Yarn Along Clarity Cardigan

I finished my Clarity Cardigan!!!  I love it so much. I used Anzula Squishy in the colorway paprika. I used 5 skeins and knitted it on size US 3 needles. I blocked it on Saturday night and quickly sewed on two buttons Sunday morning so I could wear it to church.  I need to properly put the buttons on so I can wear it to Chelsea Yarns tomorrow and show it off. I really really love it!!!!

The buttons are from Wooly Moss Roots and I love them too!!!

I wanted to get better pictures of me wearing it, but the weather hasn't cooperated, so I included a selfie I took of myself the first time I put it on. Have I mentioned how much I love it?!

joining Ginny's Yarn Along

ps- the shawl in the background is one of my hand spun and knit items that I still need to properly photograph too

Yarn Along

I am pleased to say I finally finished my Spire!!! I still need to take some finished pictures of it. But I'm very happy to have it off my needles. I handspun the yarn for the project. But for the knitted on edging I used Manos Fino yarn in the colorway Ivory Letter Opener. I am thrilled with how it turned out and can't wait to give it a proper photo shoot!!!

I've been busy writing a new pattern.  I have most of the pattern written up and not much to show for it. I've made lots of swatches and I have lots of notes. I'm glad to finally be knitting it! I am making two versions of it. One in Shibui Pebble yarn and the other the Loopy Ewe's yarn (the purple version).

Words can't explain how obsessed I am with the Pebble yarn. The yarn is amazing!!!!!!! I also love the Loopy Ewe's yarn, but the Pebble is hands down drool over worthy yarn.

I finished up another Standing Stones Worsted Cowl. This time I used 1 skein of Miss Bab's Yowza in the color way "Zombie Prom". I had to modify the pattern slightly by leaving off one repeat of the final chart, but I am very happy how it turned out. I always LOVE working with Yowza. It was also a great thing to knit after working on my Spire since it takes minimal effort to knit unlike the Spire.

Well that is it for my knitting that I can think about! I think I might have a few other WIPs floating around.

Links-

Spire

Standing Stones

Joining with Ginny's Yarn Along

Yarn Along~ More Coffee

 

 

I've been behind in sharing my treasures from the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. I wasn't able to attend myself, but I sent my sister with some money and a mission and she came back successful! Item #1 on my wish list was a Jenny the Potter mug. I love this mug so much. It is almost embarrassing how much I look forward to my morning coffee because of how much I love it. If you have one of these mugs I am sure you share in my dorkiness excitement.

 

Item #2 (below) was a skein of Icelandic Wool. I've been searching for it at the past few fiber festivals, but each time I find the booths to be sold out. I had a feeling I was going to have to buy a fleece. But my sister scored this beautiful skein for me!

 

 

As far as knitting goes I am full steam ahead on my never ending Spire. I have been working on the knitted on edging and I am pushing myself to only work on this until it is done!

 

However since my Spire isn't easy to lug around with me. I have been working on a few of my own patterns. I have not been sharing the finished pictures because I am going to wait to release the patterns first.  I was planning on releasing the patterns in the Fall, but now I'm thinking about giving my samples as gifts for my kids teachers, which means I might need to get these puppies photographed and patterns releases ahead of schedule. We'll see. In the mean time here is a sneak peek. I'm not giving more away than that for now :)

 

 

As for reading I am still listening to Outlander. I still love it and I can't wait to start the next book in the series!

 

Joining with Ginny's Yarn Along

Yarn Along~ Shawls

 

 

My Spire is growing! I finished the last chart of the body and now I'm ready to start the knitted on edging. Well almost ready. I have to make the yarn first. I am hoping I have enough fiber left to make enough! Yikes.

 

A few weeks ago when we were heading back from South Carolina we drove through Virginia. I had a knitting dork moment and was knitting in the car and announced to my family I was knitting with Ginny. The kids had no idea what I was talking about. Somehow I felt like since I was in Virginia and I was knitting I was in fact knitting with Ginny :) I was knitting a shawl. It was a Mystery KAL which I have finished, but I've supposed to keep it secret until May 2nd. Some people were keeping the mystery KAL a total mystery and I'm not supposed to spoil it.  But I can't resist sharing pictures so......................SPOILER ALERT!!!!

 

IF YOU ARE WORKING ON ROMI'S "IT'S A MYSTERY" CLOSE THIS PAGE NOW!!!

 

THERE YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

 

FINISHED PICTURES AHEAD

 

 

Okay I hope I don't ruin the surprise for anyone. I for one kept the last two clues a mystery which was fun, but I do love seeing and chatting with everyone during the KAL. So I think I'd rather peek to be part of the group then keep it secret next time.

 

So here is my Mystery Shawl.

