« April 2006 | Main | June 2006 »
So I was doing a Google Blog Search. And I was curious about what I got when I typed in "Purls and Pugs." So I found this article on the Blog Business Summit Website. It was published back in November...Why didn't I know about it? Still pretty cool!!
I finally finished the cosmetic bags for the wedding favors. Once I figured out the best way to install the zippers, they just flew together. So, now I have 8 of these little bags waiting to go to the bride. I think they turned out rather cute, don't you think?
For some reason the spring/summer makes me want to sew. I can 
open the window in my craft room to get a great breeze and some sunlight, and just sew away. So, I mentioned last week that I am going to make a weekender, or two. So, I promptly started looking at fabric. I really like the Sunbloom Tulip Garden, so I found it at a really good price. So far I am still waiting on the pattern, but the outside fabric is here. While shopping for the bag fabric, I really liked this peach paisley, and the Cabo pattern. I ordered from 
Cabbage Rose, and they shipped this stuff likity-split. I totally did not expect to see any of this Saturday, but it was a nice surprise. I should have ordered the weekender pattern from them too...
Sunday I met the girl from my class that knits at Peggy's Yarn store in downtown Plainfield.
She bought the new Jaeger pattern book, Boathouse, and some of the yarn to make this sweater. I bought one ball of Classic Elite Princess, and a set of Addi Turbos. Princess is a merino, viscose, angora, cashmere, and nylon blend. I really like the color (3432 Majesty's Magenta), and I don't think it is that expensive for the 150 yds you are getting. I have been thinking about using it for a cardigan for a while now. I swatched last night, and it was a little less soft than I was hoping while knitting with it. But when I washed it, oh, it has become very soft. I think this is going to be a great office cardi. I can't wait!! I guess I better go buy some more balls of it...
Sometimes I think that I could be a little quicker so that it doesn't seem like I am jumping on the bandwagon. Like now, I have been eyeballing Amy Butler's Weekender Travel Bag Pattern ever since it came out. Did I buy it? No. Did I buy fabric for it? No. Did I see it posted all over blogland looking good? Yes. Did it make me want to make it? Hell yes.
So, me and another blogger are probably going to work out a deal for me to make her a bag. I ordered the pattern yesterday, and it is in the mail. I have been pricing out fabric. Why is it that I always like the most expensive stuff? Figures.
I do still have 8 cosmetic bags that I need to finish for a bride's wedding party gifts. They are so easy, they practically make themselves, though. The only really challenging part is the zipper. Maybe I should just call zippers the bane of my existence. If you have ever put one in, or tried to put one in, you know what I am talking about.
I wonder what the next bandwagon will be for me?
With all the babies on the way, I decided that I needed to get a head start on some knitted gifts for them. Kate Gilbert has this great new pattern on the Interweave website--Pea Pod Baby Set. So, I started knitting away on the smallest size using CottonEase. I knew my guage was off, but I figured that a baby grows, so if the sweater was a little big, the kid will grow into it. After getting this far, I am beginning to wonder if I am making a toddler size! This thing is huge. Originally this was meant for a baby boy. I just don't think that is going to happen. I'll finish it and keep it put away for one of those last minute gifts I may need.
So now if is back to the drawing board for some baby knits. Oops! I was thinking I could do another Last Minute Knits Placket Sweater, but what fun is that? I've already done one of those. I could break out the Rowan Babies
Last night I was so not into baby knitting, so I spent an hour trying to figure out what I was going to knit during 24. Criteria was that it had to be made from stash yarn (which there is not a huge variety), and from either a free pattern or something I already own. I broke out the Elann Highland Peruvian Wool that was left over from my Ribbi Cardi. After starting to knit something I was going to felt, I decided to resume a top down sweater I had already started. Will I have enough yarn? Who knows...Stay tuned!
...Not really! Bet you thought I finished something else? Well, I did and I didn't. I did make a dishcloth. But not another sweater. What do you think I don't sleep? I have a couple more things that are waiting in the "finish me" pile, but they have more to do on them than just a sleeve or a collar.
I also have about a bizillion babies coming in the next months that are going to require a knitted 
something. I have a couple of ideas for a few of them, but I don't have them all planned out, yet. I am thinking that for my charity golf scramble, I am going to make and donate some handknit golf club covers. Small items will keep me busy and happy for a while!
Today I am not at work! I took a V-Day to go to the spa! Jeremy bought me a package for my birthday way back in February. I waited to use it until I was out of school and could take a day off from work. What fun is having a massage if I am stressed again the next day because of a test or something?
Have a good weekend!
Meet Brigitta. She is the third installment of finished sweaters this week. This is something I designed myself. I really didn't have a plan when I started, and I know this is going to sounds very weird, but the yarn told me what it wanted to be. While I would have loved a cardigan in the marled yarn with solid ribbing and button band, it had other ideas. It is actually a very comfortable sweater. Not too fitted, but not baggy like a sweatshirt.
