twist

I know it has been a very long time since I have posted and I am sorry.  If you only knew how writing anything stresses me out you would be amazed I manage to post as often as I do.  What I should do is practice practice practice.  I might consider a daily post for the entire year of 2010.... Maybe, I'll consider it.

There have been a ton of things happen over the last few months, a visit from Wendy Johnson, more Stacy Shawls, the super-crud, Glam Grrl went up at TLE, visits from lots of good friends and my DD and I have almost completed the first half of the 7th Grade.   Seriously I think I love Virtual MS, her grades are way up and the attitude is way down, and she actually talks to me frequently.  It has taken a whole lot of my time but it has to be the priority.  I have also finished several of the projects I previously showed you.

 I really should have taken the time to wash this mirror before I took the picture.  Anyway, you can see I did finish my Twist and just in time.  The deadline for the KAL was 9pm on November the 30th and I finished putting the buttons on at 7:30pm.  Nothing like a deadline!

I totally love this cardigan, I have worn it every chance I have had.  The pattern is written very well and was a dream to knit.  I did have to change the number of stitches that I picked up for the buttonband and thanks to Keely at SWAK for the help she gave to my good friend Keri of 3AM Enchantments who then shared it with me.  We both were knitting the Twist.  I used Berroco Comfort that I purchased at SWAK and I bought the pattern at TLE. 

Shortly after I finished my Girasole shawl Emily decided that she needed it to cover up with it in the morning.  I couldn't give it up so gave her a chance to pick a pattern and yarn and told her  I would be happy to make whatever she chose.  She chose Wendy's "Order to Chaos" (how fitting considering school and all) and  11 skeins of Cascade 220 in Black Forest.  I got a pic of Bella and Rose playing on it and put my slippers by it for scale.  Unblocked it measures 6 foot 6 inches in diameter.  Emily loves it and she is rarely seen without it close by.  I have promised to block it but it will have to wait till after Christmas for 2 reasons, 1) Emily intends to take it with her on her Christmas trip and 2) I won't have the space to lay it out till the Christmas Tree comes down.  I knit this from beginning to end without any problems, a total joy to knit and of course it was written perfectly.

Well that takes care of the knitting content.  Keri is here visiting this week so that we can get the final installment of the Tempted @ 3AM bag and yarn club, I think its a good one.  We will start signups for the 2010 club soon so if you are interested keep an eye on the Tempted board on Ravelry for the announcements.

I am also looking at a new base yarn I think it should be here tomorrow so you may want to check out the Etsy shop every once in a while too.

Finally I want to tell Sherie A. HELLO! 

I know, I know I am very tardy again.  Life around the Tempted house has been a little topsy turvy lately.  Summer break is over and usually we would be sending DD off to school every morning, but this year we made a different choice, we enrolled her in Virtual Middle School.  So far it has really been fantastic, she has all A's, except for French and has completed about 1/3 of the Semester already.  My point is that it has really changed the way things happen daily around here. 

I used to have my days free to dye dye dye, not so much now.  I am having to plan things a little more and not let a moment that can be used get past me.  This is not something I am very good at.  There are other issues involved, I am waiting for the shipments of 2 of my yarn bases and am crossing my fingers that they will be here in the next week or 2. 

I have started a few more projects in the last few weeks.  First, DD has managed to comandere my Girasole and since I really want it back and I wanted to make this anyway I cast on "Order to Chaos" By Wendy Johnson.  I am really enjoying it!  At this point it is a dark green blob (sitting on the completed back of my "Twist").  I know you may not be able to see them very well but those are the stitchmarkers that Muriel sent me last week.  I know I am her sister, but really I do love them they don't get stuck in my yarn and have not picked at my yarn at all. 

