Tiny Ninja

My boys are turning into quite the little ninjas. They go to karate twice a week and can do some pretty cool moves. We had Tiny's birthday party where they go to karate. The party was so much fun! They played tons of games and they even got to do some karate moves. I got to sit back and watch all the fun. It was fantastic. Tiny requested a cake with a picture of him doing a karate move. When I ordered the cake (3 days before his party) they asked if I wanted an image on it. I asked if they could draw a karate guy... I then told them about Tiny's request and they said they could do it! Who would have thought. So Tiny got a cake with his picture on it. Happy Birthday kid!

Yarn Along ~Destash

I've been on several missions lately. One mission has been to finish photographing my newest vest and cardigan patterns. A combination of a heat wave and Tiny's insistent to photo bomb each picture have made me realize why I pay models. Oh and I was easily distracted by a rum bucket drink at dinner last night and lost track of time and the sun set without me getting any pictures. Maybe today I'll finally get the pictures done.

Another mission I have been on is to use up my stash before Rhinebeck. I can't wait for Rhinebeck!!!! This year we will be camping up at Rhinebeck so I will be there ALL weekend instead of a day trip. I am so excited!!!!  Since we have gotten home we have been getting as much beach time in as we can before school starts.  Even if it is just for an hour or two a day. It is nice to take a break from work and go play on the beach for a little while.  The temperature has been beautiful at the beach and I've actually been able to get a lot of knitting done there!!!! Keep that shore breeze coming!

The first shawl I have photographed is still in the works. I have made it with my handspun Loop Bulls Eye Bump and cormo. I purchased the fiber at Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. I have to spin up some more cormo to finish the next part of the shawl up. I HEAVILY modified the pattern that I found on Ravelry and of course since it was a travel knit I didn't keep any notes so I'm sorry for not passing on the modifications.

For reading I am still listening to the final book in the Outlander series "Written in My Own Heart's Blood". Right now they are right down the road from me. Currently in the book is the Battle of Monmouth. I am planning on photographing my new patterns at the church where Clair is right now in the book with her triage tent. It is only a few miles from where I live. I think I might just stalk the area until Starz goes there for the filming of their series. I wonder if I will get to see the real life Clair & Jamie!!!!! I think that might be about 15  years away though at the rate they are releasing episodes.

Another fun thing this week was I won a give away from the Knitmore Girls Podcast. I got the cutest project bag, tote, notions bag and goodies. I have to send out a congrats to Jasmine for the birth of her son. I'd say she got my free stuff out just in time! I can't wait to see T-Rex in all his hand knits :)

Have a wonderful day and happy knitting!

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Yarn Along

I am so excited to be back sharing on the Yarn Along!  It has been too long. I have been spinning yarn and knitting so much over the past few months. I had Tiny at the farm with me today and he was a champ at modeling some of Blue's yarn that I have recently spun. I can't wait to knit it up. I have so much more of his fleece to spin, but I thought I would make a small batch and start knitting with that to see how I want to spin the rest of his two fleeces.

I have been very busy working on a new pattern "Treasure Vest". I am so excited to say it is very close to being released!!!  I have made many different samples of it in different sizes. I have knitted, unknitted, knitted and unknitted and then knitted it again and again to get it just how I want it. The pattern is being tested and the pattern is with my graphic designer so I should be releasing the pattern soon!

In the mean time Treasure is being pampered at the farm and kept cool on these HOT days.  She is the inspiration for this pattern. 

For reading I have been listening to the audio book "Written in My Own Heart's Blood". It is the final book in the Outlander series. I am SOOOOO sad that this is the last book, but I am so happy that I have the Starz versions to watch in the future. I have enjoyed these books immensely!

After I release "Treasure Vest" I will be doing a lot of spinning and knitting from my handspun yarn. I am hoping to be back sharing on the Yarn Along regularly now that I won't be working on too many of my own secretive patterns. 

