As I finished updating my other blog, I realized that I haven't written anything in here for a while and should probably do so. As it happened last year, it repeats this year...baby boom. I have 6 babies, one a month (or so, some of them are moving due dates on me) starting in July and continuing until October. I'm torn between going back to some of the old stand-bys or continuing onto some new projects. I know some knitters who hate to do a same project twice. I don't have that problem but there are times when I look back at my list of projects that I wish I had more variety.

Babies pose an addition set of problems. On the one hand there are tons of short knits that are quick, easy, and everyone loves them. Hats, little coats, booties, etc. These knits are fun to make but as I learned from the last series of hats I made (the little fruit hats) the babies grow out of them so fast! It's like in the blink of an eye it goes from a cute hat to something they can never use again unless its to dress up dolls or for a sibling. Now baby blankets, those tend to last longer, depending on the size...but guess what? They aren't quick knits. The big ones that last forever also take forever (when compared to other baby knits, and when you have 6 of them, time is a factor).

So I'm stuck. I've made one baby blanket so far, it's a lot darker than I really anticipated (and for sure darker than anything anyone else would give them) but it's very rustic and I like it... in the same breath I think it's small but I'm known for making baby blankets that are much larger than what most baby blankets are.



Now I have a baby girl for the next due date. It's my cousin. Part of me says I should make 2 things...something for the baby and something for the older boy who I found out about when he turned 1 and so didn't get to make him anything. (Texas is a black hole in my family...you move there and we never hear from you again). I'm doing my best to knit down the stash of yarn that I currently have, so there's no problem in needing more yarn, but I don't know what to make the boy. Not really sure what he's all interested in, and despite the few times it's snowed in Texas, it doesn't feel like a scarf needing city. Maybe I'll stick with just the baby. A coat perhaps? Another blanket?

There are three people on the list that the decision of what to make is easy. Matt and Gretchen got the binary blanket...so something similar must be made for thier child (who thankfully is due in October and can be rolled into a Thanksgiving or Christmas gift). There's Alex and Larissa who got a little shirt last time, something similar seems fitting. And lastly Jason and Tiffany. I can't remember if I blogged about this or not, but Tiffany wanted a pair of socks for her wedding.... a few weeks after her wedding I gave her the socks. She jumped up and down, was estatic, and everyone else thought I (and probably she) was insane. So, obviously, her baby girl is getting socks, or booties more likely. If I can manage to make them so tiny. That being said she will likely get a basket, a bunch of those small little knits. Booties, a hat and coat maybe. Go for the full ensemble. Even if the little one does grow out of them so fast, that one day that the kid will wear them will warm her mothers heart so much that I'm sure it will be appreciated.

That leaves two left to be figured out. (And since I'm packing up things and preparing to move I need to be sure I save some yarn for these projects, or pack them in an easily labeled box...thankfully I do have tons of other yarn that can be packed away right now, since they are destined for other, non-baby things).








One last thing. Right before this baby boom rose up and caught my eye, I was working on a whimsical knit for a friend of mine. She used to have some fancy rats as pets...yes they are called "fancy rats". After being over to her house I noticed a lot of rat knick-nacks, so I know it wasn't just a passing "oh wouldn't that be fun". Now she and her husband have a dog and no more rats, but that didn't stop me from knitting: Rat Race! It's a scarf that I always wanted to knit, but never really knew who to knit it for. I'm not a huge fan of rats so it didn't seem fitting to me to make for myself or others who aren't really rat people. So I'm glad I found someone who will appreciate it. When I started out making these I followed the pattern (or so I thought) and when I got to the 6th rat I paused... the kit said that there was just enough yarn to make 8 rats, don't bother knitting a swatch because then you'll run out of yarn... I was on 6 rats with enough yarn to make a dozen more. Clearly something was wrong... I was skipping this one line in the pattern that said "Knit 22 rows" so I guess I was making mice instead of rats. Since the yarn is cut for each rat, I decided to start a new with different yarn. I picked up some nice Jasmine blue pearled yarn and got to work, remembering the Knit 22 rows his time. These rats looked much better, last week I got nice gem eyes for them. Red of course to match the slighly creapy beady red eyes that white rats I've seen look like. Now that I have finally taken a picture of them for my collection, I can send them along to her and watch as she *hopefully* jumps for joy at another cool rat thing. This scarf will be more of a spring/fall scarf as I don't think it's think enough or wide enough to survive well in the sub zero Colorado winters. But it'll be fun to have around...even if just used as a table runner or something.

That's all I have on the needles right now (aside from a sock that's 1/4 done to complete a pair) I'll try my best to keep you all posted as I complete this series of baby boom projects.

