My Sister's Knitter

Happy New Years! A Year in Review.

Well hello there. It is a bright new shiny year for us all. I was not one of those up in the wee hours to welcome the New Year. Instead I was fast asleep and now feeling quite rested! What better time to see what yarny things I completed in 2012?

How about if we start with the socks?

15 pairs-whoot whoot! Hmmm...it was indeed the year for stripes wasn't it?

A lot of shawls. Since I was not aware that I would knit so many shawls in 2012, it will be interesting to see what 2013 knitting projects will be.

I have read a lot of resolutions on other blogs. A really fantastic one here. Personally I have some basic ones  for myself.

 

• Knit more from my stash
• Not to have so many UFOs
• Continue to buy and explore more Indie dyer's yarn.

 

There...told you it was basic. Short sweet simple and entirely do-able. How about you? Do you have a long list of resolutions this year?

What I resolve to do more than anything this year, is to let those around me know at all times how precious they are to me. Making 2012 fantastic was continuing friendships with many and starting new ones with others. Which can only mean 2013 will indeed be a wonderful journey!

Sending you all love and best wishes for this New Year!

XO

Andi

One Sunday closer to Christmas...

Not sure why, I just can't seem to get into the holiday this year. I know every year, it feels like the Holidays are here before we know it, but this one really feels like it came out of nowhere. Working on ornaments and Christmas knits this weekend has helped somewhat. Unfortunately it leads to not a lot to show you guys.

 

Here are squares that I can show you. I am continuing to work on squares for Sam's project.

That is it..for projects I can show you. Yawn! Sorry there has to be some element of surpise for the gifties on Christmas. :) How about instead I share with you some yarn that I am smitten with?

I mentioned this yarn last week after completing a shawl with it. Beaverslide Dry Goods is family owned and ran company in Montana. I discover and fell in love with them after seeing Lori knit up this beautiful PI shawl. Not long after she followed it with this lovely Dancing Reindeer Shawl.

It is hard to describe why I love this yarn so much. There is something "natural" about knitting with this beautiful rustic yarn. After knitting up this shawl with it, I am forcing myself to continue on with Christmas knitting and not cast on something else with my Beaverslide.

With my Sunday just beginning, I have plenty of light hours to get projects done. Maybe I will put on some Christmas music to help things a long. So is it just me or are you late to the Christmas spirit this year? Working on Christmas knitting gifts or ornaments?

Enjoy this holiday video and have a wonderful day!

 

XO

Andi

 

Tooting my own horn...

I admit when it comes to finishing UFOs, I am lame. Items sit on my side bar for up to a year collecting dust. They also sit in my UFO pile taking up space. Let me tell, one big one is gone from that pile and now kickin' it with the rest of my blankets. Toot toot..goes my horn!

Something got in to me this week and I decided I will finish this blanket if it kills me (insert drama here). I powered through the remaining 9 hexis that I need to, whip-stitched, and wove in ends within the last four days. Kind of feels the shower you take after camping all weekend.

Since it has been a while since I crocheted this much, the ibprofen bottle is now empty. That does not take away from the fact that this was a wonderful project to crochet. Disregard that it took me over a year to finish it, not the pattern's fault, but mine.

I know I will never be the queen of blanket like Miss C, but with this project completed I feel like royalty.

Now how about the details?

• Pattern: Ruby Hexagon Blanket by Nova Seals
• Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes (used approx 2250 yards)
• Hook size: G

I named my blanket Folk Star because it reminds me of Folky colors. Enjoy a Folky song and I will be cuddling away with my new blanket. Happy weekend everyone!

 

 

 

XO

Andi

Keeps on giving...

Happy Sunday everyone! Happy Mother's day to you if you are a mom! I hope you  have been spoiled much. Since I am not a mom, this day if no different for me. That means typical Sunday stuff. Getting ready for the work week and spending some time with my yarn.

As I may have mentioned a million times, I am working on WIPs. This one has been on the hook for a while. I know it is a project that will take some time to complete. But I figured I need to work on it at least once a week if it is ever going to get completed in my lifetime.

As I am working on these grannies, I am reminded of each project that was completed with them. Not only did these balls of yarn at one time produce a project, they are now helping me to create another one. How cool is that?

Not sure why the pink and green ones look so washed out, but they were as bright and colorful as the picture of the granny. Anyhoo...it is kind of like the memory lane of knitting. What do you do with your scrap yarns? Do you want to see some fabulous projects that other did with their scraps?

• This baby blanket is adorable. Add the baby and it makes it super adorable!
• I may have mentioned this one before but now that it is completed, it so deserves another shout-out. Ivy is lucky she doesn't live close to me because that blanket would go missing!  
• These scrappy socks are just fab! (Not sure why I have been saying fab lately)
• The usual suspect...the sock yarn blanket. This one is wonderful!
• Of course the hexipuff craze needs to be included. These puffs make me happy!
• This scarf not only made me really excited but introduced me to someone even more obsessed with sock knitting than me. Don't believe me...take a look at her blog. She has knit like 47 pairs of socks in 2012 so far!

