Gift for Baby S

I spent most of Friday doing the finishing work on this little cardigan for one of my newborn nieces, Baby S.

It is "Daisy" designed by Stephanie Pearl McPhee. The pattern is from Knitty, Summer 2003.

I'm glad I added the hood to the sweater. I grafted the top, rather than doing a 3 needle bind-off. I also added one embroidered daisy to the bottom of the back of the sweater. If I had it to do over again, I would have added more buttons and done a different type of buttonhole, something a little sturdier.
But overall, I am very happy with how the sweater turned out.

There's a Reason It's Called a "Retreat"

The Knitter's Review Retreat is exactly that. A weekend away from day to day life, a few days to forget your everyday worries. It's a chance to see old friends and make new ones. It's 2+ days of being immersed in your knitting and yarn and being surrounded by 90 other people who feel the exact same way.

It's also a time to add to your yarn supply. (Because we all need to add to our yarn supply!) We stayed at the Seven Hills Inn at Lenox, Massachusetts, a mere 1 hour drive from WEBS.

Want to see what I brought home with me?

From the Goodie Bag put together by Clara- (see the Lantern Moon Circulars at the bottom of the picture?)
From the Stash Table (Tables - 3 large ones) is a better description!
More to come in the next post!

Starting to Pack

I went through my stash this morning to find items to add to the swap table at the Retreat. I filled this bag. Wonder if it will be filled with new items for the trip home?

Early Christmas Present

From my husband to me. Isn't he a sweetie? He gave it to me early to use for my trip to the Knitter's Review Retreat. It's the Swift bag.

Christmas Knitters

What every Christmas Knitter needs! Holiday knitting stamps from the US Post Office.

Stitches East- Belated

I made a 1 1/2 hour run through the market on Sunday (October 14) . I convinced my husband to stop on the way from our home in the Philadelphia area to his parents' house in Alexandria, VA. Little did we know the Ravens would be playing at home and parking would be such a nightmare!
But I grapped some Koigu KPPM from Mannings to knit the "Chevron Scarf" from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I also bought 2 skeins of red cashmere from Hunt Valley Cashmere, part of a kit for another scarf. I picked up Addi Lace needles in the size I needed for the cashmere in case I wanted to start knitting at my in-laws. (I forgot I needed to wash the cashmere first.) I didn't even look at Webs - I hope to visit the store when I am at the Knitter's Review Retreat in a few weeks!

Sunday morning is a good time to shop at Stitches. There were very few people in the market, making it possible to see, touch, and buy everything I wanted/needed in short order without alot of frustration.

Yes, I Have Squeezed in Some Knitting

What with work, school, tests, and clinicals, I have still managed to find some time to knit. Usually, it is when I am in a zombie state, so the knitting is not complicated. I have been working on making a pair of Jane's Hedgerow socks, except I discovered last night that I misread the pattern and the ribbing pattern I have been knitting is not as directed in the pattern. But the results are still very pretty, so I will stick with my "mistake" throughout the socks.

I finished the socks for my daughter's 21st birthday.

She likes ankle length socks, so they are a quick knit. The yarn is a hand dye I bought from Ellen's Half Pint Farm at Camp Stitches a few years ago. The pattern is Fancy Silk Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks.

I did get a chance to cruise through the marketplace at Stitches East (in Baltimore) last Sunday. Bought a few things, some cashmere and Koigu to make the Chevron scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

I have also been looking around the Ravelry website. Haven't had a chance to post my WIP's or finished objects, but have set up the necessary Flickr account and joined a few groups. I need more time and alot more energy to accomplish what I want for my account there.

I Just Got an Invitation!

I found it in my inbox when I decided to get up in the middle of this night (morning). Spent the next hour and half playing around on Ravelry
Time to go back to bed!
Look me up - I am CPAknit.

Taking the Plunge

I just signed up for the "Seasons Yarn Club" of Sundara Yarn. I have never gotten involved with such a venture, but my good friend Tanya suggested that buying yarn would be an excellent way to celebrate yesterday's good news, and I thought it was a lovely excuse. I have bought sock yarn from Sundara in the past, and it usually is a matter of knowing exactly when she is going to make her beautiful hand dyed yarn available on her website and be on the site within minutes of the starting time. If I am a little late, I find everything sold out.

Now I am guaranteed delivery of specific yarns at specific times, and I was able to pick a color scheme (spring, summer, winter, fall).

Take a look at the website and check out what is offered. I don't think you will be disappointed!

Now, to get some studying done in order to find time to knit!

I am a Proud Mother!

Why have a blog if you can't use it to announce your child's achievements?

My daughter just found out that she passed the Bar Exam in Delaware! On her first try! Delaware is one of the hardest bar exams to pass (along with NY and California).

Congratulations, sweetie.

