There really hasn't been much knitting going on around here.

I am counting on a nice "holiday knitfest" this upcoming week after I take care of my household duties ;op

I am now at the endless stockinette knitting on Ms. Marigold

Since I am not all that excited about SS knitting, it has been going at a snail pace! ;oD Like I said nuthin' much going on.

I am about 1/2 way there on the SS section for the waist. Then I will need to pick up the neckline for ribbing...I am sure I can push thru that KA!

In the meantime, I needed another quickie project to ensure I would not get into a knitting funk
I made my very 1st completed (notice this key word) hat for a charity called afghans for Afghans that Alison in our Charlotte Purls group has commissioned some of us to participate in.

I really couldn't tell if this would fit a newborn...it looked big.
So I called on one of my little friends to try it on :o)Mmmmh still not convinced it fits.

Do you think this little guy could help me out??
Isn't he precious!! Jonas is 3 months old.
Jonas' mom was very nice to let me try it on him! It matched his eyes! And I couldn't help but give it to them!

She said it was perfect since they were going to the mountains the next day.

So since this hat just happened to jump out of my hands! ;o) I will have to make a couple more for the charity before the deadline ;op LOL

More details about the F.O. when I have cranked out a few more hats!

So I am taking a break from my vibrant reds, and I am now on a purple binge! :oD

Didn't you all know that it's the new black! ;op

Ever since I saw this when it first came out, I knew I had to make it and everyone has been knitting it up like wildfire!

I did some minor research on R.averly looking for a yarn I would like and knew I had to do this in purple!

Not wanting to double yarn and wanted to try something I never knitted with before I decided on this

(it is really hard getting a picture of purple without distorting the color!)

As of yet, I haven't "heard" any negative reviews about the Valley Yarns in Berkshire Bulky and was curious about trying it.

I wanted something cheap and it came in the right color. Viola! :oD

I have already swatched for this project and got gauge, but now it is just a matter of "when". ;op

Then I finally scratched my itch and made my very 1st Malabrigo purchase!

I was thrilled b/c it has been on my yarn wish list for a long time now!

And I have been in luv luv luv with the velvet grape forever and plan to make the Pimlico Shrug in this one day in the far future. ;op

For now, these balls of yarn will either turn into the Dashing, or Scholar Collar, or Calorimetry or this Neckwarmer, etc. etc.

Decisions Decisions!! :oD

Subtitle: Super Tasty Tuesday!

I am SO on a yarn restriction! :oD

I mentioned how I was making a list on yarn I wanted to buy for the 2,915 projects I want to knit! Haha!

I am ready to cast-on for all of them now!!

I know I mentioned the Silver Belle KAL that I am co-hosting but I want to make it clear that I don't personally plan to CO for that project until late fall at the earliest! I have other "knitting conquests" that I have been dying to do after Lizard Ridge! So please feel free to sign up for the KAL anytime! We are just kicking it off for next month! :o)

Here are my future knitting conquests that I am gearing up for:

~ Ripple Skirt ~

Love this skirt out of IK and scoping out other knitters' FOs had me putting it at the top of my list! Everyone swears by this denim yarn and how it is like wearing a knitted jean skirt (uber comfy). It gets better with each wash - yep you can literally throw it in the washer machine and dryer with no problems! I have been wanting to knit up a skirt and this will be my first time doing it too! Seems simple enough as my 1st skirt conquest.

I am still a little bit bitter that after I scrounged all over the place looking for this particular yarn in this particular color (b/c it is hard to get now), I swear not 12 hours later Robin tells me that E.lann is selling it (I really did appreciate the heads up!) after I "just" bought it off of e.bay for $20 more that I could have saved! Ugh! Ooh well I look forward to working with this yarn.

~ Croquette Tube Top ~

I love this top and it just HAS to be done in red! :oD This will be my first time finally putting my Fitted Knits book to use! :op

Ooh look I could make an outfit out of the top and skirt! Just like the girl in the book but inverted! :oD (that was really not my intent...but we can go with that!)

