Latest Accomplishments and Delays

Still knitting for the Bernat yarn company! I'm really loving that gig. Every month, I choose a project and yarn, and they send me all I need to get it made. Then, I take lots of photos and write about the project on their website. The best part is that I get to keep everything I knit! Can't beat that. :D

Last month, I made some sweet dolls for charity. I donated them to a local support center for abused children called Treehouse Children's Advocacy Center. You can read about my project on the Bernat Blog here: http://bernatyarns.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/love-these-dolls-for-charity/



My mom has been watching my knitting projects as I talk about them on Facebook. And she keeps saying, "Oooo....I want one of those!" So, I'm trying to make a few things for her birthday.

Here's a market bag I've started for her:


And I've started work on two projects for customers.

A yellow & black afghan:


And a Christmas stocking:


I'm still at work on a "Oiseau" wrap for display at Yarnhouse Knits also. It is VERY slow work, with detailed stitching on every single row. Not a single row of "rest" in the entire project. I'm not sure WHEN that wrap will be completed.


At least I did finish ONE other project. Red slipper socks for my oldest son, just in time to celebrate his 25th birthday. :)


I think I might need another pair of hands to finish knitting all these projects!

Knitting Mags at Barnes & Noble

Every weekend (and sometimes during the week), my hubby and I will take a trip to Barnes and Noble bookstore. We both love to read. When we walk in, we are hand-in-hand, then we quickly lose track of each other. He heads off to look at the History and Military sections, Poker books, comic books, and magazines. I look through the clearance and discount section, then head over to the knitting magazines.

Pretty soon, we are both waiting in line at the Starbucks counter, ordering a drink so we can browse through the magazines together. We usually buy a big cookie to share, and sit down to talk about what we've found so far in the bookstore.

Tonight, my stack of magazines was about 6 inches thick, and included some art magazines as well. I've been interested in art for the longest time, but don't have time to pursue it.....at least I can see what others are doing with art. Maybe one day, I'll learn to paint.

After my perusal of the art magazines, I zeroed in on the knitting publications. NICE this month! I decided to purchase two European magazines, because the patterns and articles just stole my heart.

The Knitter, Issue 20


This issue has some SWEET patterns!

A precious doll, called "Prairie Poll"


A lovely, handcrafted pillow, called "Homestead"


And a nice, loose shrug that is the perfect style for my plus-size figure.
(And it has directions for my size! WOO HOO!!!)


Yarn Forward, Issue 28


SO MANY nice designs in this issue! LOVE IT!

The "Flirt Tee" is definitely my favorite, and it has directions for my size! :)


The "Belle Cardigan" is exactly my style, and once again in my size!!


I think my son will like the "Baltic Beach Hoodie"


And I plan on making the Japanese "Kokeshi Doll" for one of my piano students. She is originally from Japan.


I am so glad we went to the bookstore tonight! I would have hated missing these nice knitting magazines.