Countdown to Ravelry

5657 invites before they get to me! On Saturday, the number of people ahead of me on Ravelry was 8000+. Looks like the invites are going out at about 1,000 per day. That means I should be getting mine on Sunday/Monday.
Better go get my studying done!!!!

KR Webring

My blog was officially accepted into the Knitter's Review Webring. This Webring is not run by KR, but includes the blogs of members who belong to the KR forum. Click on the link >>>>>>>> (to the right) on my blog for more blogs and check out the forum for knitting help and friends.

This is a Test!

And there's alot of studying to go along with it. The nursing program is a very busy one, with lots of instruction and simulation and LOTS of reading. I don't mind at all and find most of the reading fascinating.
My husband and I drove to Pittsburgh last weekend to celebrate my youngest daughter's 21st birthday. Her actual b-day is this weekend, but apparently it isn't cool to have your mom go with you on your first official bar crawl. Hey, when did that happen?

Stethoscope Sock

Stethoscopes all look the same. Some have different color tubing, but these choices are limited. So, in the clinical setting, you need to somehow mark your own stethoscope in a way to make it stand out. Why not knit it a little sock? It will stay on, but is easily removable to wash.

Using sock yarn and size 2 DPN's, I cast on 12 stitches (the circumference of the scope, including the tubing is 1 and1/4 inches, I was aiming for 1 and 1/2 inches) and join in the round, being careful not to twist. For this little cover, work the first 5 rows in a seed stitch, work 10 rows in stockinette stitch, another 5 rows in seed stitch, then 10 rows in stockinette stitch, and end with 5 rows of seed stitch. Bind off while working the last row. The finished length is 3 and 1/4 inch. I am not sure of the amount of yarn used, I will measure for it soon and edit this post, but it's just a small amount of scrap sock yarn.

Now you have something to make with all of those little balls of leftover sock yarn. It will make a thoughtful gift for someone you love who uses a stethoscope!

First Day at the Hospital

Tomorrow is my first day in nursing clinical. The clinical is the practice we do on real patients! I need to report at 6:45 am in the lobby of the hospital. Tomorrow will be an orientation day only. I worked in an ICU for about 3 years as a unit clerk 30 years ago, but some of my fellow students have absolutely no experience around hospitals and are scared to death! So, if you live or visit the Philadelphia area within the next few months, please do your very best not to end up in a local hospital!(Thanks to free-clip-art.com for the clip art.)

I Can Go!

The nursing instructor gave us the clinical dates on Wednesday night, and I am NOT scheduled the weekend of the KR Retreat!

Now, what knitting projects do I plan on completing for the Friday night Show and Tell?

(Thanks to free-clip-art.com for the clip art.)

Ravelry

Why oh why didn't I sign up when Tanya first mentioned it? Or when Jane listed the link on her blog? (Oh that's right, I was studying and ignoring my knitting life!)

Now I am way back of the line. There are 16,257 people who will get invites ahead of me. The only people I feel more sorry for are the 2,243 people who will have to wait longer than me. (And the number is getting bigger everyday.)

Hopefully the floodgates will be opening soon as the website will be taken out of beta. Then, about 5,000 invites a week are expected to go out. That means I should be able to get on the site sometime in late September?

I want my oompa loompa, and I want it NOW!

(Unbelievable, I had left a post on the ravelry blog just a few minutes ago, asking for any little bit of update info for us starving people in line, and Casey already responded to me via email!)

Ready to be Wrapped

With tissue paper and pretty baby wrapping paper!

Crochet is Complete!

The "Heirloom Baby Blanket" is in the hand wash as I write this post. The pattern came from the premiere issue of "crochet today"

I was given a free copy of this magazine at Stitches East 2006. My friend Tanya had made the blanket the previous summer, and I loved it from the start. The fact that the pattern was thrust into my hands for free was a sign that this project had to go on my "to do" list. I waited (with my fingers crossed) to find out if my niece was having a baby girl as this lacy number is very feminine. Then I rushed to my LYS to buy the yarn. I decided on Plymouth Encore DK in a ballerina pink. I am a believer in using yarn that is machine washable when making something for little ones. I wouldn't want to add "hand wash only" responsibilities to a busy new mom's life.

I will post pictures after the shower on Sunday.

Knitting Retreat 2007

Will I be able to go? I hope to find out next week.
I received the email from Clara about this fall's KR retreat last week while on vacation. The information on the retreat can be found here.
I have been able to get away to the retreat for the last 3 years and have always enjoyed the weekend with fellow knitters and KR members
Nursing school may interfere this year. I have clinical (training in the hospital) every OTHER weekend this semester. As of yet, I don't know if my training weekend will be the same as the retreat weekend. Hopefully I will know soon. Classes start Monday (August 27).


Until then I will dream of the Berkshires and the Seven Hills Inn.