still, quite beautiful, and plenty big. I was concerned that the stole wouldn't be big enough, since I was making the symmetrical version by knitting two halves (without the alternate center panel) and grafting them together. I may have slightly overcompensated for this concern by blocking aggressively. The stole came out to a lovely 89" x 21", which I will admit, is a little long. But I love it. I love the sparkly little beads and the delicate ivory lace.

Pattern: Mystery Stole 3/Swan Lake, by Melanie, Pink Lemon Twist

Yarn: Zephyr Wool/Silk laceweight, ivory, about 950 yards

Beads: 8/0 clear ab

Needles: US5 (Knitpicks Options)

Started: June, 2007

Completed: October, 2007

Finished Size: 89" x 21" blocked

Modifications: I knit the symmetrical version, by knitting to row 287, twice, then grafting the two sides together.

Comments: I really struggled with this project, mostly because I was not fond of the wing in the original design, so I set it aside for some time. But when I ultimately decided to complete the symmetrical version, it really moved quickly. I knit the second half in just over a week. And I think the end result is just beautiful.

I also got started on a Wool Peddler's Shawl for Pete's Aunt. It is such a comforting, easy knit after all that lace. It's all garter stitch at this point, and the yarn (Knit Picks Andean Treasure) is luscious soft.

I have finally figured out how to add photos from flickr to my blog! I really struggled with this for quite some time, but I think I've finally got it worked out.

Here's a picture from our drive to the coast yesterday. Gorgeous!
We're going away for a couple days to a beautiful cabin in the woods south of Lake Tahoe. I'm hoping to get a lot of knitting done while there. And also a lot of hiking. And relaxing.