Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving

Vogue Knitting Live Chicago 2012

A few weeks ago I headed to Chicago for some sweet visits with some lovely friends and to check out Vogue Knitting Live. I realized I never recapped when I went last year. So here's my recap from 2012. Here's hoping it doesn't take me until next year to recap this year. ;-)

In 2012 I was still living in Chicago. Allyson came down to visit, she was living in Minnesota at the time (we have since flip flopped)

I went and met her at the train station. We then promptly settled to serious business.

PIZZA AND BEER!

I still see this pizza in my dreams 

(for anyone visiting or living in Chicago, do yourself a favor and go to Boiler Room)

While at Vogue Knitting Live we checked out the fashion shows. 

I fell in love with this top designed by Stephen West, at the time it was unpublished, now I'm embarrassed how long it's been sitting in my queue waiting to be done.

Allyson actually bought herself something (unheard of!) 

But it was hard to resist these adorable Lorna's Laces, Essie, Soak boxes! 

It happened to be Halloween weekend and we did it up properly down in Pilsen, 

we also were lucky enough to catch the cowboy cab home, all decked out in Halloween goodness. 

I even picked up a skein of Madeline Tosh as a souvenir.  

It's so fun to look back on this and see all of the pictures from this year. 

Up soon: This year at Vogue Knitting Live! 

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

Wedding Bells

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to travel to Chicago for my friend Tara and Mike's wedding.

It was a beautiful affair featuring BBQ, live music, and lots of whiskey. Exactly my kind of shindig.

 They had these adorable strings of pictures of Tara and Mike. Here's a great photo of the bride.

Some magical bundting

all of the decor was fresh and down to earth. 

A bride eating BBQ always needs an apron. (it's really just a large bib anyway)

The food was DELICIOUS and I loved how adorable everything looked, even the drinks.

The happy couple high tailing it down the aisle.

I feel so lucky to have been able to be there and am hoping for nothing but health and happiness in their future.

Sunday Snapshot

Absence

It's been so quiet around here because my there's been some pretty big changes in my life.

I've started a new job, not only is it a new job but it is an entirely new career. I've gone from working in retail to the non-profit world. I'm absolutely in love with my job and it's a great switch for me and a great fit all around. But it's been a lot of work, and like anything new, I've had (and still have) a lot to learn. It's also a particularly busy time at my new agency.

I've had very little time to knit, much less blog about said knitting.

I've been there for just about a month now, so now that things have a settled down a little bit I'm going to make more of an effort to be here.

I love reading other peoples blogs so much, catching a glimpse into their lives and processes and I know that I feel great when I'm on top of this space and using it in a way that feels effective and useful.

So here's to new adventures, and making time to update my blog with them. 

Sunday Snapshot: Tuesday Edition

Sunday Snapshot

Summer Storms

 
A few weeks ago we had a round of intense storms that tore through the twin cities. My neighborhood was particularly hit. Trees were down all around the city, uprooted and blown over, hitting houses, blocking streets and intersections. Luckily we lost power only for about half a day, but parts of the city were without power for up to five days.

The sheer size of some of the trees toppled was so impressive. 

Luckily everyone in my house was safe and we didn't suffer any damage. It was strange walking around after the storm while the power was out and everyone was walking through the streets looking at the damage. Slowly but surely the storm clean up is being finished up, although there are still plenty of branches and logs sitting out on the side of the street. It makes for a very foliage filled walk down the blocks.

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

Happy Fathers day to all those fathers, biological and otherwise. The older I get the more I marvel at those who continue to parent all through their lives and for others besides their children.

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot: Thursday Edition

Fiddly Distractions

I hadn't realized how much I needed some green in my life until everything started blooming at once. It's lush and green and amazing here right now, and it's like a balm to my soul I didn't even know I needed.

Following the recomendation of Katie, I downloaded the A Beautiful Mess photo app this week. I was not disappointed. For only $1 I've been able to add scribbles and doodles to my photos. It's been a fun way to fiddle around, pass the time, and amuse myself.

