A Swatching I Will Go!

I started the sleeve for Lappland and it's about half done. I ordered a skein of yarn from Moondance Wool for my hubby's Aran sweater so I could swatch. I've played around with a few designs, but I have frogged them all! We've picked out a few patterns so I pretty much know what we wants.

Anyway, that's all there is for this weekend. A half-finished sleeve and swatches that have been frogged. I feel like I've done nothing this weekend. Oh. Well, I slept a lot! Have a happy Monday everyone!

HOT DIGGITIY DOG!

I finished the Lappland body!!! I couldn't wait to steek the neck, so I did that.

I stayed home sick today, but I mustered up the strength to steek the neck and get the body blocked this evening.

The front:



The back:



I'm so darned proud of myself! :-) Now, on to the sleeves!

What could this be?

Is this fiber that I purchased at Stitches West this weekend? Is it a new fuzzy yarn? Is it possible that I'm going to take up spinning and spin my own yarn?



No... sorry.... it's the other end of this........



Yep - you guessed it. It's bath time in the Miller house. There are two others that look pretty much like this too, but this was the most pitiful picture of them all. We give them their monthly flea control but first we bathe them. It really helps almost eliminate the allergies!

My favorite character!

He is my favorite! I had Snoopy sheets on my bed as a kid!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
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Stitches West 2004

I arrived at the Oakland Convention Center and the first thing I saw was...



I knew I was in the right place!!

I took the Cut Without Fear class by Therese Cheynowith. She was a very patient instructor and taught us a lot! I learned a great new way to sew shoulder seams that gives a clean neat finish. I also learned how to put the sleeves in and it's incredibly easy! I definitely came home with a feeling of "I can do this" and suddenly Lappland doesn't seem so intimidating. I also have to give credit where credit is due as well - thanks to my friend Annette from Australia. She sweetly helped me figure out the neck steeking. I understood it before the class today but now it makes even more sense!

Of course, the whole purpose was to learn to cut - and we all held each other's hands. Therese's words of encouragement were "take a deep breath", but personally I was thinking "I need a good screwdriver 'bout now." However, I did it. I did the dirty deed. I fear no more....



Of course I couldn't miss Sarah (a fellow KBTHer) behind the sewing machine! She did her first steek too! She chose to steek standing up. What a brave girl. I had to sit down for mine.



That's about it for now - I have to get back to steeking my Lappland neck!

3 day weekend!

Being off today gave me a three day weekend. Saturday was beautiful and most of Sunday was too. My hubby and I rented movies and vegetated all weekend. Of course, I took advantage of this and knitted all weekend. I was in heaven! Today it was very windy and rainy and naturally I chose this day to go and get my hair cut and get groceries. Go figure, huh?

We usually go to the Sunnyvale Farmer's Market every Saturday. Since we got our bikes we ride there and pick up our fresh vegetables and fruits. We were SO lazy, we didn't even do that! Thank goodness we got plenty of apples last time we were there. If you are a local, you should go. If you want fantastic apples and a really good variety, keep your eye out for Prevedelli Farms. If you go to their web site you'll find out the different varieties and what time of year they're in season. Of course, my favorite is My Jewel. Just because of their name I had to try them. Of course I loved them - why wouldn't I????

I finally settled on a sweater pattern for my Mom and ordered the yarn.... acrylic. :shudder: That's what she wanted - something that could be thrown into the washer and would require no care. Thank heavens Val at Oregon Trail Yarn knew what to recommend. Thanks, Val!

Of course hubby and I weren't the only ones being lazy...




So, while the 3 cats were sleeping and my hubby was dozing in and out of consciousness, I was busy on Lappland:





I find that doing the reindeer in Lappland is the most difficult part, as there is no rhythm to the pattern. My favorite part in the front is the middle, where the placket is going to go. I like watching the swirls develop on each side. Unfortunately, I am going to put this on hold this week until I get my homework done for my Stitches West class on Friday.

Have a good rest of your week everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day

It has legs!

That's right. Lappland finally has legs. What's that? You can't see them?


Here, look closer.

Major progress!

I have finished the body of Lappland and I started the rows of design just before I get to the deer. This excites me beyond words! (If you're a knitter you know my excitement. If you're not - sorry!)

I have made a lot of friends in the knitting world, some of them in far away places. They have always helped me when I was having a problem and one even sent me samples of yarn from wool made in her own country! (Thank you Annette.) When I was making my sheep stitch markers, I made a few extra. As a small token of appreciation I sent them to my friends who had given me their addresses. I got the neatest thank you e-mail this morning and it made me very happy to know something like that made her smile. It gave me warm fuzzies - kinda like wool. :-) Okay, I'm done being sappy now.

Anyone have romantic plans for their special Valentine this weekend?

I am merino wool, hear me baaah

I took a quiz and apparently my characteristics match that of merino wool. "You are Merino Wool. You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to keep you close because you are so softhearted. You love to be comfortable and warm from your head to your toes."

I have about two more inches to go on the Lappland and I'll be ready to start the main pattern of the deer. YAY!

I worked a bit on my homework and thanks to a few people from the KBTH group I was able to make sense out of the directions and go forward. That means I will have my homework done before the class. YAY again!

Tomorrow is the beginning of another work week. Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

Holy Sheep!

Look what arrived today! Yup. It's my yarn from Jamieson and Smith. These are the fixins for the Oregon Cardigan I have been planning. To quote Mary Morrison, a fellow blogger, my "blue bag of happiness" is here!





But..... the deer are still on the needles and I am forcing myself to finish it. Maybe I'll wind the hanks tonight. After all, starting a sweater begins when you put it on the needles, not winding the yarn........... right??????

Cut without fear

Yea. Uh huh. That's the name of my class I'm taking on February 20 at Stitches West in Oakland. So, I have this assignment to make pieces that we will put together after learning steeks. I'm feverishly working on getting these pieces knit. Granted, it's going to fit an 18" American Girl sized-doll, but I have to figure out the directions!

I did quite a bit on Lappland this weekend, but no deer yet. I'll keep you posted. Until then, for your viewing pleasure...