Major Knitter

Purple Passion

I've decided to return to Lolly's Project Spectrum on my own terms.  I've been feeling very purply this holiday, so I decided to share some of my purple passion with you

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You can probably pick out the theme to my purple this holiday break.  The boys weren't here.  When BF and I weren't busy with our Culinary Capers or with our Big Caper of the Year, I was busy preparing for the Big Event.  I stopped by the Great American Stamp Store in Westport and got drawn into Judy's magic and charm.  She helped me get started in the right direction to make the lovely purple invitations (and I might have to start making stationery, invitations, gift tags, project labels, ornaments, holiday cards and more).  I also did a wee bit of knitting (but not that much).  I made a trial batch of these famous Midwest Cream Cheese Mints.  It was a very good holiday.  Relaxing.  Productive.  Romantic.  Adventurous.  Peaceful.  Lovely.  I hope you had a very great holiday season.

Red, She Said

When Lolly speaks, people listen.  June kicks off Red, Black and Metallic for Project Spectrum.  I decided that was all the incentive I needed to dig my red UFO socks out of the stash

These are the Almost Argyle socks I started last summer.  I got bored with them so stopped at the heel flaps.  I do like red, and I like the sock pattern, so I guess it's time to work on these.  I haven't forgotten the lilac socks I cast on this weekend, just distracted by this bright shiny object at the moment.  I have no problem knitting many socks at once.  I just have trouble finishing them.  Hahaha.

Project Spectrum Bouquet

Thanks Lolly!  You've given me the perfect excuse to buy some flowers.  Although I rarely need one, look how cheerful these tulips are on a rainy New England day in this month's combination of colors for Project Spectrum.

Separately, I wanted to thank everyone for their kind wishes for my 3rd Blogiversary.  It's been such a great part of my life.  I can barely remember my life before blogging!

Project Spectrum 2.0 - Blue, White & Gray

February 1st is finally here.  I've been waiting for this day for a few weeks ever since Lolly announced that she would be reviving her wildly popular Project Spectrum 2.0 for yet another year.  February and March are home to some of my very favorite colors - blue, white and gray.  In fact, I found this Knit Picks Simple Stripes sock yarn in my stash and have quickly knit up nearly an entire pair of socks.  This yarn doesn't appear to be in production anymore.  I bought it a few years ago and to be quite honest, it is a bit itchy, so it's no wonder I couldn't find it on the Knit Picks website to share the link with you.  Well, it makes a splendid pattern, even if it comes at the price of a little itch here and there.

OK - I may have started knitting these socks while watching the latest Ralph Fiennes DVD in the Netflix cue yesterday.  I cast on 56 sts on a US size 1 needle following the "Starter Stockinette" pattern in Knit Socks! by Betsy Lee McCarthy.  I'm knitting the socks on my 40" Turbo Addis using the Magic Loop method (an adaptation to Betsy's sock pattern) and the stitches are flying off the needles.

Natural Knitter

Today Bethany and I decided to watch Love Actually. 

It was so cute, that we watched it twice, actually.  While we were watching and watching again, we were both knitting up a storm.  I taught Bethany how to knit  (garter stitch) and also how to purl.  Here's her progess.  I swear she's a natural knitter.

While she was knitting her swatch, I decided to knit up my new Yosemite yarn that arrived from Gail Knits in Las Vegas.  I'm going to make a short waisted jacket for myself.

Yeah, I know.  My Knitting ADD is acting up.  I have the Gorgonian Shawl, BF Sweater, the Crayons and Chalkboard vest plus the newest socks to finish before I start anything new.  But you know how it is when the new shipment of yarn arrives and just begs you to knit up a swatch.  Before you know it that swatch grows into an adult size sweater and it simply must be knit.  In fact, the yarn demands to be knit.  How could I resist?

Nothing but Neutral in August

Lolly has deemed that August is the month of neutrality.  In honor of Project Spectrum, I'm knitting up the Koigu for a pair of K2,P2 cable ribbed socks.  I took them with me on a tour of Grand Central last night. 

What - you don't recognize this as being part of Grand Central?  That's because I'm on the 4th floor of this walkway way up here. 

Cool isn't it?  Angel arranged this grand tour in honor of BF's birthday.  It was so amazing.  We really couldn't see the behind the scenes wonders of Grand Central because of security measures, but we saw many of the joys of this New York City landmark and learned lots of history and trivia.  For example, did you know that the light fixtures are made out of solid 18K gold?  They had to be shipped via train to Iowa to be cleaned and restored.  (Gotta love my fellow trustworthy Iowans!)

I can't even begin to relay all the wonderful knowledge we gained from our little walking tour, but I can tell you that it was unforgettable.  Thanks Angel!

Oops!  I guess I missed that memo about neutral colors.  Well, a girl's gotta wear red every once in awhile, doesn't she?  Angel called this my Jessica Rabbit look.  I'll take that.

