Looking for the buttons

Well, I still haven't blocked it yet so the FLS is a bit bumpy - but oh, so soft and warm.



I bought some buttons back in October but I'm not liking them so much. They are kind of a dull wood - I might go with a shiner one.

Oh, and I couldn't resist the Vestuary. I sorted my needles, found the pattern and cast on for the Abrazo Vest from Knitty using this old poncho yarn.



Love the colors so I'm glad I can use it. It makes me feel so thrifty!

First sweater of the year!

The aptly titled February Lady Sweater. Time for a bit of blocking and some buttons and, maybe some better photographs!

It is already so cozy - love it, love it, love it!

Friday again . . .

and I need more knitting time! I am finishing up the sleeve on my February Lady Sweater - in fact I've been fitting in some late night knitting time watching Clean Houseon the Style Network - but I just need more.

I had some pictures but Someone-Not-Me used my camera and now all I have are photos of dolls. Tomorrow, I promise.

So, soup and sandwiches for dinner tonight and an evening "watching" the kids play video games. As long as I "hmm" or "Great!" at the right time, I'm safe.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering how we are cutting corners around here,



I also use this cute towel rack for drying mittens and wool.

This week's Friday Film? Check out this demo from Garden Girl:




Middle Daughter's class wants to buy a rabbit - I said I would be the responsible party if it was an Angora.

Someone comes to stay!

I broke down yesterday and bought a dressmaking model. I bought a model made by Adjustoform and I found it on sale at Jo-Ann Fabrics. It wasn't the fanciest one - I am a little bummed I couldn't find the one with a trouser form - but I like it. I really recommend their website - it has a lot of information about using a dress form to fit clothing.

Maybe I should give her a name like Bertha over at Knitting Daily?

I'd been thinking about getting one for a while - especially for working on dresses and skirts for the girls - but I got to try it out with my February Lady Sweater.


I am putting about two more inches of pattern and then diving into the edging. I was so excited to find that it actually fit me and the measurements are just right so far. It's a little clingy on the dress form covering but that's just the yarn.



Who knows - I might actually have a February Sweater by February!

RAOK!

When you see RAOK on a package, what do you think of? I was trying to figure this out when I opened it and saw . . .



A beautiful skein of yarn, yummy candy and pretty stitchmarkers!

Lily Mae Clearwater (from my House, Hufflepuff) sent me a Random Act of Kindness package all the way from the Muggle UK!

This really made my day!

And in further Hogwarts business: Some lists:

1. Name of a male professor at Hogwarts - Remus Lupin
2. A subject at Hogwarts - Charms
3. A prime number between 53 and 1000 - 59
4. A professor at Hogwarts (either gender) - Minerva McGonagall
5. A body part - a leg
6. A verb - to swim
7. Your character name - Penelope Clearwater
8. Your favorite Quidditch team - Moose Jaw Meteorites
9. Someone (or someones) you'd find in a portrait at Hogwarts - Sir Cadogan
10. A number between 1 and 7 - 5
11. 20 minus your answer for #10 - 15
12. A craft (noun) - knit
13. A Hogwarts House other than Hufflepuff - Ravenclaw
14. Something they'd sell in Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes that makes a big mess, loud noise, lots of smoke, or general nuisance - Portable Swamp.
15. The character name of another swapper in HSKS6 - Emma Wigworthy
16. A subject at Hogwarts - Ancient Runes.

In knitting news: I am finishing up the Palindrome Scarf and working on Gentleman Socks and the February Lady Sweater. That one is so soft that it's drawing me away from the other projects! It's that little Alpaca Problem rearing its head again!

A quick glimpse

Just a quick look at the neckline of my February Lady Sweater. I've been fitting it in every so often when I need a break from my Palindrome Scarf. I've been working on my project for my HSKS partner - lots of fun things! - and getting ready for last night's Minnesota Knitters' Guild meeting. Our speaker was Warren Hanson, author of Kiki's Hats.



He spoke about how he came to find this project and then read the book aloud. Afterwards, he sold and signed books. It was a lot of fun and - guess what? - the real Kiki was there too!

Secret knitting on the home front

Sometimes you just need a little time on your own projects. I've been working on scarves and hats for a charitable service project of the Minnesota Knitters' Guild as well as a pair of socks for dear Mr. Daisy. Now, I got wind of a cute little project on Ravelry - the February Lady Sweater - and I have to knit it NOW!

I've knitted a February Baby Sweater before.



I especially loved the gull wing lace pattern. So, when I found the adult version online, I just had to make it for myself.



And, since I have 10 lovely skeins of Berroco Ultra Alpaca cluttering up the yarn closet, a February Lady Sweater it is!