Knitting Resolutions

In the spirit fo the day and the faint whisps of snow falling outside my window, and even the nice cleanness of my apartment (although far from being finished it is nice to be this clean) and of course because next to me, curled up in her favorite blanket (yup she has a favorite) is my lovely Lilu, I've decided to make a list of knitting resolutions:

1. Knit Fearlessly. I know that this was the theme for many around the web for last years resolutions, but I did not partake. I do tend to knit what I want and not shy away from things, however, there are times that I do things, say cast on the way I always do, instead of casting on with the way the pattern tells me to.
2. Knit down the stash. I, like many other knitters, have an affliction. I have a HUGE collection of yarn. I love buying it and looking at all the pretty colors and inspiration. But before I got buying more yarn, for small or large projects, I want to knit down some of it. Making things with the yarn I have before going off and staring more projects.
3. Knit a lace shawl or lace object. It's difficult, its hard, but it looks so cool when its done, so I must be fearless, and knit one up.
4. Knit my Jacket. I have had a project on my list for over a year now, its a long coat, I hope to get this knitted up this year.
5. Knit Family Stockings. Knit some family stockings for Angie and her family, it's a belated belated Christmas present.
6. Toys and knacks. I always find them so cute and fun, I want to do more little things, toys, dolls, knick-knacks, and give them to folks as little presents, or store them up until next Christmas/Birthdays and get them out the door.
7. Animal Scarfs. I have two scarfs that I want to do, chicks and rats (odd I know but those are perfect for some friends of mine) and I keep putting it off, so I should get it done.

I think that's it, or at least for now. I'm sure I will come up with millions more but that's the current list.

Happy knitting New Year!

Holiday Trials and Tribulations

The holidays are usually filled with knitting for me. Knitting Christmas stockings, or starting new projects, sitting around knitting and talking to family. But this year it has been a bit less. Things have either been so rushed that knitting wasn't super enjoyable, or I have been so busy that I haven't really gotten a chance to sit down and knit. First was Thanksgiving, I went back home (and had some amazing as usual food) and worked on some socks. I have finished one pair, the second is sitting half finished, hopefully I'll get back to that shortly. However there was another piece of knitting goodness on my Thanksgiving trip. I visited the Knapps and saw the beautiful preservation of my blanket. Apparently, little Sebastien sleeps with my blanket every night, and it gets washed regularly, just thrown in the washing machine. And this blanket looks brand new! Yay knitting skills! Here are some photos of the little man enjoying his nerdy blanket:

After that there was a bit of a rush getting some knitting done for Christmas. I'm sad to say that little of it actually got done. The first was a set of pot holders. The first pot holder was just two sides knitted seperately and sewn together (this is the plain one) the second was actually double knit, in a simple checkerboard pattern. It worked rather well I thought. So I decided to actually do a design in the double knit. It didn't want to work, the pattern was a little lost in the garter stitch (rose pattern) and I ran out of yarn so it's a little short. Here are some of the photos, (sorry they are so dark):

I decided to knit the other design ones with a stockinet stitch instead of garter, and for the longest time it didn't work, I couldn't get anything to be the way I wanted it, but now, I managed to get a stockinett going. It's nice. Takes forever though. The Checkerboard pattern I had one color in the back and one in the front, switching when needed, same with the rose, and it worked but not for stickinett. Now I move the yarn front and back for each stitch allowing for one half to be knitted and the other purled. It's interesting work, but it looks nice. Not sure if it's thick enough, but it will work for at least a table pot holder :)

The last thing that I did I took from the web which took from Starbucks. It's a nice wreath made from yarn balls (or rather styrofoam balls covered in a bit of yarn.) I think it's really pretty and I love it. Now to just have a box to put it in when I take my Christmas stuff down on New Years. Here it is:

I think that's it on my knitting news for the moment, got more things to make, food to eat, and cleaning to do before the New Year is upon me. Or at least get as far as I can before that day!

Finished Stuff

Let's see. The first thing that I finished a while ago was a pair of socks for a friend of mine. I can't remember if I told the story, but she told my boyfriend that she wanted some socks, but he forgot to tell me until 2 days before the wedding. (2 being at work days I might add) so I was unable to get her socks for the actual wedding. However I did still make them and I finally gave them to her on Friday night. She was estatic! She jumped up and down and gave tons of hugs. While everyone else just looked on in wonder about why I was this crazy person giving her a pair of socks. Oh well I don't care what everyone else things, so long as she's happy.

The second thing I finished was my quick knit baby blanket. Simple basket weave and soft yarn. I got it all finished, blocked and everything. Turns out Sara didn't have any blankets yet so I even guessed the right thing to knit, and she loved it. Hopefully I will have a picture of the precious little girl wrapped up in it soon. (Unlike Kegan who still owes me a photo, shakes fist).

