One Skein Wonder

What a fun one this was! Instant gratification!! My sister in-law Julie LOVES orange, so when I came across this yarn at Elann several months ago I just knew I couldn't pass it up. The only thing was I had no idea what I would make with it. Then I saw the One Skein Wonder. Obviously this yarn would require more than one skein, but it was worth it! I ended up using 5 balls of Valeria di Roma 100% Angora yarn doubled. I hope she loves it!

Jack modeling Julie's One Skein Wonder Shrug

rear view

I'm pleased to introduce Klaralund

This is the first garment I've made for myself and I'm quite happy with it. It was a fun and pretty easy knit. Like the sweater for Jack, if I use the pattern again I will knit in the round for the body and the arms up until the point where I need to attach them to the body. I haven't had a chance to wash it yet, but I'm still trusting that it will be softer and not so scratchy.


Klaralund

Jack's Sweater in Regata

It's finally complete. I have to say that I thought it would never happen. I had to re-work the back shoulders and neck once (the pattern was wrong), then redo the collar 3 times. Thanks to Sheree, she gave me a tip to bind off loosely since it was too tight to fit over his head the 2nd time. But finally it's done and I am pleased with it. And Jack loves it too, that's the best part. I can't get him to take it off after asking him to model for pictures.

This is the first sweater I've completed, it's a lot of work. I think the next one (after the Klaralund sweater that I'm currently working on) I will modify the pattern and knit it in the round. There is just no reason to have to do all that seaming. Anyway, here are the pictures.

Best Model Pose

I Love My New Sweater!!

Another View

I can't stop starting new projects!!

It's insane really. I started a quick baby blanket for a shower I'm going to tomorrow. I hope I finish. I'm still working on Jack's sweater, I'm about 1/3 of the way done with the front. And still working away on my Klaralund, I'm done with one sleeve and about 1/2 way done with the back. Then I'm going to cast on this One Skein Wonder for my sister in law tonight. Of course I'm using different yarn so it will be more than one skein, but I saw this and thought it really looked like her. So that's all on the knitting front. As if it's not enough!! Mike says it drives him crazy that I have so many projects going on at the same time, I guess he'll just have to get used to it!

Trice the Dinosaur is Completed

I knitted up another dinosaur for Jack last weekend. They go pretty fast so they are a fun easy project. And Jack loves them, which makes them extra special to knit. This guy looks pretty cool tromping through the Bougainvillea out front.

Another Dinosaur for Jack

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Filling
3 C Cooked Chicken (Cubed)
1 pkg Frozen Peas
1 pkg Frozen Parisian Carrots (If you can't find these use other frozen or fresh chopped)
3 C Chicken Broth
16 T Butter (2 sticks)
1/2 C Flour
1/2 C Chopped Onion
1/2 C Chopped Celery
Salt & Pepper to taste

Crust
1 C Shortening (I like the butter flavored)
3 C Flour
1 t Salt
8-10 T Ice Cold Water

Melt butter in pot, add celery and onion. Cook until soft and translucent. Add flour, stir well, slowly add chicken broth, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Add Frozen veggies and chicken. Cook until thick and bubbly. Salt & Pepper to taste.

Prepare dough for crust. Roll out 1/2 dough for bottom crust. Place bottom crust in 9X13 Pyrex dish. Prick bottom with fork. Cook @ 350 for 10 minutes. Roll out top crust. Turn oven up to 400. Poor chicken/veggie/gravy mixture into cooked crust. Top with remaining crust. Bake for 35 minutes @ 400. Let stand for 10-15 minutes.

Tip - For a tender flaky crust don't over work the dough. Just roll out large enough to fit pan and fill in cracks or holes. Don't worry about how it looks! Taste is more important.

ROARRRRRRRRR

This guy turned out pretty cool and I got to learn a few new knitting techniques. This was a lot of fun to knit. I got the pattern from She Knits Shizknits blog. He has 2 brothers that I'm going to knit too.


Mr. Stegs

And I'll probably knit up a few more sets for nephews and his September 2002 birthday buddies. But I have to confess, I've committed a Yarn Snob sin...I bought jumbo skeins of acrylic yarn from Michael's to do it. I know I know it's bad, but I just couldn't resist $2.49 for all that yarn, it's not going to be worn and it needs to be durable and washable. I'm just trying to justify myself. I may regret it later, who knows what it will feel like in my hands.

