My Sister's Knitter

Weekend coming to a close...

Just when I feel like I am starting to get into the groove of the weekend, it is Sunday night. I guess the key is to be grateful that I have a job to go to tomorrow, somehow that eases the pain. :)

New socks have been started. These socks look like they should have been my Easter socks. They remind me of little girl's Easter dresses.

These bright footies are having the last toe grafted in a few short minutes. Yippee. Love the color. Had I know the yarn would have been so stripey, I probably would have knit a pair of vanilla socks. Regardless they are still fantastic and I love the pattern.

Other than socks, other knitting/crocheting has been going on. The progress is not too noticeable or else I would show you the pics. Maybe next weekend I will be able to post about some finished things. Wouldn't that be cool? I have really been trying to focus on getting my WIPs down to a more manageable number like five. I know there are some of you that may feel faint at the thought of having five WIPS, but I still like you. :)

What else? The usual weekend stuff, cleaning and cooking. Oh, have I ever shared with you my favorite comfort food of all? To me it is like a grown up version of Mac and Cheese, Greek style.

It has a rich feta sauce which has white wine, garlic, tomatoes, onions, and shrimp. I would share the recipe but it came out of a cookbook that I cannot link because it was written to raise funds for a Children's Hospital in NV and  I wasn't able to find it online. It is kind of like this recipe, but without olives.Anyhoo, nothing tastes more like heaven to me that this dish. Do you have one certain dish that brings comfort to you? Please share if you do, it is nice to share. heh.

Enjoy a nice Sunday song. Hope this post finds you all settling down with your knitting and happily ready to face Monday!

 

XO

Andi

 

Let's get this party started...

It is Saturday my friends, hope it finds you all relaxing with a nice cup of coffee and some yarn. I know that is how this morning finds me. What else am I doing? Oh, I don't know maybe drawing a couple of lucky peep's names for a pattern giveaway. :)

Yeah winners!

Julie-

I'm so grateful for many things, but especially for my husband and my family, who make me feel loved every day.

Crochet with Raymond-

lovely! I would love to win the pattern, that is really sweet of you to be paying it forward.
I am absolutely grateful for finding the joys of spinning, knitting and hooking, god knows what I would do with myself if I didn't!
XXX

All of the comments were fantastic. I loved hearing all the things you were grateful for. I will be sending the two winners their patterns via Ravelry in a couple of minutes.

I have started my shawl. After much agony trying to decide color combos, which I am complete rubbish at, I decided I will knit mine in one color. I am knitting mine with Knitpicks Stroll Tonal in the color Queen Anne.

I also joined Evelyn's KAL, so I will be in good company while knitting away on this baby. I mentioned before that this pattern was gifted to me from Evelyn as a way to help a designer. Since then many have payed it forward, via gifts or giveaways. Love it!

Along the same line of feel good and giving, I will share with you a wonderful video that Bethany featured on her blog. What better way to start a Saturday?

Caine's Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.

 
Have a great day!

XO

Andi

*****Update-one of the winners already has the pattern. So I drew another name...drumroll please....Heather. Pattern is on it's way to you!

Heather-

What a great way to help. I am grateful for renewed health in my family.

 

Let me..enable you!

Lately I have been spoiling myself. So I feel it is only fair that I share with you some of the goodies  I have treated myself to, in hopes that you treat yourself.

What is not to love about this coffee cup? I purchased my owl man from Danmade at Etsy. I had my eye on Octomug, but this guy won in the end.

I am a sucker for themes...therefore, I needed  this Bazinga (Big Bang Theory), self striping sock yarn from SpinningFates.

Continuing my theme addiction, GnomeAcres sock yarn-color Hermione (Harry Potter)

If you are a Downton Abbey fan, you must have these. 

All the Etsy shops provided excellent customer service, but Knitcubby was brilliant. Brittany sent me  emails saying they enjoyed making these for me. Nothing feels better about purchasing items from small businesses than comments like that.

Now I wouldn't be me if I didn't also enable you will some beautiful projects around blogland!

• Kate's Mizzle Shawl.
• Always beautiful stitches, Chawne's latest is a new fav.
• Jesse's afghan in progress is tempting me.
• I think Claudia's Hootie would go well with my new coffee mug.

Enough enabling? I know, sometimes I have to just walk away from blogland or else I will never finish anything.

