Yarn Woes

Good news and bad news this week. The yarn I ordered at the Valley Forge Yarn show finally arrived. That should have been good news, but alas, it was not to be. The color of the yarn was so far away from the colorway I chose, that I thought perhaps it I got someone else's order. To make matters worse, two of the yarns ordered were not included. One was acknowledged, the other.....well let's just say it must be invisible. I've sent the whole mess back and am hoping for the best. Yikes, my first yarn show and I hit the Jackpot, or shall I say the Crackpot! I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, I am scrambling to find cobalt blue colorway in a luxurious handspun, silk DK/light worsted weight for a birthday present I promised to knit.

New Online

Great News, another terrific yarn shop is now available on-line:
http://www.knithappens.net/

Addiction or Quest?

I recently had to admit to another knitter on the Clapotis KAL that I am working on my 5th and 6th Clapotis simultaneously. Now this could be seen as a sign of industry or insanity. I prefer the former, but I'm not convinced. I realize that I have two more types of yarn lined up fro 7 and 8. Aside from performing test runs for lots of different yarns, I find that I have a whole lot more friends than I thought I had, since they are all spoken for. My latest two are Laurel from Artful Yarns in Frida Kahlo and Noro, Lily in a dark marine blue. I'll post progress pics soon.
If you're so inclined, let me know what you think.....addiction, or productive passtime?

Elann

A very smart knitlister by the name of Carol reminded me that one of my favorite discount yarn shops on line has very good prices on a yarn that is identical to Cascade Fixation. The yarn is called Sock It to Me Collection Esprit. For those of you who have never shopped at Elann, you are in for a treat. Here's their web site: http://www.elann.com/index.asp

BABY CAP PATTERN

I've had several requests for my simple pattern for the baby caps. It's certainly just another variation on a theme, but this one is tailor made for Fixation yarn.

Labor of Love Baby Cap

One ball of cascade fixation
Size 9 – 16” circular needle
Size 9 – dpn’s

Cast on 60 st. loosely, using the long tail method. Place marker after last stitch and join last stitch to first to form closed circle, being careful not to twist knitting. Knit every round until hat measures 5 inches.
Decrease:
Switch to dpns when stitches become too few. (I use 4 needles – stitches on 3 and one to knit with.) To switch, I begin at the start of the round and use the first dpn to knit 1/3 of the stitches, continue with second dpn, knitting the 2nd 3rd of stitches, and finally 3 needle to knit final stitches off of the circular needle. It’s easier to do this on a knit round.
Round 1: *K8, K2tog* repeat to end.
Round 2: Knit all stitches – same for all odd numbered rounds
Round 3: *K7, K2tog* repeat to end
Round 5: *K6, K2tog* repeat to end
Round 7: *K5, K2tog* repeat to end
Round 9: *K4, K2tog* repeat to end
Round 11: *K3, K2 tog* repeat to end
Round 13: *K2, K2 tog* repeat to end
Round 15: *K1, K2tog* repeat to end
Round 17: K2tog repeat to end
There should be 6 stitches left.
Cut yarn, leaving 6” tail, thread end on tapestry needle
Start at beginning of round and remove stitches from dpns with tapestry needle onto attached yarn tail. Pull yarn tail like draw string when all stitches are off needles. Pull tail through to wrong side of hat and weave into hat.
Finish by weaving in other end of yarn.

Pennsylvania

For all of you fellow Pennsylvanians who have asked, I'm in south east PA.

Baby Caps

Just a note about the baby caps. To date, I've made 24 of these little cuties for my sister. No, she doesn't have 24 babies.....She's a mid-wife in Florida, delivering lots of lucky little ones. She was not happy with the acrylic freebies that the birth center used, so I decided to come up with a comfortable cotton alternative. No two are ever alike, just like the little heads that they adorn. Her birthing clinic is Labor of Love. BTW, I think Cascade Fixation is terrific for baby clothing, soft, stretchy, and washable.

Newborn caps- Cascade Fixation 

Original Design and Button Hole Bags 

Lana Grosso Cool Wool Big
 

Tahki Cotton Color 

Clapotis

Managed to post pictures of my first two clapotis. I'm still in the process of learning this blog thing. Model is my oldest daughter. Just bought a new camera, so the new pics should be better.
I also have some restaurant reviews to post from recent week in NYC. I'm finding it difficult to cut down on knitting time to produce this blog, but I have come to realize that when you join KAL's and other lists, people expect you to have something to show for it.....off to take more pics.

Clapoti in Mountain Goat Mountain Colors 

Clapoti in Lorna's Lion and Lamb 

"Getting OLD is not for Sissies."..Bette Davis