Archive for April, 2010

April 29th, 2010

Little Laura’s Sweater

by Christina

I’ve had the pattern and the yarn picked out for a sweater for Little Laura for months now. But my hands have been busy with design work and Knitting Zimmermann knitting.

Finally, last week, I took a break from Knitting Zimmermann and designs and said that the entire week was devoted to baby knitting.

The pattern I chose was Lucille by Kelbourne Woolens – it’s a lovely top-down pattern with a matching bonnet.

The yarn was some lovely sock yarn I had handdyed in the crockpot.

Well, the yarn was lovely until I got down to the end of the first sleeve and realized I wouldn’t have enough yarn to knit the second sleeve. I had been telling myself I would run out but I was trying to ignore that little voice in my head. Why do I try to ignore you little-knitting-know-it-all? Ugh!

So I decided to try to dye some matching yarn. Little-Knitting-Know-It-All in my head said, “You’ll never match it you silly girl.” But I decided to ignore that too and go ahead and try. Ha! What a hilarious disaster.

So then I gave up, obeyed the Little-Knitting-Know-It-All and made the cardigan, which is too big for little Laura right now, a short -puffed-sleeve cardigan. I think it is really quite cute!

Blocked it will probably fit her on her 1st b’day. So…. I’m casting on again!

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April 28th, 2010

Little Laura

by Christina

A new little life entered our family yesterday. My sister, Heather, gave birth to a sweet little girl, whom she named “Laura” after our mother! Isn’t that the best!

Little Laura was tiny – although 1 lb bigger and 1 inch bigger than John – 6 lbs 4 oz and 19.5 inches! Don’t you just love the way she is studying her Daddy’s face in this picture?

Grandma Laura and Little Laura

The proud Mama and her happy sisters

I took my niece and nephews home for a pizza dinner, play time at the park, ice cream on the deck and then finally a movie.

I was rewarded when one of them gave a big sigh and said, “This is the best day of my life. I got a new sister, I had pizza and ice cream with sprinkles and I got to watch a movie.” What a reminder to enjoy the simple things in life! Kids are the best!

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April 28th, 2010

John – 8 Months

by Christina

I can’t believe it, but my tiny little infant is now an adorable, smiley, cuddly baby of 8 months.

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April 27th, 2010

Unwind Yarn

by Christina

Unwind Yarn

As of last week, my Woodland Spring Shawl, is available at Unwind Yarn in Burbank, CA (as well as in my shop, Ravelry & Stitches & Scones). It’s always exciting when yet another store wishes to carry ClassicCableKnits patterns!

Unwind Yarn does look like a “must visit” if you are in the Burbank area. Doesn’t it look cozy?

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April 26th, 2010

Did it have to end?

by Christina

The book ended! How could it? It was ssooo good!

There are some books that you just don’t want to end. You want them to go on and on, much like a blog. A new chapter every day. But alas, Sweater Quest came to an end, because, well, Adrienne Martini finished the sweater.

If you are at all interested in the knitting world this is a book you have to read. Adrienne interviews people like Kay Gardiner & Ann Shayne of Mazon-Dixon Knititng, Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee (The Yarn Harlot) and Amy Singer (Editor of Knitty.com).

Adrienne also does some great research about the “Alice Starmore” controversy and scandal and who doesn’t love juicy bits of scandal?

Adrienne, you have to write another book and interview some more “knitting god and goddesses” like Ysolda & Jared Flood. Now wouldn’t that make for a fun read?

And, if you all are wondering, I think the Mary Tudor sweater or the Henry VIII sweater is going on my list for knitting next year. I’ve been bitten by the Alice Starmore bug — I have to knit one of her sweaters.

CategoryKnitting, Reviews | Comment2 Comments »

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April 23rd, 2010

The South Hampton Scarf

by Christina

I just finished up the South Hampton Scarf pattern. It is designed specifically for Twisted Fiber Art’s Arial Evolution yarn – isn’t her yarn wonderful?

