It's been a while! Three months and I haven't picked up the needles in that entire time. I'm itching to pick them up again soon though--I'm just not excited about the socks for some reason.

Have you seen these books? I want them:




Traditional Fair Isle Knitting by Sheila McGregor has just what I want in fair isle patterns--I want to make myself a winter hat for next winter with hearts all around in pinks and mauves--I'm imagining it, I just need to get it on my needles.

Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel was kind of a surprise--I didn't think I'd like it from what I read about it, but I picked it up in the bookstore to browse and most of the beautiful patterns are simple and done in the round (which I love).

Maybe in June when we have our "Healthy Returns" come in work, I'll get my gift certificate for the bookstore and get at least one of these for free. . . .

I need to finish the socks though, otherwise I never will. It's raining today, maybe I'll give it a go. After those are done I really want to accomplish a couple of sweaters for C with the yarn I got a few months back at Knitting Pointers in Milford, MA; then of course my hat . . . . here we go again.

The kids gave me some really sweet Mother's Day gifts today that they made in school:

From B, a hand signing "I love you"



From C, a card with her little handprint and sweet smiling face:

Labels: knitting library

I made this delicious raspberry and blackberry tart from the barefoot contessa cookbook that my mom picked up for me at a yard sale about a month ago.





AND all the berries are from my backyard. You see we live in the house my grandfather built and it has about an acre of land --and just about all of it is in the back--huge, beautiful yard--we really are lucky to have it. It's very private too. Anyway, there are all these golden raspberry, red raspberry, and blackberry bushes just bursting with berries this time of year. It's such a treat and while picking or whenever I'm out in the yard, I can't help but think of my grandparents who have since passed. My grandfather had such a knack for gardening. There's wildflowers, some strawberries, he ALWAYS had a vegetable garden--a HUGE vegetable garden with anything you could imagine. And well, we try to too, never like grandpa though.

I plan to bring the tart tomorrow when we visit friends at a cottage near Cape Cod.

Ya, and I've been knitting, really, I have--STILL this:



I can't wait to finish it and hope to wear it out with friends when we go out in August--I better move it. Just not motivated lately . . . new job preoccupying the mind and all.

I got Plymouth Jelli Beenz for C's dress--she loves the yarn as you can see!

the yarn bandit strikes!

and I bought this with another 'health' gift cert!

it looks to be a book right up my ally.

Labels: cooking/baking, Gypsy Mesh Pullover, knitting library

I have today off from work for a morning routine dr. appt. and then I went downtown to meet my husband for lunch and to pick up a mother's ring (my gift for Mother's Day). I had some time to kill because it turned out my ring wasn't ready on time so I scored a couple of Fiber Trend patterns at Windsor Button before meeting my husband for lunch.
Felted Clogs & Classic Hearts sweater:

the clogs pattern was the one I was really after, I am going to take Yarn Harlot's advice and use Patons Classic Merino (she talks about the clogs in her January 12, 2007 blog entry).

Before stumbling upon the felted clogs pattern, I found the Classic Hearts sweater pattern and thought it would look adorable in a rose colored yarn--so me & it's knit in the round!!

oh, ya and my ring!

Labels: Knitting in the Boston MA area, knitting library

The company I work for participates in a wellness program where if you meet your goals or maintain your good results for cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, etc. each quarter, you receive a gift certificate for $20 (used to be $25). I chose Borders Books for my gift and purchased this book:

I really like this book and can't wait to start a project from it. Projects have minimal finishing, sleeves are done by picking stitches up at the edges or sweaters are knit in the round from the top down and there are vests knit in the round. There is a beautiful cabled tunic that I'd love to make for my daughter as well as a "northern lights" sweater that is great. Not to mention the adorable striped pullovers and the twisted cable pullover for my son--oh, did I mention the Chanel jacket??

I also really like that the materials are worded as for the type/weight of yarn recommended not a specific name brand which we all know can be discontinued and unless you know the weight of that yarn, you've got to figure your gauge out with less information to work with.

I love it.

Labels: knitting library

These are the latest additions to my ever-growing knitting library:


I picked them up last month with a gc I got at Christmas. Anyone own these, opinions? I did enjoy reading the first two KnitLits.

I hope to 'finish' that means sew up--ewww the owl vest this weekend -- finally. And I've got to finish the Good & Plenty socks--the second one is well underway and I'm working on the foot gusset.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Labels: knitting library

In just yesterday's post I was wondering where this was and it arrived today!



The one I want to make my son is the one in the top right-hand corner. It has bears on it--not a great pic of the leaflet but once the vest is done, I'll get a good picture of the finished result.

Labels: Animal vests, knitting library

It's 90 degrees and the three H's here. Hazy, hot, and humid. I've been in a 'knitting slump' because of it so I haven't picked the needles up in like two weeks!

Here is the finished front piece of mom's sweater and one sleeve finished:



I leave long ends for finishing. I hate finishing and am dreading that.

I also bought two more Elizabeth Zimmermann books:



I already have "Knitting Without Tears." I love to read her books.

Labels: knitting library, sweaters