I’d like to present Smooch...

I started Smooch about a year ago and sadly put her down to rest for awhile. With the guilt of not finishing her, I decided to pick her up again and finally finish her. I’m glad I did. I love the way she fits. My only problem is how cotton stretches. I loved working with Rowan All Seasons Cotton though. Next time I will use a wool/cotton blend like the one from Rowan.

Book...Rowan All Seasons Cotton Collection
Yarn... Rowans All Season Cotton in Misty (#170)
Needles...Inox cirular US #5 & #7 (LOVE these needles…the coated ones)
Thanks to this rabbits helpful hints, it came out great and the design on the bottom lines up perfectly. I did have a problem with the front armhole & neck. I had to frog the right side 2 times. Following the directions, the right armhole was higher up than the left. I figured out how to make it work & now it is perfectly even. That is the thing I love about knitting…you learn to figure out things on your own when you have to. I also raised up the v-neck to start at the armhole shaping instaed of 17 rows below them. I love where the V lies now as it doesn’t show too much boobage. Overall…I love this sweater!

Stitches Purchases...

I bought enough of this beautiful Green Mountain Spinnery MOUTAIN MOHAIR (color~ Maritime) to knit up another long sleeve cardigan.

This is yummy Cashmere from Hunt Valley Cashmere to knit this fabulous scarfl.

Now who doesn’t love fingerless gloves. I know I do!

The yarn on the left is Jazz by Twisted Sisters. The color is Charcoal and is varigated. It is beautiful in person. I’m going to make a tank with this one. It is 100% Fine Merino Wool. On the right is Zephyr Wool-Silk in Basil. I love this green. This one will become a shawl of course.

The yarn…beautiful Suri Elegance in a variety of deep wine shades (color…#5011 Raku). The shawl…stunning.

My next project...

is going to be Veer from Rowan #32. I will be using white Kid Silk Haze. I already have the button and beads ready for decorating this very small gauge knit sweater. Donna and I will be knitting this one together. It’s fun when you have someone else knitting the same project.

Workout Update...
No…I did not work out at all while away (which adds up to almost 1 month). Bad girl! I am back on track now though. I got in 1 day of Pilate’s and 3 days of weights and cardio. I’m feeling more like myself again. I’m eating better also now that I am home and cooking once again. I still look forward to my cheat weekends where I eat whatever I want. Now that is really something to look forward to, don’t you think?

I will leave you all with this photo…

Did I hear you say Grasshopper?

Have a great weekend!!

My life is back in the slower lane now that I’ve returned form CA and Stitches. I am not used to over eating, over drinking, over shopping and too much fun all the time…like I said…return to normal…a good thing. I only had 2 days between my 2 trips. I unpacked just to pack all over again. I feel like I have been out of the loop forever. I didn’t knit at all or go on the internet while away. This is the longest break I have had from knitting…ever (It is hard to knit when you are partying…what do I think…I’m a teenager again?). I missed knitting more than I would have ever imagined. I have been knitting a little in the past few days. I’m almost finished Smooch. I had to frog the neck line a couple times. I’m done the right side of the V neck though and am ready to forge on to the left side. . No pictures though until I’m all finished.

WARNING...Lots of photos

San Diego...
I had a fabu time is SD and LA. I could easily move there. I LOVE the west coast and the lower humidity.

Jeanne and I in front of Mr. Chow’s in LA. Inside this fabulous Asian restaurant we saw…Eddy Murphy (much smaller in person then on the big screen) David Brenner (comedian) The daughter of Kiefer Sutherland on the show ‘24’. The food…fantastic!

We stayed at the Beverly Hills in LA. Everyone is so hospitable, especially Ron the bartender at the Polo Lounge in the hotel. He is such a nice man. Lots of people know us even from staying there only once a year. It’s like being at Cheers…you know?

It was not my birthday…but everyone at the table said it was. This is what I got…

Then they took this picture of the un birthday girl…

This is Glen. He is a big kook! He is a good friend of Jeanne and Steve’s.

