Summertime, summertime

Happy first day of summer. Summer just so happens to be my second favorite season, spring being the first for the whole rebirth/ renewal thing. I love the heat, the sun, the kids being outside all the time.

We are leaving for our annual trip to the in-laws this week. My in-laws are amazing people. They're smart, funny and fun and they love my kids more than anything. My husband and I get a lot of alone time when we're at their house. "Hey, you guys should go see a movie/ go to a restaurant/ bowling/ and we'll watch the kids". Um, okay bye.

I also knit a lot there. I feel like I can actually sit and not feel guilty that I'm not playing with or paying attention to them (the kids) because the in-laws are monopolizing their time (so not complaining). Last year I knit the Angel Baby sweater in a couple of days because I had so much time. I knit the majority of it in the car on the way down (9 hours of knit time yay!) I was going to knit the Tulips Baby Cardigan on the way down there, but it's so fast I'm almost done. I just need to knit the sleeves and edging. This sweater is like a box of Cheeze-Its, I'm powerless to stop. My gauge is off since I'm subbing Knitpicks Swish, but I think it'll work better for a three-month old size (the pattern is 6-9 month). Here is the back:



So now I need to find something fast to knit in the car. I am planning a mini yarn crawl in the DC/MD/VA area, so I have something for the way back.

Socks are always good, right?

Monkeys and Ponies and Deer (oh my)

I've finished a pair of monkey socks - yay! I started a pair in a different yarn last fall and for some reason never got more than a couple of pattern repeats into it. I think it was the yarn because this time around, they flew off the needles. I started these socks during the Worldwide Knit in Public outing a week ago Saturday, and finished them on the way to the zoo this past Saturday. I love this yarn. I made them with Sereknity Sock Options yarn in the color "Rock Lobster". The variegation of the yarn is stunning. The pattern itself is so addictive, I've started a second pair already for my mother-in-law.



The ponies and deer were at the zoo, along with many many other animals. The pony ride was the highlight of the day for a certain little girl.



The Boy enjoyed the deer park the best, with the tame little things coming right up to you to eat corn from your hand:



He named this one "Spotty"



I liked the deer too.

Taking stock

I don’t have a lot of yarn. I know this is a subjective statement. My husband would probably disagree. There are people out there with rooms of yarn. I have two bins plus a largish basket full of it. I didn’t realize until Ravelry compelled me to photograph my yarn, how little I actually had. It’s okay. I have an order coming in from Knitpicks. I have a trip to visit family soon that will very likely include a field trip or two to local yarn stores. I will build my stash. I’ve only been collecting for a couple of years. There’s still time.

It does look cute all together though.



Check out my Ravelry stash page for deets.

What the heck am I doing?

I mean, instead of blogging?

Knitting in the rain, with ManchVegans.

Making homemade Boston Baked Beans.

Knitting a Monkey.



Playing with an alien (thanks G for the picture).



...but mostly on the new swing set:



Just thought I'd check in.

Oh, Monica

I finished the Monica tank for The Girl. Not entirely pleased with how this came out. It is cute as a bug, but the ruffle makes the top too heavy and pulls the neckline down too far. Also, she didn't really like it, which is surprising for a girl who loves anything frilly and pink. She kept it on only long enough for the photo shoot. Oh well, it only took a couple of days to knit, and it was super fun.

At least I have the pictures.



Details:
Pattern: Monica from the Spring 2007 Knitty
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece; Tea Rose - 1 skein, Blush - 1 skein
Started: Monday, June 4
Finished: Wednesday June 6
Modifications: Knit in the round instead of two flat pieces

I also forgot to post, last month Gina had a contest for anyone who knit her Radiance Lace Headband pattern and sent in a picture of the finished project. I knit my namesake "Jacqueline" and got this awesome swag:

Some Cervinia Calzetteria Sock yarn in beautiful blues and purple (trust me there is purple in there):



and this Debbie Bliss book that I've been meaning to get...



Thanks, Gina for writing a great pattern and for hosting this fun contest. I loved seeing the finished headbands in your gallery.

Don't forget, tomorrow, June 9 is World Wide Knit in Public Day. The ManchVegas Knitters will be representin' at Victory Park in Manchester from noon on. Check out the website for an event near you.

The red sweater of cables

The child's cable sweater is finally finished. It didn't take all that long to finish, once I really knuckled down to work on it exclusively. That said, I really like the way it came out. It's a little bit big, which is great because the boy won't be able to wear it until the fall.

There was a scary moment when I first had him try it on and it wouldn't go over his head. I had to rip out the cast off and try a stretchier one. I ended up doing the purl two together, put the stitch back on the left needle and purl that one with the next stitch, etc. I don't know the name of it, but it makes a nice stretchy cast off edge.

He loved the sweater too. I don't know if it's because it was 50 degrees last night, but he asked to keep it on, then wanted to wear it to bed. Cute. I should have taken a photo of him wearing it, but I wanted to wait for it to be blocked.

Here it is unblocked:



Details:
Pattern: Kid's Cable,designed by Jo Crivellaro for Cabin Fever
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece - 4.5 skeins
Color: Barn Red
Started: March 24, 2007
Finished: June 3, 2007
Mods: Yes, I didn't like the look of the rolled neck edge so I just stopped after the ribbing. I was going to try some kind of steeked in half zipper, but I really don't want to chance it after all that work.

The picture is a little dark, it's wet and rainy today so I can't take any outside photos. Here is the picture of it from Friday, nice and bright and pretty:



The weather has been crappy all weekend. The only bright spot was this cool sunshower on Saturday. Right after dinner we had a downpour then the sun came out. Of course I had to take a picture:



I think I like this one project at a time thing. I've cast on for Monica from the Spring '07 Knitty. This one will be quick. Next I don't know if I want to do Rusted Root next or one of the baby sweaters....

Friday FO

Not that it'll become a habit, but I've got another finished object for Friday.

No, not this one;



which is just about to the yoke and barring any unforseen events will be completed this weekend,

This small one.

Before:



And after:




I like them much better now that they're embroidered, but I need to put them away until the winter because they are HOT!