My Sister's Knitter

Getting It Done...

Whew, just made it. My April socks were finished last night with only about 2 hours to spare. I have no idea why they took so long. I started these in early March.

Pattern:Menehune Cobblestone Socks    Yarn: Pagewood Farm Alyeska-Bird of Paradise

 
I am still trying to get some of my WIPS done. I have been working on finishing up my Saroyan.As well as turning the heel on my May sock, It is a simple 3x1 rib pattern. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill self-striping. I seem to have a thing for stripes as of late.

What else have I been up to?

• Discovering a fantastic blogger.
• Wanting one of these.
• Cheering on a friend who just finished her first pair of socks.
• Wish I were on this walk with my friend.
• Watching and wondering how much more devastation our world can handle.
• Was anticipating this.
• Caught a few highlights.

 
This felt like a very long week, now on to the next one. :) Enjoy a scene from my favorite movie ever. If you haven't seen the movie and want to don't watch this. It is a complete spoiler.

 

XO
ANDI

 

On a roll...

I am only into my third month of my Sock Goal for 2011, but I think I am on a roll. I am finishing what I am starting and the results are some fun socks for me. My Citrus Striped socks are now completed. I finished yesterday.

 

I wore them all last night! Yeah me. I already started on my fourth pair. I was inspired my this movie. If you haven't see it you really must. Even if you don't have kids, like me, you will be in for a visual treat. It is a nice change from CGI movies.

 
I was also inspired by St.Patrick's day and the beginning of Spring.

The yarn is just amazing and really seems to work well with the simple pattern. The yarn is Pagewood Farms-Alyeska in Birds of Paradise.

I hope the month of March has treated you all well. I will be back on Wednesday to announce the winners of my giveaway. I have really enjoyed reading your responses and now I have some new yarns I want to try. :) Happy Yarning everyone!

 

XO

ANDI

 

Gray Matters...

One of my besties bought some new yarn and she wanted me to see it but said, " You are going to hate the color".  It was a wonderful gray tweed color and I loved it. I think I may have given the impression that I hate all colors but pink. Not true, I love most colors. I do not care for blues, for reasons explained in earlier postings. Overall I do love all colors, especially gray. Gray to me, is clean and classy. I love gray because I think it looks beautiful on almost everyone. Since seeing her beautiful new gray yarn I decided that a special "After-Christmas" present is going to be knitted with some from my stash. I can't tell you what it is going to be because it is to be a surprise. (I will tell you more about the "After- Christmas" present next week)

 
 I am knitting away on the gray item, which I know isn't part of the monogamy plan because I haven't finished my Socks of Kindness yet, but since it is a gift I gave myself some slack. I am also still working on the nephews blanket. I have about 4 more squares to go then it will be ready to be sewn together. I want to have it completed this weekend. Which means I really must turn off this movie which is now on its second round of being played via Netflix instant watch on my laptop. I need an intervention because I just can't stop watching it. Oh and the knits in it...insane! I want them all.

It is a beautiful movie that has been out since 2003 but for some reason just won't come out on DVD. When it does I am so there. For now I will just have to keep watching it on the laptop-which isn't bad. All this fun while munching away on my favorite cookies made by the number one little mom-thank you mom!

 

Ahhhh...

Happy crafting friends!

XO

Andi
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

That's what I'm talking about...

Christmas stuff is put away. The home is clean. The home is quiet. That is indeed what I am talking about. There is no better way to start the new year. Taking full advantage of a three day weekend, I am working on the nephew's blanket which is really therapeutic with a good cup of Joe and a movie on the laptop. So what movie I am watching? Before I tell you let me just say this- I may not have mentioned that I love the Brits. (haha) Well, what you may not know is my complete and undying love of one Brit in particular. He is not young, muscular or husband material by any means. It doesn't matter to me, he makes me laugh and I so want to "snog" him! (I finally got to use that word)

I don't care what you say, I love him. So it only seemed fitting that on my lazy day that I should watch a Hugh movie.  
 
Cute movie, nothing outstanding other than Hugh. Overall simple entertainment while I hook away and imagine that I am knitting him a scarf. One cool thing about this movie is seeing Mary Steenburgen knitting in bed with DPNs and Sarah Jessica Parker knitting on the couch.

I know that Sarah Jessica Parker knits in real life. I wonder what she is working on. I also wonder if she has a stash, don't you? Can you imagine what your stash would be like if you made her kind of moolah?

Ah, the questions I would ask her. In the meantime, I think I will make it a Hugh Grant movie day. My all time favorite being, About a Boy. Hopefully the holiday crafting pressure is off and you are just enjoying your yarn today like me.

Cheers!

XO

Andi
 
 

For the love of yarn, jammies, and anything British!

I am quite in love with my Saturday, and why not when it includes my three favorite things?

