It's a Blanket!

My scrap sock yarn project is now starting to look like a lap blanket. Before starting this, I would have never guessed it would turn out to be the most enjoyable knitting project I've ever done.

Sock Blanket Progress

I've been making slow progress on this project but that's okay. I complete several squares a night while I wind down from the day and then wake up early wanting to do a few more before starting the day. Changing yarns and colors keeps it interesting to see how each square will turn out.

Sock Blanket Challenge

I'm calling out all my knitta's to start a Sock Blanket. This morning at our Knit in Public get together, Becca and I had a great time swaping our stash sock yarn and winding 15 yd mini hanks for each square of the blanket. Swaping allows you to get different colorways of yarn you might not necessarily pick out for yourself and share stories of the projects from the leftover yarn. True, knitting a blanket out of 3" mitered squares can be intimidating but keep an open mind and don't stress out about having to get it done quickly. It's the perfect mindless kind of project for SnB's and KIPs so please join us on Ravelry at Wichita KIP.

P.S. We are also going to have a KIP traveling bag if you would like to donate sock yarn scraps or swap your stash.

Come on Becca - Deep down you know you want to do it!

Skating Jacket

I don't ski, so for me, the Ski Jacket by Veronik Avery is going to be my skating jacket. The bulky wool I used (Cascade 128) knitted up quick when I got to going on it. I surprised myself by fearlessly making fit modifications as I went along and they all came out successful which makes for some happy knitting and some warm skating!

Time Passes Slowly

Time has passed slowly the last couple of weeks while husband recuperates from knee surgery. We watch a lot of movies and nap. I injured my elbow making it somewhat painful to knit for long periods of time so my ski jacket is progressing slowly as well.

Don't Go, Winter

Kansas weather is exciting and so is starting a knitting project. We had a 95 degree variance in one week from Thursday to Thursday. Really, I'm not ready for winter to sneak into spring. Guess that's why I'm starting on a new wool project. The main color will be charcoal accented with gold. I should have started this Ski Jacket earlier but I had to order the pattern book and the winter months just got away from me.

Bella on Ice

Second pair of Twilight replica Bella mitts that I made especially for some chilly lessons on the ice. Followed Dianasamour's pattern instructions for a coordinating headband and knitted all from two skeins of Comfort Chunky.

Valentine Jeep

Forget roses and candy! Our timing to get me a new vehicle fell right in line with Valentine's Day. I knew I wanted a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and then had to make a choice between several different packages. At first I thought I wanted a basic black Rubicon, switched to the Black Ops, walked into Steven Chrysler and there sat the Jeep Sport of my dreams. It didn't have auto locks/windows so they ordered another one, dressed it out with the dealership chrome package, custom wheels and smooth riding all-terrain tires and now she's ALL MINE! It was the best car buying experience we've ever had. Not once did we feel we were being hustled, they worked within our offer and exceeded every expectation we had. If you are looking to make a car purchase be sure to check them out and ask for Regan.

Peace Fleece Socks

Peace fleece is a Romanian-American coop trade yarn. It starts off as somewhat of a scratchy wool/mohair and then fluffs and softens with continued washings. I used it years ago to make a pair of mittens and matching hat so this time around I'm using it for the New Cabled Family Socks. Warm socks to wear with short boots or around the house.

Valentine Vest

I finished this Kurasun vest by Jane Ellison just in time for Valentine's Day. I love hearts and especially vests because they keep my core warm without the bulk of a coat. So when I saw a sample of this displayed at Twist I just had to make it. I knitted it from Mirasol Sulka (60% merino wool, 20% alpaca, 20% silk) yarn from the Peruvian Highlands and sewed in a two-way zipper. A feel-good added bonus is that a portion of every purchase of this yarn is dedicated directly to the funding of a school in the remote area of Munani in the region of Puno.

Twilight Swap

While the Twilight movie played, we drew names for the swap. Amy was the lucky recipient of my Bella mittens and cowl and once again, I drew Becca's name for a handspun drawstring bag, knitted apple cozy and some candy. Appropriately for the evening, I handed out vampire teeth for some silly, knitta fun -- Bite Me, Knitta's!

A Twilight Knit

My knittas and I are getting together tonight for a Twilight themed project swap. If you watch the movie closely you can spot many different knitted items ranging from hats, mittens, scarves and sweaters and the knitting world has replicated those patterns. I found the pattern for my chosen projects to swap on Ravelry for the Bella mittens and matching cowl working feverishly all day yesterday to get them completed on time.

More Winter Knitting

Hello, Mason Dixon. If you were a friend you'd be a BFF. Instead, you're a favorite knitting book I find myself turning to time and again for inspiration and great cotton projects.

It's winter and that means the needles are clicking along. My own projects are sitting in the sidelines for baby blankets and fun acts of kindness like these cotton baby burp cloths above. I delivered some cotton dish cloths to a friend and have a gift swap coming up soon. I'm wishing for more snow so I can stay in, watch movies with my love and knit the snowy days away until spring.

Winter Headbands

My friend and neighbor, Shawndra, sent me a picture of a red and black headband she liked that she found on the internet. I knew she had a birthday coming up so I searched around for a pattern that resembled it, made a modification for a flower (Irish Rose) and came up with the crochet headband on the left. I had some leftover yarn so I knitted myself a similar headband on the right. Just perfect for the snowy days ahead.

January Spinning Saturday

I spent the day with my friend, Laura, at her yarn shop, Sugar Bunny Boulevard in ElDorado for Spinning Saturday. I took my portable Ashford Joy wheel to the shop along and some odds and ends dyed wool fiber that we ran through Laura's carder. I added some bits of recycled silk and like magic came out with a nice batt for spinning into a great handspun skein of yarn.

