Thank You Secret Pal!!!

I'm participating in the One Skein Secret Pal exchange and just picked up a package from the post office this morning. In the box I found a beautiful rose colored Wool/Angora blend from A Star Alpacas (along with a small package of Cinnamon Vanilla Almonds - yum). I can't stop petting this stuff, it is heavenly! Thank you so much Secret Pal - I love it!

I hope to post a picture later this weekend, but just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful gift.

It's Been a While...

Can you tell I suck at blogging? Let's see...

Started (and nearly finished) with Candy Apple Red (aka Green) Gable (http://www.zephyrstyle.com), in Cotton Fleece. Just need to finish the sleeves and block. Got nervous when folks at the knitalong said the sizing ran small, but the medium fits me perfectly.

Working on the second sleeve of the Anthropologie inspired capelet (found here on Craftster - http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=62281.0), done in black Patons Katrina.

Still working on the Blue Heron shawl, I've done a few more repeats. Can't knit lace while commuting (not a pretty sight, esp. when I drop a stitch), so it's a project I only work on at home.

The FCEK twin set is temporarily on hold. Finished the back of the cardigan, and goofed on one of the sleeves. I hate ripping, so it might be a while.

So many projects, so little time. Can't decide what to do next:

• The Roundabout Leaf Tank from "Knitting Nature" using some Denim Silk in the stash (heavily leaning towards this as I just joined the knitalong)
• Pacific Grove pullover (started last summer) in Elann's Pasticcio
• An entrelac top from an old issue of Knit n' Style using navy and white Schulana Supercotton.
• Reknit Knitty's Soleil since last summer's attempt came out way too big

I Know, I Know...

Still here, knitting whenever I get a chance.

I finished the back of the FCEK cardigan, now I'm working on the sleeves. I'm saving the front pieces for last since I'll need to keep track of both cables and stitch patterns. Right now there's enough work and personal stuff going on that I need easy, relatively mindless knitting projects.

I've also started working on my first lace shawl! The pattern is from Nancie Wiseman's "Knitted Shawls, Stoles and Scarves" and I'm using Blue Heron Rayon Metallic (not sure about the colorway since the yarn was untagged, I think it's either Deep Copper or Parrot):

Found this bit of fun at http://www.blogthings.com - The World's Shortest Personality Test:

Your Personality Profile

You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

Started Another One

The running joke in my household is that I do far more knitting than finishing. I love to knit, I hate finishing. Coach T is still waiting for his sweaters from the last two Christmas' (We won't talk about the "Curse of the Love Sweater"). I actually sewed a sleeve in one of them last week. Who knows, maybe I'll sew in the other sleeve sometime this year.

With all the UFO's around here, is it any surprise that I've started yet another project? The new FCEK has an adorable twinset in it that I must have. I dug out some Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Silver Plum (which appears to be discontinued) from the stash and cast on for the cardigan.

Post Knitting Olympics Funk

I've got the gold, and now I'm in a slump. I haven't knit anything but swatches in the past few days. I have plenty of UFO's but nothing is inspiring me. I have enough yarn to open my own shop and plenty of patterns on my "to do" and "redo" list like Rogue, this cute Dawn Brocco design, The Somewhat Cowl and the "Short and Sweet" shrug from SnB The Happy Hooker (I barely crochet) but something is missing.

Maybe I should take Coach T's advice and go read a book.

Knitting Olympics - DONE!!!

Just put the final finishing touches on my Sitcom Chic. In place of a button, I'm using two small bee pins that have been sitting in my jewelry box. There's a small chain that connects the two, but I can't find it at this moment.

The picture is a little crappy - hope to post more later when Coach T wakes up.

Knitting Olympics: Day 3 and 4

I'm ahead of schedule - woo hoo! Finished the body of Sitcom Chic tonight:

I'm making the size medium, and opted to knit the body a little longer than the 13.5" called for in the pattern. It worked out well since this was also the end of the second ball of yarn.

Now I can take a short break and start casting on the sleeves. Because I hate dpns (and haven't quite mastered the two circs technique yet) and want to knit both sleeves at the same time, I'm knitting them flat. I'm also knitting them full length instead of 3/4.