Stitches East...
What can I say except that I love anything that deals with the knitting life. Donna, Heather and I got to AC at around 3:30pm…just in time to stop at my favorite chocolate shop…Jagielky’s in Ventnor. Their # is (609)823-6501 If you love fabulous homemade chocolates…call them…they ship!! We each bought a pound for ourselves and you can bet I’ll be ordering more. Stitches was smaller then it usually is. There were fewer venders there and the candy and nut booths that are usually in the convention hall were gone (they are always at the Convention hall) I really wanted that candy.

Happy hour in the Temple Bar at the Ceasers…where we stayed. We all shared a room. Donna brought a 2 bottles of wine, olive tepanade, cheese and crackers. I brought 2 bottles of wine, nuts and crackers. We had our own happy hour before going out on a few nights. We had a blast. I am already dreaming about next year which will be at the Convention Center in Baltimore…Woohoo!!!

Having fun, fun, fun!!!

The fabulous, funny, talented Harlot & me

Waiting very patiently (1 1/2 hr wait) for a fabulous Italian dinner at Angelo’s. Yum!!!
My next post, I’ll show you what I bought at Stitches and a finished Smooch.

I’ll leave you with some pretty photos of the Maderas golf course in San Diego…


This was our view as we sat outside for lunch. Gorgeous!

Have a great one!

to sunny and beautiful San Diego.

Right now I’m on a layover in Atlanta Georgia. So I thought I’d catch up on visiting my favorite blogs & a quick post. I always look forward to this once a year trip to visit a very close friend. It brings back such fabuloius menories of when I used to live here. I will have lots of photos to show when I return…so be prepared.

I brought Smooch with me to finish. I will post as soon as she is done. I have 6 rows left to knit and then I start the armhole & neck shaping.

Have a great 2 weeks!

Now that I have finished Olive...I decided to try to put in the zipper myself. I got a comment from her and her about trying to sew the zipper in myself. They gave me the encouragement (” You can do it”) to try it. Thanks girls! Well…when I got out the zipper, it was way too long. I guess Olive is smaller than it was supposed to be. So off to the internet I went & ordered a couple 2 way zippers from Zippersource. So now I’m just simply waiting in the wings & hopefully one of the colors will match close enough to use. Here is a photo of Olive and Maya waiting patiently to be finished…

I tried her on and she fits really well and very fitted. I can’t wait to finish her up.

I decided that instead of starting a new project (which I always love to do) I have to finish some UFO’s. One of which is Rowans Smooch...

Her back was about 3/4 finished about a year ago. I finished the back and this is where I’m at on her front. I have 14 rows left to knit and then I start the armhole shaping. I decided to make the front
V neck higher up than what they call for.  1. I have no boobage, cleavage…whatever…you get the piucture.  2. I actually want to wear this top. I do try to knit things so that they fit and I will actually wear them. Here is a close up of the hem…

I really love Rowan’s patterns and they seem to fit me quite well. I am using Rowan’s All Seasons Cotton in Misty. This yarn is wonderful and I love knitting with it. I also am trying out my first pair of Inox needles and I have to say that I LOVE working with them. I am looking forward to using them for my next lace project.

I got a RAOK in the mail from Julie...

It’s a paper crane and is suppoesed to be for good luck. Thanks so much Julie.

We had knit night last night. What a great time…as always…

Heather, Donna, moi and Lauren (who left before we took thid picture…sorry L)
We dined on a fabulous Greek salad (thanks to Donna), Wonderful crusty bread with an olive oil & herb dip (Lauren’s doing), Yummy Pizza (Care of Heather) and wine (from moi) We also brought stash to trade with each other. I will miss my girls as I’m going on my yearly trip to San Diego & LA on Tuesday morning for 2 weeks. I am really looking forward to this trip, but I will miss my friends. I do have something to look forward to when I return though…STITCHES EAST!!! Donna, Heather & I are going on Thursday & coming back on Sunday. I can’t wait!!!! Now that is going to be a blast! Right girls?

Here is a photo of some Black Eyed Susans I will leave you with…

Have a fabulous sunny day!