Time For A Vacation

My daughter and her hubby invited me along as they take a trip to Disneyland with their two kiddos!

My first thought when I discovered we are driving is what a great amount of knitting time I'm going to have!

My grandson is 5 years old and quite interested in what's on my needles, so I decided to work on something that he can have when we get home.  I picked out Disney colors and have started this Disney blanket.  

I love this pattern from "Polly Mac" called "Points and Squares" where you begin with the center square and add colors until its as large as you want it.  I think it will be fun for Nathan to pick which color to use next, we can use it on the trip and then have it at their house after we get back!

So my knitting is ready, now I guess I better find some clothes to pack!

Happy Knitting!    Alison

That Was Close!

     I got up early this morning with one goal ... see if I finish the Ridgely Shawlette ... or run out of yarn!
     In Michelle's last post, she talked about using some of the yarn from the first skein to finish up with the second skein ... but I wanted to live dangerously and see how much I had!  As you can see from the picture, it was way close!
     I love my new shawlette!  Michelle said our next lesson this upcoming Thursday will be about blocking, but I'm going to start blocking mine today so I can get it in the shop.
    For those of you who are participating in this knit along, have you enjoyed it?  I thought her pattern was great and I love the size of the shawlette. 
     The few things that weren't my favorite were the yarn tangling, I never mastered her process of turning it always to the right.  The other thing that I wasn't a fan of was when I ignored her advice of using a "life line"... of course I didn't do that and so spent some time yesterday having to re-create after making a mistake in the striping sequence!  My own fault ... lesson learned!
     I'm off to the blocking board!
                    Happy Knitting!    Alison

Knit Along Progress...

     I finally had some time today to sit down and get caught up on my shawlette from the knit along!  The second installment has us knitting the center lace panel with only our main color .... yeah!
       In her first video help session, Michelle shows us how to keep our 3 skeins of yarn from tangling, but mine just kept on getting tangled! 
     I am having fun learning some new things and what a coincidence that my bag matches the colors of my shawlette!  Maybe I'll have to wear my shawl and carry my bag.... sooo matchy-matchy!
     I am now ready for part 3 which doesn't post until Thursday ... that means I have enough time to get into trouble with a different project!  My mind is racing!
     If you haven't started yet and want to knit along with us, it's not too late!  If you're keeping up ..... lets plan a day to all wear them together!
Happy Knitting!    Alison      

Knit Along Progress

     There's something new and exciting about knitting something that I have no idea how it should look!
      This is my progress on the Knit Along so far.  Just like Michelle says in her knitting video, I found the first couple of set up rows to be challenging, but once I got it established, I am knitting right along!
     I have found the video tutorial to be really helpful and it helped me understand what she was trying to teach.
     I am looking forward to next Thursday to see what is next, I have a few more rows to go on this homework, so here I go!
Happy Knitting!  Alison

My First Knit Along

     Last month we were notified about a new Knit Along that is being sponsored by Skacel (the company we get our Addi Turbo needles from).
     They have a new yarn out called "CoBaSi" that comes in such great colors!
The gal running the Knit Along is Michelle Hunter under her web site called "Knit Purl Hunter".  Suzette and I have met her when we've gone to the yarn market and used her "Building Blocks" book in the shop for a class.  I love how she teaches and her video lessons are wonderful!
     So today is the first day and she posted part 1 this morning.  I am excited to use my colors of blue and green!  The pattern is called "Ridgely" and its a summer shawlette ...  there is nothing like a new project!
     Each Thursday in April she will post a video lesson and the next part of the pattern to knit, what fun this will be!  There are even prizes involved!
     Stay tuned as I post pictures of my shawlette come to life!  If you've never done a Knit Along like me, come join the fun! 
Happy Knitting!    Alison

Summer Shawlette

     I did it!  I finished knitting and writing the pattern for my new "Summer Shawlette"  I have to admit, there have been a few days this past week that I didn't think it was going to happen!
     I am not usually a "ruffle" kinda gal, but this shawlette really needed a ruffle around the edge to finish it off, and I love how it turned out!
     I knit it out of our new yarn at the shop called "Antihue" and the fiber is cotton with viscose.... perfect for summer knitting!
     It will be my "Project of the Month" for April so you get my pattern for free as well as 20% off the yarn and needles!  It doesn't get any better than that!
     Stop by the shop and I'll even let you try it on!   Happy Knitting!   Alison

Project of the Month...

     I started doing a "Project of the Month" at the first of the year and it's been fun to see different versions of the projects as people knit them.  
     For the month of March, I designed a  felted bag using 3 different greens, and so far I've had someone knit it in different reds, one in pink, yellow and green and today we put together greys and black!  I love seeing different interpretations!
     I'm now working on April's project of the Month, can you guess what it will be?  A few hints ... it's using brand new yarn that comes in the greatest colorways!  It will all be knit in one piece with no finishing work, and it will be extra easy to knit!  Stay tuned .... I'll post a picture of the finished project the first of April!  The pattern will be free as well as a discount on the yarn and needle!  Yahoo!
     Until then, Happy Knitting!   Alison