KNITTING WITHOUT DOG HAIR IS NOT AN OPTION

Gosh, I don't know how many times I have thought about blogging since January 1, 2010. But there has always been something else. No time, too tired, no knitting to report, no laptop available... I think I could go on for a bit...

Well - I shouldn't be such a slacker, I know and I am sorry. But the year has started a little sluggish and I am trying to get a grip on things. ANYWAYS...

First, my favorite current TV commercial.

It has a sock monkey in it, hahaha... Too cute, I still have to knit one tho.

What is there to report on knitting?

Besides lots of ideas tumbling around in my head and not enough time at knitting groups, I am still working on the sweater for The Coach and I am happy to report that I actually finished the back over the Christmas holidays. Now I am onto the front which has a zipper (which will be interesting to put in with my love for sewing...) and which also measures 28.5 inches (to match the back…) from the cast on to the bind off. As much as I love that The Coach is 6ft 4in, it's turns into a curse when you knit a sweater for the big guy. The back truly functioned as a lap blanket while I was knitting it... Nevertheless, I am past the point where I had to split the front piece for the zipper. So, hopefully I'll be done soon. And then - onto two long sleeves... But I am still enjoying the cable pattern.

Well, a trip to Germany is coming up in April (for business, so I get to see my family on company expenses) and the sweater is the only knitting I am taking with me, I swear. 10 hours each way on a plane and 2.5 hours each day on the train. I am going to stay with Mom and Dad and take the train to commute to Munich to the office. Love the public transportation system over there.

Oh, I did finish a baby blanket. It is my all-time favorite mindless pattern. I don't even remember where I originally found the pattern, I think Lionbrand? Because I think the first one I made out of Lionbrand Homespun. It goes really fast.

This one was knitted during Superbowl 2010. Told you it was an easy knit. ;-)

Pattern: Baby Love Diagonal Baby Blanket by Lion Brand Yarn Craft (thanks to Ravelry I found the pattern name…)
Needles: US 11 / 8.0 mm Addi Natural Circular
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Heaven
How much? 4 skeins = 220.0 yards (201.2m)
Colorway: pale pink

That's about it with the knitting.

Have you heard that we, in Georgia, had three snow days so far? Totally not normal, but pretty. Here are some pix.

January 8, 2010

The roads were very icy that morning and I drove to work a lot later than I usually do.

February 12/13, 2010

Yes, my mailbox has knitting stickers on it...

It started snowing Friday around lunch time that weekend and I couldn’t go anywhere on Saturday. Just too much ice and snow all around. A nice excuse to stay curled up in bed and catch on taped TV shows.

Pictures from snow day no. 3 (last Tuesday, March 2, 2010, if remember correctly) are still in the camera. Sorry!

I don't know if you noticed but Hermione and Noah gotten in fabulous shape. The vet was very impressed last weekend when he saw them for their check-up. Both of them lost about 10 pounds, thanks to the new doggie door and lots of play time outside.

Posted at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true in 2010!

I am enjoying a very quiet holiday vacation with the Coach. Not doing much but knitting and watching TV. Exactly what I needed after a stressful 2009 to recharge the batteries for 2010.

Posted at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Well, the intentions were good. I wanted to blog every day in December. But I slipped this weekend. No more entries since Friday. Sorry... I had a lovely Friday night knitting group meet-up and a dinner afterwards. We got more presents from Steve, Nancy and Jane. And Rob took us to dinner. THANKS Y'ALL!

And then I spent the weekend with the Coach and his kids in Hogansville for my first big Christmas Party at his grandmother's house. I had a great time and felt very much at home and welcome. Just as many people as at my parents place, in all kind of age groups. I got a bunch of lovely gifts. Need to take pictures to show them off.

But it has been so busy and it will not get better until Wednesday when I get out of the office. Thankfully I have a 10-day break ahead of me. And believe me, I NEED THAT BREAK...

I'll try blog again soon! Happy Holidays!

Maybe we'll get some snow for Christmas. I took this picture on January 16, 2008, at my house.

