I know it is hard to believe, but I have never knit with Noro before.  I fell in love with this little vest and have been patiently waiting for Knit Picky to get Noro Taiyo.

Marina

Pattern:  Marina from Noro Joy

Yarn:  Noro Taiyo (3 skeins)

I started this project long ago.  I have been procrastinating on finishing it for a month.  See that cute sash that ties on the bottom?  Any guesses as to how it is attached?  132 stitches on each of the 2 needles, then you kitchener them together.  Let me remind you, it is mohair kids.  It wasn’t fun, but I love the result.

Buggajam's Anjou

all that mohair...

SO happy it is done!

The details:

Pattern:  Anjou from French Girl Knits

Yarn:  Louet KidLin (3 skeins)

Changes to pattern:  There are 5 less repeats in my sash than the pattern calls for, but I had the right length, so I went with it.  I think it ‘looks right’.

However, this weekend has proven to be my return.  As of Saturday night, I completed 2 objects, received my next installment from the Rocking Sock Club and just feel generally happy to have the needles in my hands again.

 I would start you with pictures from Maryland Sheep and Wool, but I forgot my camera for the trip.  We had a wonderful busride up to Maryland.  We started drinking Cherry Limeade around 9 am.  By the time we reached Baltimore, dancing in the aisles was in full steam.  We had a wonderful lunch with Mama E of C*Eye*Ber Fiber at Phillip’s Seafood.  We got to our hotel and then headed to the local mall for dinner.  After dinner at PF Changs, we did a bit of shopping at LL Bean and headed back to the hotel.

The next day, we took our big bus to the festival.  I was blown away by everything – there was SO much to see.  I was doing well, but then I saw Tess yarns.  I’m pretty proud of myself for not walking out with more than I did.  I stepped outside of my comfort zone as far as color, what do you think?

Tess 100% Merino - worsted

I also got the matching sock yarn…of course.  I think it wants to be February Lady.  I’ve been wanting to make one and looked up the yardage to make sure I bought enough.

 That night was a party at the hotel where I won this yummy yarn and a bottle of Soak.

My Door Prize

250 yds of Superwash Merino/Cashmere/Mylon from Woolarina! 

Sunday, we packed up and left.  Next year, we’re staying in Baltimore.  That city is fun (even for a girl from Cleveland…)!

Tomorrow…the complete mohair project.

I’ve been working on Anjou, but then I needed to wind another skein and kept forgetting.  I finally wound it yesterday, but here is where I am:

Anjou

 (Yes, I use my daughters’ indoor minigolf set for blocking.)

I need to finish up the ’sash’ piece that goes on the bottom. 

Anjou body

I will admit that I am getting nervous.  You see, to attach the pretty sleeves to the pretty body AND to attach the bottom, you pick up stitches and you kitchener.

Greensleeves?

That is 60 sts per needle for each sleeve and 132 sts per needle for the body. 

1.)  That’s a lot of kitchener. 

2.)  It’s mohair and won’t be fun.

3.)  If I don’t take my time and do a good job, it will be obvious and the whole project will look awful.

Well,  a couple weeks ago, I mentioned we got a new puppy.  Her name is Velvet.  She is now 3 months old, so I thought I’d let everyone know how she is doing. 

3 months old

As you can see, she is growing.  Velvet is now 19 lbs of pure energy.  When she isn’t chasing a ball, however, she is SO snuggly.  She loves to lay on my chest or, if I’m laying on my back, she’ll rest her head on my neck. 

19 lbs of Pure Energy

Bugga loves the ‘work’ of having a puppy.  She has decided it is her chore to feed her when she wakes up.  I love that she has a sense of responsibility.  Jammer is quite obsessed with Velvet, or Velvey as she like to call her.  She constantly tries to hold her, pet her or give her treats.  My friends and I are taking bets how long it will be until Jammer tries to paint her nails.

Potty training is going splendid and she’s already getting better about not jumping up or using her mouth so much.  All in all, a fabulous addition to our family.

Rockin Sock Club March '09

The yarn is mediumweight this time, and to be quiet honest, I don’t see much of a difference.  I’m knitting on 2.5mm needles instead of 2.25mm, but not a major difference.  I love the the marriage of the colorway and pattern.  The pattern was written by The Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.  I was so excited to knit them up that they’ve already been cast-on and the first repeat is done.

Unskeined

Somehow, I keep flip-flopping between RSC and French Girl knits.  This month, I’m splitting time between my Rogue Roses and Anjou.

I finished my first Rockin Sock Club kit:

Queen of Beads

on Lizards

I was working at Knit Picky on Saturday.  Since Tiffany was there, also, I knew I’d get into trouble.  See, Tiffany is there a lot.  She knows all the stuff that I haven’t seen yet and shows it to me!  So, now I’m looking at the pretty colors of Cascade Magnum, which doesn’t do much for me.  I just don’t knit with really Bulky yarns.  A customer comes in and we’re talking about French Girl knits, which is one of my favorite books.  There happens to be a short sleeve, lacey, cardigan-type sweater made from a super Bulky yarn.

You know what happens next.  I come home with 3 skeins of purple Cascade Magnum and cast-on.  250 grams of super bulky is too much for the average ball winder, so here’s what it looks like:

250g - Super Bulky

 After going out to dinner on Saturday, I worked on it pretty much all day on Sunday.  Went to work on Monday, but by Monday night I had this:

Cascade Magnum Wrenna

You’ll have to excuse the pajama bottoms.  I was using the timer on my camera, in the bathroom and had already put on my PJ’s for the picture.  Not bad for a self-portrait!  And the back:

the 1 day sweater

Today, I got the shipping notification for my 2nd STR package.  So, I better get back to the 2nd sock I’ve been ignoring.  No, it isn’t 2nd sock syndrome, I’ll explain more tomorrow.

A very late post for a Monday.  Last week was Spring Break and we stayed around the house this year.  I got some non-knitting accomplished:

the fruits of physical labor

 I think it looks really nice, but my parents said I need to put some sand under the stone.  So, since I have no idea what I am doing and they do, I’m going to wait until they’re here in May to finish.  They own these fun tools like cultivators.

And something I know a little bit about:

STR KAL

Now, I’m working on the Queen of Beads.  I received the Janurary installment on the 30th which gives me 14 days to finish the second sock before my next shipment comes.  Oh, and I signed up for another KAL.  The Mad Color Weave socks using STR Farmhouse.  Guess the mohair is on temporary hiatus.

Here is the situation:

I’m going out for sushi tonight and I would like to wear my Riding to Avalon sweater and my Leyburn socks.  The sweater is no problem.  As you all have seen, it is finished.  The Leyburns, however, are not.  I am on the leg of the second sock (toe-up).  So, today I’m going to keep you posted as to whether or not I can finish the sock by 5:30pm.  Maybe I should have called in sick…

8:45 am :  7 repeats + ribbing + bind off remaining.  Store is quiet – back to knitting.

11:30 am:  4.5 repeats to go + ribbing + bind off.  Starting to get nervous about the goal.

Sunday morning:  Friday came and went and the Leyburns did not get finished.  It is OK since our weather is in the 70’s and I couldn’t wear the sweater anyway.  They will be done by the end of the day!