I have been a very blessed knitter this week!  Way back at the Spring Fling I took some Glam to Allen of Numma Numma, her daughters like it a lot she tells me.  Nothing really all that special just a little sparkle for her girls.  Well last week I had the chance to send her a message and she asked for my address, last friday I got 1 skein of 'The Usual' in 'Whaddaya have' and 2 skeins on a Special Edition 100%  silk in 'Black Cherry'!  Seriously, how cool is that!!!  Then, Keri of 3AM Enchantments is here for a visit and she never comes to visit without an armload of goodies.  She brought a birthday present of size 7 Signature needles.  I took that as a sign that I needed to cast on another project, the Lace Ribbon Scarf, well what would you do if you got 2 skeins of hand dyed silk and a pair of Signature needles? 

 Keri also made me a needle case/bag/holder.... she made me a really cool thing! Might want to keep an eye on her Etsy shop, I think I heard her say that she might make one or two for it.  Did I mention that it matches my Bordello Emily bag!  Then she dragged in a full laundry basket FULL of Destash yarn, I may have snagged one or two. 

Tomorrow, 3 more knitters will be decending on the Tempted household for a weekend of dyeing and knitting fun.  Courtney, Laura, Muriel and little Ivie will be here too and I expect a wonderful time will be had by all. :-))

Wishing you all happy knitting!

Lots going on around here I will start with what is and has happened and then let you know what is going to be happening.

The Fall Knitting Mags have hit the stands and like knitters around the world I had to grab a few.  Although I have to say I didn't like all the hats in the Fall Vogue, I did like the cover hat, the Vine and Leaf Beret.  I knit up this hat in about 4-5 days, I only get to knit in the evening before bed so it was really a pretty quick knit.  I knit it out of the new Luxe Grrl yarn, this yarn has wonderful feel and shows the stitch definition beautifully.  I keep describing it like Chocolate in yarn, it is so so yummy to work with.  It will be available next week at The Loopy Ewe and very shortly at SWAK. 

Like a lot of knitters Fall is my favorite time of the year, it just feels right to knit and get to wear a lot of the handknits we put up in the spring.  I realize that it is still Summer and in OK it could be 100 degrees on and off into October.  But with school starting and a cooler day here and there I know Fall will be here soon and that makes me want to knit a new sweater, and apparently I am not the only one. 

I had been looking at Cardigan patterns and had purchased the Twist pattern last Fall and the yarn for it this past Spring. I was mentally preparing to cast on when Keri, of 3AM Enchantments, called and asked if I was interested in doing a little KAL together and she thought she wanted to knit Twist, I had one of those OMG moments "I am just about to cast that same pattern on".  Well that quickly got out of hand and now over on the 3AM ravelry board we started a much larger KAL. 

The "if it has cables and covers your chest KAL!"

Rules: 
1 - We’re looking for adult sized sweaters (yes, something for your 12yo would count, but not something sized for a 12 month old). 
2 - Cables! You gotta have at least one cable in there. A cabled cast on doesn’t count. 
3 - If you have already started “the perfect cabled sweater”, but are less than … 10% done? You can join in. I’d say 10% is about half of the back of an adult sized sweater, but use your best judgement - the knitting police are not going to show up at your door. Honor system! 
4 - In order to qualify for prizes, done means actually finished and ready to wear in public. The only exception to this rule is if you are still hunting for that most elusive prey - the perfect buttons. You do need to have your ends wove in though!

Prizes: 
1 - Everyone who finishes by the deadline (photos required) will be entered into a drawing for a bag & yarn combo set from Keri and I. 
2 - If Keri finishes her sweater by the deadline (please note - she loves the look of cables, loaths knitting of them), we will draw for an additional bag & yarn combo from the finisher pool. 
3 - Have fun. Chat it up. Come kick Keri in the butt every so often to keep her knitting. Our personal prizes will be a finished, cabled sweaters!

Deadline is the Monday after US Thanksgiving 11-30-09

I have even offered to do some custom dye work contact me if you are interested, could custom dye the Luxe for a sweater (sport wt).

My progress so far:                                                                                                               

 Now a little bit of a tease. I am very very excited about the Fall Knitty!!!  I always am but I am really really excited about this one!!!  Between that and Wendy Johnson coming back to see me.... oh Ok she is really coming to SWAK I am going to have a very happy fall.