Fall is nearly Here!

Since I last blogged, it seems time has been flying by. We had some really hot weather a week ago, and now although the sun is shining, there is a definite feel of Fall in the air. School starts this week and it seems like that's when the weather changes.
I've been doing some knitting on the Baby Kina Sweater
Also finished another preemie hat, and working on a "Wild Blueberry" colored one. These are such fun to knit and so special to a tiny little one just coming into this world.
I also got in the mail this week, this beautiful set of mini-skeins of yarn and am thinking a multi-colored scarf needs to be made:

So today, after finishing up a little (and I mean "little") housecleaning and putting a roast in the crock-pot, it's time for some knitting.....let me see, which project shall I pick up to work on...I have so many different ones????

What I've Been Up To

I haven't blogged much of late, because not many things have been happening, EXCEPT THIS:



This is another preemie hat done in Sunshine Yarn Sport in Peony color. It's only 4 inches high and 9 inches in circumference. Such a sweet little thing for a sweet little baby. I hope to make a few more of these before it is time to send them off to the University of Maryland Hospital Foundation.

Baby Stuff!

You just have to go to this blog and see the darling baby pictures together with the beautiful designs/fabrics/decor her mother has put around her. Unbelievable!

Next, I read about a Charity Knitting opportunity here so I got out some of my beautiful Sunshine Yarn in the colorway "Over the Rainbow" and made this cute little preemie hat. It knit up so fast and I'm looking forward to doing some more of them. I got a nice warm feeling as I held it in my hands and thought the Rainbow color was inspirational to the life of a preemie.

A Not-So-Good Day Ends In A GREAT Day!

Okay - to start out with the not-so-good day, I went to Part II of my Toe-Up Sock Class at my LYS to learn how to do short-row heels. I think I'm thoroughly confused, but we'll see how it goes when I try it on my own socks. Today we just used scrap yarn and practiced. Seems very difficult to me - guess I'm kinda dense.

From the class I went to my local knitting meet-up group at Forza Coffee, had a great latte and sat back and enjoyed the conversation. I needed that "wind-down" from the tension of the fingers doing the short rows.

Then from there I went home and in my mailbox was my wonderful Sunshine Yarn from their latest update. I haven't decided what to knit with either of these for the Sunshine-A-Long starting tomorrow, August 1st. Probably will knit a pair of socks.
The top yarn is Sunshine Yarns Classic Superwash "Hunting Wildflowers", and the bottom color is "Over The Rainbow".

Great Give-A-Way

Over on Peacefully Knitting's blog, Tina is having a super give-a-way of a new book: Gifted by Mags Kandis, known for her colorful knitwear designs featuring gorgeous and very creative embellishments, features more than 30 knit and crochet designs that celebrate the pure joy of crafting. I know there's a ruffled scarf pattern in there that I would surely like to make. Be sure to go over and enter your name in the contest before it closes on Sunday, August 1st at 8:00pm PDT. Good luck!

Friday Wrap-Up

I've been working on my Toreador socks whenever I get a chance and I'm really pleased how they're coming along. They're about 6.5 inches along the foot and I'll have to stop soon, as my next class isn't until next week where I learn how to do the "short-row heel". Socks are fun and portable. I need to practice the Judy Magic Cast On so that I can get it right for the 2nd sock.

Leaving shortly to get a cortisone injection in my sacroiliac joint. This is still pain from the rear-end auto accident we were in on Halloween 2008. Getting tired of this!

We're supposed to have a week of no rain and beautiful sunshine with temperatures in the 70's and 80's. Looking forward to that!

Toe-Up Socks

Yesterday I took Part I of a Toe-Up Sock class at Yorkshire Yarns in Lakewood, Washington. This is my progress so far. I'm using the Magic Loop method of knitting. The yarn I'm using is Zen Yarn Garden Superwash Sock Yarn in the Toreador colorway. It is 60% merino wool, 30% bamboo and 10% nylon. I made a pair of worsted weight socks several years ago (top-down), so thought I'd give this method a try. So far, so good.