~ Ms. Marigold ~ " The Do-Over" :op LOL

Yep! Time to work on the remix! LOL :op So I have decided to "regroup" and get the energy & desire back up to knit this over again. It really isn't the fact that this was a hard knit (really easy!), but I selected the wrong yarn. VERY wrong. So I plan to either frog the other one or literally throw away the yarn *gasp* (it really wasn't but like $2.50 a ball). So I am not sure if I want to go thru all that trouble to rip and wind up little balls and all. The yarn was really nice just not for this project. It could possibly reincarnate into a lace shawl...we will see.

However, I got this Silky Tweed on that killer w.ebs summer sale for only like $4 bucks! YAH! How about I didn't realize I was ordering "Silky Tweed" until it got here. I was so thrilled b/c I had been seeing it everywhere (including the silky wool) and had been wanting to try it!

I got the yarn suggestion from the best knitter's research tool that is our there right now...Ravelry of course! :op So after I saw a couple of these knitted up in this yarn I was convinced to try this yarn out - especially when I saw it on sale! Bingo! So that is what put Ms. Marigold back on the map! :op

~ Flair ~

This project has been on my wish list since March at least!!!! Ever since Erica B. showed it to me! Then I showed it to Adrienne and she was hooked! :op The three of us had talked about doing our own little KAL but these 'hotties' already started and Adrienne is almost done! *hmph* LOL :oD

Even though I got this pattern months ago and my cute w.al-mart buttons last month - I just bought the yarn and truly don't plan to start working on it until my skirt and tube top is almost off the needles! :op Hey! I waited this long! Haha! It won't hurt to keep it on my knit wish list a little longer :op

Okay so those are my future knitting conquests! Now just a matter of when I plan to cast on! ;o)

Well apparently I have come down with a smidge of the "Cast On Fever" :o)
I have CO for the Charlotte Purls - Shrug KAL that we started on this past Saturday.
This is the 'Ribbed Shrug' we are knitting up this summer from Interweave Knits free patterns under their 'Wraps' section.

I went ahead and got the yarn for my shrug but was not particularly satisfied with the color.

The color that was on the website to me was not exactly what came in my box! :op

I wanted to pick a neutral color so I could just throw the shrug on with any outfit when my arms may get chilly in the office or somewhere like a restaurant. So why not a sand/brown color!

I wasn't completely against the color, but I wasn't excited about it either. Well I finally put my finger on it. The brown has a little bit of an orange tone to it that I don't particulary care for but could live with it.

Well I made my 1st swatch ever. Yep, I am growing up in the world of knitting! :o) LOL

Hey! I did my 1st gauge ever last month and now I went a step up and did a swatch!

The swatch is for my niece’s soon-to-be birthday present ‘Sugar ‘N Spice’.

I bought yarn from a closeout sale a couple of weeks ago that did not have a yarn band on it at all! So I have no idea what I have over here except that it is 100% cotton/100 yards (supposedly – I don’t have a fancy smancy scale to weigh it) LOL!

So I knew immediately I was going to need to do a swatch just to check things out since it is a mystery yarn.

I had to knit it 3 times just to make it come out “close”. I say close because I never did get it. I am using a US4 needle and refuse to go any smaller to get the gauge. The pattern actually calls for a US7 & US8. I am off by ½ inch too much. Oh well it will be fine.

(can y'all tell I don't like for my yarn touching the grass! LOL)

They had a colorway I wanted to try but the other yarn shops did not have them. So I grabbed two of #224 with purple in it of course!! :o)

And #88 more of a nice soft brown ball (will probably be the only one I buy in that colorway).

I had a great weekend! As I mentioned before I took off Friday (unfortunately we didn't get it as a 'holiday') & Monday. So the time away has been much needed and enjoyed! I did absolutely NOTHING!

On Easter, my actual birthday, I went to church in my jeans to worship! Had a nice brunch afterwards and my Sunday ritual is always a NAP! That definitely happened. :op I got a lot of rest this weekend! I have just been all wound up at work so this was great to unwind. Then Sunday night went out for a very nice dinner at Ruth's Chris. It was fabulous! So Ms. Crimson Purl celebrated another grace year and turned 32! :o) My day was wonderful! I am so blessed with people who care & love me!