The sister picked me up some new yarn. Baby Bee by Hobby Lobby, the color is Little Britches. The sister needed some little crocheted flowers. While she is very crafty in her own right, she does not know how to crochet, but does like to include these little yarnies in her crafts.

 
 So I am crocheting away on these little babies, all while in my favorite attire- jammies. I might add that it is now 4:00 in the afternoon. Bliss!

New yarn and jammies are great in themselves, let's add something to watch on the television. Here is my something British.

I am telling you I am addicted to anything and everything British on t.v. Just ask my Netflix queue, it does not lie. The weather today is accommodating nicely with my UK state of mind. It is slightly overcast and cool which makes pretending even better. I don't quite know when my love affair with the Brits started, but I think it may have to do with one of my favorite authors, Maeve Binchey. To add to the desire, I read blogs from Attic24  with her wonderful flowers and pictures of her part of the world. I have made a friend through blogs, and she came to visit Florida and was actually talking about living here. Maybe the grass always seem greener, all I know is that I want to share a pint with the lot! :)

I don't want you to worry that with all these fun things going on that I am not getting my nourishment. I have some very messy drop cookies waiting to fill that need. 

 
No Bake Fudge cookies-Life is good!

XO

ANDI
 
 *****Recipe for cookies being added for my British friend*****

No Bake Fudge Cookies

 

3 Cups of Rolls Oats

2/3 cup Peanut Butter

2 cups of Sugar

1/2 cup of butter

1/2 milk

1/3 cup of cocoa

2 tsp vanilla

 

Combine oats and peanut butter in a bowl and set aside.

Add butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa to a medium saucepan. Stirring constantly, heat till

the mixture comes to a rolling boil. Remove from heat immediately add vanilla, oats and

peanut butter.

Drop onto wax paper. Setting times vary depending on your climate. Mine usually set within

a 1/2 hour.

                                                                                                                                                   

 

Refreshed...

It is Sunday and I feel refreshed! I love weekends where I have accomplished everything I need to and still able to get my knit on. :) Yesterday was all about housecleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping. I was able to have some downtime in the evening to squeeze in some knitting and visit blogland. New and fantastic projects in blogland always make my weekend. I also picked up this week's flowers. I like them, they remind me of wildflowers.

On to my Sunday. Is there any better way to start your day then with a cup of coffee with a dear friend? Add to that, your friend brings a brilliant new project. Let me preface this photo with a text message that I received yesterday morning from the dear friend (guru) exclaiming, "You are going to freak when you see my new scarf", she wasn't kidding...

Sorry I didn't get the pattern link, but as soon as I do I will post it. As she worked on this beauty I was thinking of ways to distract her and take off with it without her noticing. he-he. No, I was continuing work on my lace leaf scarf. Progress is going quickly, can't wait to get this baby blocked. In other knitting news, The Mystery KAL is still going on and since I can't show pictures till it is done, I will just tell you Clue #2 is done.

I am loving this summer of knitting! Who would have thought that 112 degrees would actually increase my need to knit? Knitting tonight will continue with this show on television, thanks to Netflix.

The weekend is drawing to a close. For once I am o.k. with that. It was a very long and trying week. I have a friend that left this world this week. I am not mentioning this to receive any condolences, quite the opposite actually. I am mentioning this because I learned a lot about the people I surround myself with daily and the importance of telling people how much they bring to my life. It will not always prevent them from leaving at least they know that they mattered. This year I have broadened my friendship horizon through my passion for yarn. Through emails, pics, and blog post I have made some truly amazing friends. So I want you all to know how much your friendships mean to me. I value each and every one of them and I am so grateful!  So, thank you. 

Have a happy and wonderful Sunday evening!

XO

ANDI

***** Link for scarf that the dear friend is working on-Norwegian Snowflake Scarf****

 

Day For One's Self...

It is Saturday and that means new flowers for me. I couldn't pass up these loves.

Flowers to me are the equivalent of a nice spa day. They calm me and bring sunshine into my sometimes confusing world. I needed flowers this week. I had a short week at work due to some complications with my health. My recent visit to the hospital was due to "Woman Issues" that I have had for a while, which have just recently worsened causing me to have to make a decision I did not want to. I am not trying to get the "poor thing" reactions, only to share that I have come to a realization that everything truly does happen for a reason. Sometimes things are put in our path to divert us on a new and more fulfilling road. During these times I am never surprised how amazing my family and friends are. 

On to how my Saturday is coming along. I told you earlier that I joined a potholder swap and a 12 in" square swap. I have made sure that I am ahead of schedule so that none of my swap partners will receive late treats. In addition I signed up as an angel (someone who is able to fill in for people who are not able to make their squares for one reason or another). So I received an angel message last night that one group was in need of a square, so away I worked last night.