Sometime in late February I was reading a blog and saw a picture of a woman wearing a shawl made out of the most amazing yarn. I found the lady on Ravelry and searched through her project pages until I found the shawl she was wearing on the blog. Thankfully she had listed the yarn she had used – Evolutions by Twisted Fiber Art. Another few seconds went by as I typed “Twisted Fiber Art” into google and waited for the page to load. Ah, there it was – more information about this wonderful yarn.

A few more things fell into place and soon Meg (the wonderful dyer behind Twisted Fiber Art) and I were talking about collaborating on a pattern for her yarn. Since I had been dreaming about her yarn ever since I saw it, I already had a pattern in mind. Now after working with it I have several more designs lurking around in my brain.

I loved reading about Meg’s process – her studio is in a butler’s pantry in her 150 year old Italiante home – doesn’t that just sound so cute?

As you can see from the scarf above, Meg doesn’t mess around with yarn. She carefully plans and plots each colorway and gives us the most amazing results. Squint your eyes and just look at the color combo she choose for the colorway Lagoon (the colorway the scarf is made from). Doesn’t it look like a watercolor of the sea?

Well, enough prattle! Enjoy!

To purchase the yarn: Click Here

To purchase the patterh: Click Here

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April 22nd, 2010

Sweater Quest

by Christina

Monday night, after a lovely birthday dinner downtown at Morton’s Steakhouse, my dear husband raced me to the bookstore before it closed. It was quite the race too. The bookstore downtown had already closed and we weren’t too sure if we’d make to the bookstore by our house before closing time.

As you can see, we did. I promptly found (I had to ask) and purchased the last copy of Sweater Quest in the bookstore! I was SOOOOOO elated. My birthday gift to myself! Is that even allowed? I don’t know. But I have been dying to read this book — especially for the juicy details about the elusive Alice Starmore.

The next morning, when Lil John went down for his morning nap, I made myself a cappacino with the lovely tools my sister, Emily, gave me for my b’day, and sat down for a good read. Oh, it is so much fun to read. I’m really, really, enjoying it.

The next evening I came home and sat outside with a glass of wine until it grew too dark and cold and read, and read and read. Oh…. it’s so much fun to have a book you just have to devour.

I haven’t finished it, yet, which goes to show you how crazy my life is – it’s not that long of a book. But because I haven’t finished it, I can’t give the final verdict. But I will say… I’m lovin’ it so far!

have any of you read it?

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April 19th, 2010

Lamb’s Lace Cardi around town

by Christina

Lamb's Lace Cardi on Me

I thought I would show you a few pics of how the Lamb’s Lace Cardi is being worn by me and my family. Here I am at Easter – yes, I know, I’m silly but I adore hats.

Heather, Mom & I

My sister Heather made a lovely blueish green Lamb’s Lace Cardi out of Cascade 220. She made the M and found that because it is an empire waist, she can wear it while she is pregnant! What a plus!

And here is my mom wearing it (and desperately wanting one herself) right before we headed off to the fiber festival. Doesn’t she look stunning in it?

You can purchase the Lamb’s Lace Cardi pattern here!

Happy Knitting!

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April 16th, 2010

At Home…

by Christina

The weather has been unbelievable this week. Warm, sunny & dry. It makes you pinch yourself just to check that you’re still alive and not living in paradise. The flowering trees have been spectacular and liven up the air with their sensuous perfume. Yes, I do have to take a Claritin every morning to survive this time of year, but honestly, it is worth it. This is an amazing season.

I’ve been spending the afternoons out on the back deck. It is the time of day when John is the fussiest and I am the most tired from running around all day. So it is the time I have designated as the “Walker Tea Time.” John gets to tottle around in his walker and I get to sit out under the umbrella and enjoy a cup of tea and a sit & knit. It’s worked out perfectly twice this week — other times he tottles and drops toys, tottles and gets stuck, tottles and gets tired. =)

One thing we have been really enjoying is eating dinner out on the deck. The long daylight hours in the evening have made us linger at the dinner table and enjoy a glass of wine which then merges into a cup of tea. It’s been nice!

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April 14th, 2010

It’s done…

by Christina

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Seamless Yoke Sweater

There is something so satisfying about finishing a piece and being totally in love with the results of your labor.

If you haven’t already, you can read more of the details over on Knitting Zimmermann – the insane project I decided to do this year.

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