The thinker

Unfortunately, I didn't finish up this in February (as in Miss Kalendar's Finishuary!) but a evening at home, watching "Life with Father" and turning the collar did the trick. 

I pulled Youngest Child over and made him try on his Hans Sweater over his pjs.

The Smiler

He already said he thought it was itchy. That's my verdict as well - I'll just have to get him some turtlenecks for underneath it.

Next week, I'll finally have time to weave in all the ends and take out the row markers. Then, back to the Brown Sweater and Oldest Daughter's Blue Sweater. 

If they don't seem familiar, it's because I'm only referring to items by their dominant colors nowadays. That makes it less likely for someone to exclaim, "Didn't you start that project in 2005?"

Hello!

On the way home this morning, I ran across this fellow.

My own fence was yarn bombed! With a cute little knitted lion!

I've left it in place for the time being.

My own knitting is getting larger and larger. The Hans sweater is too big carry around any more so I've taken to spreading out over the living room sofa and watching old episodes of Enterprise with Youngest Child. 

I'm working on the first series of yoke designs right now. 

Up close, the little rows of stitch markers are keeping track of all the decreases on the sleeves .

I'm not at all happy knitting sleeves one at a time any one. I've been spoiled by two-at-a-time sock knitting!

Tomorrow, I'll be spending the afternoon discussing knitting and eating goodies at the Minnesota Knitters' Guild's Spring Tea. If you're in town, come join us!

Sunday, Feb.26 at 1-4 p.m. at the Minnesota Textile Center.

Our featured speaker. Angela Radzyuk from All for Love of Yarn will be demonstrating how she blends colors and fibers. This to be a hands on kind of deal - we will have drum carders and fleece samples on hand and with five drum carders, there won’t be long lines … more time for eating and knitting!

Steady as she goes

I've been knitting on and off for the last week on two different, yet enjoyable projects. The first is this green Fern Lace Mohair Shrug from Ewetopia Yarn Shop. It's more of a mohair cocoon. First, you knit a central lace panel -

then, you pick up along the edges and knit two sleeves.

I've finished one sleeve and gotten about  halfway down the other.

It's mohair lace weight on size 13 needles so it has been going along quite quickly. And it feels so warm! I think it will be just the thing for wearing to hockey games.

When I don't want to be covered in fuzzy mohair bits, I'm working on a Lopi sweater for Youngest Child. It's a bit of a competition, you see. A "try something new" competition between friends.

GFMelissa is knitting an Evelyn A. Clark shawl design (the Prairie Rose Lace Shawl) and I am knitting a Lopi sweater.

The Hans sweater was meant to be knit in Monet blue but that color has been discontinued. Luckily, the ladies at Lila and Claudine's were able to help me find a substitute red/burgandy.

Outside of the knitting world, life in MN has been pretty quiet. Although a gang of us did give geo-caching a try last week in Como Park.

We found a fun peanut butter jar sized parcel which we checked out and returned. 

Hail the prize hunting crew!

Shawls vs Sweaters

Partner in Crime, GFMelissa tempted me to come out scootering with her this past week. She looked much better (color cordinated!) so I used her picture instead. We puttered over to a local coffee shop and had a little knitting consult. 

You see, we had a little agreement this summer - she would knit a lace shawl and I would knit a Lopi sweater. Well, the shoe has fallen. She's started her lace shawl (the Skywalker shawl) and I am now doomed to start the Hans Lopi sweater.

I love the Lopi designs but - I'm not sure about the yarn. Let me confess, I actually bought the yarn for this sweater years ago. 

I actually dug out the box of Lopi yarn that I bought (from Webs) and I believe that it says "2007" on the label.

I only bought enough of the main yarn for a size 6 and Youngest Child now wears an 8 so I'm going to buy some two more skeins for the sleeves.

So, it's time to break out the size 6 needles and the dustbuster - Lopi yarn sheds like a son of a gun! - and get knitting.

I did finally finish up the Holden Shawlette.  I just needed to wake up and knit. The picot edging was particularly snooze inducing.

I like the floppy look of the edging but I didn't like the time it took to knit.

Besides knitting here and there during the last month, I've been sewing again. 

Holiday banners 

and gift bags.

I found this cute fabric on Spoonflower.com. Middle Daughter has a thing for elephants so I may be making something for her next package.

I've still been collecting Saturday Seven's - this week is tee shirts and sweat shirts. 

Now, on to the next set of projects!