Pictures as promised!

I don't have one of my classes today, so I have a little extra time. I decided to take a few quick pictures of my birthday shrug and Nicole.

So, without further ado......

This is the birthday shurg (that's what I'm calling it now).

Nicole from the back. (Sorry, I thought I had rotated this picture.)

Nicole from the front. (It closes I promise!)

You can see more pictures of both on my flickr page. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachel-renee/

Decisions, decisions

I am debating which sweater I should knit...first. The Placed Cable Aran or the Tangled Yoke Cardigan. I was thinking that I wanted to knit the Tangled Yoke Cardigan first, but yarn for the Placed Cable Aran seems a little more affordable. I could use Patons Classic Merino and it would only cost roughly $25, and I could buy it locally which means no shipping charges. I've found a few substitue yarns, and Hattie has suggested some too, but I really like the Placed Cable Aran too!

I really need to finish my WIP's!!!!! I think the fall is starting to get to me, because I'm loosing interest in my summer knits. I have made a lot of progress on Nicole. I need to post pictures of it. I will. I just have to remember. I have to cast on for my second sock! I don't want it to be lonely!

I did some no-brainer knitting this weekend. It's the pattern and yarn I got from my grandmother for my birthday. I actually finished all of the knitting this weekend. Now all I have left to do is sew up the 'sleeves'. It's very bright and fun. I'll (take) and post some pictures soon too! I needed something relaxing and didn't require thinking. I had a crapy week last week, and needed to zone out watching tv for a bit. I did get some homework done in between. :)

Pictures coming soon!

My WIP's grew and are still growing!

Oops! I started a new project and have yarn for another that I will probably only be able to resist the urge not to start only so much longer.

I have continuted progress on Princess..7 repeats down..who knows how many more?! I really am beginning to like her more and more, and have been told that she'll block out wide than she is now. She's being born out of Knit Picks Glimmer which is 100% merino wool. My socks are still slow growing, but I'm getting more scared as the rows grow that they will not fit my foot even though my gauge is still spot on. Nicole hasn't been worked on in a few weeks now (man that's hard to admit). I was working on her a while back and set her down because of a missed (dropped or lost [MIA]) stich, and just haven't had the patients to try and work it out....too many other things that are coming along well I guess.

This takes us to this past weekend. I had a long one because my mostly full time job at the university gave me last Thursday and Friday off because of having to turn off the water/ac. I did have to teach on Thursday afternoon, and then had the rest of the weekend off! My step-grandmother is an avid knitter and who, like my other grandma, loves that I'm knitting so much, bought me yarn for my bithday. I got it this weekend even though my bday isn't for another week and a half because I don't see her much. My step-mom and I drove to see her Friday. We had lunch, shopped a wee bit, and then hit the LYS. My grandma can be spotted there often, and knows the owner well. Aparently the owner, Fran, just knew how to knit when she was young and has been knitting even since ( I have no clue how long that is). She was amazing, fun, and oh-so knowledgable about knitting, yarn, patterns, etc. The yarn my grandma gave me is Classic Elite Yarns Dazzle in the colorway Kaleidoscope, and a pattern for a shrug/shawl pattern. It was desinged by a local, so it can't be found other than at Ewe and Me. Also, while we were there I picked out yarn for the Interweave Knits Summer 2007 Sleeveless Tuxedo Shirt. The yarn is Filati Bamboo in the colorway Pink. I'm about 3 1/2 inches into it, and I'm LOVING it! The yarn is amazing. I'll try to get some pictures up soon.

I'm not too young to knit!

Here are a few picture updates of Nicole and the Princess Wrap. I've done more work on the Princess Wrap since this picture was taken, but not any on Nicole. I've also been working on my Slip Up Socks. I have turned the heel and I'm now working on the gusset. It's going well, but slow.



Oklahoma has passed its previous record of days in a row with rain = today makes it 15 or 16. I can honestly say that I am sick of rain not to mention the 15+ bad hair days. My hair does not like the humitdity....because it is still in the uppper 70's to lower 80's. I want it to be summer weather...HOT!









I went to the eye dr. today and since I know I will always be in one waiting room or another I took my sock with me to work on while I was waiting for the dr. I was sitting there happily knitting away (it's a good thing I'm near sighted since I had already had to take my contacts out) and one of the ladies who runs the front desk walks by and say's "you are much to young to be knitting". I didn't take offense or say anything. I just smiled as she walked on by. I love knitting. I know a lot of people still think that knitting is for grandma's and such, but she looked to be in the age group that could have grandchild, and I would think she would like to see a young woman knitting. Well, I have to go back in a week so the dr. can check these new contacts on me, and I'll be happily sitting in the waiting room again with my knitting.

Ribbit, Ribbit

Was that a frog that just hopped across my screen? Oh wait, no. It was all that frogging I did on my sock. I got about 3/4 of the way done (past the heel flap), and decided to try it on.....it didn't fit...by any means possible. It was my first sock, and I didn't really buy sock yarn.... I do want to try my hand at socks again..soon, because I really enjoyed it! I just need to buy some actual sock yarn for SOCKS. ;0)

Question: Does anyone have any sock yarn that they just absolutely love?

I have been knitting away on Nicole. She is coming along beautifully, but somewhat slow. I don't mind though. I am really enjoying the pure simple act of knitting...the yarn and needles working ever so gracefully between my fingers. It's love. I'm also making slow progress on the Princess Wrap. I have 4 repeats + 2 rows. Hopefully I can get some pic's up soon.

I won't be posting for a bit because I'm leaving Friday to go to my parents house and then bright and early (I'm not sure how bright I'll be) Sunday morning we are leaving, along with a group from my dad's church, to go to Rio Bravo, Mexico. We are going on a mission to build 2 houses. They will be 12' x 12' concrete block homes for at lease 2 families. Along with building 2 houses, my father and I will be our group's translators. I hold a bachelor's degree in Spanish, and my dad has been self-teaching as well as attending classes at a local community college for a few years. We have both been to Mexico several times, but I've had a bit more practice. E is from Mexico, and not all of his family speaks English, so when we visit I'm trying my hardest to keep up, and try not to look too confused. About 2 summers ago I spent 1 month in Mexico studying. It was the best thing I could have ever done, and would LOVE to do it again. Needless to say, I should get lots of knitting done on the plane along with practicing Spanish with my dad.

If I don't post before I leave; have a great weekend, week, and weekend. If where you live is still somewhat tolerable weather-wise, enjoy it because I'll be HOT, but loving it!

Chau

Memorial Day WIP's

Happy Memorial Day!

I am making progress on three projects; 1 new one and 2 old.

Here are a few pictures of my WIP's.

Purl Barred Shevron Socks. From I can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks.

Princess Wrap w/ 3.3 pattern repeats done. In the background is the latest issues of KnitSimple.

Nicole.

FO: Darted Tanks from Knit Picks.

I'm really happy with how my first tank (or any other thing that closely related) turned out and fits. It's a little wider than I wished, but it still fits nicely.

Knitting lace

I've started a new lace project. Nicole from Chic Knits. It is really challenging, but I like that. I'm a little frustrated at it right now, but I'll get back to working on it soon. I didn't do much work on the Princess Wrap because of Nicole, but I'll work on her later today.

I bought a good knitting related book yesterday at target. It can be purchased here on Amazon. It is titled "Knitting Under the Influence". It is a very easy read, but entertaining. I read more than half of it yesterday.

Pictures of FO's and WIP soon!