During my down time I have been knitting!! So much so my hand is a little bit sore. Will be taking a short break and wearing my glove again while I knit. I have been mainly making progress on my lizard afghan (go figure and this was suppose to be my long term project! Haha). It is VERY addictive...you just want to do "a little bit more". Shish! So now I have 5 blocks completed and looking at how I quickly depleted my cute Easter yarn basket! It will be time to get more yarn soon! (Sidebar: my own private SATC marathons is GREAT for knitting! :op )

Ms. Marigold is coming along (a nice little vest - wondering if it is going to be too tight!). I am really not sure if I am going to like it now....not sure what it is...the more it grows the less I am liking it! LOL One minute I like the color, then I don't (thinking I should have picked a lighter or multi color yarn). Moments later I think it is too thin and I can see my tension varying throughout the project (so it is not perfect in my mind) and then the next moment I am okay with everything...but I press on so I can see the end result! I'll see how I feel once I get the neckline on there.

No pics of my WIPs until I get a digi cam so I can show some quality work! (esp. on the lizard my cell cam really does it no justice) I am already thinking about my next 2 projects. Definitely know I will be working on ankle socks, but still deciding between three options on my next garment piece (2 for me, 1 as a possible gift).

My girlfriend sent me more pics today of Elizabeth Grace and her booties

Have y'all noticed I've been tinkering with my sidebar? Thanks Erica, Carmen, and Michelle for all of your assistance!

Look my 1st entry in April! :o)
(Can you tell I am still excited about this whole bloggin' thing! Haha)

AND Let's not forget whose birthday is coming up on April 8th!! That is this Sunday....yep! Easter Sunday! Pass some love this way if you remember :oD

Well I have been quiet b/c I was out of town over the weekend, but was really making some progress on my Ms. Marigold....when this morning I jumped up to turn the TV off and ripped my needle out of my sweater!!!! SUGAR!!!!!! >:

A new word I am trying to use in place of ............well y'all know! :o) I picked it up from a girl at my favorite LYS www.charlotteyarn.com, who I am going to have to go see to help me with my mess!!!! *upset* (will try and get a pic with her this time).

I have been wanting to stop by there to buy a different colorway of NORO silk garden for my Lizard since I am getting impatient on waiting for it in the mail. I have just been itching to knit up another square, but have been trying to stay focused on the Ms. Marigold for progress.

Well y'all know what I will be doing during my lunch hour today......SUGAR!!! (try it! it works! LOL)

Y'all remember that chant?? But the "girl" version of it? :op LOL!!

Well I really haven't done as much knitting as I would have liked this week. The computer just sucks me in when I get home! LOL Plus I have been trying to have a 1/2 way decent social life now.

The Ms. Marigold is now casted on and the first section knitted done. But barely growing! LOL

<--------- See! I am counting down by "sections" (6 parts) not including the neckline and ruffle sleeves. So I am a 6th of the way there!! :oD

The mini generic stitch markers that I bought (all of a dollar or so from Hobby Lobby) really were lifesavers for me since this is being done on a size 5 US and the yarn is really thin.

The big markers would have slid everywhere making me lose my place in the project. This multi-pack that I didn't realize I had with the tiny ones in there worked great! WHOA! I didn't need anything stalling my projects Hahaha! :o) I do plan on getting some "cute" stitch markers soon. Any suggestions? I have browsed http://www.etsy.com/ for some and they seem reasonable coming in different sizes to choose from for my projects.

And how about I didn't realize I will have to crochet the short ruffle sleeves on the Marigold! That was the main reason why I loved the pattern was b/c of those cute sleeves!

I do not know one thing about crocheting and never had planned on it! :op

*Sigh* But I guess a savvy knitter would know how to crochet and wouldn't resist it! :op LOL So I will be learning how to basic crochet soon. I will need to learn how to do it anyways, since the edging of my lizard afghan calls for it too.

