Yarning Along.......

I've missed a couple Yarn Alongs and I have decided that's ok.......life gets busy and I can't always get to this space to write and post and I've given myself permission to be alright with it. I do love heading over to Ginny's every week and checking up on what everyone is doing even if I don't get my post up! I always come away inspired and almost always with a new pattern added to my must knit list!
I have been knitting some quick projects......good summer knitting! Socks and now these beautiful mitts!
I have one done and well I got distracted and jumped into a KAL......but I will get the other one knitted up soon! These are the Merletto Mitts and it's a free pattern! I used my most recent handspun! It's a merino, yak and silk blend and so soft! I know I will love wearing these next winter!

 And now for the distraction.....I bought this pattern when it was first released and the yarn for it as well! It's June's favorite cardigan and I loved it at first sight. Then spring came and it got put to the side. Then I came across a fellow raveller who decided to have a KAL for June's favortite cardigan in "JUNE"! So I decided to jump in and it was just what I needed to motivate me to get going on it! It's always more fun to knit a project with others! I am almost done with one sleeve and I am loving the pattern!

This morning is busy but I am looking forward to this afternoon when I can grab a cup of tea and look through all the links over at Ginny's!

Yarn Along

I am so excited!!! Have you ever had a project in your head....you know just how you want it to look.....and a lot of the time the finished project comes out a little short of that vision?? Well I envisioned this project spun the wool into a beautiful fingering weight and knitted it up into the cutest tunic......it is exactly what I wanted......even better!!

I knew when I spun up those stripes that I wanted a pattern that would show them off and not compete with them! Paulette seemed to be the perfect match and I can easily see myself knitting this again and again!!

Hannah Grace loved her new dress ( ravelry notes here) and because of it's design I can see her wearing this for quite a while!!

I spent so much time knitting this weekend that not much reading was done....I was captivated watching those stripes knit up.....not really knowing how it was going to turn out!

Joining the Yarn Along today!What's on your needles??

Yarn Along

I started spinning 2 months ago.......I have not stopped! I love it as much as knitting and the fact that I make yarn so I can knit.......well that just makes it even better! I finished my first real hand spun garment. Yes I made a hat last month but this is a shawl! I spun over 300 yds to get this lovely shawl. It's soft and silky and light......perfect for spring! I love wearing something I've spun.....it's just amazing!

Here is the batt of merino and silk.....

 I spun on my Traveler into these skeins..........

 and knit up into this I want you shawl.......ravelry notes here

 Thanks for hanging in there for all those photos.....can you tell I'm excited about this shawl??
No new reads for this week......I'm hoping to get some new ideas on books as I meander through the Yarn along this week! Happy Knitting!

Yarn Along

Spring sniffles have caused me to get more knitting and spinning done ......not a bad thing but I do wish we would finally get over them and all be healthy again!
I finished my socks and had leftover yarn to whip up these little cuties.......OH MY! These might be addictive! Ravelry Link here.

It was really hard to get a picture of her wearing them because she would not sit still........that seems to be the way it goes these days.......2 year olds rarely sit still!

I ripped out my sweater and finally settled on a pattern that this yarn likes! I'm making a Chic cardigan and it is coming along quite quickly......and so far I love it! Ravelry here.

I have also been spinning like crazy......this merino, silk, bamboo just came off the wheel and next week I hope to show you what it its becoming! It's so soft and wonderful to knit with! I have more pictures on ravelry of this yarn from batt to finished if you are interested! Here.

We have been listening to audio books this week as we battle ours sniffles.....Swiss Family Robinson is the current favorite! Joining Ginny today in the Yarn Along! What's on your needles this week?

Yarn Along

I've missed the last few yarn alongs......life has been busy and it just has not let me sit down to journal about my knitting. But i have been knitting......with not much to show for it. I decided to do some spring cleaning in my project department and took a good look at ones that had been sitting around a while. I decided to rip back one sweater that was not working out and use that yarn to cast on for a Juneberry Triangle. I have had my eye on that patten for some time and I am excited to get going on it! I am also going to frog my Vodka Lemonade....yes I am more then halfway done with it but I keep trying it on and trying to like the  way the shoulder increases look.....but I don't. In the cotton yarn they look big and loopy and I think ugly.....so the plan is too frog it and make a different spring cardy......maybe Chic. We will see!

I did make progress on finishing my first pair of socks. I have started and ripped out so many pairs and never finished any. But I am determined this time and one sock is done and I am just turning the heel on the other! I love these socks! The pattern is Crimple and it's free! I bought the yarn the week of St. Patty's Day and it came with the cute project bag! Perfect for sock knitting! I found a great cast on for toe up socks using DPN's.  It's by Cat Bordhi and it is easy and fun! You can see it here.

I am not reading anything new right now.......I'm too caught up with spring cleaning!! I plan on heading over to Small Things and be inspired by the many projects everyone is working on!

Yarn Along.......the tale of a homespun bunny!

Spinning and knitting are fighting for time in my daily plans! Since I am trying to perfect my spinning that is winning out right now.......and I'm ok with that! My last skein was a 2 ply DK weight and pretty consistent.....I'm getting there and I am loving the process!
I kept looking at my first skein.......this lumpy bumpy one that I made and plyed at my first lesson. I wanted to use it for something and I came up with this.........
First I used this tutorial and dyed it pretty shades of purple! I used the crockpot and it was soooo easy and came out amazing!! I highly recommend doing this.....soooo fun!

before

after

then I found this cute Bunny Nugget pattern and ended up with a sweet purple bunny for Hannah Grace's Easter basket!! I used every last bit of that skein and now have my first project from my handspun!! It's just a simple beanbag type bunny but I know she will love it!

Hopefully I can start spinning well enough for my next project to be a little more exciting but for now I am pretty excited about this cute little bunny and having an actual project made from my homespun!

 I also crocheted this cute little hat that Hannah Grace is modeling here.........

This sweet hat is going to an amazing 3 year old who is fighting cancer. Her Grandfather works with my husband and we have been praying for her as she goes through all her treatments. I can not imagine one so little having to go through what she is but we know God hears our prayers! If you think of it would you join us in praying for little Morgan.....that God would heal her and give her family strength! Thanks!

I'm joining Ginny over at this weeks yarn along......I have no new books to share.....still trying to finish Jane Eyre! I'm almost there!!!

Project Life......catching up!

Yesterday I sat down and finally got to the last 2 weeks of my PL! Again keeping it real simple so I can keep it going!! I also just got my first printed pages from Persnickety Prints and I must say I love them......they did an awesome job! Once I get them in page protectors and an album I will share!!

 this will be a 5x7 insert for this week.....

So that's it and I'm up to this past week now which will have loads of pics due to the babies birthday!!