Free Pattern: Soap Bubble Wrap

Interweave Knits and Knitting Daily are offering the Soap Bubble Wrap as a free download. It is a very cute sweater (I seem to be drawn to wrap sweaters lately for Spring/Summer), and the model has an adorable tuchus in the photos. The recommended yarn is Euroflax Worsted, though worsted cotton and cotton blends are also suggested.

Having just received my copy of IK yesterday, I've already dog-eared this pattern.

FO: Cable Footies

Pattern: Cable Footies from One Skein by Leigh Radford {Ravelry}
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool in Crocus
Needles: US7 DPNs
Mods: None! This is a great pattern.

These are a belated Christmas present for my grandmother, who loved the slippers I knit her for Mother's Day. As she told me about those slippers: They never even made it into the drawer. I imagine these won't either, as they'll keep her feet and ankles warm. Added bonus: They're machine washable.

I made a pair of these for myself ages ago and liked them for padding around before bed. No idea what happened to them. Guess I need to make a pair for myself.

Interweave Knits, Spring 2009

The IK preview is up. Lots of lovely lace. I'm looking at the Fountain Pen Shawl and that first cardigan. What's intriguing you?

Scattergories

From Carole's blog...

Use the first letter of your name to find a word for each of the following:

Your Name - Kathleen
Four letter word - kick
Boy name - King (just watched It Happened One Night)
Girl name - Kathryn
Occupation - knitter
Color - khaki
Beverage - Kristal
Something found in a bathroom - knickers
A Place - Kennebunkport
Reason for being late - knot of traffic
Food - kumquat
Something you shout - Kampai!

Knit Kit

Have you seen this? It looks very neat and shiny (always a plus for me, shiny). I have put together my kit over the years with the usual bits and bobs, and it resides in an old Stila cosmetic case, but this looks so compact. Clever thing.

Long Time No See!

It's been an eventful month-plus around these parts, so blogging fell by the wayside. Penelope came in under weight at her four-month check-up in December, so we were on a rigorous, eat-around-the-clock schedule to get her (and my milk makers) back on track. As a result she gained nine ounces in a week, which was very good. Since then we travelled to Chicago for the holidays, spending time with Nick's parents in their lovely apartment downtown (not far from Loopy Yarns - more on them later), plus a few days with my folks. Before we left the Windy City Nick had come down with a cold, Isobel's cough returned, and Penelope get her first real cold, which, of course, turned into an ear infection. This charming bug made her refuse to eat on one side due to pressure on the ear, which messed with my newly increased supply. Super fun. But we're all back on track now, and hopefully she'll be chunked up enough at tomorrow's weigh-in to start on solids. She seems ready, is interested in what we're eating, sits in her high chair with us at meals, and is cutting her first tooth.

On the knitting front I decided to do a lot of stash diving and knit up presents for almost everyone on the list:
-Hemlock Blanket for my parents in Cascade Eco-Wool - I want to knit one of these for me!
-Hats for Nick's parents and sister - tam for Louise in some yummy Magenta Madeline Tosh Sock Yarn, a slouchier beret for Alexa in BMFA's Monsoon Socks That Rock, and a ribbed watch cap for John in Malabrigo's Paris Night Merino Worsted (almost finished!)
-Gifted Mittens (that Kate Gilbert is genius - love this pattern!) and a pair of Fetchings (that Cheryl Niamath is no slouch, either) for Karen and her family - Blizzard for Bill, Encore Worsted for the kids (washable!), and some prized Debbie Bliss Cashmerino for the Fetchings
-Leg warmers for Isobel in the 1824 wool that refuses to become a sweater for her
-Knitted chain mail for Stephen in Encore


Having lost a week to the "Plump Up Penelope" campaign, I still have to knit or finish:
-that hat for John (I do love Malabrigo - that merino is as soft as cashmere!)
-Teddy Bears for my niece and nephew (fiddly finishing work)
-Cabled Footies from One Skein for my grandmother using up some more of that 1824 Wool
-some lovely item for my lovely sister in a prized skein of wool from Romney Ridge Farm - no idea yet, and she leaves for Germany tomorrow to start a PhD on Afghanistan, so this will probably be a longer-term project


Notice anything? Nothing on that list for Nick or Penelope. Luckily, they are two very understanding people. Nick is going to get a hat at some point, and Penelope might, too. Waiting in the wings is my second sock and a huge queue on Ravelry, plus some new yarn from Loopy Yarns (half-price Louet Merino Gems Worsted - enough for a sweater, two skeins of Malabrigo sock yarn for a light cardi, and a tote bag designed by Franklin!)




Apologies for the lack of FO pictures, but I was in such a sleep-deprived haze for the last few weeks that I gave folks their presents without documenting them. I'll see if I can rectify that at some point!

Wish List, Winter 2008

E.T.A. This was dated incorrectly, and I'd forgotten about Ork Posters!

I don't know why I have such fun making these lists, but I do. What do you want this season?

Pretty pearl drop earrings - they remind me of a pair Nick gave me years ago

This pretty clutch from Red Ruby Rose embroidery, silk, nickel clasp - all things I like

I am still longing for Scilla (under Bohus Stickning)

Silk (again with the silk!) Circus dress and one of Desira's Bow belts - I'm thinking of an all-etsy wardrobe for the coming year. Not truly possible with my need for Lucky jeans and all, but fun to imagine.

Silver Wellies 'nuf said

Yarn, yarn, yarn

T I M E Time to knit, write, sleep, design those patterns in my head, play with my kids

a baby who sleeps some of the time

remote for my camera

blocking board - not really sure what kind but some surface for blocking

sewing stuff - I'm getting (have gotten, actually; the box is in the laundry room) a sewing machine for Christmas, so if you have any recommendations on books or blogs or websites, please let me know. My mom taught me to sew when I was little, so I hope it comes back to me, though I should probably find a class to refresh my memory.

Starbucks card since I'm too cheap to treat myself very often (except when I'm visiting my parents 'cause there's a Starbucks drive-thru near their house - love it!)

fabulous laptop case - why is it sold out?!?

the Domino book

an ork poster (or three) - the pale blue Boston one, the Great Lakes one, the orange butcher paper Manhattan (how cool is that substrate?), the white on black Chicago - so many to choose from