Speaking of the lizard I have completed an entire square!! WHOA!!! I really struggled with it in the beginning, but finally got the hang of it the second round of repeat rows. I will be a master of short rows!! You just wait and see! :oD
(I really am going to get a better camera! This does it no justice!! But y'all get the idea!)

I did get a little twisted towards the top b/c I ended up thinking I was pretty good that I could turn on some TV! Hahha! And was doing just fine until I looked up at a scene and lost count! Dang it!!!
(Sidebar: And October Road is not even that good!! What was I thinking! It was really just on for background noise. Where the heck is my Men in Trees?! And WHY was Grey's a repeat!! Ugh!)
So I have a few small "gaps" there! LOL Glad this will be my bottom left square. I will fondly look back on it and say...ah that was my very 1st square. Doesn't it have character? (= designer mistakes) LOL. :op

For the afghan, I plan to just continue knitting and switch out ball colors (to still give it a block/square look) vs. binding off. I hate seaming so the less I have to do the better! So I can just seam the 4 "strips" of the afghan together instead of 24 blocks!

There is some debate among knitters about the Lizard project, and when you start knitting it yourself "to block" or "not block" because there are cute bumps that occur when you knit this project. I have decided to block!! I like the wave look of the pattern (the main reason why it attracted me) and I think you can really see it from the "flat" perspective :o). I ordered more NORO online!! Once I completed the transaction I realized that I am only saving about 1 balls worth - once you include the shipping cost (not to mention still having to wait for it in the mail). So I have decided I will just continue to go to my LYS and buy the yarn from them for support. Heck I was seeing $$ signs in my eyes and y'all know how I get with that!! :o)

It took me about 4 days, including learning how to do it on Monday, knitting just a few parts "here and there" to complete the first block last night.
But now that I know what I am doing it could easily only take a few hours to knit one square. And I am not even knitting backwards! I SO need to learn that soon! Figured I could test one of my squares out with that method soon :o)

I have decided to knit a "square" a week, like every Sunday will be Lizard day, and focus completely on Marigold during the week for progress.

Alright I had to get this out before the weekend since I won't have time to blog, BUT need to be squeezing in some knitting!

Happy 1 week Blog Anniversary to me!! :o)

You all may remember me going to the yarn shop on Saturday for my 20% off NORO yarn during the shop's anniversary celebration. During the festivities there was cake, cookies, sodas, candy and of course several door prizes!! :o) Just wouldn't be a party without it. Right?!

Well guess which cute crimson purl WON!!!! Guess!! No Really! LOL :oD

The prizes were generously donated by some vendors: Knitting Fever, Plymouth Yarns, Blue Sky Alpacas, KnowKnits, and Berroco.

So they were just FABULOUS! I received the Berroco grab bag!















I just couldn't wait long enough to take pics to upload on my *new* blog! :o) So there you see the prize in my car! Haha! I received 12 balls of Berroco "Love It" in a very pale lavender color #3215 55% Cotton 38% Acrylic and 4% Polyester so it is perfect for a spring/summer knit garment....did I mention it was twelve balls!!!

And boy do I love it!! I am typically not a pastel person, but this will be fun to knit because I have never used this type of yarn before and I also received a great pattern book from Berroco! There are 7 patterns that all use the "Love It" yarn. And there was also 2 "Handeze Therapeutic Craft Gloves". Ironically I had purchased 2 gloves for my own personal use last fall b/c I was knitting so tight and killing my left hand. All better now! :o)

So the first 2 people who request the gloves I will gladly gift them to you by dropping them into the mail. Just hit me up!

So the Berroco bag was a great prize and I was so DELIGHTED when I went into the yarn shop today to get help with my short rows on the Lizard Ridge (will circle back on that shortly!) I was not expecting this at all. I was just sitting there casting on and just happen to look up at the box with a bag that had my name on it in my handwriting...and I was like...Hey!! Is this mine?!!! WHOA! I WON! Haha! Yes I can act a fool over FREE stuff. If you haven't figured it out by now I like to save my money as much as possible and typically do not buy many things at full price! :op So not only was I going into the shop for some assistance I got some goodies!! It was a great knit day......or was it???