Now I'm ready to head out to Seattle for Thanksgiving. I went back and forth so many times on what to take. First off I wanted to work on a second sweater for myself, fixing the "mistakes" I had on the last one (the red one in a previous post), but then I realized that I should use this opportunity to do more holiday knits, like the little presents that I want to send folks. But lots of those presents involve either complicated patterns not suited to travel, or the opposite, super simple fast patterns that involve tons of different colors of yarn, which is also not suited to traveling. So I think I've decided on socks. Tiffany loved hers so much, and they are fun to travel with. I will knit a pair (at least) of socks over Thanksgiving, then when I get back I will work on those little odds and ends gifts for everyone. At least I think that's the plan...I'm not packed and ready to go yet, so in reality who knows :)

Unless I manage to post again, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Spooky and Soft

So I don't have a picture of my socks yet, but those will come soon. What I do have is the beginning of the baby blanket I've been working on. Its so hard to figure out the right size, but the nice thing about the baby blanket is that size doesn't matter as much. More importantly they can't out grow it. Sure they could not like it anymore, but I carried a blanket around for a long long time. So I hope the baby grows to like it. Right now it's got two skiens done and I think one to go (the photo is with it only with one skien)

And for halloween I made a ghost! It glows in the dark and maybe next year I'll make a few more and have them hang from the ceiling fan!

Before the Winter Rush

Wow, it has been a long time since I have posted, and I didn't really even write all about my Peru trip either. Oh well. The news of the day is the finishing of a two big projects and the beginning of the winter season.

The two big projects that got finished are my skirt and sweater. Now both of these have been "finished" for a while from a knitting persepective, but they took a while to get the ends woven in and blocked, but I finally took the time before picking up some more knitting. First the Skirt (it's been sitting unfinished the longest):

The skirt is super cute and it fluffs out a bunch when I walk. I did have to get a slip for it as you can see in the first picture, it does have a bit of see-throughness without one. But all in all I'm quite happy.

The second finished project I'm more on the fence about how happy I am, its my sweater:

The problem I have with it is the way that it gets worked the back is longer than the front, yet both sides have the same # of rows. As far as the bottom edge is concerned I don't mind it at all...but the sides with the big wide stripe at an angle, I'm not so sure how I like that. Beyond that its a big comfy sweater and its nice and warm. Maybe I will try again someday and do a different pattern, or no pattern and get the rib worked in there so it can be fitted instead of baggy.

I also finished my first pair of socks! They are going to be a gift so I don't get to keep them, but still hurray! I originally couldn't do socks, but I read somewhere that christmas stockings are the way to go since they are bigger. So I knit one, found some of the problems I was having and went on to make several christmas stockings (I think I've made 6 total, I love making them so festive) then I managed to make a single sock but somewhere lost the momentum to make the second one and now I think I've even lost the first one. But this was a project that needed doing and so it has been done! I might make a few more this winter season, who knows.

My goals for the winter (aside from a few stragglers) are small and short, and stash reducers. I want to make some halloween and fall decorations, some chirstmas gifts, and some little knicknacks. For the most part I want to eliminate some of my stash yarn. I did end up buying some yarn but not much. It should be a fun season. The bigger of the projects (but still a stash buster) is a baby blanket for a gal at work. It'll just be in the reddish color that was used for the binary blanket and worked in a basketweave stitch. I'm thinking I might add some embelishments in the middle, but for now I just want to make a light but very soft blanket.

Hopefully I'll post more as my stash turns into cool knitting projects. Lots for christmas presents/random gifts. Let the season begin!

Planes trains and automobiles

Alright, so I've finally got a nice rainy weekend to get through this all, so my knitting blog is being hijacked for my trip to Peru updates. Don't worry there's some knitting intermingled throughout, but I've got some trip reports to write!