Posted at 6:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now I can blog about this scarf. I couldn't before last Sunday.

Name: Regan's Scarf
Pattern: "His/Hers Reversible Scarf" by Melissa Leapman
Needles: US 8 / 5.0 mm Knitpicks Harmony
Yarn: Regan's Handspun
How much? Don't really know, you need to ask her. ;-)
Colorway: Blues and Greys

It is a funny story how that scarf came to life. Regan forgot her gorgeous handspun at my birthday party in July. When I called her to tell "thank you for the beautiful handspun for my birthday" - just kidding of course - we agreed that I would hold her yarn hostage and turn it into a knitted birthday gift for her. Well, honestly, I forgot because the yarn started marinating in one of my many baskets. Until I looked at it again about a week before her birthday. Then I had to hustle, but it all worked out and I gave it to her at knitting Christmas party. And I think she liked it, too.

Now, don't get any ideas about leaving yarn on my door step. ;-)

Posted at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This is one of these days where I would like to be a little dog with a sweater...

Posted at 1:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cartoons by Andertoons

The Coach is under the weather...

Hope this cheers you up a little and will make you feel better!

Posted at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You probably wonder what I am talking about. Pixie asked me to knit a pair for Rowan. I guess you could also call them soakers because babies with cloth diapers wear them. But I like the name WONDERPANTS much better.

I finished the first pair just in time at the Christmas party for Pixie to take them home with her. I think she intentionally did not hand me the baby until all the ends were woven in. I got you figured out, lady. ;-)

And here we go – the finished wonder pants.

And with Pixie’s permission I “stole” this absolutely cute shot of Rowan modeling her new pants. I’ll probably end up knitting a bunch more since they go so fast. ;-)

Posted at 7:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A bunch of my dear knitting friends gathered at Jane's house today for our traditional knitting Christmas Party. We had a fabulous time. Thanks Alma and Jane for organizing this!

It was super relaxed. Everybody brought a cool gift for the gift exchange. We had plenty of food, beer, wine, cider and several hours of knitting time.

The boys: Brett, Michael and Doug

Our wonderful hostess Jane with Brittany and Wayne

The other boys, hanging out in the more quiet room and watching football - and Pixie brought Baby Rowan. So adorable!

And some serious stash busting!

And look what Katey found in amongst the yarn...

I had a great time! The guests really made the party special! Thanks for coming! I hope I will see some of you more often next year than just for the Christmas party. ;-) Hey – did anyone else take pictures? Please share!

Posted at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The pooches have a new doggie door, thanks to the Coach. He spent several hours on Thanksgiving weekend to mount a doggie door into a new door and exchange it with my old kitchen door.

The dogs were very suspicious at the beginning and it took them several days and a bunch of treats to understand that they have now all the freedom they want. I think they spend quite some time in the backyard now, but of course I can't be sure because I don't have a doggie cam.;-)

Here is a little video I took a few days ago.

Tomorrow is the holiday party with my knitting friends. I just finished cooking a traditional Italian lasagna (no pre-cooked pasta), a veggie lasagna and marinated aspargus. And I have a yummy cake from Metrotainment Bakery. Can't wait to see my peeps tomorrow!

Posted at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, I am talking about the first yarn shipment from the Seven Sins Fiber Club. I also got the second shipment in the meantime, but I think not all the members have received it, so I'll be quiet about it for now. Just so much, another great color and very cool stitch markers. ;-)

I am designing a new sock pattern with the first yarn. As it is named after one of the "Seven Sins", it is called LUST. And yeah, I know. I am always designing but never get to the point where I am publishing a pattern. And why is that?

Because I never have enough time to bring my thoughts and ideas onto paper and because I am anal and if I do I try to publish a "good" pattern without mistakes it takes me forever. Unfortunately there is already a ton of crappy patterns out there and I don't want to be an addition to that.

Here is a sneak preview of the first sock in progress.

I promised the club members a test pattern, the German skeleton way, because that might not take me as long... We'll see...

Posted at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)