Goodbye 2010

It's a new year and that means it's time to take down all the holiday decorations. I wanted to save a little something from this year to look back on from our cozy Christmas and say goodbye to 2010. I'm ready for a new year of hard work, learning new things, outdoor adventures and time to spend with good friends and family.

Cobblestone Capucine

It's a hat - it's a hood - well, it's both and a friendly alternative to "hat hair" since it doesn't fit tightly on the head. I like the pigtail tassles and there's a tassle on the back as well. Knit from Covington by Cascade Yarns. The pattern was so simple I completed while watching a couple reruns of The Office last night.

Christmas 2010

Family Tradition

My neighbor (across the street) just had a baby. She's a tiny girl and I didn't even know she was pregnant until we got her picture Christmas card so I had to drop everything to make a baby blanket, some knitted hats and booties. The crochet blanket is a family pattern that I had to consult with my Aunt Blondie on how to get it started as there's no written pattern. Grandma M. was always making this shell blanket for every new baby that came along and I guess I'm carrying on the family tradition. This one from Baby Bee in Pink Baby Camo modeled by my childhood china doll (also made by Aunt Blondie).

Loop Cowl (Crochet)

I saw something like this at a shop in KC made out of jersey material. Then this week, a coworker, Pat, came to me describing a woman at church who had a neck full of what looked like knitted or crochet chains. I told her I'd do some checking and wouldn't you know, found a pattern on Ravelry. It couldn't be more simple - crochet a chain from an entire skein of yarn. It can hang around your neck or double over for a cozy cowl. Now I'll have to help Pat to make her very own.

A Very Good Flea

There are some months I walk away empty handed from our flea market but not today. I was loaded down with some crazy bargains like this wrought iron stand for $4 and a $20 Longaberger basket. The other two items I did not haggle on the price since I think they were marked fairly and I have a real use for. Finding something useful and striking a good deal is what it's all about.

KC: Mecum Car Auction

While in Kansas City this weekend for husband's work holiday party and some shopping on the Plaza, we made it to the Mecum muscle car auction. We went last year and it's a ton of fun to walk around and pick out a dream car. I found two: a 1958 Chevy Apache and a 1970 Chevy truck. Corvettes were selling for up to $140K but to me, out of them all, there's nothing cooler than an old, black pickup truck.

Ocean Bracelet

Instead of getting out on Black Friday, I decided to do something creative and relaxing at home. Besides, I spent all my money in Hawaii! I spent the morning with my soldering iron making a bracelet from small shells, stones and coral that I picked up on the beach of Waikiki. I had collected a handful thinking I'd make something special and this idea woke me up early this morning (as most of my ideas do). Some shells have little holes and for the other pieces that didn't I just wrapped with a strip of foil, soldered around and attached a ring. I couldn't have purchased a more special souvenir.

Clockwork LV

Flight to Oahu from Kansas = tons of knitting time. So much time in fact that I finished the majority of my Clockwork gear-inspired scarf designed by Stephen West before landing on the island. So how you coming along, Jackie and Amy?? I chose mine in colors to pay homage to Louis Vuitton in Mirasol Tupa (50/50 merino wool & silk spun in Peru).

Mahalo Hawaii!

I'm so grateful to have been given another opportunity to spend time in Hawaii. Seven days here is so very different from my life in Kansas. There will be no more trips for Kona Honolulu coffee, shopping on Kalakaua Avenue (love you Louis Vuitton!) or breakfast and yoga on the beach. I made the most of every day and have some awesome pictures and memories from our trip to last a lifetime. Thank you, Hawaii, for a wonderful time!

New Friendships

We've had some enjoyable Hawaiian dinners with husband's co-workers and wives (hey Teresa & Tammy!) while in Hawaii as well as time spent together after the conference touring around the island by shuttle and boat. Tammy is my new gal pal and we had a blast shop'n and sun'n together while the guys were tied up in work meetings. We almost felt guilty -- NOT!

Ocean Adventure

Back home I had booked a kayak trip on the other side of the island in Kailua. So, at work before leaving for Hawaii I daydreamed about smooth sailing on a peaceful ocean. You know, a peaceful vacation memory like what was posted on their website. But as things tend to go, my adventure was quite different and full of challenges.



A shuttle picked me up at my hotel and we drove to Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks where we carried our boats down to the beach for a five mile paddle out to Moku'lua Island. To say it was windy would be an understatement. We were actually paddling against (and sometimes sideways) white-capped waves. We made it halfway out to the island and our guide debated going back. There were about 10 of us and at this point none of us wanted to give up so we dug down deep and made it there. We ate a packed lunch on the beach and the snorkeling turned out to be just as challenging as the waves rocked me around the sharp coral reefs - both my knees were bleeding - but I did see some pretty marine life and a sea turtle. On the way back in a rouge wave came up over me and rolled me out of my kayak. It was a desperate feeling to be scrambling for my boat out in a rough ocean but at the same time it was thrilling to be able to experience it all...counting the blisters on my hands.

Aloha!

The weather is so nice here in Honolulu. Husband has work conferences and I've been free to shop, play and sunbathe on Waikiki beach. My morning routine is to walk down the block to McDonalds for a local favorite platter of spam, eggs and rice then sit on the beach while the sun rises. Who would've thought spam could taste so goood--only here in Hawaii!

Wichita Toy Run

Cotton Update

The combines are out working the fields and leave big rectangular blocks of cotton behind to be delivered to the gins for processing. Today, I stopped and talked to a farmer at Metz Farms and learned a little bit about the process and their goal to be completed by Thanksgiving. The machines leave some cotton behind and he gave me permission to come back and collect whatever I wanted. I'm thinking that big mound in front of the bale is all mine...Just gotta love "The Look, The Feel of Cotton!"