Photos for day 1

Day 1. Alright, there were no trains, but there were planes and automobiles. It all started at 4:30 in the morning, woke up, watered the plants and headed out to the airport an hour later. This was for my first flight to Miami (about 3hours) after arriving there I got to spend about 2 hours of my 10 hour layover (yes you heard me...10 hours) before my parents arrived. There was a little miscommunication but we met up alright, then after a long long time of just sitting in the airport, with nothing open, we flew out at Midnight to get to Lima, Peru. There we were whisked through customs and sent to wait again (this is now 4:30am) for our final flight to Cusco. At this point in time I have had little sleep on the planes and really just wanted to go to bed, but we arrive at Cusco at 10 and we're out and about walking around town by noon...so there´s no sleep for me. But before I get to Cusco, I have to tell you about one of the weirdest sights...picture two guys, with backpacks...out of each backpack is a pole with a monitor screen on it, facing the same direction as the guy. These guys walk up and down the place advertising the mini cooper...then for an added attraction you can play a racing game on the screen...as they stare at you? its kinda weird...but very entertaining. OKay, now in Cusco...starting with a fight into the Andes. Thankfully I was able to stay on the flight. I get to my seat, 5J which is an aisle seat, I get to the aisle seat and I see someone sitting in it, I say I believe that's my seat and we seem to get confused and I sit at the window (I'm thinking we traded) then another lady comes up...we all have seats 5J listed! AHH. Apparently the flight wasn't full because they just moved her over to a different section and all was well...phew.

Cusco is approximatly 10,700ft above sea level, and filled with people, its one of the longest lived in cities in the world. (My mom tells me that its a world heritage site) Its not a large city, not like Lima which we saw at the end of the trip, but its also not a small 3 house "town" like some of the places we went to during our walks. Let me digress a little and tell you about our approach into Cusco. This city is high up in the mountains and yet down in a little valley, so what do you do as a pilot? Bank super hard, skimming the rim of the valley and land on a short runway (awesome). We then got out, walked down some stairs right on the tarmac which is something I've always wanted to do. The airport is small, under construction and selling shots of oxygen for those travelers not used to moving around at such high altitudes. I almost wanted to get one just for the fun of it. We then got our luggage and went to find our guide. This was the last time I got to move my luggage on my own outside of the hotel room. On the one hand not having to carry everything is nice...but there are times when I just want my luggage with me you know? Did it get on the boat, no idea I could never be 100% sure it got off the bus or left the hotel since I never saw it, but oh well, this trip pampered everyone in many ways.

Once arriving at our hotel we had the afternoon to relax, have lunch, don't do anything strenuous as you enjoy the alitude. Oh and have Coca tea. That will help with the altitude, that and coca candy. (Later there were also Coca leaves, about the only thing missing was the powered stuff ;) ) At the hotel there was this older woman who was spinning yarn with a drop spindle and selling her wares in the courtyard. It was interesting to watch her work. Even though I have no spanish skills, it wouldn't have helped. Carlos (one of our guides) told me that the women wear different hats and that the hats mean different levels of "western education" (Of course there are tons of what I called "modern" people who looked like any other person, but there was a handful of people who were sticking to the older more traditional ways of life) This woman's hat told us that she had no western influence, and therefore wouldn't speek spanish anyway but Quechua. So needless to say the people I wanted to talk to in regards to knitting, and weaving...wasn't going to happen.

We met up with the rest of the group, and started our walk for the day, an evening walk through the town of Cusco. I know that this isn't a unique or rare thing, but not having them really in Seattle or Denver I noticed it. Everyplace had tons of street vendors. Not just shops that spilled out a bit, but little carts selling juice and snacks, or locals selling fresh pineapple. What was interesting here is that there were "Rent a cell phone" people who would sell you some minutes on a phone and you could call whomever you wanted. Being a newly claimed "Heritage Site" there are certian rules for building in Cusco. All roofs had to be made with the red titles. No thatch or corrigated metal, or american shingles could be used. I thought it looked really nice, but I'm sure it annoyed people. I have several pictures of dogs, honestly I wish I brought a counter with me. I had to have seen thousands of dogs walking around, laying in the sun, doing whatever. As my mom would say they were useless dogs. Didn't herd sheep, scare off birds...nope, just pets running around town. Each of the dogs in Cusco however were no strays, they just aren't allowed in the houses during the day, but are let in during the night time. The cats (which I only saw 2 or 3) apparently just stayed inside. (Probably hiding from all the dogs). The streets were mainly cobblestone but everything had a nice rustic feel.

Of course there are Incan walls which have been used to build some of the current buildings. There are also several churchs in Cusco, and these are the impressive. HUGE churches with more gold, silver and jewels in it than I've ever seen. To be honest, going through London and seeing the Crown Jewels...these weren't as impressive when compared to the churches here. The walk around town saw a mix of ancient and modern, Spanish and Incan. In additon to modern shops there were places selling more traditional stuff. There were also women who are dressed in all traditinal gear and often with Alpacas or llamas. You can take thier picture, or take a picture with them for just a sol or two. I did it once and got a picture with a baby alpaca. (See the hat she's wearing? She has some western influence)

That's most of day 1. At the end of it all I was exhausted. After dinner I had a huge headache (more from traveling less from altitude) and I took a long nap. Felt better afterwards and for the rest of the trip.