Busy Swatching

I've been home from the wonderful Knitters Review Retreat for almost 2 days and I haven't blogged about it yet. I always like to re-visit and share the photos of all the gorgeous handknits that were worn there.

 But, I've been busy.

So much new yarn! So many swatches to make!

Secret Knitting

Just because I haven't blogged about knitting, doesn't mean my needles have been idle. There's been some secret knitting happening that finally can be revealed!

A shower gift:

That's the Owlie Sleep Sack. Fun to knit! I also made a modified Umbilical Cord Hat that I didn't take a photo of.

 And a Pumpkin Hat for a great-nephew:

Both are cuties!

This is such a sweet hat to knit and gift during this time of year. Check out the hats knit by a blogger buddy.

Ready For the Blizzards!

Remember way back--when I was knitting the Howard Cowl? I was never in a rush to finish it because it was such a mild winter in the northeast.

I wore my heavy winter coat only a couple of times. Fingerless gloves were enough and I don't think I ever put on my snowboots.

This cowl is meant for blizzards and temperatures that hover around 0. Never happened.

Then Spring appeared and all thoughts of a cold winter were shoved back into the ziploc bag and placed into the bottom of the UFO bag.

Between yesterday's "serious cold" and me finishing a few gift projects, the time was right to finally finish the cowl. There were only a few more stitches and the bind-off left to do.

It felt as if I was binding-off eleven-billion stitches!

It took four and a half innings of the Yankee game -- and it's done!

Fits fine.  Not that I'm wishing for blizzards and freezing temperatures.

Serious Cold

Just heard on the weather report that "serious cold" is coming our way this evening and tomorrow.

Bring it on--I'm ready!


I have chicken veggie soup

and yarn to keep me warm.

Sheep and the City

Yesterday, in a park in the middle of Manhattan

trees were adorned with felt

roving cascaded from a fountain

and sheep appeared!

Thank you, Prince Charles, for promoting wool which made this event possible!

Such an occasion brings out the fiber folk

and their beautiful handmade sweaters and shawls

Hi, Lisa, and your lovely tunisian crochet shawl! (And don't you love her hat?!)

My favorite yarn store, Knitty City, took over a corner of Bryant Park and Tahki Stacy Charles provided yarn for those making afghan squares.

Hi, Pearl!

What a perfect fibery afternoon!

Finished!

I have so many UFOs, that I was doubting if I was even capable of finishing something anymore. To prove I could, I cast on for a washcloth. 

I worked on it at the laundromat. 

I worked on it in the ER. (I'm fine--it was just a minor nothing.) 

And I finished! 

The yarn is the wonderfully soft Appalachian Baby. (Thank you, Jane, for the turning me onto this yarn. ) The pattern is Chinese Waves knit on the diagonal. That's both the right and wrong sides in the picture. The "wrong" side is the waffle-weave and I find it more attractive than the "right" side. 

Now back to a UFO or two or seven. 

At the Laundromat

Knitting at the steamy laundromat on a hot day The yarn? An organic cotton. The project? A washcloth. A good match of environment, fiber and project




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