*Sigh* This Lizard Ridge has got me twisted...ur uh literally! There is so many W/T within each row it is ridiculous and then trying to recognize my wraps on the purl side is just difficult for me right now! I can't wait to get my groove and learn this pattern to get to "leapin"!!

It recommends to know knitting backwards (but not required).....I need to figure that out QUICK! *checks calendar to see if lunch hour is open again* Hahaha! Gotta love Piper (young lady who helps me at the LYS) for being so patient with me!! She is simply wonderful! You better believe I will get a pic of her to post here soon! LOL She better be glad I was so involved in my Lizard that I didn't even think of it. It totally busted my high over my door prize!! Haha!

Here is how far I have gotten with my first square (and not even done with all 12 rows!) with a few mistakes......*looks away and whistles*

It is still oh so pretty!! :) I actually enjoy knitting with this yarn. It feels good (lovin the silk garden) and it is fun to see the colors change as you knit! Absolutely FUN! But I sure in the heck can't watch TV, talk on the phone or anything while doing this project. I need 100% concentration!! Yes indeedy! LOL

Well, of course I will keep y'all posted about this project now that is officially on the needles.

(Psst! I need some help with status bars in my margin!! Anyone gracious to help me??)

Okay WIP #2 is Ms. Marigold from Zephyr Style
Pattern link: www.zephyrstyle.com/catalog/item/2367447/2803300.htm

Love their patterns because they do the whole knit from the top down thing. How easy could that be for my 1st sweater! Right? Or in this case "spring/summer" shell.

Since I am trying to stay motivated to knit during the spring and summer, I figured I would try this project out. I received the yarn online from www.elann.com and BOY! I saved my cost by half! 50%! Unbelievable! I picked a deep purple (eggplant) color that is 80% Baby Alpaca 20% Silk and it is just luscious!
Did I say it was just luscious!! It is soooooooo soft! So I figured I would try to do things right and actually do my very 1st gauge! *gasp* Yep, I have never ever done one and never felt a need to before; but since this is a garment to wear I figured I better do the right thing and try my gauge out...so I have a question...but first here are a couple more pics (of course! LOL Had to test out the lighting...y'all know what I am working with! Haha! Who would have thought I would be putting my cell cam to some serious work! )

The pattern said it should measure 4 inches...it does if I stretch it just a tad! :0) The question is that okay?? I didn't think it was that serious right? Figured I could stick to this needle size.

Well I plan to cast on for this project on tomorrow because tonight...it is all about the Lizard!!!
I need to stay on track until I can get it together over here!! So off to wrapping & turning! :op

Saturday I had to get out and definitely partake in my favorite LYS having their 3 year anniversary sale. All yarn 20% off!

Before I could leave I needed to decide if I even needed more yarn....well heck! Who really "needs" yarn?? LOL
Plus I had already gone way over my yarn "budget" for the month. Including just purchasing Denise needles last week at my fav LYS. They are FABULOUS! http://www.knitdenise.com/ and an absolutely must have for any knitter!

So back on the decision on buying yarn. I really don't like "having a stash" and prefer to buy yarn with a future project in mind or that I will actually be using in a relative short period of time. I figured since I have been recently bitten by the lizard bug from reading Anna's blog on the Lizard Ridge Afghan I could at least buy a few balls of Noro in advance since it calls for 20 balls!!! Here is the future project: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTlizardridge.html
Isn't it beautiful!! This is definitely a long term thing and my goal is to have it completed by the fall when I can wrap up nice an cozy with it! :o)

Let me just take a moment to lust over Noro. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Noro. It is actually my first "fine yarn" (not AC Moore/Michael's/Hobby Lobby hahaha!) that I knitted with and love only b/c I used it to make my first gift for a guy I no longer date (*ugh - lets not dwell on the past!*). <----Okay just for a teeny moment. :op It was a very beautiful scarf out of Noro (creams, browns, and black colors - I think I actually have a pic of it still! I was so proud of it hence the pics). I had just really started knitting decently. I spent all my sweat, blood, and tears on that scarf during Christmas time and I guarantee you he probably never ever wore it....*stews in anger* and really wished I had given that scarf to my brother from the start! At least I would have a chance to see it! LOL

YAH!! I just found pics of that project. I had just learned how to make a border on a stockinette pattern and bought my 1st pair of Addi Turbos (now those needles are MAGIC!). So I really thought I was doing something & I was using NORO! Oh yeah! LOL

My first time blocking anything!