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my most recent giveaway. We all have so much to be grateful for, your comments confirmed that. I will be back to announce the two winners on Saturday. Till then, have a great rest of your week. Don't forget to spoil yourself!

XO

Andi

 

Sharing the love...

Good morning to you all! Feels like a great week to share the love.

Isn't this a lovely shawl (picture is from the pattern)? I received this pattern as a gift from lovely Evelyn. When I read that the purchase of the pattern was going to help a designer, I decided to pay it forward. I have since gifted this pattern to three of my dear friends and now I would like to offer two more as a gift.

Please leave a comment before midnight Friday the 20th (PST), telling me something that you are grateful for today. It can be big or small. I will draw two names and announce the winners Saturday.

If you would like another opportunity to win this pattern, Jody is also having a giveaway on her blog She has 4 copies to gift!

Happy Knitting!

XO

Andi

 

Baby, what took you so long?

Happy Saturday everyone! It is here and it's a good one. Maybe because I have an FO?

Ever have one of those projects that you are not sure why it took so long?

This was one of those projects for me. Once I set my mind on finishing it, it only took a couple of days to complete.

Details:

Pattern: Arroyo

Yarn: Fiberphile Yarns Super Squish Sock-Lowtide

I may have mentioned before that I am not much of a shawl wearer. I just really like knitting them.This one lays more like a scarf, so it will be put to good use this coming winter. The pattern itself was a breeze. It was well written and should take someone a week to finish (obviously not me).

Want to see some other incredible shawls?

• Lori's Plains Shawl is now complete. It is quite fantastic.
• Dona's third Shetland is the most beautiful yet.
• Monika's Chevry..I mean wow.

It is a shawl-a-palooza! :) Before I go I want to share this video that may help those of us who need to know different ways to wear a shawl. Have a wonderful weekend!

XO

Andi  

 

Let's Yarn Along...

It has been a couple weeks since I participated in Ginny's Yarn-Along. So I fixed that.

Heck, it has been a couple weeks since I have been able to pick up a book and read. This week's project came out of a funk I was in. I needed a break from a very detail oriented pattern and for some reason I had no desire to work on an anything I currently had on the needles. You know those funks don't you? So I cruised my scrap yarn box and casted on this Granny Mandala designed by the wonderful Alice. Now she did say it was addicting and she did not lie.  I pulled out four colors, (No idea what yarn they are because the labels all fell off) and went to town.

The book I picked off my shelf is Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy. Maeve is one of my very favorite authors. Whenever I need just a good book, I gravitate towards any of her books. I thought I had read them all and was pleasantly surprised that I had not read this one. So far so good.

Are you Yarning Along this week? If not, what types of Springtime/Summertime books or projects do you seem to pick out this time of year?

Because it Wednesday and I need a little "pump it up", here is a song for you!

  
XO

ANDI

Drum Roll Please...

Well happy Friday everyone! I guess it is time to let you know who won some lovely yarn and goodies?

Look at it, all bundled up and ready for me to mail it out to it's new home.

The winner of my 2nd year blogiversary give-away is....

#37-Mary

Happy birthday! I would knit baby things for Andrea/Life on Laffer.

Well Mary, there is plenty of yarndage there for a couple of things for you to make for your friend's baby. Congratulations. I will be contacting you as soon as I am done typing. :)

Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I also got some great project ideas. This was much fun, that I will be having another giveaway in September for my birthday.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

XO

Andi

 

A Sunday Post...

The weekend is almost over.

New projects hopped on the needles. Yes, all by themselves.

Ohh, maybe I should have posted a warning on this one. Sorry it's a little bright.

Other than some knitting and spring cleaning, not a whole lot happening at the casa. Since I am a little boring this weekend, I will send you to visit blogs that have stuff going on. 

It is the time of year for giveaways. (Don't forget about mine)

• The boys at According to Matt are having a doozy. Go look and tell me it isn't.
• Sweet Jesse has the most adorable prizes for a hers.
• Tanis, oh Tanis, who wouldn't want to win some of that yarn?

Others...

• Lori!! These images just made me say wow, over and over again. The shawl put me over the edge.
• When it comes to beautiful images, Jane always has my vote.
• As if the blanket wasn't already fantastic, teaming it up with gorgeous pics...ugh!
• Beautiful socks..what more could I want?
• Want eye candy...Sarah never disappoints.

Enough links to keep you busy for a little while. I will be back on April 6th. ;)

Happy Yarning everyone!

XO

Andi