It's always about needles and fiber

My grandmother on my dad's side was a seamstress. She taught me to sew so long ago that I don't even remember actually learning, my early memories of sewing are of sitting at her machine and making diapers for our dolls with her scrap fabric. She would show me how to make decorative edges or sew on lace. The funny thing is I don't actually remember putting my dolls in the diapers, only making them. Maybe Steph did, I don't know. I was too busy absorbing what Grandma was telling me. She never taught me about stash, but she had a stash! I guess that was one of those things you used to keep to yourself. I don't think anybody new the extent of it, except me, until after she died last year and my mom and sister packed up her room and set aside all her sewing related things for me, including her stash :)

I haven't sewn much in the last 4 years. I've had her machine in my home for about a year and only used it one or two times. Tonight I finished the Duvet Cover for our new Bed. I was getting quite frustrated as my thread kept breaking. The Huskavarna is a temperamental bitch, if you accidentally brush the tension knob or look at her wrong she'll mess with you for the rest of the day. As I kept re-threading the needle I thought a lot about Grandma, thinking about the last few times she used the machine she had asked me to thread it for her. I kept wondering what the heck was wrong I KNOW I hadn't touched anything, I know better! I finally decided maybe I should change the needle, and wouldn't you know that did the trick! Amazing, so I'm sitting there thinking about all those hours sitting at this table and machine with Grandma and I never remember having to change a needle because it was dull, I've broke plenty, but never just wore one out. Grandma must have always changed them, I was just never around. Then I realized that needle I had just set aside, was put in there by my Grandma. I don't know why it affected me so much, but it brought me to tears. I feel so close to her when I'm sewing, like she's looking just over my shoulder like she always used to, I can almost smell the coffee on her breath. I just miss her so much, so many fun and silly memories. She had such an influence in my life. I never would have thought those hours spent sewing my prom dress or that orange bikini would have moved me so much right now.

Last week I finished the window and shower curtains for our bathroom ... Also in Aloha. I found a great online resource here for Hawaiian prints. They have a great selection, the fabric is great quality and the prices are awesome! In the bathroom I will also sew a border on white towels with this same fabric.

In our bedroom, the final touch will be a headboard that I'm making, I'll post a picture of our completed rooms and bathroom.

Jack's room is also getting an update. He chose a cool fabric with Woody's and Surf boards. There are also a few more accent pieces I'm going to pick up to go along with our aloha beach theme. I found the pattern for the duvet's here.

Oh and the sewing machine needle. I put it in my jewelry box, for some reason I just can't bear to throw it in the trash. I'm sure in 50 years when my kids are cleaning out my room they'll come across it and think I was sure a batty old lady with one heck of a fiber addiction! Hopefully I'll have a grand daughter that won't judge me like I didn't judge my grandma, and she feel honored to be inheriting all of my fiber related items.

Happy Mother's Day, Take Two

This is It's a Wrap Take 2 from The Garter Belt. I've been thinking about trying out lace for a while, and frankly it just scares me. I was looking for something to knit my Mom for Mother's Day, when I came across this pattern and thought I'd give it a try. I'm very happy with the results and found this basic lace pattern fun. I used some left over Endless Summer Sonata that I got from Elann last year. It's 100% Mercercized Cotton, so it was a perfect substitution for linen yarn that the pattern recommended. Since I didn't have quite enough yarn left over to work it to the length in the pattern I decided to steam block it and get a few inches. It worked beautifully. And that was just with my little travel steamer, I'll have to add one of these to my knitting tools wish list!

I really enjoyed knitting with this yarn for this project. I'm about 90% complete on the Little Bows sweater, and still can't bring myself to finish it because the yarn is just so stiff and hurts my hands to knit with it for very long. I suppose it's the larger needles that this pattern calls for that helps. I'll have to remember that if I ever decided to knit with Cotton again :)

Adventures in Aran Knitting Part 1.2

I'm proud of myself. There I said it, I really am. The only thing that frightens me more than Aran knitting is lace, and I'm not going there, yet...

The stitch pattern is fairly easy to memorize, I just have to keep track of the number of rows for the cables, everything else works itself out. I am amazed and in awe of the talent and attention to detail it must take to design; I don't think I'll ever design.

