lilpixie knits strikes back

Wow, I still have this thing? Guess I better start using it again, huh?!? At least I was kind enough to redesign it for you ;)

Well, over the past year, I have knitted many things for myself and others. From socks to purses; sweaters to shawls; fish hats to a doggy scarf. Sadly, I don't have pictures of everything. Here is a small sampling of completed projects. I'll be sure to post more FO's in the upcoming days.

Quincy Hat, Jared Flood
The Fish Hat!

My second clapotis

I bought this lovely yarn back in April, when I attended Stitches South. I knew at the time that it would turn into a Clapotis Scarf. The simplicity of this pattern makes it the perfect travel companion. So far, this scarf has traveled from Georgia, to Florida, to Ohio...and doctor offices, and dead time in traffic.

3 sweaters down

I have managed to complete 2 sweaters that I have been working on. I also casted on for a third and completed it in 3, maybe 4 days! So with out further adieu...

February Lady Sweater - This was started last September with high hopes of being completed in time for the holidays. However, with Christmas and Colin, my personal knits went on the back burner. I finally picked it up about a week and a half ago. At that time, I only had 3/4 of the body completed. I went full steam ahead and finished it on Sunday. This is also the first time I ever blocked, and I am very happy with the outcome. (please excuse the crappy phone picture)

I used Dream In Color Smooshy for the top portion and the border. The body was completed in Cascade.

The Tanglewood Cascading Cardigan - Originally going to be worn at a June wedding. I was making great progress with it, but got confused when it came to the sleeves. After putting it down for the week, I was able to pick it back up, and completed it in no time...5 days after the wedding :) This is the best picture I can find.

Used Vally Yarns, a pima cotton bamboo mix.

Shalom Sweater - During a timeout with the TCC, I choose to knit this up. I was really impressed with how quick it went. If I had to do over again, I would modify the arm openings, they are pretty big.


This only took 3 skeins of Malabrigo Kettle Dyed, bulky.

If your on Ravelry, better pictures and more info can be found here.

Bye for now...

I'm off to PCB until Tuesday. With all this down time, I hope to finish my BC socks and almost finish TCC!!!

Stitches South

The Tanglewood Cascading Cardigan has become my main project. I saw it at Stitches South last weekend and fell in love on the spot. So I bought the pattern and 14 balls of the softest bamboo/cotton blend yarn. Below only shows one lace repeat, this was down the night I got home. As of now, I have moved past the left armhole and 1/2 way through the back. With any luck, this will be completed not this weekend, but the next. This is top priority, since I plan to wear it KG's wedding next month over a white sundress.



The Heroine Coat is all but completed and will probably not be touched again until September. I just need to do the sleeves, seam it, and felt it. But seeing this is a winter jacket, I have time.



After a year of sitting on the shelf, I pulled out my Basket Case sock. I have one completed, and I have already turned the heel on the second. This is my no brainer knit while I am out and about, so I am only working on it a few rows at a time.



The February Lady Sweater has been shelved yet again. I have made a lot of progress, but I just can't seem to find a grove with it. I only have two more lace repeats before I do the bottom band. And I have decided to do short sleeves, instead of the suggested 3/4 sleeve. If I put my mind to it, I could probably whip this out in one weekend.



Last weekend I went to Stitches South and bought the following goodies. The girls and I meet up at 10 am and hit the floor for a good 5 hours. We had a blast! We felt up the yarn, gawked at the gadgets, and bought what we could carry. Afterward, we hit up The Cheesecake Factory and stuffed our faces.

Pic 1 -Mission Falls Cotton - 5 balls - possibly will be a tank in the future.
Pic 2 -Unknown name, fiber, yardage....but it is a shit ton, soft and cheap - no clue what it wants to be when it grows up
Pic 3 -Valley Yarn bamboo/pima coton - 14 balls - Tanglewood Cascading Cardigan
Pic 4 -Brooks Farm - Acero, Wool Silk - 2 hanks - Clapotis
Pic 5 -Creatively Dyed - Tradewinds - 1 hank - socks!



If your on Ravelry, check out the progress of my projects at http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lilpixieknits
Till next time....

Damn, damn, damn

I have been sitting here off and on all day trying to get the body of my February Lady finished. While I can proudly report that I am almost done with the body portion and after trying it on, it fits perfect....I found a flaw. Now I have to figure out how to work the border backwards, with out messing up my color work. Can't even begin to explain the disappointment with this. It wasn't like I got screwed up in the lace pattern or anything, no, it was in the simple knit border! If I wouldn't have screwed up, the body could easily be completed this weekend. But now I have to put it on hold and wait until Tuesday and beg my girls for some help. Guess that gives me an excuse to pick up Heroine....

Thankfully that was the only thing that sucked today. I got my promised pancake breakfast from J, by way of Rib Ranch. I swear, they have the best coffee and breakfast around here...we make damn sure to go EVERY weekend. Afterward, we made our way to some stores and put a major dent in our bank accounts. Too bad it was on groceries and household things, nothing to fun to report there. I did make my way over to TWNY to see the new expanded section. It rocks, simple as that. Debbi now has the old shop for nothing but yarn and what nots, and the new section (the old jewelry store) is nothing but a huge sitting area for classes, dying, and knit night!

Funk, I got rid of it

Man, I have been in a serious funk fog for the past month or so. Until this week, I haven't even picked up my needles, barely went to the gym, or get my ass off the couch. Well, that finally changed. After weeks of pussing out on my girls, I finally joined them on Tuesday night for some much needed, and way over due, girls night at TWNY. As always, I enjoyed every minute of it, and even felt like kicking myself in the ass for not going this past month. Once I found myself at home, I decided it was do or die time on my knitting. So I picked up my needles and dove into the lace portion of February Lady. I am pleased to say that I missed this. I missed how relaxing knitting could be. Since then, I have easily added a few inches, but have many more to do. I also have the Heroine jacket on hold; however, I only have to finish up the sleeves and then I can sew it together and take it up to Susan's farm to get felted. I have high hopes that I will finish both projects pretty soon. I have also promised myself not to start any other project and not to promise anyone anything.

Life has treated me well in the past few weeks, with nothing to exciting to report. Except the occasional visit of family members that have come through my revolving front door. From my dad and stepmother, to my cousin and her baby. I have to say, I enjoyed each visit, but was happy to see each one leave. My step moms cancer has not beaten her down any and this pleases me...that women is a serious fighter. Her optimism and determination don't surprise me, but inspire me. I hope that if something every that devastating happens to me, that I will have the same will power to meet it head on. I actually worry more for my father, you could see the hurt and sadness in his eyes. She is his whole world and he would be lost without her.

Since I have a wedding to attend in June (on the beach), I have challenged myself to lose some weight...or at least tone up some. So, I have been hitting the gym up again, after a 3 week hiatus. I think I might have pushed myself too hard, but I keep telling myself that it is all worth it. I have lost a few pounds, but I am not sure if it is the gym, the diet, or the meds...or a combo, but hell, I'll take it.