My Sister's Knitter

The pink post...

Be prepared. If you are not a fan of the color pink, look away now. This will indeed be a pink post.

Some fantastically pink socks have come off the needles. 

For me, these are happy makers. As you may know I adore this color. Everything about it screams girl to me. I have had this yarn in my stash for a while. It was one of those skeins of yarn that you don't want to use because once you do, it is gone forever. So glad I didn't listen to myself.

Since this is a pink post, I found some more lovely pink items for you on Flickr.

 

1)Bethany's new yarn 2) Raindrop in Pink  3) Jesse's socks 4) Lakeshore shawl

This year I have been exploring new colors and learning to appreciate them, but my heart will always find love with the color pink.

 

"Almost all words do have color and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a pink word and see

someone's eyes light up and know it is a pink word for him or her too."- Gladys Tabor

 

Wishing you happiness with your favorite color this weekend!

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

 

Dwindling down...

Things are getting done and I am pleased as punch. Before I show you my finished projects, let me just add that I did not mean them to be so matchy-matchy.  I have noticed a trend in my knitting projects, where I seem to knit the same colors at the same time.

The pattern was an easy wonderful knit, made more wonderful since it was part of this KAL. The yarn proved to be surprisingly soft, and after a soak was like buttah.

Next up socks that you may be tired of seeing. In my defense they are blocked now, since blocking makes everything better, I had to show you.

Heh, told you they were matchy. The unintentional color theme seemed to be orange-pink-yellow combos. 

Two projects off the needles, that leaves me with nine projects still on the needles or hook. I am really holding myself back from casting on anything new till the WIPs are more manageable. That will not stop me from tempting you from casting on, because  I am evil. How about I show you some lovely projects from around Blogland?  

• Chantel's Damson is tempting me.
• Oh hello, Michelle's cute socks.
• Speaking of cute socks, must mention Dona's. She is a sock addict such just like me!
• Look here another Wholehearted finished and it's a beauty, and this one too...wow.
• This Oak Shawlette is killing me...but I must stick to my plan.
• Bethany you are your Spectra are fab!
• Marlyn's beautiful shawl...that color is yum.

A whole lot of temptation right? I will leave you with that, but I promise I will be back midweek with some yarn enabling. It has been a little while since I have done a shout out to some of my new favorite Indie Dyers.

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend and happy yarning!

XO

Andi

 

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.

 

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  

 

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

 

It's Monday, how about some love?

Happy Monday peeps! I know, I know...it's Monday, what is there to be happy about? How about some finished items?

My swap socks are finished. The pattern is Shur'tugal. A great pattern with enough detail to keep your attention. Now to pick up some goodies  for my swap partner.

My Hedgerow socks came off the needles are well. I mentioned earlier that the pattern was a bit boring, but they served as a nice change from the Shur'tugals. The yarn was a gift from my friend, and once it came in the mail I knew it would be perfect for this pattern. Socks are done!

What's next? Not sure yet, I am really trying hard not to cast on anything new and focus my attention on items that are currently on the needles. This has been difficult considering all the temptations in blog land.

• Helena's projects always seem to find their way on my list. Her Nuvem has me reeling!
• Oh Lori, what are you doing to me with this shawl? So many lovely blues being knit up lately.
• A new blogger to me, Jesse hooked up this wonderful blanket.
• Trying to stop myself from buying their entire stock of yarns. I may or may not have already purchased some. Ok I did! I will share with you soon.
• Check out these fantastic book ends. I have grabby-hands!  
• Thanks to Allison I have a new beverage for the summer (below).

In other news thank you all for you nice comments on my giveaway. Due to the amount of responses, I won't be replying to each comment, just know that I appreciate them! My fingers are crossed for you all. Remember you have till April 5th to enter!

I am outta here to enjoy some back episodes of this show. Do you remember this show? I love seeing Marilyn knitting at her desk. She makes me laugh. Happy yarning everyone.

XO

Andi  

Weekend Progress...

What a wonderful weekend for knitting. Our weather here in Arizona has been up and down lately, we went from 85 on Friday to 58 today. Truth be told I really live in the wrong state because I would be the happiest woman alive if it would stay at 58. In the spirit of the cooler temps, the WIPs have been progressing.

 

Here is my WIP basket. In your face!!! Heh- didn't mean for the picture to be so "in your face" but it is and there is no going back. Because soon after the pic was taken, WIPs were taken out and being working on.

 

My swap socks are coming along. Now I love a challenging pattern, but I am about done with left twists and right twists.

 

 

Hedgerows have been getting some work done as well this weekend. While the pattern is a tad boring, they are a nice break from the left and right twists of my swap socks.

 

Ah, and look who else came out to play this weekend. She was a bit pissed at me for letting her languish so long in the WIP basket, but all was well again after I knit quite a few rows  during movie watching.

 

Sock scraps have been worked into little grannies. Not really into the hexipuff craze, so I figured why not have little grannys for whenever the mood strikes.

 

From the looks of it, you would have thought that I never left the house. I did if only for a quick trip for some lovely spring flowers and cookies!

 

Be warned really good cookies that come in a bucket are never a good thing when you live alone. Hmm...why does my stomach hurt?

I mentioned movie watching while I worked on my shawl. I watched the movie The Beginners. How is it I forget how much of a crush I have on Ewan till I see him in a new flick? Other than Ewan being wicked cute, this movie was really good. I also watched One Day, man was I on a cute guys weekend watching thing or what? Maybe it was a hot guys with accents thing.

As if I haven't overlaoded you with enough images for one post, look what just happened outside!

A wee bit of hail. It happened for only 20 seconds and now it is already melted-boo.

Now that I have talked your ears off, I will let you get on with your knitting/crocheting and I will get on with mine. See you back here in a couple of days for a giveaway-whoot whoot!

 

XO

Andi

 

Hey how are you?

I feel like I have been away forever.

But it has only been a week. Still I missed you. What have I been up to? Still working away on socks, trying to get them finished before the end of the month. I was starting to stress myself out over getting things done, till I read Audry's comment on my last post:

"As for KALs, I find them a bit stressful. I think it is because in my mind if I don't finish on time I've somehow failed. That potential failure seems to paralyze me. (Which is dumb. Not finishing a KAL is no measure on my character.)"

This made my smile and snapped me back to reality. Other than my swap socks, I have decided I will get them done when I do-no worries. Plus I have other things I have to get working on. Do you want to know what it is? Maybe this month is somebody's blogiversary! That's right, My Sister's Knitter is two years old this month. That means a giveaway is on the horizon towards the end of next week. The goodies have been ordered and should be here soon. I am so excited. I wish I were rich and could give away yarn all the time and just for the heck of it.

Even though I haven't posted, I still have been visiting blogland. Ready for some goodies?

• I was introduced to Dennis and Matt's blog when Dennis left a comment here. Now I can't get enough. I want them both to come live with me, I would even share "some" of my stash, and that is saying a lot.
• Audry just released a sock pattern that had me at hello! I mean seriously how cute are they?
• My buddy Jody has the most luscious FO, check out this cowl. Bonus Jody is just adorable modeling it.
• Bethany's Levenwick...need I say more?
• In non knitting news, I have been drinking this smoothie every morning and loving it. My energy level has skyrocketed.
• Oh and want to see some Ripples...head over here and get your fill. Insta-love!

I have had this song in my head the last couple of days. This song makes me want to make finger guns! Enjoy your Thursday, I will be back this weekend with some progress pics.

XO

Andi