I won't bore you with endless updates of each inch. This is going to be a long project; I'm only 5 or so inches into the back and have a long, long way to go. Mike is 6'5", 225lbs ... that adds up to one heck of a lot of blackberries! I do hope I enjoy knitting every last inch as much as I have loved knitting the first 5! This isn't mindless knitting that is for sure. I have to pay attention, but I enjoy the rhythm. I enjoy see it grow and develop. The only thing I wish I could do differently with this sweater is to knit it in the round, but the blackberries don't allow you to do that since they are worked on the wrong side. Well maybe they can, but I'm certainly not advanced or experienced enough to do it! 

Detail

Here's a close up of the different stitch patterns. Blackberries, twisted stitches, cables, 1/2 diamonds, and moss stitch. 

Blackberries Close Up

Gratuitous shot of the boy

 

Adventures in Aran Knitting ... Part 1

When I heard about Clan Aran Sweaters where I could purchase yarn and a pattern that represented the Shean name I thought it was a pretty cool idea. I checked around a little, but I couldn't find any place to purchase the pattern only. So I decided to just bite the bullet, fork out $100, and buy the authentic báinín yarn and pattern straight from Ireland.

...Then I hear about The Great Aran Sweater Myth over at The Knitting Curmudgeon's blog. Oh boy, I had been had, or so I thought. Fortunately Marylin did all the research for me (thanks!) and I was quickly relieved to figure out that I hadn't been swindled. I knew that The O'Sheahan's hadn't been fishermen ... so why would they have a family sweater?? Of course they didn't, well not to identify their washed up dead bodies anyway. You can read more about the history of aran knitting at the link above, but basically each stich pattern represents the different motto's of each family. The Shean's (or O'Sheahan, O'Shea, and O'Sheehan) stand for. Cables symbolize luck, Diamonds: wealth, Tree of Life: Family, Ladder of Life: Health and Happiness, Honeycomb: Work, Trellis: Success, ZigZag: Love, Irish Moss: Holy Trinity, etc.

I was pleased when it all showed up, then suddenly very afraid. I have never worked on a pattern so complex. And the site of all that báinín yarn (did you notice how huge that 1 ball of yarn is??), well, it's just a bit overwhelming. I have several projects on the needles right now, but this has been calling my name. So I worked a swatch to check my guage and practice the different stitch techniques. I honestly thought I'd try it out and decide that I was indeed over my head and put it away for awhile ... until I was more experienced. I mean I have ONLY been knitting for just over a year! Instead I'm hooked, I LOVE it!!! The Irish Moss, the blackberries!!! It is so cool to see them come to life. So I bound off my swatch and just casted on for the back. I'm still on the ribbing and have to write out the entire pattern, but I'm not worried, I'm excited and can't wait to see it come to life.

...More to come! 

Aaaaaaaah Manos

I've heard about this stuff, I've read about it ... but I had never seen it in person. As far as yarns go, I seem to find that when I actually come across the yarn that people gush over, it's just ok. Not bad, but doesn't live up to all the hype. I was beginning to think that my expectations were just too high. Until I came across this. Oh my, it's like buttah I tell ya, like buttah!

I was rumaging throught this yarn store that I heard about near my work. And when I say rumage I mean RUMAGE! I'm sure there are many more treasures than this Mano's to be found ... good luck finding it! This LYS has yarn from floor to ceiling ... all shoved into plastic bags and cubbys. Now I do appreciate the bags, keeps the yarn clean and all. But it makes it real hard to browse the store and get the feel effect, which to me is one of the few perks of going to a LYS. I will go back there, but it will be with much more time to search and browse.

So back to the Manos, I will be making it into a throw for Mike. You can see I grabbed up the entire lot of this yarn, there are 12 hanks, which should be enough for a small throw. I was going to do a basket weave stitch, but I think I'm going to look for a different pattern as the variations in guage don't allow the pattern to really show up. I'll post my progress.

Socks, Socks, Socks!

