Does this happen to you?

….you know you have somewhere to go, and you put together an outfit in your mind – one that that will be perfect for the occasion and is going to look great, and it’s going to be perfect so you don’t really even bother to see what else is clean, because this is “the outfit.”  Then you’re getting ready, get out your perfect outfit, and it looks like poo.  Unflattering, ugly, just not going to work, and certainly nothing at all like the outfit you had it worked up in your mind to be.

That was my knitting weekend.  And, I had a lot of time to knit this weekend.  We’ve had a lot of rain, so I’ve had perfect sit around and knit weather.   I’ve had a few projects in mind and the yarn to go with them, but when I swatched or started the project…. no go.  Didn’t work.   Didn’t look at all like it did in my mind.  I tried a few patterns, and a few different yarns, but nothing would work together.

So, the hubby, Kaity, Layla and I took advantage of what looked like a quick break in the rain to walk a few blocks and check out the river near the house.

It’s getting big, and really roars.

….and about half way there the skies opened up and we got drenched!

But we persevered and finished our trek!   Then, on the way home I had a knitting epiphany – one more yarn/pattern combo to try, and this time it worked!   The pattern is Juno Regina, from Knitty, and the yarn is a fingering weight, no-name merino/cashmere blend I picked up in Solvang last weekend.  Pretty!

Sometimes you just have to keep trying on different outfits.

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What?! – You mean I’m NOT a Russian princess?

Silly me. I continue to live a fantasy in my head that I somehow have serious secret glam potential…. or that my knits have the magic ability to transform me into movie-star glamour…

I don’t know, I’m not feelin’ the princess thing. Actually, my first thought when seeing myself in this was more babushka than glamorous. I must not be far off… Kaity came around the corner during my little photo shoot this morning and started laughing uncontrollably. Daughter #2 just gave me the “you’ve got to be kidding” look.

Those two wouldn’t know style if it bit them on the butt, right? Tell me I’m just a little right. True, I could have put on a little makeup and found a nicer sweater, and maybe not taken the picture at 6:00 am – but still, I have to admit this is pretty true to life :o/

Ok, no babushka look for me. How ’bout this one. This deer-in-the-headlight shot shows how I’ll be wearing it in my non-glam real life.

Still, it’s a pretty, lacey, weightless little thing, and I do like it. I also truly enjoyed knitting with the Kid Silk Haze.

Pattern: Ice Queen, Knitty, Winter 2007

Yarn: Rowan Kid Silk Haze, color 595, Liqueur, 1 ball

Needles: KnitPicks Options, size 8

Leftover beads from my Mystery Stole

Modifications: None, although I’m not sure my bead placement is correct…

All in all, I’m very happy with it, even if it didn’t turn me into a princess.

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(((Hemlock Ring Blanket)))

Oh my gosh… I’m in love with this.

Get ready to look at a LOT of pictures!

This was a dream to knit… I never tired of it.  The Cascade Ecological Wool is one of my favorites.  So soft!

It blocked to 5 feet across!   This took me just slightly less than 2 weeks to knit.  It was knit almost exclusively during a few the-boys-are-gone Gilmore Girls marathons the girls and I treated ourselves to!  (seasons 2 & 3 on DVD)

Pattern:  Hemlock Ring Blanket

Yarn:  Cascade Ecological Wool, natural (8015), 1.75 skeins

Needles:  size 11 KnitPicks Options

Modifications:  The pattern calls for size 10 needles, but I knit tight, so went up a size.  I did one more repeat than Jared’s stopping point.  I started off knitting magic loops – which “magically” converts to a big circular once you have enough stitches.  Easy-peasy.

It’s lookin’ like it might rain.  I’d better go cuddle up under my new blanket :o)

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Short and Sweet

First…. how totally cool is this?!  This one’s mine, but you can get yourself one over at Scout’s!!

And…. good thing I didn’t promise myself I’d finish Cobblestone before starting my Hemlock Ring Blanket – because this beautiful blob of a blanket is about half done!

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A Perfect Knit?

Maybe.  If you ask me, these are as close to a perfect knit as I’ve found.

Each clog took one day, and one skein of Cascade 220 to knit.  I never knit ANYTHING in 1 day!

There’s also something magic, amazing, and just plain fun about taking a huge clown slipper, giving it 14 minutes in the washer, and… viola! – pulling out a perfect size 8-1/2 clog.

The pattern is fun, easy, and ingenious.  Give it a go!  Kaity’s already nabbed my extra Cascade to knit herself a pair, and my other daughter just requested a pair…. so I think I’ll be making more!

Pattern:  Felted Clogs, Fiber Trends

Yarn:  Cascade 220, green tweed (7601), 2 skeins

Needles:  size 13

Size:  Women’s medium

Mods:  none.

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No More Rules

I remember spouting off, back when I first started knitting and blogging, about how I was a one-project-at-a-time gal. Yeah… well those days are gone. I currently have seven WIPs. I don’t even care. Go check out my Ravelry (knittogether) – they’re all there.

So, because I can no longer control myself, apparently, Saturday I bought the yarn for some Felted Clogs and the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I cast on for the clogs yesterday and have one finished. They are FAST! Hopefully I’ll get them done and felted tonight, or at least by tomorrow.

I’m dying to start the blanket – must be the weather… but I’m actually going to try and make myself finish my Cobblestone before I cast on for Hemlock Ring. It’s gonna take some self control (ha!) – but I would really enjoy wearing Cobblestone, especially with our cold and rainy weather right now… so I’m anxious to get it finished. We’ll see how that goes. No more promises.

And here’s Layla…. showing you that she, too, spent Christmas morning in her PJ’s!!

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