FO: Big Sister Aran

Pattern: Aran Pullover from Knitting for Baby [Ravelry Project Page]
Size: 24 months for my niece Frances
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton in Bone
Mods: just subbing the Organic Cotton for the superwash wool called for

Like the model? She really did pose for this one, which is actually for my niece rather than Isobel, though Miss Is wants one now. I just don't think I can knit another cabled sweater in cotton for a while, though, so I will have to find another yarn. My gauge wasn't spot on, but that's OK. This is a sweater to grow into and then out of (my niece did so with her first one, which is now being worn by her baby brother). Great pattern - this is the fourth time I've made one. Can't wait to meet my nephew and hope to get a picture of both kids in their Aran Pullovers over Thanksgiving.

Free Pattern: Cable Luxe Tunic

Lion Brand is starting their next KAL, and it's with the Cable Luxe Tunic. You can find the free pattern here until 27 November 2008. I've had this one in my queue since February, so I'm excited about this, though I'll have to wait until after Christmas knitting is finished. (And there's a lot of that at the mo'.) Have to decide what yarn to use, perhaps some stashed Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed, though I'd probably have to tweak the numbers, since it's a DK yarn. But folks on Ravelry have found this yarn to grow upon blocking, so maybe. Or I have some O-Wool that's been marinating in the stash for a while, just not sure it's enough, but the cables would certainly pop in that yarn.

Anyway, go download that pattern while you can, but be sure to read it the whole way through. Lots of folks on Ravelry had issues with it because they hadn't read ahead.

Lion Brand Store

The Lion Brand Yarn Studio is opening today in New York City.

News: Knotions

The new issue of Knotions is up here.

Free Pattern: Estonian lace scarf

From Nancy Bush's new book: Estonian lace scarf. This pattern is a free download until 11 December 2008, so download yours now!

Interweave Knits, Winter 2008

Preview is up here.

What intrigues you in this issue?

Brrr

It's finally gotten chilly here in New York. We even had wet, windy weather yesterday, which called for woolen items on all extremities. (including wrapping an alpaca silk blanket around the sleeping-baby-in-a-sling (no way was I going to take her out of the sling, thus waking her up, to get her into a warmer individual get-up - we've had a rough few days here with the little one) to take Isobel to school. And poor Isobel has a cold (the oozy kind with a goopy cough), though she seems in good spirits most of the time.

Not a lot of knitting around here, which, of course, doesn't help my mood. In doing the multitudes of laundry lately, I get to spend time *near* my stash (it's in a bookcase across from the washer/dryer) but no time with it, though I hear various skeins calling out. I am about two thirds of the way up the front of my niece's Aran sweater, and once that's done I can get cracking on some birthday (Isobel) and Christmas (everyone else) knitting. The second sock has turned into subway knitting reserved for Thursday evenings when I go to my writing class.

Oh, in an "only in New York" moment, Isobel was scouted by a talent agency assistant Sunday on the subway, though the young woman said she usually works with five and ups, so we have a little time.