Not quite fallen off the planet...

But have taken a pause in the knitting. It's been a while since I've posted anything. Mostly becuase the closest I've come to knitting is winding a ball of yarn on my new yarn ball winder. Things have been crazy at work, that this is a small "break" before I finish up my work (take at look at the post time). I didn't even get a chance to knit anything on vacation, most of that was spent having fun, keeping up with work, and sleeping. That just didn't leave much time for any knitting. On the other hand, my current project is a second pullover sweater adjusted for somethings that annoy me on the first one, so there's not really anything new to see.

With any luck, I'll be done that one soon, and I'll have something new to post.

- E

Book Review: The Friday Night Knitting Club

I recently finished reading The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. It was a wonderful book that both knitters and non-knitters would enjoy. Jacobs does not get so technical with the knitting going on in the book that she loses non-knitting readers, and that's a good thing because this book is worth reading for everyone. It is a stirring tale about Georgia Walker, single mom and NYC yarn shop owner, and her daughter, Dakota. Things are going just fine for Georgia and Dakota, and their many friends, Anita, Peri, Darwin, Marty, and others, until Dakota's father re-enters the picture. The book is very emotional as it places each character at a turning point in his/her life. You will laugh and cry (or sob as I did in the last 30 pages) as you read, but most of all you will enjoy it. Julia Roberts has bought the options to the book to make it into a movie, and she will fit Georgia's role wonderfully. My pick for the African-American man to play her lost love is Jesse L. Martin from Law and Order fame, but the role as of yet, remains uncast.

One of the more clever aspects of the book is that it lives on past the page. One can visit the Friday Night Knitting Club website and enjoy reading group questions, purchase the book, or see when Kate Jacobs is touring by your town. Also, there is a Walker and Daughter website and "join" the club, check out yarn websites, find a scarf pattern, and experiment with Dakota's baking recipes. I have enjoyed playing on both websites, and personally enjoy it when authors realize the potential of different media.

The Dishcloth Strikes Back

Hey, it really wouldn't be a week this spring if I didn't spend it knitting dishcloths. I like the instant gratification of these items, as well as the procrastination it provides from everything else. This week, I actually knit three dishcloths, but only two are pictured above. The April KAL dishcloth was very religious in nature, and so I handed it over to my Nana, since she would appreciate it. The above dishcloths are the February KAL cloth, Love Day, and an Easter Egg one that I found for free online here. I like both and actually kept the Love Day one for myself. The other is making it's way into an Easter basket for my DF's aunt (who always makes us 20 and 30-something year old "kids" baskets, so we're making her one in return this year). We're off now for Easter dinner and I'm taking the Derby poncho with me to try and make some headway. Wish me luck!

-B

Finished Sweaters

I finally finished the toddler sweater, including weaving in the ends. Still undecided about the color scheme, not sure i like it. So, let me know what you guys think. I also haven't decided who I should give this one too.

-E

Pattern: Morehouse Badger Sweater
Needle: Size 13 circular (didn't have Size 13 double points, so it was kinda a pain. to do the sleeves)
Yarn: Knitpicks Swish superwash (Dark Navy and Sand Dune)



Here's the other sweater I did. This one I didn't finish weaving in the ends (which if you look closely you can see some ends sticking out). I wanted to see if it actually fit me, so I took the picture with it on. I'll get around to putting up a picture of just the sweater. for the most part, i like the sweater, but i'm trying to work out the pattern so that I don't need to make 3 separate peices and sew up seams, which I hate doing).


Patter: Pullover sweater from Hollywood Knits
Needle: Size 13 circular needles (no double points to try doing the sleeves right on the body)
Yarn: Knitpicks Shine Worsted Bachelor Button.

The Frogging of the Sock

Last night, I sat down and did my few rows of the new Dishcloth KAL, which is looking very cute, and then I turned and picked up my blue-green simple sock to finish the first sock. Oh, what a poor idea that was. See, I started this sock in a class last July, and the last time that I picked up said sock was last August. Now, maybe I only really enjoy working on socks in months that start with A, but man was I stumped last night. I was knitting the knit stitch all the way around, but it was coming out in garter instead of stockinette like it was supposed to. I had no idea what I was doing, and I looked at it, thought that I have Open Knit on Thursday night, and frogged the whole thing. The mission is to restart the sock either this Thursday or next and power on to re-learn the skills that I have forgotten. I know that some people obsess over the knitting of socks, but I am certainly struggling to find the sock logo. Acknowledge the 0% bar under the socks in the sidebar, and please send me good sock vibes.

-B

P.S. Of course, I somehow have made a mistake in the Derby Poncho as well, but that's another post.

Two more dishcloths!!

Just when you thought I haven't knit enough dishcloths these past few months, here come two more! The bunny one is the March KAL #1 from the Monthly Dishcloth KAL. I made it for my sister for her birthday this weekend. I also made the Lacy Diamonds mid-February cloth (hot pink). The yarn for both is the Reynolds Saucy. The bunny is in color #396 (Ashes of Roses) and the "saucy hot pink number" is in color #372 (fushcia). It's fun to bust through the stash and so another item comes out of the WIPs.

-B