The alpacas had no interest in helping me out with pictures. But isn't the shawl pretty! Romi didn't disappoint with this pattern. I absolutely love it!

This was definitely not a mindless knit during the lace sections! But there were parts of it that flowed which was nice.  I loved Manos Fino yarn and I have enough left over for a little project.

 

So I hope I didn't ruin anyone's surprise! But I really couldn't resist sharing. Especially for all the people that are going to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival this weekend and are looking for a pattern to knit. I am so sad I am not going this year. It didn't work into my schedule :(

Hopefully next year!

 

Oh and some funny bloopers from my shawl photo shoot.

 

Strike a pose!

I use a remote shutter to take the pictures while my camera is on a tripod. Tiny claims he has magic powers to make the camera take pictures. Funny kid.

I'm joining with Ginny's Yarn Along. 

Yarn Along

 

 

Last night I released my Postcard Cardigan Pattern! I decided to release it as one size for now. I had tried it on quiet a few people with very different body types and it looked very flattering on everyone so I decided at this time to release it as is.  The bust is 38" and the bottom is 42" wide. The sleeves fit a 13" arm.  It is easy to modify the circumference of the sleeves by adding or removing 4 stitches. The entire cardigan can go down a size by choosing a lighter weight fingering yarn and smaller needles and it can be made larger by going up a yarn and needle size. I'd recommend removing one of the repeats of the chart if going up a size so it doesn't get to long. I'd be happy to offer any help to anyone wanting to make this cardigan and has questions about the fit.

 

I listed it as an advanced skill level because of the grafting of the shoulders. Otherwise it is a pretty straight forward seamless knit. It is worked back and forth, bottom up. The pattern is both charted and written out. If you are intimidated by the shoulder grafting I would recommend asking a friend or your LYS to see if they would be willing to help out with the grafting. Otherwise if you can knit lace you shouldn't have a problem with this pattern.

 

In the mean time I have a few project that have been lingering on my needles that I am determined to finish up before I start anything new.

 

I am making a Backshore Cardigan. The pattern is by Alica Plummer. I wanted a nice mindless knit and something I could wear around the house and with jeans. I really love how it is turning out. I am using Juniper Moon Farm Findley yarn for it. I am holding two strands together of each color.

 

 

 

Not on my needles yet, but will be on Friday! Is Romi's new Mystery Knit Along. The first clue comes out this Friday. I am so excited. It is the only new thing I'm allowing myself to make until I finish up my other WIPs.

My "To Infinity & Beyond Scarf" is back out of hibernation. I started this many moons ago, but now that it is getting closer to Spring I have brought it back out. I put it a side because I thought the colors were better for the Spring. I work on this waiting for the school bus, kids birthday parties, doctors offices and any other time I have to sit and wait. There isn't a pattern I am just knitting as I go.

 

I have been working a lot on my Spire the past two nights. I am on the lace portion and it is very hard to photograph progress on this huge WIP but trust me there is a lot of knitting going on in there. Oh and I am almost out of yarn. I need to spin up some more.

Do you like my banner at the top of this past and my new logo below???!!!

 

 

My sister Leanne designed them for me for my new Ravelry Group.  I started a group for support on my knitting patterns. It is a place for people to go to if they have questions and to show off their finished AndeeKF patterns. I started the group and right away someone went in a "Disagreed" with all my pages. Who does that? I didn't even have them all set up yet. To be honest they still aren't 100% set up. Oh well I guess there are some haters out there. But for all of you who have shown me so much support I have to give you a huge THANK YOU!

 

I didn't release this pattern to all the wonderful people who offered to test knit, but I will have more in the future so if you want to be a test knitter please leave your Raverly user name in the thread I started in my Raverly Group "Test Knitter".

 

Have a wonderful day!

 

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Yarn Along

 

 

 

It has been snowy and cold here at the Jersey Shore. Today it was bitter cold. I believe the wind chill made the temperatures in the negative today and it really felt like it.  Today I had to take Freddy to rehab for this shoulder. I decided to use the hour he was there for a little photo therapy for myself.

 

I stopped by the beach and noticed all the pigeons huddled together on the roof of the building on the pier. I hope they are keeping warm.

 

I also wanted to stop by the Duck Park. I haven't been there in so long and it was so nice to snap some pictures at one of my favorite places.  It amazes me how ducks can stand the water when it is soooooo cold.

 

I am planning a new pattern that will use 1600 yards of Brooklyn Tweed Loft. The color I got was Postcard. Since we just got a new camper and are planning many upcoming trips I think the name of my pattern is going to have to be "Postcard".  I am very excited about this pattern. When I am designing a pattern I keep a few things in mind. I like to knit and design items that don't look store bought or machine made. I don't want to knit something that can be whipped up on a machine in no time at all. Also I like my designs to look expensive, because yarn is expensive! If I spend $100.00 in yarn for a sweater I want the sweater to look like a $300.00 sweater. Right?! So hopefully my new pattern will fit my requirements. Now if I can find time to get it on my needles!

