My Favorite

You know what my favorite part of Thanksgiving is?

Dessert!

Old Faithful

I love this sweater. I designed it right after learning about (and then having to own everything she has ever written) Elizabeth Zimmermann. It was my first lesson in steeking and I loved every second of the construction of this easy, dropped shoulder cabled design. I remember knitting it during the winter Olympics and it was cold and snowy outside.

I love this sweater. It is the warmest garment I own and I wear it all the time. I used to wear it all fancy smanshy with cool jeans, boots and a turtleneck.... then I lost a button and I would wear it over my jammies driving the kids to school, and around the house. As you can see... I also eat with it on (and.....from the looks of the poor dear, I am a messy eater) get the mail with it on, cook with it on.... you get the picture.

After my wonderful trip to Ireland and searching hi and low in Dublin for a shop that had yarn or those sweaters everyone has in their closet that smells like sheep that they don't wear, but their aunt's sister's cousin went and brought it back.... wait I'm getting off topic. Oh yes, I couldn't find a shop - the only thing I found was a store in the airport as we were leaving and the prices were crazy pants... plus, I could make one! Wait! I already have made one.... my lovely warmest sweater ever missing a button with kung pow chicken caked on the buttonband.

I am going to fix her up. Tighten up the neck and clean her.... find that button and sew it on....

I'll show you my tricks along the way.

Sidewalk Shawl

This summer I had the pleasure of designing for Debbie Stoller again. This time she requested a pineapple shawl - not too pointy - with really long fringe. The result is the Sidewalk shawl in the luscious Bamboo Ewe in Mercury.

I have to say that I'm not a fringe girl... but Debbie knows her stuff because this thing is so sassy, you can't help but feel New York Chick in this thing.

I was going away to Ireland last week and went to the stash to find I didn't have enough Bamboo Ewe (the horror), so I whipped one up in Dream in Color Classy in the color grey tabby. I made mine with an I hook and lots more fringe (so much for not being a fringe girl!).

Let's see how miss sassy sidewalk did in Ireland:

She was stunning over a chair

She really came in handy in the rain

She was uber-cool draped over my pocketbook in the Guinness Brewery

She was ready to keep we warm and vogue outside!

Want to know the coolest thing about her?...... the pattern is FREE!!

Perfect Time

I have just arrived home from a getaway trip with Mr. Fantastic. Can you guess where we went? Here are a few hints....

Crochet can get down and dirty with the common man and hang with pints...

Crochet can be fancy pants and chat over tea.....

It was a perfect trip!!!

Fourteen

Man, I'm lucky...

Still having fun and madly in love with my man!

Happy Anniversary Mac.

I love being your friend.

Forty And The 4 Letter Word That Begins With F

Well, here it is.... I am Forty and do you know how I feel?

same as yesterday.... a lucky girl with a great family.

And the other four letter F word?

Happy First Day of Fall!!

HUGE Month

September is always a big month for me, my children head back to school, scheduling starts and my birthday is in September. This year is a B I G one for me, and to be totally honest? I'm not liking it. I know it's just a number and I know you are as old as you feel, but the only thing I can think of when I think of this birthday is another word that starts with F!!

A bit of sweet news for me is that this month in my 40Th year..... my work appears in 3 different magazines and two different medias.

Let the self promotion begin!

In Crochet! magazine, my Circle Vest (for Caron International) is the Editor's Choice!! I crocheted this version while skiing in Vermont and staying with our good friends... Deanne that's you!

In Knit 'n Style magazine, my Ribbed Slit Shawl (for Coats & Clark) is my first published knitting design in a magazine. I have designed knit patterns for a long time... they are just starting to be published. The magazine has 7 pictures of the shawl- all different ways to wear the wrap.... I am blown away! Patty, I was making this at your house in January.

The last is not really IN the magazine, but it's in an add on the back cover. It's the sweater I did for Debbie Stoller and seems to be a big hit on Ravelry. I love this sweater and I designed it while on vacation in the Dominican Republic this year.

End Self Promotion - but I am smiling!