I even got ambitious and wound some yarn I've had lying around forever. 

It's been a mellow week here, slowly but surely I'm feeling more like my summer self. I'm excited to dive into new weather and new projects.

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot

FO: Elizabeth Zimmerman Pullover

This is the first Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern I've knit. But when I saw my friend Ann's pullover I knew I wanted one just like hers. I've been dreaming of just a basic stockinette sweater for awhile, something to fly off my fingers on and a cozy pullover to wear through the winter.

I bought a bag of Knit Picks Swish DK, when they discontinued the turmeric color (How could they? Wouldn't everyone want that beautiful yellow??) But it worked out in my favor because I got a whole bag of it super cheap.

For anyone not familiar with Elizabeth Zimmerman patterns many of them are based on percentages and your own personal gauge. I did do a gauge swatch, like a good little knitter, but I really under estimated my own personal preference for negative ease (how tight a garment is). I originally had two inches of negative ease (so it was two inches smaller around then my actually body is) but when I got about half way into the body, I tried it on and I was swimming in it. So when I cast on the second time I took out SIX (6!) inches of negative ease. I was really worried I was being crazy, but luckily I stuck with my gut feeling because it fits just perfectly, exactly how I wanted it to. I'm also a little more on the loose side as a knitter, so I tend to have a lot of stretch to my knitted fabric.

My cousin Kedar was in town last weekend and snapped some photos for me. When I handed it to her folded, I hadn't noticed it was inside out, so a few of my photos feature the purled side of the fabric. But once I got it on I didn't have that problem.

I love how simple and comfy this sweater is, I still plan on adding a small pocket to the front and although it was 75 here yesterday, knowing Minnesota I'll still get plenty of time to wear this.

Sunday Snapshot

Georiga Cardigan

 
I've realized there's quite a few sweaters and projects that haven't made it over to this blogosphere so expect to see some new things in the next few weeks.

Keeping knitting affordable is always a concern of mine and it's why I love Knit Picks so much. I can make a sweater out of quality yarn that isn't going to keep me from making my student loan payments.

That said I recently have been dabbling into more luxury yarns. On a whim I  bought a skein of Madeline Tosh Light from Windy Knitty. This eventually became the Sad Day Shawl. I quickly became pretty obsessed with the Madeline Tosh line. I mean, look at all of those effing colors. I had caught an eye full of a color named ginger when I bought my first skein of Mad Tosh but they only had one skein in stock and the more I looked at it the more I knew I need a whole sweater of this stuff. It took me a little bit to decide on pattern but when Laura pointed out Georgia I knew that it was perfect. A simple, classic cardigan ideal for showing off a show stopping yarn.

After reviewing my purchasing options (and determining no Chicago yarn stores had any in stock) I realized that I would have to buy online and I had my heart set on ordering from Webs. If I'm going to spend that much on yarn, even better if I can get a discount! In addition, none of the Madeline Tosh yarns have dye lots and I felt the most confident in the expert yarn handlers at Webs giving me the best three skeins together so I didn't end up with some crazy ugly variations. (At this point I know people will point out that I can alternate skeins every few rows and to that I will say. No. I will probably never do this. It's too fussy and involved. So I will get the best color match I can, but variation and difference can be some of the most exciting things about knitting with artisan dyed yarn.)

Although it took me about three months of waiting for the color to come back into stock I finally got my hands on this yarn. Look at those colors!! Definitely worth the wait. Now, I know I'm really crazy about this yarn because I'm knitting a sweater ( A SWEATER) in sock yarn, on size 2 needles. Not really my style, if you know anything about me. But I've been surprising myself over the last few months with the projects and yarn size I've been choosing. I know that this is going to be a long term commitment project.

 
I pick it up in between projects, or when I simply get sick of working on something and so far it's been working. I've put the sleeve stitches on holders and am working through the body. It's just lots of long, long rows of stockinette stitch. But it's a nice break from all the lace (LACE?!? Who am I???) projects I've had on the needles.