Memorial Day Weekend - WIP

Last week was my Friday off, so I ended up with a 4 day weekend ... whoohooo, and all I had planned was knit, knit, knit. Well that and enjoy our front patio and the nice ocean breeze. Jack played out front and I knitted away, it was a perfect weekend! Oh I also did a bit of cooking. I made a chicken pot pie for my friend who just had a baby, actually made 2, one stayed home. I'll post that recipe too, it's Mike's favorite. Back to knitting. I'm coming along pretty well with my Klaralund Sweater, pretty close to having one arm completed. I also worked on a dinosaur for Jack. I'll post pictures of that when I complete it tomorrow.

Klara Arm #1

Finally the back is completed for Jack's sweater in Regata. I'll start the front this week.

Completed Back

I knitted up this hat real quick for a friends baby, the shower is in a couple weeks, so I took advantage of the long weekend and got it out of the way. I was going to use the Peruvian Baby Cashmere from Ellan that I had used for the other, but I didn't have enough yarns, so I paired it with some left over Peruvian Silk in Purple and I turned out really cute...I think so anyway!

Baby Hat

Meet the future Klara...

Here's my stash of Noro Silk Garden for the Klaralund Sweater Knitalong. This is the start of the sleeve, I thought I was starting the back...oops! Shouldn't do these things when I'm tired and taking drugs (didn't I learn better with the mimosa's??)...anyway, it's all good. I really love how this is knitting up, but I'm not too impressed with the actual yarn. It's really stiff, I expected it to be a bit smoother with the high silk and mohair content, and there is lots of vegetation that I'm having to pull out. Also I've come across two knots already. I read some reviews I guess this is pretty common, a little frustrating for the cost of the yarn. So glad I didn't pay full retail! Gotta love e-bay!! But the colorway is to die for and I really like the sweater!!


my noro stash

Introducing Arleigh's Summer Swing Top!

I have to brag. I think this turned out GREAT!! I'm so pleased with this. The yarn was wonderful to work with. The pattern was pretty easy to follow. I'm sure my difficulties were just my lack of knitting experience. But hey, I can't knit scarves forever! I live in Southern California for heaven's sake! And I've never been into following the rules, if I'm in to something I jump in with both feet!

Anyway, I tried it on Jack, he wouldn't let me take a picture (what's up with that? Isn't he too young to realize I put him in a girls shirt??) but it's going to look great on Arleigh. I wish her birthday wasn't so far away (August). I intended on making it a gift when I started found the pattern and yarn, I honestly thought it would take me a lot longer. Well she may just have to get it earlier:) I've always been like that, when I get a really cool gift for someone I just can't stand it and always give it ealier. Dh and I were terrible for years, we always opened Christmas gifts early!

I still need to block it so the hem doesn't curl so much. But overall I'd call this a success!


Summer Swing Top

Close Up

Lucious Spinach Artichoke Dip

I've been meaning to post this new recipe I tried on Mothers Day. It was really yummy and very easy. I did substitute fresh spinach for frozen, but that was the only change. I always like to use fresh over frozen veggies when I can. Hope you enjoy it!

Luscious Spinach Artichoke Dip

Ingredients
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed

Directions
1 Preheat oven to 370 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2 In a 1-quart casserole dish, combine artichoke hearts, sour cream, mayonnaise, cream cheese, garlic and frozen spinach. Mix well.
3 Bake covered for 25 minutes.

Makes 4 servings

Jack's Sweater in Agadir

Can you say ribbit? Ugh I've now had to rip it back twice. Needless to say I'm getting a bit frustrated!! This is still the back and I'm just starting the decreases for the arms.

not much progress

Klaralund Knitalong

Come knit with me :) I just got my yarn, Noro Silk Garden #39 LOVE it love it love it. Will post pictures later.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/klaralund_knitalong/

Lesson Mimosa's and Knitting are not a good idea for beginning knitters...

So on Mother's day I took Jack's sweater to work on at my mom's house. Thought this will be perfect, sit around with the family knit a little, sip mimosa's.... NOT I haven't picked up the sweater since Sunday (I've been working on Arleigh's top since I have a deadline for that project) so it's time to start making decreases for the arm holes... and I notice that the SS part of the pattern in the section below is bigger than the one I'm working on. So I think, well I'm knew, so maybe the gauge of my stiches is just that uneven. It can't be that bad, right ... so I count, and let me tell you this yarn is hard to see, I felt like I was going cross eyed, but I count 16 rows, not 12. UGH. So rip-it I go through 2 whole sections of pattern work. YUK!! I won't make that mistake again. No consumption of adult beverages while I'm knitting until I can learn to handle my liquor AND my needles at the same time! I'm putting this down and will come back to it later when I'm not so frustrated!