Happy Birthday Sparky

My baby turns 17 today - where has the time gone.

So before the party day begins I thought I would update you on the VK cardigan.
The front bands went on better then usual. I took the time to really section off the area so to make the 90 some stitches evenly spaced. (there was a great tutorial in Knitty I referred to) I made a few changes to the pattern and am happy with the way it turned out. I have attached one of the sleeves - again happy with the results. Hopefully I will be able to attach the other today and sew the side seams. Then finishing all those ends. YUCK.....

I am still waiting for yarn goodies to arrive - will the STR yarn be first or the Jitterbug - come on Mr. Postman.

While I am waiting for Mr. Postman......

I have finished the pieces of the VK Short Sleeve Cardigan. I have to buy some embroidery floss to sew the shoulder seams before I can pickup the stitches for the front bands. This is one of my least favorite steps in knitting. I am never sure how many to pick up. I have time this morning.......I should ask "Mr. Google" for some knitting advise. Here are pictures of what I have so far.

Well I wasn't terribly successful at bring the pictures in the way I planned - I wanted three across - still learning I guess - baby steps.

I think I need a new camera - that would probably help this the quality. I also hear that natural lighting helps.

Well let's hope the mail brings yarn goodies today. I am waiting for STR for my Chevron Scarf and Jitterbug for my Seize Diamondbacks. Either one would get me started on something new for the weekend. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

My First KAL

My yarn for the Seize Diamondbacks is on its way. I am really excited to begin the sock and have progress to post. I have been checking post in the KAL and a few are doing two pattern repeats instead of three to make a shorter sock. This is probably what I will do - it has been along time since I have worn socks as long as the pattern shows. But who knows - once I start knitting I just might decide to make the longer version.

The yarn for the Chevron scarf is also on its way. This will be my project for road trips. I can't wait to see how this works up - I won't be in any hurry to finish this because I can happily say that spring has finally made it to Northern Maine. We still have a little snow hanging around in the yard but not a lot. I should check the gardens for new life.

I have also been spending time learning more about linking items in this blog - I am still a novice and it will take patience on my part to feel confident in what I am doing. Leaning something new takes time. Some of the blogs I read are so fantastic - there is tons of inspiration out there.

A Couple of Things

Since I made Hudson pose the other day - I owe it to him. (He wants to be able to tell his friends). Well here is the handsome guy with a recent finished object. The pattern and yarn came from KnitPicks. I am not sure what I will use it for - it's current role in the house is to tie some of the odd colors I have in the house. Alas - that changed yesterday when we painted the living room - the color is awesome, exactly what I wanted. So - without further adieu - here is Hudson The 'Triever Dog" with my felted basket.

The other "thing" I wanted to show you is the sweater I am currently working on. It is from the Summer 2007 issue of Vogue Knitting. It is called "Short Sleeve Cardigan".

I am using yarn from my stash and I am pretty happy with it. The back, left front and both sleeves are done , I just started the right front so it will be a few day on that. I am going to sew it together with embroidery floss so the seams aren't so bulky. You will see what I mean when I get a picture of the progress. The yarn is a cotton tape and won't really be the best for sewing.

Well time to start my day. The sun is just about to come up and the forecast if calling for another beautiful day here in Northern Maine. Temps were in the 60's yesterday - it felt great. The two college kiddo's are home for the weekend which meant the house was full of laughter and love. Wonderful sounds.

Finished Object Ahead

I finished the Market Square Bag last week. I really love the colors - I wish I could take credit for the combination but I can't - they are pretty much what the pattern had.

This bag came out smaller than the others I have made in the past. I like this size - the others were more tote size.

Here is it after felting - I should have taken more of a close up (make mental note for the future)...but you get the main idea. I even got to show off a bit of my newly painted kitchen.

I took a picture of another recently finished project but will save that for another day.

Currently I am working on a short sleeved cardigan from the most recent Vogue Knitting. I have the back, left front and one sleeve done. It shouldn't take too much longer - I am proud of myself because I used yarn from the stash.

Well I took the day off from work today to tie up some loose ends and I have only accomplished half of what I had planned......so back to it.

Enjoy your day.

Life is returning to managable

Work is slowing down - the external auditors signed off on the financials yesterday which means we can - for the most part - put 2006 behind us. I was starting to feel guilty about not spending my weekends at work - but had reached the point where I needed to be focusing on other things - family and knitting come to mind.

Easter weekend was fun. B and T came home from college which always makes for a lot of fun. My three children have so much fun when they are together - P misses having his brother and sister around. It looks as though neither will be coming home for the summer. T has found a summer job in Portland and B has applied for a position. They are hoping to find an apt together. P is not looking forward to a summer where his parents watchful eyes are focused on him. The market square bag is nearing completion. I am working on the last strap. I have to weave in all the ends then felt and am getting excited to see the final product. Here are a few pictures showing the progress. I just love the colors.

I should have plenty of leftover yarn to make something else - a smaller bag or even a few felted bowls. I will have to look for some patterns.

I need to decide what my next project will be - I am thinking a sweater. It has been awhile because the last sweater I made was with cotton and I should have known better. It is to saggy - I will have to make sure it is wool. I know there is cotton out there that makes for a perfectly good sweater - I just haven't found it yet.

Well time to start my day. I think the forecast is fairly nice (but snow again tomorrow - will it ever act like spring) so I am hoping to run outside today. I am a wimp when it comes to black ice on the roadway. It hurts more now when I slip and fall - must be an age thing.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Beautiful April day in Northern Maine

Hey Soot, wanna watch the snow melt with me. Sure Hud, we can do that for awhile.

Well now that the pets are busy watching the snow melt I can show you my Market Squares bag. I love the colors of this one. This is the third one I have made and I think it will be my favorite. The previous two went to two different homes, one to my SIL the other was auctioned off for my Son's Project Graduation fund raiser. They were made with Lopi yarn and turned out quite large - I have a feeling this one will felt to be a smaller bag. I hope to finish this bag in a few days. If I really love it I may donate it to another fund raiser coming up - time will tell.

I had a nice surprise in the mail today, two new book. One is for Book Group -My Life in France (Julia Child) - the other - One-Skein Wonders (Judith Durant). I have only taken a quick glance at the knitting book - it looks like I will be able to use up some of the stash.

Well I have to run - lunch hour is over so - back to the office.