Sockapalooza 4

So, I just got the sockpal that I will be knitting for. I am really excited about this. I have never participated in a knit along before and can't wait to start. Browsing all of the fun sock yarns on etsy is wonderful and I am already having trouble deciding just which yarn to pick. I can't wait to knit with a hand-dyed yarn, something I haven't done before. I can feel myself becoming addicted to knitting socks...uh-oh.

So Its Been a Long Time...Lots To Do

All right, so it has been forever since I posted. A lot has been going on. Baby C started solids last week, she stopped breastfeeding, I started working again, and I have a ton of knitting projects to work on.
First and foremost, Apricot Jacket. I have finished the back, one sleeve, and the left front. Here she is so far:There a couple of flaws, but I think it is more of my own perfectionism and really unnoticeable. I have been jotting down some comments about the pattern, so I will post them when I finish. I have started the right front and so then I will only have a sleeve left. I do have to say that it is a really quick knit. I can't wait to finish it.

The other project I worked on was a sweater that I began knitting for Baby C almost a year ago. It was supposed to be the sweater she came home from the hospital....BUT...I never finished it in time and good thing because it never would have fit her. Now it is done and it fits. I think we will have a few more cool days that she can wear it. Here it is:

Pattern: Cashmere Sweater from Simple Knits for Cherished
Babies by Erika Knight
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
Needle Size: 8
Start to Finish: You don't want to know

Next project is a pair of socks that I started with a mock cable pattern and Tofutsies yarn. It is a soy silk yarn and I am in love with it.
I also just received Knitting Without Tears and Knitter's Almanac in the mail the other day and I am so excited to start the February Baby Sweater. I just love reading Elizabeth Zimmerman. I have to admit, I have never been the best at figuring things out on my own and I am hoping that by trying these Elizabeth patterns will help me to really learn the art of knitting. Don't get me wrong...I feel like I can conquer just about any pattern, but, I want to really know what I am doing and why I am doing it. That being said, I was at The Lamb's Wool today for the first time in a long time. I bought a bunch much to my husband's dismay. For the February Baby Sweater, I bought Reynold's Soft Sea Wool in a rose color. It feels so nice knit up. I also bought a couple skeins of this for a pair of socks. Then I bought some bamboo to make a combination knit/fabric dress for Baby C. Also, some Stork yarn to make a cardigan for Baby C's baptism gown for May 27th...better get on that. So, I continued my bad habit...to buy much more than I can chew.

Fun Blog Stuff

So, I am pretty excited about all of this blogging stuff. I just signed up for Sockapalooza4 on the blue blog. I can't wait. It is another reason to start knitting socks. Then, a couple of weeks ago, thanks to Domesticat, I signed up for the knitterly letter swap. I just sent off my first letter today to my pen pal. Now I have all the more reason to go but more stationary and more sock yarn!

A New Yarn Store...ahhhh

So, I broke away from the house today to scope out a new yarn store closer to this house. Since we moved, I had still been traveling back to Lansdale to go to The Lamb's Wool. I love The Lamb's Wool, I love the ladies at The Lamb's Wool, and I love the big table in the back of The Lamb's Wool where we sit and knit and chat about everything, but it is far away and when you need a quick yarn fix, it is hard to get out fo that long. So, anyway, I found The Yarn Gallery in West Reading, PA. It is a nice shop with a really nice shop owner and TONS of great yarn. I just had the best time there and probably could have spent hours (and millions of dollars). There were yarns I hadn't ever even seen before. The only downside to the shop is that there is only a small round table that fits about four. It would be nice if there were a group of women to knit with. Anyway, my finds were great. I picked up the edition of Knitscene with the Central Park Hoodie that I have been wanting to knit. It was in the sale bin for $1. Then there was the Summer Vogue magazine that has some really cute baby patterns and a couple of cardigans I like. I found a really cute short sleeve baby sweater pattern by Oak Couture that I can't wait to knit for C. As far as yarns go, I got a skein of Tofutsies for a pair of socks for me and 3 skeins of a really soft, fun cotton...Flake Cotton. Not sure what I will use that for, maybe C's sweater. So there it is, another load of stuff to add to the stash (like I needed it).

To the back...

So, I finished sleeve one and the ribbing on the back and now I am to the pattern. I know, I know, it has been slow. My only excuse is the fact that my 3 month old daughter still wakes up 7-8 times a night and I am now and anxious wreck and exhausted which makes it hard for me to concentrate. So there it is, my pity party. I am done now. The sleeve went well. I am enjoying the yarn for the most part. I can't wait to put it on to see the fit. I think that it will be a nice weight for spring/summer if it ever gets here (it has been 40 degrees the last couple of days and things aren't looking up). The back is going well too. My camera is downloading pics right now to add to the 800 we already have of our daughter, haha, so I will put a picure up when it is finished.
The other new is that I think I am going to start the sweater on the front of the Interweave Knits Spring issue soon. I have decided to use Shine from Knitpicks. I got a color card of them the other day and it feels super nice, so I can't wait to knit with it. I am hoping the sweater looks as good on me as on the model although I am sure it won't work out that way, that is why they are models right?