FO: Color Affection

I know, I know... you've been waiting a long time to see proper pics of this one

But there was just no time for a photoshoot before my Chicago trip. And it's been crazy busy since I got back. But Saturday, Mom and I carved out a few minutes to do a couple of shots in her backyard

I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this knit, considering it's all garter stitch (which normally bores me to tears). But the colour changes kept it fun. And the short rows on the bottom section kept it from being a total slog.

It knit up far quicker than I though it would. I used three skeins of Twinkle Cat (Coal, Loden and Merlot), and I think they were a great combination. And the sparkle adds just a bit of fun to it. It's been so cold over the last several weeks that it's seen almost constant wear (Outside as a scarf, inside and a nice little shoulder warmer)

This one had been in my queue pretty much since the pattern was released. And I'm so glad I finally got it done. It also means I can mark the first project off my Year of Colour goal list! I'll be starting another one as soon as I get some other WIPs cleared out

It's so easy being green

Green hands - the sign of another successful dye day. Yup - I was up at Mom's yesterday to get pics of a couple FOs (Those posts will follow in the next couple of days) so I thought I'd do a little dyeing.

The plan was just to do one bag of Solo Cat

Which turned out quite nicely if I do say so myself....

But then I might have done up a couple of skeins of  potential new base

See those little fuzzy bits... yep... it's a mohair blend! We're going to give it a try and see if it's worth putting in the shop.

Then I dyed up a couple skeins of House Cat. They are going to be part of a prize pack for an upcoming KAL (details coming soon).

And then I dyed up a nice long blank of Barn Cat.

It's going to be the background for my Katzenjammer project, which I hope to cast on as soon as I get some WIPs cleared out.

One down!

I got the rainbow Twyla hat off the needles tonight!

And she's now drying on my large mixing bowl. I really like the way the colours went, with the nice solid star in the middle, and then all the colours broken up as it got bigger

And then they came together again in the ribbing. I couldn't have planned it better if I tried!

Now - bring on the next WIP!

Spring cleaning...

... but not that kind. Nope.. This month I am making the commitment to clean out my WIPs.

I currently have seven projects on the go:

1) The Loop

It's on hold for a bit though. I ran out of the Boboli Lace 60 stitches before the end. Thankfully Loveknitting.com carries it (and in the right colour) because I won't be going back to Chicago in the forseeable future. My order should arrive in a week or two and it will be nothing to get it finished by the end of the month.

2) Dave's socks

I'm on the heel of the second sock, so there should be no problem finishing these before the month is through.

3) Cats and Butterflies

My coworker's baby is two months old now, so I need to get a move on this one. I keep meaning to chart the rest of the pattern to make it easier to follow.

4) Cygnet

Nora's Daddy still hasn't gotten me her measurements, but I think I'm on the right track (if anything, it's too big and she can grow into it). Her birthday is on the 14th, so it would be nice to get it done for then.

5) Old Town

Just one sleeve to go... if only I actually wanted to finish it...

6) Eyrie

 

A shawl design I started a long time ago. I was hoping to release it along with Highgarden (which will be released soon.) There's not enough time to get it done, tested and released, but it would be nice just to get it done!

7) Twyla (Rainbow version)

As soon as I ran out of yarn on the cowl, I picked this up again. It shouldn't take too long to get it off the needles.

I'm almost done the seed-stitch, then it's just a few inches of ribbing (on 2/3 the number of stitches). It will go nicely with my gloves. And I'm going to whip up a matching cowl on Mom's sock machine... because it's not like winter is going to be done any time soon!

Surprisingly green thumb

Since I can't get out in my gardens yet, I'm trying to enjoy the small bit of greenery I've got inside.

The orchids seem to be doing well, but there's no new blooms stems yet. My poor Lemon fern died, but look what else is still going strong...

Yep - that's the Poinsettia I bought before Christmas. It's not as robust as it was when I bought it - but it's still nice and green. I've never kept an Poinsettia alive past Christmas.. and I wasn't even really trying with this one. But it was on the table with all the other plants, so it got a drink at the same time. I wonder if I can keep her alive until next Christmas... I guess I'll have to name her too.

And I'm still at work, trying to conjure up spring. (We are getting more snow as we speak)

 Another trip to the grocery store saw these pretty little purple crocuses come home with me.  Like the daffodils, they are potted, so the bulbs will go in the garden. It will be nice seeing those little purple flowers peeking up through the snow next spring.

Peno's got a brand new friend

There's still too much snow, so I can't get to the feeder. Instead, I've just been tossing the seed on the snow mound right outside the back door. Peno loves it. She's got an up close and personal look at the birds.

... and she's gotten quite stealthy about it. But Sunday morning, she didn't need any stealth.

Mr. Squirrel knew there was no way she was getting through that glass. (Pardon the filthy window.. it's all cat nose prints....)

They checked each other out for quite a while before Mr. Squirrel decided it was safe enough to have a little snack.

The pair of them are going to be quite disappointed when the snow finally melts.

Wrapping it up (or trying to)

While it may not seem like it lately, this is actually a knitting blog. And there has been knitting...

...albeit, not a much as I'd like. The Chicago cowl is growing, though not as quickly as I'd like. There hasn't been a tonne of time for knitting. What little time there as been, I've filled with other things like Candy Crush and getting a jump on spring cleaning.

While my main living space is a lot tidier now...

... the poor cowl has been languishing.

I was hoping to finish it up last night, and was even planning on staying up late to do it. But I kept dropping stitches. And when I realized I'd worked and entire row as half knit, half purl (it was suppose to be all knit), I decided it was time to pack it in and call it a night.

So today will be spent tinking back that row and (hopefully) finishing her up. That is if I don't run out of yarn....

... which is looking quite probably at this moment. Good thing Loveknitting.com has a free shipping sale on right now!