The top one with pink is my angel square. I loved that the recipient wanted something feminine and pink-I was all about that.:) The bottom one is for my 12 in" swap group July member. This members wanted a semi-solid square with earth-tones. I found both patterns on-line thanks to Google, pink and earth-tone.

When I  not working on 12 in" squares I am flipping through the pages of a new book from the sister. She calls it her selfish gift. (She has already gone through and decided which ones she wants)

Sounding like a nice lazy Saturday so far? Just wait, it gets better. Still need to add food and a movie to the schedule.

How about some fresh delicious fruit to nibble on with a sweet chick flick?

A Saturday for the soul indeed!

XO

ANDI
 
 

P.S. Lucy ZigZag Blanket still under construction, still waiting on some more yarn to complete it. :)
 

 

Eye Candy Wednesday!

What could be better than some beautiful new yarn to help you over the hump of the week? Since I am adamant about finishing my WIPS, I am having a hard time not casting these yummies on. First up...

This is Lorna's Laces Worsted. Yes I said worsted, for those of you who know I do not like to use anything over Dk weight. :) This yarn is for my 15 year old nephew who has been requesting a new blanket. Who I am I to deny my love a blanket? I am thinking a crochet ripple blanket. I am also going to be ordering some darker colors, to help "man" it up a bit.(I am thinking Charcoal) Luckily he is okay with color. I had to go to a couple different places to get the colors I was after, Eat Sleep Knit and The Loopy Ewe.

I added a few skeins of Sock yarn to my stash. (again from ESK and The Loopy Ewe).

 

You know I had to add some pink in there. :) The top one is Drama Queen and the bottom Cotton Candy. I love those names.

Tonight will be about weaving in ends on my Malabrigo Granny pillow (It is so close!!) and a little work on the sock yarn blanket. My goal is to have as many WIPS done as possible before my Mystery Shawl KAL starts at the end of this month. Wish me luck. While weaving I am going to treat myself to some Chicken Curry and a movie.

Has anyone seen this? I have heard a lot of good things.

Enjoy your Wednesday hopefully your doing something fun to get over the hump!

XO

ANDI
 

BTW- Flickr has some amazing project pics posted lately. I think I will share some of my favorites on Friday.

 

 

Sometimes it's all about the attitude...

Are there people out there who like Mondays? I am sure there are. I am not one of them. This Monday I decided I was going to try and have a better outlook on it. I was going to say,  "I am looking forward to Monday!" Did it work, hmm...it's not over yet. Since it is not over yet I figured I will continue on my mission with a blog post.

Here goes..Happy Monday from Sunny Arizona!

The ducks are normally gone in the summer time, but our weather has been so cool, I think they are confused. :)

In addition the sharing some sunny AZ with you, I also finished a hat. This was the hat that I was working on when I was home ill. It was really one of the fastest hats I have ever made. (Maybe because I had a lot of hours to work on it?) I was able to bribe a co-worker into modeling it for me so that I could take some pics. 

It didn't have as much slouch as I usually like in hats, I am sure some blocking could fix that, but I am over it. I think it is going to look brilliant on the sister. This is one of those knits that she didn't even ask for.(gasp!) I just saw the pattern and knew it would look good on her. I can't wait to see it on her.

The rest of my Monday night is going to involve an easy dinner, a little work on the sock yarn blanket, and MadMen. My friend Emily has me addicted to it. (I am catching up via Netflix)

I hope you all had a fabulous Monday and a great rest of your week!

XO

ANDI 

 
 
 
 

The mother of all blankets...

It is Friday and time for the Sock Yarn blanket update. We have all made great progress. Some of us are quite frankly addicted to these tiny mitered squares. Ready to see where we are at?

Here is our table in the work lunchroom. With all our goodies spread out. We all brought some more sock yarn in to share.

All those colors originally made me a little faint, since I am kind of a color prude. Yet, I have to admit these colors are looking amazing together.

Here is Emily's first rows;

Here is Anne's. She hasn't joined yet. Looks like she went the safe route with her colors. :)

Here is Melanie's. I know it is very lonely. We need to give her a break because she is a new mommy and her time is really limited. :) This little guy is cute though.

Here is mine. Obviously I am staying within a semi-pink range. It is already really hard for me to mix varigated, stripes, and solids but I am working through it.

 
 
These blankets are so incredible so far- I can't wait to see the final outcome. I love how they all reflect our individual personalities. The best part of these blankets is that we are making them for ourselves, which is a rarity for knitters.

Here is Emily trying to squeeze in one more square before our break ends. :)

On that note I am going to leave you with a song from my newest favorite movie and singer. If you haven't seen it you really should, it is beautifuly simple and the soundtrack is incredible.

 

 

Recipe for a perfect Friday; this move, a drink, and some yarn. You will thank me, I promise.  

XO

ANDI