Leafy Bias

So yeah, it's my birthday...and i'm cuddled up in a brand new shawl...happy birthday to me!

the pattern is Leafy Bias by Susan Ashcroft.

She is such a prolific designer and I noticed that her simple patterns are really all about the yarn, which I appreciate.

The yarn is Malabrigo "Rastita" in colorway Aguas
Sooo soft but the leaves. 

It's long enough so I can easily wear it like a scarf 

(how I prefer my shawls) without worrying it will unwrap.

I loved knitting these leaves! It was such an interesting knit but not overly complicated.

Artistic guitar shot. Haha.
I love my new shawl to distraction.

happy feet

Slightly embarrassing factoid about these socks...apparently I cast them on almost a year ago! What the? Anyway, they're finally done and boy are my feet happy!

look at the cute happy stripes.

I honestly didn't want to take them off to take this shot! haha.

My gauge weirdly has changed significantly between socks, so one is a bit bigger than the other. But who's going to be looking at them side by side? 

It's not a beauty contest. I refuse to let it bother me. 

The short-row heel.

I used JSSBO as the bind-off. 

It's a little loose but I have weeny little calves so I wasn't expecting them to be anything but.

This little person definitely enjoys them too!

happy hump day!

Elfe

I finished  my top for the TTTKAL hosted by luvinthemommyhood.

The pattern is Elfe designed by Astrid Schramm. 

This is the first sweater I've made using fingering weight wool, and it really is such a treat to wear! Very drapey and light, but still warm. 

The delicious yarns I used:

Dream In Color Smooshy with Cashmere in Aqua Jet

Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Boysenberry

It's a little big in the arms, but otherwise I love the looser fit of it. And the colors can't be beat.

Like Ellie's matching outfit?

This KAL was super lively and full of amazing projects. Great job ladies! Check out some of the awesome tops in the "starrring you" post on luvinthemommyhood later today!

birthday craziness

Mother's Day was sort of uneventful, everyone was sick and D was working. However, got a sweet reminder from Noelle of just how blessed of a mama I am:

The girls celebrated their birthdays on the 18th with a joint par-tay.

Little chefs stirring up cupcake batter. 

goofy smile.

 
The finished product.

Oh, happiness!

Finished object to share tomorrow. Until then, enjoy the cuteness! Haha.

Yarn Crawl 2013

Welcome to Yarn Crawl 2013!

notice I am wearing my Gemini top. hee hee yarn dork!

I decided to hit one stop: knit culture studio.
i have been meaning to check out this LYS and it was AWESOME!
The yarn crawl included seven trunk shows including...

Jane Richmond...

It was so nice to see the patterns knit up in real life!

A few of the lovely Botanical Knits by Alana Dakos...

Squishy yarn!

ISLAND Knits...

A rack of gorgeous cardigans and cowls...I was bug-eyed and drooling...

Ellie sporting her Yarn Crawl button

I bought the Seedling Hat pattern and two skeins of Mad Tosh.

Tosh Sock in Stove Pipe and Tosh DK in opaline

my swag bag. hee hee. 

I had so much fun! 

Full of Grace

To knit a fingering weight cardigan 

(for all you non-knitters out there, really, really, thin yarn)

is a real commitment. 

But when you're in love, you're in love.

The object of my affection:

The Grace cardigan designed by Jane Richmond. 

This beauty has many knitters under her spell.

I can't quite rock the "deep olive" so I cast on using Cascade Heritage in this super bright teal. Definitely more "me".  

Here is my progress so far: 

This is an addictive, easy knit but requires attention that I can only responsibly give if the kids are asleep. This has been a rarer and rarer daytime occurrence and I'm trying to keep the long term picture in mind. I already want to wear it though! haha. 

In honor of spring I also cast on this fun shawl - Leafy Bias

One happy litttle leaf.

It's happy because it's knit out of Rastita. 

Speaking of Spring style, since when did my girls become teenagers! OMG!

Mwah!

Dreiecke and Friends

The only problem with knitting a fingering weight shawl is 

there is very little to show for it for a very long time...so I whipped this up:

The Dreicke Hat, pattern by Shannon Cook

This pattern bears is clearly written, keeps interest and yields great results. 

I used a skein of Cascade 220 from two Christmases ago.

The fit is a little slouchy, but I prefer my hat this way. 

Next time I will use a smaller needle for the ribbing. And there will be a next time! 

This hat would look great in so many yarns and on so many people!

Thank you Shannon, for another rockin' pattern. "luv" it.

Spring has also sprung in our house with a bunch of little cro-critters!

This is Snowball. Hihi!

She's a pear-shaped bunny with lots of love to give. 

Knit in soft (albeit very splitty) alpaca blend...

I used a this pattern as the basis, but made up the ears myself. 

'

and these little bunnies are named 

Rosa-Ellie and Lavenderra.  

I used the Ugly Bunny pattern and dishcloth cotton.

They have all settled in quite comfortably and are already bff's with my girls.

Happy Spring Everyone!