FO Friday: Sarena Cowl

Isn't it beautiful???



I finally finished the Sarena Cashmere Cowl by Tonia Barry...from the new book "101 Wonders" book by Judith Durant. It was a joy to knit...every second was wonderful - the yarn soft, the pattern so easy to memorize and fun to drop stitches, and the overall finished item is extremely warm and comfy to wear. I love it!

DETAILS:

Yarn: Jade Sapphire 4 ply , 100% mongolian cashmere, colorway, Vintage Rose
Needle: Size 6 and 8
Pattern: Sarena Cashmere Cowl by Tonia Barry
Time: 6 days, but that was also not including a day I didn't work on it at all -so 5 days...and just an hour a day.
Ravelry link: Sleepyeyes' Sarena Cowl
Fun Level: A (see above for gushing compliments)

Good news...this weekend, I am leaving with the ManchVegas Knitters (Ravelry link) to go to our annual weekend knitting retreat. This year, we're going to Vermont - we'll be visiting Cabot Creamery, Ben & Jerry's, The Knitting Studio in Montpelier and having dinner at The New England Culinary Institute! So cool! We're taking up the entire Inn in Marshfield...and we can't wait to see the place -they have been extremely nice and accomodating! (will show many pics when I return)

Also, I have some fantastic news concerning one of my newest patterns - which will have to wait (again) until I get back.

Wish us luck on our trip and hope you all have a fun and kni-filled weekend, too!

Off I go!

P.S. I will leave you with an adorable pic of my boys from Halloween. And, as Laurin said..."Man, I wanna eat those cheeks!"



Update on Diet: I am down 2.6 more pounds - so 13 total for 3 weeks! Woo-hoo!!!!

WINNERS of Lisha Lace Scarf Contest!!!!!

Oh, I feel like a bum! I'm so sorry that I didn't post the winners on Saturday, like I promised. I thought I would have internet access in RI when I went away, but there was none! Ahhh! So, now that I'm home, I'm FINALLY posting the winners!

I'll try to be brief (with pictures) and will write more later on....but for now.....

Here are the WINNERS!!!



THIRD Place winner of a skein of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend in color 3110 and other goodies goes to...

Anne of Annie Rose Designs!!!



SECOND Place winner of a skein of Malabrigo Silky Merino in color Velvet Grapes 204 and other goodies goes to.....

Deborah of Iron Horse Farm!!!

And, last, but certainly not least....

The FIRST prize winner is Ayana/Sophistaknit!!!

I thought I was going to faint when the random number generator picked her number...you know why??

She had sent me a PM on Ravelry a day or so before the end of the contest and wrote, "Just thought I would let you know that I puchased the Lisha scarf pattern a few moments ago. I look forward to knitting it up on all that yummy cashmere yarn very soon…lol. Talk to you soon! -Ayana"

And, for all of her postive thinking, she DID win the Sereknity 100% Cashmere in the Beach Glass colorway! I'm so happy for her!!



I want to thank all 23 people who bought the Lisha Lace Scarf pattern with all of my heart and, if you like the pattern, I hope you will consider passing on the word about my patterns. Thanks so much and congratulations to all of the winners!

Invisible FO Friday

Let's pretend that you are looking at a picture of an adorable (and PINK!) finished object. Let's say that it's also knitted in a delicious merino/cashmere blend yarn. Can you picture it? Okay. Good. Do I WANT to show it to you? YOU BET YOUR SWEET A*S!! But, I'm going to wait....and I can tell you why- soon. But, for now....just ooh and aahh and imagine you are viewing something fantastically cute. K?

Now, where did I get this lovely, scrumptious, baby-butt-soft yarn? At Joanne's wonderful store, A Knitter's Garden. (She not only has really great yarn, but local fibers, soaps and nice patterns and books, as well. Make sure to check it out when you're near Chester, NH....oh, and seeing the sheep and angora bunnies on her farm is a total treat, too! The sheep don't say "Baaaaa"...they say "Buuuurrrp"...or at least I think so.)



Hmmm....where was I? Oh, yes, the pink cashmere blend yarn. It. Is. So. Nice. Jackie and I both fondled it, but I was the one who took it home...YUM.MY. There are about 85 yards per skein for $7.00 and it's 17 stitches per 4 inches for gauge on size 8 needle. I truly love it. My "invisible" project that I just finished only took 1 skein, so I have one more left to cuddle with...mmmmmmm.

What else did I get when I visited the yarn shop? Well, a set of lace blockers (which I sorely need) and THIS:



Isn't it the cutest thing you've ever seen???? Well, at least for an accessory case. Jackie got a dark pink hippopatamous and I got the frog. It unzips around the mouth and you can put your scissors, darning needle, stitch holders, stitch markers and all sorts of stuff in it. The longer ones...like the hippo and crocodile...could even hold your dpns! You can find them HERE, though the price was better at A Knitter's Garden. And no shipping to pay either.

Guess what I got in the mail today??? Cayli sent me the most gorgeous fibers from the Fantastic Fiber Queen, Holly EEQ of Oceans of Fiber for my birthday!!! Super soft and brilliant turquoise/aqua mohair locks and a shine-tastic pink/peach roving of BAMBOO!!! I haven't spun either of these before and I'm thinking of trying to do some tomorrow night. (You have no idea how much fiber I have to spin and how much I'm hoping to get started again....really.) THANK YOU, THANK YOU, Cayli!!!!! (you always know the perfect gift!)



(for some reason, this one is upside down or something....weird)



Still working on my lace stole. Doing on repeat every single day and it's really coming out nicely. The longer it gets the more motivation I have to work on it. I think my mom is going to LOVE it!

Other things I've got on my "Knitting Mind" at the moment (besides my stack of UFOs on right):

-The Tulip Sweater shown on the Yarn Harlot's blog. (Going to use KP Swish instead of the yarn given....both are superwash merino, worsted weight)

-The Baby Pea Pod sweater by Kate Gilbert....(I'm thinking of seeing if I can join the Pea Pod Knitalong, too.)

and

-Baby size version of THIS.

No, I am NOT pregnant....perish the thought! But, I AM having those "baby feelings"....so to comfort myself, I am knitting for a baby (well, toddler really) girl of a friend of ours.

Still trying to work on the next podcast, too. OH, and if you've been having trouble downloading them from iTunes, do this:

Unsubscribe to my podcast on iTunes. Then, immediately resubscribe and you will be able to get all the episodes you missed. I had my xml feed wrong and the dates never got through, so it might have seemed like some were missing. There are 13 now and 14th on the way, so catch up if you can...(grin)

Well, I guess that's all for now...not a GREAT post, but doing it pretty late and had a hard day. Hope you all have a fab-u-lous "Knitting in Public" Day tomorrow!!!!