Here's my stash of sock yarn. I've got about 2 1/2 inches done on the second sock for my Father in Law, the color is Cape Cod. Next will be socks for my Dad in Fly Fishing, then my Mom in Morning Glory, finally Mike will get a pair in Yukon. That is of course if I don't pick up more sock yarn along the way ... yeah right, I hope no one is holding their breath on these! The ones for my Father in Law were suposed to be a Christmas gift, when I missed that deadline, I thought I'd be done by his birthday ... well that was Thursday and well you know the end to this story! I may put those aside and crank out my Dad's pair in hopes of getting them done for his birthday in March. Well I wont tell him since there is a good chance that won't happen! I really love knitting socks, this is my fourth pair so I experimented with a 4x4 ribbing. According to Mike he likes his socks a bit longer, so they take a while (not to mention he wears a size 12) My dad on the other hand has smaller feet and likes sport/ankle socks, so his will be quicker and I'm not going to do any ribbing other than the top for his. For my mom's I think I'm going to try the Jaywalkers I've been hearing so much about. I have no plans for Mike's other than I love those colors.

Support our Troops

Here is a picture of my cousin Matt, he serves in the Army and is currently deployed to Iraq. This picture was posted on the Army's site. He's the one on the left. I'm proud of him for serving our country, but I hate that he is there and why our idiot president has these young men and women there. Please pray with me for his safe return home. Matt's mom and my cousin, Betsy, forwarded this link to us last week, I had been wanting to send it out to everyone, and today being 9/11 it just seemed appropriate to put it in my blog.

August 29, 2005 Spcs. Matthew Phelps and Martin Gonzalez, from Company B, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, search a house for insurgents and weapons in Rawah, Iraq. This photo appeared on www.army.mil


Soldiers from B Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division conducts patrol of the houses and banks of the Euphrates river looking for hidden weapons. B 3-21 is attached to 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry, 2-14 is in Rawah Iraq to suppress terrorist activities. Photo by SSG Kyle Davis, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) (Released)

I also have another cousin there, serving in the Marines. David Paul Mendoza. Please pray for him too.

YAY! My Knit Picks Order Finally Arrived!!

Thank god it's finally here, I thought it would NEVER come!! This is the first time I've ordered from Knit Picks and I have to say that I am more than pleased. Other than it taking what seemed like forever to get here ... I have no complaints. And really I can't even complain about that because shipping is FREE, yes free, for orders over $30, I'm just impatient! The yarn is so soft and the colors are so vibrant. I can't wait to see the finished garments. Oh, I should mention that all this yarn is going to be knit into things for ME!! Yes, I'm treating my self to a few items. I figure after this I'm going to get started on Christmas presents, so I better do it now, otherwise I'll have to wait until next year. Besides it's not like I was out of control all the yarn and the 3 patterns came in less that $70 ... I can't beat that price!


Chickami in Merino Style - Dusk

Ribby Shell To-Be

I will be knitting the Ribby Shell from ChicKnits with this ... LOVE this color!!

Merino Style - Iris

The Eyelet Cardi To-Be

I will be knitting The Eyelet Cardi from ChicKnits with this ... can't wait to get started!


Merino Style - Coal

Here's Bronty

Just love knitting up these Dinosaurs! Such an easy weekend project. Now I'm going to mass produce the set for Jack's September Birthday Buddies! Hope they like them as much as Jack does.

Bronty

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!

WIP's

I started 2 new projects this weekend now that I have the needles required. The first is a Summer Swing Top for my neice Arleigh, I'm using Peruvian Baby Silk from Ellan. The pattern called for worsted weight, but I wasn't finding the colors or the texture I wanted, so I'm doubling the Baby Silk. It's so soft, and it's going to lay really nice for this pattern. The pattern is an intermediate skill level, and I'm really a beginner, but It's coming together. I had to practice what it called a Dpd (Double Purl Decrease), Which looks to be like a SSP (slip, slip, purl) with a slip over. It took a few tries but I was able to figure it out. I'm a little nervouse about the neck and shoulders but I have a while before I get there. Her birthday is in August, so I've got a little time.