 

I casted on a Backshore Sweater. I needed something casual to wear and I think the fit of this is going to be fantastic. I love the yarn. It is Juniper Moon Farm Findley. It is soooo soft and Alicia Plummer's pattern is so easy to follow. I've made some modifications to the pattern to fit my personal style and I have a few more modifications planned. Hopefully they will all turn out well. Fingers crossed.

 

I have also been working on my Spire.  I hit a part that has lots of lace, so I took a break and started my Backshore Sweater. They are both enjoyable to knit and nice to break up the lace from the stockinet and visa versa.

 

I spent the last week helping out at my parents farm with the alpacas. I took a few selfies with the alpacas, but they were all burry.  So you get a selfie of just me instead :)

 

For reading I am listening to Gone Girl. Holly Molly I just started the second half. I was listening to it while Tiny was at speech. I was in the waiting room knitting and listening to the book with my head phones on. I was in shock at the book and Tiny came out of therapy and I didn't want to turn it off! Wow.  I can't wait to finish it up.

 

I hope you are keeping warm where ever you are!

 

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

 

links-

Brooklyn Tweed Loft

Backshore Sweater

Spire

Gone Girl

 

 

 

 

 



Happy Mom Happy House

A calm has finally come over my house. The craziness of the Holidays has passed and lots of selfish and guilt free knitting is going on when I can fit it in. There are lots of things on the To-Do-List but I'm managing it all at a nice slower pace.

 

 

In the latest news Tiny's leg isn't broken anymore! We went to the doctors last week and the X-rays showed the bones have healed! He isn't supposed to be too active for the next few weeks but pretty soon we'll able to let him loose at the playground. That kids needs to burn some energy!

Oh and he is desperate for a hair cut.

 

The weather has been mild for the past few days. I've been so happy to fit in some nice long walks and jogs. Nothing makes me happier than a little exercise. Rudee appreciates it too.

 

I'm also planning on painting one of the walls in my house. Since we moved into our house 5 years ago we never touched up the paint job we did on one of the walls. It has been chipped and the kids have added a few of their own touches with crayons. I think I'm going to go with the color Dolphin Tale. I love the name of it.  Freddy says I can't pick a color by it's name, but I'm insisting it is the exact color I was thinking of for the past 5 years (in the picture above it is the very last color).

 

I had a case of knitters block the other night. I was very frustrated. I have been enjoying knitting my Spire, but I find it hard to work on and hold conversations with the kids. The pattern is simple, but the problem is I have to count each stitch so it is sometimes hard to count and talk at the same time. So I wanted to cast on something simple like a sweater. I dress so casual around the house and I wanted a light weight sweater I can wear all day. I couldn't decide if I should design one or just do a pattern.  I debated for two hours! That is precious knitting time.  Then I couldn't decide on the yarn. I have lots of yarn, but not enough for a sweater. Ugg. Finally I gathered my thoughts and decided to cast on another Ease Sweater. I am so glad I did. I am using Juniper Moon Farm yarn and it is so soft! It is lots of mindless knitting in a round, Perfect! I'm glad to be back on track.

 

Freddy had shoulder surgery one week ago today. He has been home recovering and will be home recovering for quite some time. I feel bad that he is uncomfortable and in pain, but I am really enjoying having him home so much. I am so enjoying having the house on a schedule. Our usual work schedules have us all over the place and now it is much calmer and I really enjoy it. I wish it could stay this way. I'm sure he is ready to be all healed up and back to driving and normal. But I'll take what I can get for now.

 

Before Freddy went into surgery we had found a used travel trailer that was for sale. We bought it!!! We have been looking for one for about two years now. We finally found one that had everything we wanted and for the right price. We really aren't that picky and if we just ordered a new one from the factory it would have everything we wanted except for the price tag.  So when we found a 2012 model that was just traded in we jumped on it and claimed it as our own. Now we are spending lots of time researching where we are going to go. We have lots of friends that camp and we are so excited to get away together.

 

 

I had to include some pictures of Rudee being her sweet self. She is such a good dog. I need to make an appointment to have her spayed. I have put that on the bottom of the priority list. First Tiny's broken leg needed to be healed, then Freddy's surgery, now Rudee's surgery.

One thing at a time around here :)

 

I also have to give a huge thank you to everyone for their support on my new Tidal Wave pattern. I can't believe the success I'm having with it. I am so excited to hear from all the people that are already making one for themselves. I can't wait to see some finished pictures.

 

Well that is what has been going on around here. I hope all is well with all of you.