Hey there! I know it's been over a month since I posted. Mostly, this summer, the kids and I were busy going in the pool (yay!) and keeping busy. It was harder to knit during those hot days (the past few here in NH have been brutal!), but I did manage to get some pretty great projects finished.
We also spent a good amount of time looking at colleges for Tim. We went to WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute...where Ian and I went to college), Daniel Webster College, Champlain College and Tim visited Clemson University with his grandpa (he's the head of the Graphics Department there, as well as a professor). So far, WPI is top choice for everyone, but it's a hard school to get into...so cross your fingers for him! He'll be taking his SAT's again in October and applying (early admission) to WPI before November. (please please please)
(It might help that he was actually born right off of campus and I was pregnant with him through almost my entire second year there - he took all of the classes I took! Do you think he can get college credits for that.....???? lol)
Ben is now in 2nd grade and I can't believe it! He's up to over my shoulder in height and he's only 7. I feel like the Incredibly Shrinking Woman in this house of tall boys/men!! He keeps cracking me up with all of the funny things he says and it's actually a little bit frustrating when he asks me something that I don't know the answer to. I always say, "Let's google it!"
Okay...enough family (for now)....here are some of the fantastic projects that I finished over the summer with pics. Also, at the end, I have a listing of the TWO (woo-hoo!) trunk shows that I have coming up this fall. Can't wait to go...they both seem like they're going to be lots of fun!
FINISHED PROJECTS SINCE LAST POST
October Frost Cardigan
From "A Fine Fleece"
Size: 43" bust
Needle size: US 6 and 8
Yarn: Queensland Kathmandu Aran in Burgandy
Yardage: 1600 yds
Time: May 8th-May 22nd, 2009 and then August 20-31, 2010 (about 4 weeks total)
Fun Level: B- Started off very fun (I knit the back in one week and one arm the next week), but then I lost interest (also having a hard time knitting all those cables during knitting group) and didn't pick it up until August 20, 2010. I finished the other arm, two fronts, collar and both button bands in 11 days. Woo-hoo! Love the way it looks, though I realized that I knit both arms in the wrong size, so they're like monkey arms. Besides that, it's a gorgeous and cozy sweater. The yarn is perfect for it!
Ben's Log Cabin Afghan
From Sarah Bradbury's "Log Cabin Square" instructions
Size: 54" square
Needle size: US 8
Yarn: Noro Kureyon (in many colorways for squares) and Cascade Eco+ in purple heather for the trim
Yardage: 1760 yds for squares and 956 for trim (2 skeins of Eco+)
Time: January 2010 - August 3rd, 2010
Fun Level: B. The Squares were super fast and fun to knit and I think I would've kept making squares all year. I stopped at 16 for a square blanket. The trim was very, very monotonous to knit and that was the worst part. I finished all the squares by the end of January and then didn't start knitting the trim and putting the squares together until the end of July. I finished by the first week in August. It's the prettiest blanket I've knit so far. Only wish I could give the piecing to someone else to do!
Baby Surprise Jacket 1 (& 2)
From EZ's "An Opinionated Knitter"
Size: Newborn (and 9 month)
Needle size: US 3 (and 6)
Yarn: My hand-dyed fingering weight merino (and Jojoland Rhythm)
Yardage: 276 yds (and 380 yards)
Time: 1 day (and 4 days)
Fun Level: A! This is a totally fun and addictive pattern to knit. As soon as I was done with one, I had to cast on immediately for another. I love how easy it is to knit and how creatively designed it is. To put it together is just magic. Highly recommended!
Ian's Woodsman Socks 1 & 2
From EZ's "An Opinionated Knitter"
Size: Men's large (size 10.5" shoe)
Needle size: US 6
Yarn: Harrisville Designs New England Highland in High Hemlock and High Evergreen
Yardage: 252 yds for each pair
Time: 9 days for 1 pair, 5 days for the second pair
Fun Level: A- Super easy to knit pair of worsted, hiking socks for the winter. My hubby loves the thick, slightly rustic yarn and how warm they are. I was able to knit a single sock in two days. I changed up the colors for the second pair so I was able to knit 2 full pairs of men's socks from 3 skeins of this yarn. Yay!
TRUNK SHOW & BOOK SIGNING #7:
September 25th (Saturday)
11 am - 3pm
Hub Mills Yarn Store
Lowell, MA
20% off all yarn, books and bags that day!
TRUNK SHOW & BOOK SIGNING #8:
October 3rd (Sunday)
12 pm - 5 pm
Slater Mill Guild Studio
Pawtucket, RI
Sign up to win a FREE gift basket including a Dreamscape book, yarn, chocolate and goodies!
There are literally only 40 Dreamscape books left in the world to buy (LOL!)...true, though. I have some listed on my Etsy shop and a few more one-of-a-kind stitch markers left, but they're going fast and, after these trunk shows, there may not be any left to put up in the shop. (Kind cool!)
As usual, I'll have the rest of my Dreamscape books, design samples and will offer a FREE pdf of the Dreamscape book to all who buy a book at the trunk show. Yay!
Hope to see some of you there and thanks SO much for your support and love! xoxoxxo