Since that last blog has me reeling, I am going to go back to my socks scraps and create, before I get seriously side-tracked. 

Happy yarning today and I will see you later this week!

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

Little Blue...

The sister has a lovely friend who is expecting a little boy. Since the sister does not knit or crochet she asked if I could hook a blanket for her friend.

Of course I would. I used this pattern, which is my go-to for baby blankets. The sister selected the colors and I ran them through the random stripe generator.

It is not often that I work with washable yarn, so when this blanket came out of the dryer all soft and squishy, I almost wanted to keep it for myself.

A nice quick project to add to my FOs. While I love to crochet, I enjoy the knitting process more. That means I must stay away from Chawne's blog, because everytime I visit I want to hook on something else.  

I will leave you will some loves and wish you all a great week!

• This time of year it is great to see the transition  into Spring colors.There are some serious beauties here.  
• Would love to have this shirt to stop people from asking if I am seeing anyone.
• My friend Marion knit up a lovely stripey hat, makes me have grabby hands.
• ButterflyBush Yarns has added some new sock yarn and stitchmarkers to the Etsy shop!

 

XO

Andi

 

Yarn Along...

I have so enjoyed being involved in Ginny's YAL. So here I am participating in another.

I finished Stones from the River, which I highly recommend. I am still reading Little Bee and oh is it ever wonderful. Judging from last weeks comments, many of you agree with me. This week I was looking for a little humor and who better to dole that out then Ellen. This is one of those books you do not want to read in public because you will get strange looks when you bust out laughing.

On the hook this week is a baby knit. The sister has asked for a baby blanket for a friend who has done a lot for her. She supplied the yarn and I supplied the hookery. The pattern is A Neat Ripple Pattern and is my go to for baby blankets because of the ease of it. I have made enough ripples for everyone else, one day I am going to have to make myself one. There is nothing like squishy ripple to cuddle with.

Want to see some other lovely blankets?

• This one is just fantastic. I have never seen a pattern like this.
• She says Noro is happy making, well it sure did make me happy seeing this!
• The queen of beautiful blankets, has another lovely starting out. I am excited to see what it becomes.

Don't all these blanket just want to make you snuggle? Me too!

I hope you all are having a wonderful Wednesday.

XO

Andi

Living up to the name...

The name of my blog is my sister's knitter, as of late I haven't been living up to the name. There have been hats, blankets, and lots of socks for me. Not that the sister minds at all, but she has put in a request. I have crocheted my sister some face cloths before, but she asked for some new ones.

The other ones did not get lost, but became completely useless when something appalling happened. According to the sister, my brother in law used one in the shower. She could not use them on her face now, because she was worried that at some point they may have come in contact with his "man parts". 

  
The pattern was a freebie on Ravelry and the yarn is some cotton from my stash.

Okay on to a more savory topic. Food! I loved hearing about some of your favorite comfort foods. Soup seems to be on everyone's list. I whipped up this recipe today and it was delicious! I added some carrots, corn, green onions, parsely,and thyme.  ( I never can leave well enough alone)

 
I could eat soup everyday.I have been looking for some good vegetable soup recipes, do you have any? Please share!

Happy Knitting everyone and hopefully your knits are "man-part" free.

XO

Andi

***I forgot to add....Ruth has just opened her Etsy Store! ***

WOW Wednesday...

Maybe there is something to this whole "setting personal goal" thing.

The squares have been put together. There was some planning involved. How to attach and with what color. I tried to make sure that light and dark squares alternated.

Now if only the weather would cooperate, allowing me to snuggle under this beauty!

Happy Whippin it out Wednesday everyone!

XO

Andi

 
 
 

Whippin' it out...

I can only imagine the confusion for people who do a Google search for that topic, and end up on a knitting blog! They are probably like, "What a A-hole!" (sometimes I am-heh)

Now on to the main reason we are here. I am going to try and post my WIPS on Wednesday, as a way of holding myself accountable for finishing them. Here is the thought process, I will post the pic on Whippin' it out Wednesday (referred to here on out as WOW- because it just sounds too repetitive to type it all out), by the next WOW, it should be done.  That is the goal anyway.

 
And yes that is a binder clip aiding in my stitches matching up perfectly. Use what you got, I say! 
Do you remember the Baker's Dozen Swap squaresI received. They are getting put together and I am excited! It has been more work than I originally thought. The reason being is that obviously not everyone's gauge is the same, nor the yarn, so that means a lot of resizing on my end. As well as trying to makes squares out of some "not so squares"

 
I decided to make all motifs have 40 chains on each side. That mean increasing and decreasing galore. I am using 20 of the 23 I received, which will make for a very size-able blanket! Yeah!

Wish me luck, because it is going to be hard to pry myself away from all the socks I want to work on.

Have a great rest of you week, and watch this super cute video. It will make you chuckle!

 

 

 

XO

Andi