Noro "Sophia" bags 

Felt like Felting!

That's right....today I felt like felting! I actually felted 5, but wasn't too happy with the way the pink one felted. There's a ridge on the side and the bottom, so I'm letting it dry, and then I'm going to hand felt it and see what happens. I love the orange one! (that's for me!) The darker pink one I used Cascade 220 Tweed, and you can actually see the flecks of color! I think they turned out great! The Noro bags also turned out! Noro takes a little longer to felt, but I was so pleased. I'm thinking these may be gifts for some people I know!

Taking a break!

Here's Lois and Tara at our West Side Knitters group at Starbucks, this past Tuesday. Lois took a break from her hat and Tara took a break from her homework so I could play with my new digital camera!

Here are the "Sophia" bags before they are felted. The orange one is for me and the pink one is for my "girlfriend" Moe! The other three will be gifts....or maybe I'll take them all! With all the scraps of leftover yarn I have from these bags, I'm going to knit and felt up some coasters or trivets. I didn't work on my shawl this weekend....but I've promised myself to get to 200 rows by Thursday! I already have orders from my sister-in-law to make a couple of these for Christmas gifts. (I also have to make her some scarves, too!) She keeps me very busy!  

Introducing...The Superwoman of Knitting!

Here's Ann my teacher instructing me on how to fix some stitches that have splt. I was so nervous that she was going to drop my stitches or move my markers! However, you can see that she "borrowed" some reading glasses from the yarn store (that's why the tag is on), so she could see what she was doing! I doubted Ann could fix it, but she is like the "Superwoman of Knitting"!

Yesterday was a day of Knittin' & Eatin' in my knitting class because it was St. Patty's Day! Chris is really concentrating so he doesn't drop any stitches while he makes his shadow knit sweater. The colors he picked are variations of blue and should look quite nice when he's done. (Just as long as he doesn't make any mistakes!)  

Go Badgers Sparkle Farkle Hat! 

Sparkle Hat!

This is the Sparkle Hat I made from the Stich n' Bitch book. I used Paton's Shetland Chunky and ordered the sequins online. (the sequins must have a large hole to accomodate the yarn) I have worn a hat similar to this one and get so many great compliments! (except from Chris) Now as for the "head".....I got her from a beauty salon going out of business and paid 50 cents for her! She has been used to scare off trick or treaters, and now is used as my hat model. I have yet to name her.......any suggestions?

I knit....therefore I am......

Welcome to my blog about.....you guessed it.....knitting! You may find some tips, mistakes I've made along the way, and you'll even get a chance to meet people I knit with on a regular basis!

Currently, I am working on a shawl from Vivian Hoxboro's book Shadow Knitting! (Don't you dare order it from Barnes & Noble or Borders.....go to your local bookstore and support them!) At first I was ready to return all my yarn at my LYS, but my instructor Anne convinced me to keep on going! I think what confused me was the way the pattern is worded. However, after ripping out 24 rows...I figured out how the markers shift in order to achieve the pattern. I'm now chugging along and hope to have this done by the end of summer. Word of advice.....if you have NEVER done shadow knitting, I suggest you make the pot holders from her book first, or try the Alien Scarf from the Stitch n' Bitch book!

I also have little take-a-long projects that really don't take a lot of thinking. My newest craze is the Sophie bag from www.magknits.com. I made one for myself, added a button (thanks to Lois, Anne and Chris!) and get complimented on it all the time! I've got a pink one already finished (this is for my little girlfriend Moe) and an orange one for me! I'm going to try one with the Noro and see what happens, because I find that Noro doesn't felt as nice as the Cascade 220.

Here's my shawl.....I hope you can see the details of it! Enjoy!

Close-up of Shawl 

Shadow Knitting Shawl!