Monday, January 31, 2011

Knit Along!

While my lovely friend Allyson over at The Sweatshop of Love has been staycation-ing in Minneapolis for three months my Chicago knitting sceen has been a little lonely. That's why I was super pshcyed to get on board with a knit along. I've never done one before but I am drooling over The Beatnik sweater in the deep fall issue Knitty that I just couldn't help myself.

The Knit Picks gift card my lovely mother in law gave me for Christmas was a nice little bonus as well. Unfortunatly I waited so long in my deicion and ordered my yarn late so I'm THREE whole weeks behind schedule.


The idea is to turn this:


into this: 





I'm working with the Knit Picks DK City Tweed. It's a slightly thiner yarn than what the pattern calls for but I think that I'm going to be ok as far as size goes. I half heartedly knit up a gauge swatch, eyeballed it once or twice with a ruller and just dug in. It kind of just feels like I need a little blind faith in my life right now. So here's jumping in head first. I ordered a few extra skeins so I should be alright in the end. 




I'm really loving how soft and buttery it is. The yellow is a little more mustardy in real life than it appears on the web site which I love. We've got a crazy snow storm forecasted in the next two days here in Chicago so I plan on enjoying my days off and getting some serious knitting in!

Monday, January 17, 2011

cha-cha changes

Even with the end of the holiday season and the end of school (forever!) things have still been really crazy around here. I've got lots of projects to look forward to and set up to get shaking on my needles but its all been set back by my transition to MY NEW APARTMENT.

I'm pretty physced about all of it but its been a whirl wind of activity. I've officially been there a little over a week and tomorrow on my to do list is setting up my very own CRAFT ROOM!

I'll be sure to post some pictures up once I get it all arranged. I also was lucky enough to add a sewing machine to my repertoire (thanks to the hubs for a fabulous Christmas gift!) So we can also look forward to some sewing projects in the future.

I'll wrap this all up with a little finished Christmas project.

Crocheted Washcloths

These were gifts that went to all of my lovely sister in laws along with a cute bar of soap to round it out. 






Such a quick and easy gift these were perfect to whip up for a crowd. 

I also am going to be participating in the Sweat Shop of Love Selfish Knit-a-long. It officially started last week so I'm getting a little late start but once my yarn arrives in the mail I'll be off and running.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Slippin in some slippers

As promised up next on the Christmas Gift List extravaganza is... SLIPPERS!

After seeing these adorable crocheted slippers over at the purl bee I knew that they were going to make it on to my list in a very serious way.

The first ones I finished were for my father in law Juan. Having gifted him with hats and scarves on many occasions I knew that I was going to have to get a little more creative this year.

Having already stocked up on Lions Brands Vanna's Choice while I was in New York.


I knew that this affordable, durable acrylic yarn would be the perfect choice. It helps that it comes in about a million colors too!


A beautiful combo of maroon, red and orange I love how all of these colors come together. They were a nice quick project the way in which you seem them together is ingenious! I definitely see a few more of these in some family members futures.


so cute!!