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

ps- Check out my Fit Along that is starting August 3rd ~ Fit Along

Picture Day

The boys got dressed up for picture day and I thought I might be able to take quick pictures of them at the bus stop. Unfortunately the bus showed up within a minute of us so I didn't get the pictures I really wanted, well at least of Brady. But non-the-less here are my boys.

Tiny- Kindergarten

Brady- 1st Grade

LOL this is Brady's "Don't Smile" face :) 

Tiny's Orange Sweater & a Standing Stones Cowl

I made another Standing Stones cowl with Miss Babs Yowza yarn. I modified my pattern to make one skein of 560 yards work. 

Modifications: 

Part II- I repeated the rows 25 times for a total of 50 rows

Part IV- I repeated the chart one full time. On the second repeat of the chart I knitted row 18 and then started the bind off.

I have had quite a few requests on modification for this pattern to make different types of yarn work (mostly people who are knitting from their stash and have a limited amount of yarn to work with). I have been suggesting the modification to Part II. The nice thing about this pattern is that you can end it at any time on Part IV. You just have to keep an eye on how much yarn you have left to make it work for your bind off.  I really love how this one came out and I loved the few cool nights we've had because I got to wear it!

And speaking of the cooler nights I've been sweater knitting!!! 

Tiny requested a hand knit sweater. I jumped at the offer and together we made it happen. He picked out the yarn. He also picked out the cable detail that goes up the front and back. The rest of it I designed for him. I just tried it on him as I went and made it up stitch by stitch.

I love how it came out. He loves it too!

Maybe asking a kid to model a hand knit sweater a few days after having his tonsils and adenoids out might not have been the best idea ...... he was a tad bit cranky.

I took it off of him while we waited for my Dad to get back to the farm with their new alpaca. I was carrying it around and taking some pictures of it.

The sleeves are really the same size. They just look off in this picture.

We went to hang out on the swings in the shade and do you know what????? 

He asked me if he could put his sweater back on!!!!

I am pretty sure I had the worlds biggest smile to that request and I quickly helped him put it back on.

I had him try it on him so many times as I was making it and I was afraid he wouldn't want to wear it once it was done. But he really does like it! 

He is so picky about his clothes. He doesn't like tight collars or buttons. He doesn't like his sweaters too big. He doesn't like tags! His list of dislikes goes on and on, but I was able to make this to fit all his wants. Especially the neckline. Not too tight and not too big.

He was having so much fun giving the alpacas some hay. 

Who know that was all he needed to cheer him up?!

I can't believe this little guy is going to be starting Kindergarten next week. I am going to miss having my little buddy around.

He made sure each of the alpacas got their fair share of hay.

Especially Blue!!!! I can't wait to get his fiber back from the fiber mill. I am having it processed into roving and I'm going to spin it and make a sweater for myself!

I hope I didn't bore you with so many pictures of Tiny's Orange Sweater, but I feel like it has been so long since I've been able to take pictures of my finished knits and share them!  I have some projects on and off my needles that I hopefully will release the patterns next year. I am going to give them a year to be worn, modified, tested and then I'll be release them.  I'm not planning on releasing the pattern for Tiny's sweater. It was just a fun simple knit that I did without a pattern (my favorite way to knit). It was so much fun to make and fun to have him be such a big part of the crafting of it!

Ravelry link- Tiny's Orange Sweater

Yarn: Berroco Vintage Chunky

Meanwhile on my needles is a fantastic sweater! I wish I could share it, but I'm keeping it on the down low.

For reading listening I have been listening to the Audiobook "Voyager" by Diana Gabaldon.  I can't get enough of these books. It is the third book in the Outlander series. I enjoy listening to them and knitting. Since the books are soooooo long and there are so many books in the series I love that I know what book I am going to read next. It is a perfect companion for knitting. I am also watching "Outlander" on Starz.  I am sooooooo  happy with how they are doing the series! I was worried about the show not being as good as the books, but they really are doing and awesome job with it. Or at least I am really happy about it! I am also enjoying that it is a series Freddy and I can watch together.

Okay back to knitting!!! 

Joining with Ginny's Yarn Along