Another Chick with Sticks

Another day of ice and snow…at least it’s not falling from the sky today.  Now it’s just a messy, sloshy, gross kind of vibe when you step outside…sigh. I cannot wait for spring and sunshine.  In the meantime, I’m preferring to hibernate with my yarn & books, in between cleaning and laundry, of course.  Since I didn’t have to work today (yayy), I’ve been working on the Spring Forward top from Creative Knitting magazine. The pattern is easy, so I was able to get a good start on the back while I was watching Hell’s Kitchen last night. You’ll have to excuse the crappy pics…my new camera hasn’t arrived yet so I’m making due with a webcam. ugh. Whatever works, right? lol

I went with Vanna’s Choice in Dusty Purple for this top, which I’m really liking for it’s washability and it is soft for an acrylic. I have put aside my yarn snobbishness for now. The pic is of the back, which I’m hoping to finish up this weekend.

Jocelyn’s sweater is finished. I wasn’t happy with the neckline in the pattern….once I finished it, it wouldn’t fit over her head, so I frogged it and crocheted an edge around the neck line. Much better. She really likes it.  The  sleeves and edge are actually dark pink – for some reason, they’re showing up red in the pic.

I also picked up the Winter/Spring 2009  issue of KnitScene magazine and I’m loving the Audra Crewneck.  I’m planning to order the yarn this weekend for it…it’s Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Chunky, a 75% wool and 25% alpaca blend. Here’s a pic….

Stay warm!

Hope everyone is staying warm today! 25 degrees here in Connecticut with the added bonus of a snow/ice storm tomorrow. I see lots of hot cocoa in my future. My March 2009 issue of Creative Knitting arrived this morning…I love seeing all the spring patterns starting to emerge. While flipping through this issue, nothing really stuck out as something I would really want to cast on anytime soon. This issue seemed to be put together with no imagination or wow factor – sort of humdrum in my opinion. The only pattern that I may want to knit up is the Spring Forward sweater.  I am anxiously awaiting the spring issue of Knitty. In the meantime, I have finished my lacy mock cable rib socks in the Caron country yarn. I love them! I will post a picture as soon as possible – my camera is on the fritz, and I must pick up a new one before the end of the week. I’m very happy with how the socks turned out.

Anyway, I am hoping to bring all of you something that I find “too cool” every Tuesday. (Thus, the blog title Too Cool Tuesday) lol. To kick things off, I have to tell you I was reading through one of my fave knitting magazines and it included a very short blip of an article on the new movie “Coraline” and a woman named Althea Crone. Althea is a knitter of miniatures (i.e. mini sweaters, gloves, etc) and she knitted some items which were worn in the movie by Coraline. Too cool! I really can’t wait to see this movie, based on the book by Neil Gaiman.

Althea hand knits each mini garment on the tiniest of needles. Sometimes I find that knitting socks on dpn’s can resemble wrestling with an octopus..I can’t imagine the patience and talent it takes to knit 1:12 scale gloves.  Browsing her website, www.bugknits.com, you can view the galleries of her amazing work.  There is also a youtube video on the main page which you must watch – very interesting!

Also, visit www.Coraline.com! The website is awesome and contains hidden secrets…shhhh.

I’m off now to finish the dishes and put away laundry…housework can be cool too. lol.

Stay warm!

About a month ago I received my invite to Ravelry.com and I am in love with this site! I can only compare it to being a kid in a candy store ~ so many awesome patterns and people! While I was wandering there today, I stumbled upon my next project…

Bella’s Mittens!

I have read and re-read each book in the Twilight series over and over again, and did see the movie on opening day…I remember commenting to my sister how awesome the mittens were that Kristen Stewart was wearing in the film.

So you can only imagine my reaction to finding the pattern, for FREE no less, on Ravelry! Cue the hootanany. lol. A HUUUGE thank you to subliminalrabbit for re-creating these and writing up the pattern. So much work went into them and they are gorgeous!

I am hoping to get my mock cable rib socks finished by tonight/tomorrow. THEN, I’m alllll about Bella’s Mittens. I’m going to go shop for the yarn right now….so excited!

I can’t wait to knit these and no doubt, I’ll wear them everywhere.

I’m so tired of the cold but wearing these mittens may just be worth it.

Have a great night!

For the pattern, and more, visit www.subliminalrabbit.blogspot.com

First, let me say that I am not a fan of winter. Never have been. I’m an Autumn and Spring girl. Those are by far my most favorite seasons…and I am anticipating Spring like you would not believe! The Flower and Garden show is in just a few weeks at the Convention Center, and I am sooo excited.  I did end up with primroses on my last shopping trip, just to add some springy-ness to my kitchen.  The cold has been not to be believed. Waking up to 3 degree weather is horrific. Did the freezing cold temperatures stop me from shopping? I think not. lol.

On the way home from work, after letting the car warm up for a half hour, I made a pit stop at JoAnn’s (again) to grab more yarn. I am on an it’s-cold-so-I’ll-be-knitting-socks-galore fest, and I’m loving it. I simply cannot just sit and do nothing. My hands need to be creating something, even while watching tv.  I picked up Caron’s Country yarn in charcoal and another skein of Vanna’s Choice in dusty purple for my stash. Mmmmm. Fiber.

Then, I did need something new to peruse, so I  grabbed the new issues of Piecework and Knit Simple magazine and I’ll be subscribing to both since I love them so much. This was my first time reading Piecework and it was their 3rd annual historical knitting issue, where, omg, they included an article on knitting two socks at once on dpn’s. My wrists hurt just thinking about that. lol.

There was also a really great article on Eleanor Roosevelt and her lifelong dedication to knitting. She definitley knit her bit.  After being appointed to the first U.S. delegation to the United Nations,  ‘as the initial procedural squabbles dragged on, she asked if she could take out her knitting; the surprised male delegates agreed’.  lol.

So, I will be subscribing to Piecework.

Speaking of work, here is a pic of Jocelyn’s sweater…the front and the back.  I have since finished the two sleeves since this photo was taken, so I will be finishing it off this weekend. I think the seed stitch blocks in the center look great. The photo is not the best – lighting issues – but it should look pretty cute when it’s all put together.

My pink  socks, as I’m referring to them, are coming along swimmingly. Almost finished with these and am planning to cast on a mock cable sock in the Caron Country I just picked up this weekend.

Hmmm. Somebody is going to need some new pairs of cute shoes to show off all these awesome socks when I’m through. lol.

Since it’s so icy cold out today, I am going to do some shopping at KnitPicks.com and treat myself to some Harmony Wood needles…..they are so pretty in all their colors. sigh.

I’m also going to add more to my stash this weekend, online of course, so I’ll let you all take a peek at my finds in my next post.

Stay warm

&

Go Knit something!