More scrappy stuff

I really got my scrapping mojo going at the TSR retreat this weekend. So much so that I did six (yep - that's right 6!!) single page LO's yesterday. I was supposed to be cleaning up my scrapping area, but I got my creative juices flowing and I just couldn't stop!! This one is my favorite of the bunch.

I had saved some sketches from Stickers 'N Fun - this is one of them. I love how it allowed me to incorporate so many pictures into a single LO!! I don't use their sketches much, but they have a TON on their site!!

I used the Basic Grey Figgy Pudding papers. I bought a pack of this paper at Hobby Lobby last year with the intention of using it for all my Christmas layouts. Now that the layouts are done, I have a ton of this paper left over. I think it will end up being used for a lot of my Christmas cards this year!

Knit (or scrap) on!!

Fun socks!!

When I bought this yarn, I thought it might make a great pair of Jaywalkers. (Again - it's a Rav only link.) Boy was I right. This seems to be the perfect union of pattern and yarn. Holey Toldeo it's been fun to knit this!!

I actually did 2 test swatches in pattern before casting on. Normally I never swatch, but I knew this pattern was a but particular for fit, so I figured I'd better. Good thing I did too - I went up a needle size!!

Knit on!!

Scrapping Retreat

Whew - what a busy July it's been! I spent last weekend at the TSR weekend retreat. It was really fun - I hope I can go next year!! Here are a few of the layouts I completed over the weekend:

KI Memories Kit

Fancy Pants

American Crafts

Chatterbox

In all, I completed 3 double page layouts, 5 single page layouts and 13 cards. And to be honest, I think I spent a lot of time chatting and not much time scrapping!!

I also cast on a pair of Jaywalker socks last week. (If your not a Ravelry user, that link won't work. Sorry, that's the only place I could find the pattern.) I'm still plugging away at my lace T, but it's gotten too hot to knit a big sweater like that.

Knit on!

Busy, busy, busy

I don't have much to share today, but wanted to post so my blog doesn't feel neglected!

I currently have visitor's from New Zealand staying with me, Denis and Beryl. (I was an exchange student to New Zealand in high school and they were one of my host parents.) We've been doing a little of everything that Minneapolis has to offer! Today we're going to the farmers market - always a treat - and tonight I have tickets for the Saints game.

On the knitting front - the aqua sweater is coming along nicely (for the third time!) Beryl was interested in seeing it since she's never knit top down. That lead to quite a discussion and a little trip to Ravelry on the computer. Nothing beats Ravelry for knitting information!! (And btw, Beryl was very instrumental in my learning to knit. My host mom before her taught me, but Beryl kept me going and taught me many of the finer points.)

And the busy continues. Next week, starting on Thursday, I'm attending the Scrap Rooms scrapping retreat. It's in Minneapolis so I have NO EXCUSE not to attend :) !! It's three days of fun and scrapping. I hope I get a lot of pages done because I'm getting further and further behind!! (And I'm sure I'll do a little knitting too!!)

Knit on!

Knitting, knitting and knitting again

I've been working on the same sweater for almost a month now. That's not particularly unusual per se, but it's a short sleeved sweater, not a difficult pattern and it should be a breeze. But it hasn't been. *sigh*

I'm making this pattern out of Knit Picks CotLin in Desert Turquoise. Love the pattern, love the yarn, but I just can't seem to make this work. As written, the pattern is for a 34" bust. Needless to say, I'm NOT a 34" bust.

For the first attempt, I added a few increases under the arm after the sleeves were cast off. (I didn't actually cast them off but put them on waste yarn. I plan on adding some sort of hem - if I can ever finish the body.) After I knit a few inches of the body, I tried the sweater on. Major batwing/elephant ear sleeves. That wasn't going to work so I frogged it. Here is a picture of the first attempt. (I haven't had the heart to take any more pictures.)


Second time around, I did the math. Based on my gauge, I determined that 217 stitches for the body should give me a 39" bust. I changed the number of stitches cast on and re-arranged how they were sectioned out. Sounded good. After knitting about 5 inches of the body I tried it on. Huge. Simply huge. Apparently my gauge was way off. (Grrrrrr.) I tried frogging it to the sleeve cast off and re-knit , but I just didn't like the neckline with my modifications. So I frogged it all again.

For my third attempt, I am knitting it as written, using the math (with the correct gauge this time) and determined that I need 187 stitches for the body. I also decided not to do a seed stitch hem as on the two previous attempts and did a 2 x 2 rib instead. I'll keep you posted on how it works out.

I will say this though - the knit picks CotLin can take a lot of abuse and still knit nicely. My first ball has been frogged two times and knit three and is still holding together well. At least there's a silver lining, right?

*Sigh*

Knit on.

And a card to go with...

Here is the card I made to go with my MIL's birthday scarf. I fussed around with the layout quite a bit, but finally ended up with a very simple one. I figured since the main image was fairly busy, the layout could be plain.

And what's a card without a matching bag? I love to buy the packs of 10 gift bags from Target and decorate them to match the card.


Details:
Stamps: Beautiful Blooms by Papertrey Ink
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi and Black all from SU. Gloss White (photo paper) from Office Max.
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery (all SU), Black Staz-on, Versamark
Accessories: Slot and Word Window punches (SU), Clear EP and Misc ribbon from Joanns, Rhinestone stickers from Marc Richards, Paper flowers from Prima.

Enjoy your day and knit on!

Scarf for my MIL

I'm finding it harder to knit as the temps start to rise, so you'll have to pardon the lack of knitting on my blog of late. I'm finding scrapping and stamping to be much cooler activities!

However, my MIL's birthday is this week and I knit her a scarf. It's a really lovely pattern and looks MUCH harder than it really is. I think she will like it!! (Here's a close up so you can see the pattern better.)


Knit on (or stamp, or scrap, or whatever!)