I'm a Whore for Yarn

What a girl won't do for a skein of some awesome yarn.

I have a new ad on the blog for Vickie Howell's podcast about all things craft and knitting. Remember when I talked about her here? I just downloaded all the podcasts from ITunes and can't wait to listen to all of them myself.

If you enjoy knitting, you need to check out her blog too. She has tons of free patterns and recently has been giving away lots of fun knitting accoutrements.

Handmade with Love by Nana

Since before conception, my mother has been working on gifts for her first grandchild. When I was visiting last week, I received two blankets, a sweater and two sleepwear outfits. All handmade! This sweater might possibly be the cutest piece of clothing I have ever seen. I want to curl up in it right now. Isn't she amazing? The color is a bit washed out in the picture, but it is a beautiful green. The tags in each item say "Handmade with Love by Nana". It's so sweetly precious it just makes me want to....excuse me I have to compose myself. Go on, read ahead without me.


And how about this little snuggle fest? The snowflakes are for DG and mom made a pink fleece one as well. I can see Baby G going to sleep in this at least one night a week before she spits up on it and I have to wash it.

Of All the Things You Can Knit

Can't afford to buy the IPhone or waiting for the second generation? How about knitting yourself one? I don't even think this replica would appease DGs sobs every night as he begs us to go get the new phones.

And in the oh so wrong category, dress up your man's manhood this year with a Weenie Warmer. (graphic photos beware) There's just enough time before the holidays to get this one pumped out. And the drums go ba-dum-pa. I'm not sure what is worse, the photos of an actual man wearing this, or the fact that he looks like he waxed for the picture.

I just finished my knitting project using Vickie Howell's yarn for the winner of my question and answer session in March. Pictures forthcoming.

Happy Birthday America and Mom

I'm have not been feeling very patriotic lately and do not feel the need to celebrate America with everything that is going on. But then DG reminded me that we are celebrating our Independance, not just being American. Oh yeah.

I think I would rather celebrate my mom's birthday today. I recently was sent a bunch of cute pictures of her, with the explicit instructions NOT to post them on the blog. Because I am feeling like a good daughter today, I won't. *sigh* So instead, I will give you pictures of my latest knitting project AND my mom's birthday present. Several months ago, I posted about some gorgeous new yarn that I bought. And here is the final product, a decorative scarf.


This picture shows how the scarf hangs.

This one shows the detail of the beautiful mohair and silk blend against the varigated wool yarn. Don't look too closely at the details as you'll see where I dropped stitches.

Even though this is a standard scarf, this project posed a challenge for me due to the nature of the fibers. But I wanted to create something unique with luxurious yarn for my mom because she deserves it. Happy Birthday Mom!

Yearning for Yarn

While DG was geeking out on Saturday morning learning CSS with a friend, I went to my new favorite yarn store The Lamb Shoppe. I bought a skein of a beautiful mohair and silk blend (shown here) and a varigated wool to make a fun something for a fun someone who reads the blog. But rats if I can't show you how pretty the pattern is.

I also bought 3 knitting books on Amazon with the word Hip in the title. And as if one yarn store were not enough, later in the afternoon, I had DG drive me to my other favorite yarn store Showers of Flowers because I found out they are selling Vickie Howell's new yarn line that I talked about last week. Vickie did an instore there as well and 175 people showed up! Holy wow. I bought some Buttercup and Wesley from her Love line as that was the color Jen, our winner chose. I am still waiting for the pattern, but hope to make that soon.

My project box is full, now it's time to get cracking and whip up some fun. I want to get these projects done so that I can move on to something bigger and more complex, like a cable knit sweater for the dogs!

And the winner is....

Jen from Denver, emailed me yesterday afternoon with the correct answer: Shelby and Jackson are Julia Roberts and Dylan McDermott from Steel Magnolias (1989). Jen gets to pick any color from Vickie Howell's LOVE collection and I will make her an accessory too! Everyone that wrote in was correct! Thank you for playing.

Vickie Howell the Hottest Chick with Sticks

About a month ago, my mom told me about this group of craft shows on HGTV every morning, one of which included Knitty Gritty hosted by Vickie Howell. I have tivo'd every episode and watch them giddily to learn new knitting techniques and tips. I can't read a pattern, but I would go head first into trying to do a cable having watched it demonstrated on the show.

Through a hottsie in Knit Club, I recently learned that Vickie Howell was going to be at a yarn shop not far from my house last night. Even though we were having a snow storm, I ventured out anyway. You know how I'm a working stay-at-home-dog mom, starved for attention.

I expected to stay for about 30 minutes and meet DG downtown, but I was mesmerized by the glitz and glam of being in the presence of someone on tv. Very similar to the elevator incident with Seth Green. Unfortunately, instead of being the quiet girl in the corner, apparently I opted for loud giddy fan, one step away from scary-stalker-drool-on-your-yarn girl. When I finally got to talk to her, I rambled on in horror as about 100 things came out of my mouth at once.


Despite saying "like oh my gawd I am so going to read your blog every day", she graciously had her picture taken with me.

She's working with South West Trading Company to come out with her own brand of yarn that uses alternative fibers. She has named all of her colors after Rock Stars or Actors, and famous movie couples. Under her brand Love, that is made out of bamboo and silk (super soft), there is a creamy yellow color called Princess Buttercup and Wesley (after The Princess Bride). She's a total punk rock knitter. I ordered a skein of Shelby and Jackson from her Love Brand so that I can make a lacy scarf like accessory. Can you guess where Shelby and Jackson comes from? I'll tell you what. The first person to guess correctly will get a fancy accessory scarf too in the color of your choice from the Love collection.

Knitting a Baby Hat

As cute as a bug in a rug. I got this pattern from a woman in my project management class. It was my first attempt at knitting something that is not a square or a square times 5 (a scarf). It was so much fun, I want to start mass producing them. It is done in the round, and has a gradual decrease. I used this yarn because I love the colors as they are perfect for twin girls. I got some different yarn too to try some others. I hope they will fit on baby Eleanor and Olivia.

Knitting Sweat Shop

Lora's baby is due in less than two weeks and though we had very good intentions, the baby blanket that Holly and I are knitting is less than 1/2 done. And that is with bringing in the reinforecements. Holly's mom did a bunch of squares. My first square was the hardest because apparently I didn't know how to knit, purl, but my learning curve was short and now I'm well on my way...on my 3rd square. Only 10 or so to go.

So here is my question to other knitters out there. Some of the squares are double sided, but some with a patterned flower on them are not. I am used to crochetting where it is all double sided. So do we add a back side with material, just let it go, or what?