Pattern: Brigitta, my own design.
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in Natural Marle and Natural.
Needles: Addi Turbos size 7
Notes: Watch for a future pattern of Brigitta. It is knit from the top down and has a square neck. It has 3/4 length sleeves accented with a cable eyelet ribbing also on the body.
It seems to be a week of finishing things. Now I can check Cynthia off the list, too. After I thought about the neck a little bit, I ripped that out and started again. This time I used smaller needles, knit a few rows and did an i-cord bind off. I think it turned out much better than the original collar. Seriously folks, it was that bad. It looks very tailored and snug in the picture. That definitely does not depict real life.
Pattern: Cynthia from Hot Knits
Yarn: Lion Brand CottonEase in Banana Cream
Needles: Denise Circulars size 8
Notes: While the pattern is easy to follow, the collar just doesn't cut it. So, I used an i-cord bind off after knitting a few rows on size 6 needles. This helped to bring in the neck a bit and not make it so floppy.
Yoda wanted to look pretty, too. So I took some scrap fabric from a current project and made her into the cutest gift ever. I told her she looked like she was being dressed to give as a present to someone. But then I told her not to worry, she is a gift to Mommy! I'm not sure how she felt about it, but she looked damn cute!
Classic and easy. That's what I have to say about Green Gable. While the pattern is so simple, the yarn and color make it look classic. The only thing I did to this pattern was lengthen the body a bit. I am not a fan of my belly showing...maybe if I had a 6-pack!
Pattern: Green Gable by Zephyr Style
Yarn: Cotton Fleece in Cotton Ball
Needles: Addi Turbos size 6
Notes: Great Pattern! I would recommend this pattern to beginners.
Yoda was pretty unimpressed by the sweater. But she was absolutely enthralled by a ball of yarn. I think my dog is part cat. She stalked that ball until she finally caught it. Then, being the mean mommy I am, I took it 
and threw it. Can't you tell by the look on her face that I was starting to piss her off. What she won't tell you is that she let me pose her for any pictures I wanted to take. A model is born!
Ever notice how if you really want to wear a project, it seems to move so much quicker? Take the Japanese Sweater. While I would love to wear it, the weather would prevent me from doing so. So, it sits. Cynthia is a different monster. I have to play with the collar, and I don't think I have it in me to sit down and do that. I need some pretty mindless knitting. Enter Green Gable. I bought the yarn, started Sunday, and have gotten most of the body done by Friday.
I would probably be done if I didn't start over 3 times after I was almost done with the lace portion. I was just not liking the original way it was working out. Not that I really changed anything since then, but I think it was starting to look right. I guess it's all in the perspective.
I am hoping to finish it this weekend. It probably won't happen Saturday since I am (still) working on the table. The table is almost done, so I should be able to knit a lot more soon. That and my teacher for this semester was kind enough to give us an optional final. Since I already had an A in the class, I don't need to take it!! That would have been precious knitting time taken away for studying. I know where my priorities are!
Speaking of class, the other night before class, I was knitting away on the Green Gable, and one of the other students said that she knits, too. We started talking about yarn stores, Midwest Stitches, and a Sweater Wizard Demo being offered at one of the yarn stores. It's so nice to meet other knitters in the area! Ones that have as busy a schedule that I have! Needless to say, I have registered for the Sweater Wizard Demo. I think it would be nice to learn about some software from someone who knows the product. You know, instead of teaching myself, again.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Go have a margarita. God knows I will...maybe two! 
Yes, I know Easter was about 3 weeks ago. But I did come away with some money from my Easter Bunny (otherwise known as Mom), so I decided that I was going to spend it on knitting stuff. And spend it I did. After going to my third store, I was finally able to find Wendy's book. Then I read it. From cover to cover. In one day. I know, I have a problem.
I have also been really liking the Green Gable Sweater over at ZypherStyle. So, I bought it. And the yarn for it. And a new set of needles. I know I said that I was going to try to use up my stash. But I am tired of knitting things for little people or dogs. I need a new top for summer. So, I picked the color Cotton Ball. I think it will go really nicely with tanned summer skin.
Just an update on Cynthia...I hate the collar. I did it accordingly to the directions, but it looks horrid. So now I am trying to figure out what I want to do to fix it. Any ideas are appreciated!
Yoda is one lucky little dog. She gets to go to the puppy spa, and come home with a pretty new scarf. She smells so nice and clean after she has been to the puppy spa. I think she likes it too! She always comes home all happy and excited.
So what else could a pug want? How about a new sweater? Yoda
now has this brand new maroon sweater. While most of you are thinking it is probably too warm for that now, I would say that it was cool this weekend here in the Chicagoland area. The sweater also is a good rain coat!!
Pattern: Dogs in Knits Basic Sweater
Yarn: Maroon Lion Brand Wool-Ease
Needles: Denise Circulars size 8