Purple, Lilac and Lavendar

It's July and you know what that means, don't you?  It's all about purple - all the time.  Project Spectrum's color of the month, happens to be one of my favorite colors.  I just happened to have some purple Red Heart yarn and decided it was time to do my second test of the American Girl Doll Ribbed Cardigan.  So I got out my US Size 7 circular needles and dpns. 

I started with my notes for the pattern.  They're somewhat unintelligible to the untrained eye.

With supplies at the ready, I began to knit at 8:45 in the morning.

By the end of SNL, I had only finished one third of the sweater.  This is the body of the sweater.  I'm just at the point where I'll separate the sweater into the left front, back and right front and knit up to the shoulders.

By 11:45 p.m., My AGD had a new purple Ribbed Cardigan to show for all my efforts.  I was pleased with the accuracy of the pattern, now I just need to get it committed to paper (or rather RAM).

And to start July off right, Regina brought me a pair of purple earrings that she made just for me.

These are my favorite earrings.  They're purple, dangly, and made by Regina Moss.  What could be better?

Blue Baby Blue!

I finished the Blue Mistake Rib Scarf and decided to photograph it poolside with my blue batik pareo.  Now I just need to block it and mail it off to London.  I ended up only needing three skeins of the Rowan Summer Tweed.  It's plenty long enough like this.  Whew!  I actually finished a project.  Yippy!

Yummy for My Tummy and Soothing for My Soul

Jane is the best knitting pal ever.  She and I were Project Spectrum Postcard Pals for April.  But now we're much more than that.  We're great buddies.  Look what she put in the post for me.

Look!  Two chocolate bars, one yummy candy stick, one origami crane, one lovely green scented candle, one FRIENDS 2006 Scouting Patch and a Mini Cooper key chain.  It's just wonderful and made my day.  The best part is the last line on the card.  Since you can't read the card because of the glare from my camera, I'll print it here...

THE WONDERFUL GIRL

isn't she wonderful?

yes she really is!

This is a picture of the Wonderful Girl.  She is beautiful and STRONG and soft all at the same time.

Everyone who meets her LOVES her and she spreads HAPPINESS wherever she goes.

She is not even frightened of SPIDERS.

You've got to love any woman who knits, blogs, loves chocolate and is a scout leader.  Am I talking about myself or Jane?  I honestly don't know sometimes.  But one thing is true... I really am brave around arachnids.  It's a known fact.  I even saved the entire household from a tarantula when I lived in the Mojave Desert.  True Story!

I'm certain that my friendship with Jane will continue long after Project Spectrum has faded.  Now I'm just waiting for Jane to come to NYC and stay with me in Connecticut.  You will come, won't you Jane?

In Just Under The Wire

I got my Project Spectrum GREEN card from Amanda last week.  It's so creative.  I just love this pal exchange!

This is what I sent to her.  I found the green card with coins in Toronto's Chinatown when I was there in April.  Yes... I was thinking so far ahead that I bought this card in April, only to wait until May 31st to actually mail it.  I also made one of my Knit Notes for Amanda in green, of course.

See that cute little sheep on the back of the envelope knitting something in green?  I bought that stamp at the Great American Stamp Store (GASS).  Isn't it cute?  I've heard many hobbyists will tell their hubbies "I'm going to get GASS" which is fine as long as they remember to fill up the gas tank, too.

On The Road AGAIN!

Cris and I went to Toronto's Chinatown and in honor of Project Spectrum, I purchased this cute little plastic orange ring.

Here I am en route from Toronto to Rochester, NY.  Driving, driving, driving.  I got stopped at the border.  When the immigration official asked me where I was born, I said "Iowa".  He then informed me that the computer selected me for a random-vehicle search.  I'm not sure if he just wanted to check out the cool Mini Cooper or if it was because I was born in Iowa.  Hmmmmm.  Curious.  Very curious.

Orange You Just a Little Bit Jealous?

Today was 72 degrees in Westport, Connecticut.  BF and I went for a sun drenched walk to the beach.  For those of you not familiar with Westport, we're on the Long Island Sound.  BF and I live just under 1.5 miles from Compo Beach, so we try to take a regular walk there.  It's great exercise.  The only down side is that we usually end up at Joey's By The Shore.  Which is a good thing.  But they have really good ice cream.  So that's not such a good thing for those of us with zero will power.  After our walk, we came home to the hot tub.  Can you believe it?  We were in the pool before tax day.  Woohoo!

   

An in honor of Project Spectrum, we bought orange lounge chairs.  No, not really.  We've always had them.  But they sure do feel cheery in April.  If it stays sunny on Saturday morning, I'll be hosting Saturday kNit Live poolside.  C'mon ladies.  Bring your swimsuits and knitting!  Spring is here.

More Project Spectrum Flowers

We had friends over for dinner and they brought these Gerber daisies for us.  I actually had an orange vase to put them in.  Do you think our friends knew about Project Spectrum?