And here is a close up without it being blurry (I took this with a 35mm - yeah I know I am so behind on the times!)

































Isn't it just beautiful!! I LOVE NORO! :o)

Anytway - back to the present -
As I dragged myself from the house (almost didn't make it!) around 3PMish I made my way to the shop and got there well after the rush (thank goodness! I would not have been able to concentrate=no buying). And immediately went to buying my Noro.

The pattern for the Lizard Ridge calls for Noro Kureyon (don't ask me to pronounce that). Haha!
This yarn is 100% wool which = ROUGH! But will keep you very warm! I had decided instead to go with the Noro Silk Garden which is a bit softer made out of Silk (45%), KidMohair (45%) and Lamb's Wool (10%) plus it is very possible I could seam the blanket with this yarn vs. 100% wool which snaps and breaks very easily (discovered that during my 1st NORO project too).

My color selections were 3 balls of #251 which of course has PURPLE in it! :o)

It has hues of light gray, brown, maroon, pink, navy blue and deep purple. I am sure it will knit up very pretty! Here is a pick of the balls (of course this does not do the colors ANY justice!)















I plan to also mix the afghan with 2 other colorways: #241 and possibly #213 (both have purples in it) or I may just stick with 2 color codes...we will see I have some time for that.

This afghan will cost me a small fortune.....so I need to buy as I go! But thrilled I made my purchase to get started on my 1st square this week! Even discovered a KAL group thru Ms. Anna! :o) <-----Thx Gurl!

So after my purchase I knew I was going to hang out and knit at the shop (as I do from time to time!) and was binding off on that ruffle a.k.a potato chip scarf.

I was all excited about starting this project (which led me to buy the Denise needles with the long cords & for my Ms. Marigold - more about that later) and had been wanting to do it since last winter. I discovered that it was a very easy pattern of knit a row, increase f&B in EVERY stitch and then knit the next row....repeat! Until you have about 1,600 stitches......I stopped at about 800. :op I was SICK of the scarf and was running out of room on my knitting needles with no intention of getting a longer cord! LOL

As I complained about doing the scarf (which I will never do this scarf again!) over the past week and a half (again I don't knit everyday and I had to switch needles) I noticed while I was binding off that I was really liking it and it is CUTE!!!!
My last winter project for this season! :o) I won't be able to wear it until the fall time (at the earliest)! Haha! It was sunny and in the mid 80s here!
I used 1 ball of Yarn Bee 'Icelandic Jewels' in color 'black pearl' from Hobby Lobby all of $.50!!!! Now that is a steal!! I ended up buying 3 balls for $1.50 (sale/coupon/cashier error haha) and have no idea what I will be doing with the other balls (probably give them away), but I did have to break into the second ball slightly to finish binding off. If I didn't leave such a long tail (as I have a habit of doing ) then it would have been enough. Another pic of me in my very cute scarf that I now like! :o)

I am laughing in this pic (eyes closed & catch that beautiful set of Denise needles in the top left corner! :op) because there was a regular in the shop knitting with me - Jessica! That I made my impromptu photographer for the day. She is so sweet but kept pressing the wrong button and selecting something else. So we were giggling about how she did the first pic just fine, but couldn't seem to operate my crazy cell cam the second time go 'round! So 2,435 tries later :o) she finally got it and I told her I was going to talk about her on my blog! LOL So we had to take a pic together!






I cannot wait now until winter to rock this scarf!

She is great! Jessica just celebrated her 1 year of knitting and does waaaay more than me! She is an excellent knitter!

Y'all have a good week and don't forget to give me a shout in my cbox! :o)

Alright here is the run down of all of my finished projects thus far for 2007 WITH PICS!!