The second project I started is sweater for Jack from a Pingouin pattern book, I'm using Katia Regata for the yarn. I got the pattern and yarn from Ellan. It's a bit hard to see in the picture, but I love the way the pattern looks, the textures are wonderful and this yarn is working nicely. It's a cotton blend, pretty easy to work with, and will make a nice sweater for a boy. I'm about 1/3 of the way done with the back, it's coming along quite fast.

So that's what I've got going now. I'll post pictures of my progress next week.

Sweater for Jack

Summer Swing Top for Arleigh

Talk about a UFO ... EEK

Ok, I finally dug this out and I swear I'm going to finish it this month!! My nephew turned 5 in January and I started this before he was born. I'm feeling major auntie guilt for letting this sit for so long. I can't find the thread I was quilting with, so I'll have to hit a fabric store this weekend and try to match the color. I actually don't have a lot left to do, maybe 1/4 of the quilting left, then the binding. As soon as I pulled this out Jack wanted to lay on it. Hopefully he won't become too attached before I give it to Blake. Guess I'll need to make one for him too. That's ok, I really love quilting.

Blake's quilt started over 5 years ago--check out the date!!!

I'll have to find a picture of the one I made for Hunter, Blake's older brother, I loved the way it turned out. I also have quite a few squares made for my grandmother before she left Oklahoma over 50 years ago. Her neighbors, well I guess that was what you'd call them, they were on a dairy farm, so the ladies from the surrounding farms, had all made squares for her to use to make a quilt to remember them by. Obviously she never got around to it. But what I'd really like to do is make a quilt for each of her children (3) to keep then pass down to one of their kids (my cousins), and of course one for myself, since it is my hard work!! ;p

My real challenge is how to fit it in between work, being a mommy, being a wife, and most importantly being a knitter ... Only kidding of course. But I'm so obsessed with knitting I don't know how I'm going to resist my knitting needles for a quilting needle. I'll let you know how it's going.

My Addi's are Here, My Addi's are Here!!!!

Yahooooooo my big addi turbo order is here all the way from Hong Kong!! I put together an order with some of the crafty mamas from my attachment parenting group so we could get a discount on these. We got them for just about 1/2 off retail and no shipping. A really good deal which allowed us to stock up for future projects. Even with all these sets, I'm sure I'll need more, but this is a good start. I'm so addicted to knitting!! At least I can start doing something with all that yarn I bought last month! LOL!

I'm finally posting a picture of the blanket I knitted for Jack. I used Trendsetter Blossom color 101 using US#11 needles. This yarn is so soft you don't want to put it down. It's great to work with. Jack loves this blanket, calls it his nimming :) This was my first big item, it's not very even, you can see how my stitches changed through out it, but that's ok, Jack loves it and that is all that matters.

Close Up

FOs

Well I've finished a couple projects, but I can't post pictures since they are gifts. So we'll have to wait until after their birthday's to see them. I'm working on another gift right now. Then I've got yarn to make 2 different sweaters for Jack and a Summer Swing Top for my niece. These will be the first real clothing items I've knitted so I'm nervous and excited all at the same time. I just place an order for some new circular knitting needles and I can't wait until they get here so I can start working on my new projects. A group of women from a subgroup of my attachment parenting mom's group placed a big order to get a good deal on the price. The person we are buying from has really good deals anyway, Your Wonderland store on eBay, his link is on my page. Anyway it's probably a good thing that they aren't so I can finish what I'm working on now. Ok, I'm off to make some good progress on this current project.

It was way too small to fit on Jack's noggin so I modeled it on one of his teddy bears. I think it turned out really cute and am really happy with it. I will definately knit it up for baby gifts in the future. ...And this yarn is so soft and delicious!

In this picture you can see the eyelets that make it adjustable.

This is a close up of the newborn hat I made for my friend Autumn's baby. It's knitted on US#8 16" Circs, Peruvian Baby Cashmere in Cashmere Blue It was really easy, took me probably 4 hours to finish, I'm sure a more experienced knitter would finish quicker. I doubled the yarn to get worsted weight.

Close up.

Scarf/hood for my MIL Cheryl. Used Schoeller Stahl Volare on US#8.

My first scarf, I knitted it for Mike. I've since ripped it out and re-knitted it :p I used Trendsetter Zucca, very soft.