Yarn Along-Vacation Style

I am very, very, very lucky to live by the beach. I never have a day where I'm not thankful that a trip to the beach consists of a five minute ride and a beach full of friends.

But it is nice to get away. Between the baseball schedule and work, we were able to get a few days away at my inlaws house (who also live at the beach) It's a great get away and the kids love it down there. So I of course took my knitting and reading with me and got a lot done while away.

I finished up another Outlander Cowl. I'm obsessed, I know.

My sister, Andee (AndeeKF on Ravelry) designed it and I'm making them as fast as I can to sell at the farm this fall and winter. This one was done with gray alpaca yarn.

Finished up this book. Hands down, one of the most well written, laugh out loud, make you cry, can't put it down for a second book that I have read in a long time. I loved it. It's going to be a movie and it's going to be awesome. Can't imagine it being bad!

 

My inlaws live next to Atlantic City. My husband and I got away one night just the two of us and stayed at the Revel. I spent a little time in the morning knitting on the deck. I totally didn't fit in!!! But who cares!!!!???!!! I also realize that I stink at having time to myself.

I feel guilty at all times and don't know how to relax and enjoy if I don't have a little person asking me to make them food. Pathetic. But we did have a nice time.

We took a day trip to Cape May to visit the zoo and the town.

I picked up a new book...I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

and I spotted a yarn store! Had to stop in. Bought yarn from a local farm.

 

BIG NEWS FOR MY SISTER, ANDEE!!!!....

For the yarn festival junkies out there, Miss Babs will be selling Andee's pattern of the Standing Stones Cowl at her booth now! She'll have one knitted up on display. How cool is that?!?!?!?!?

So exciting!

Joining in with Ginny for the Yarn Along.

Have a great week. Stay Cool!

Goldfinch Cardigan Yarn Along

Happy Wednesday! It's Yarn Along Day.

A day to share what you're knitting and reading these days.

I am still knitting away on my Goldfinch Cardigan.

The pattern is the Channel Cardigan by Jared Flood.

I have started the body and worked all the waist decreases and added the yarn overs for the belt loops.

Time to separate for the fronts and back. Interesting construction and a pleasure to knit.

I started listening to Sycamore Row by John Grisham on the Kindle.

I don't know why I try to listen. It's impossible. I need to read.

But I had a free audio book on the Kindle as a promotion so I tried. Nope.

Maybe some day I can listen but not with all these little people in my house.

Think I'll have to check out the library for a good book. Any recommendations?

Just read The Goldfinch (hence the name of my cardigan)

Our farm is open today, Wednesday March 5th. 

Stop on by for some yarn, socks, gloves, hats, and all alpaca goodness!!!!

Happy Knitting!

Joining in with Ginny for the Yarn Along

Following My Own Arrow

I have often watched big rock stars on stage
(Tim McGraw, Bruce Springsteen...you know the type...)
and wonder how amazing it must feel to see a sea of people singing your songs,

waving their hands, happy all because of your music.

It must be amazing.

I've tried to not "follow" what others have done. Ok, maybe when I was younger I foolishly did.

But as an adult, I've embraced my nerdy side and I do what I like without worrying if people think it's weird. AKA knitting, farmy stuff and the like.

Guess what? I found out that people like you for who you are and if they don't like you,

who cares. Let them move on. Not everyone enjoys what you do and vice versa. And that's ok by me.

But sometimes it's really fun to follow the crowd.

Follow what others are doing. To be a part of something.
To look forward to something. And to take some chances.

Ok...so what do Tim McGraw and this rambling about following the crowd have it common?

My participation in Ysolda Teague's Follow Your Arrow Mystery Knit Along.

I am joining up with over 1,200 other knitting enthusiasts to knit a "choose your own adventure" shawl over the next 5 weeks. 1 clue, once a week, 2 options every week.

Can you feel the excitement?!! I know...I already told you that I am a dork.

So, Ysolda Teague....I don't know you but you must feel like a rock star right now.

To know that so many knitters were checking their emails this morning to see if the first clue had arrived. Printing out patterns, reading them over, making a choice, casting on....seeing it happen.

Must be pretty cool to be her right now. She's a rock star knitter.

I don't write patterns. Well, not yet. But my sister does and she's darn good at it.

Maybe some day she'll be the rock star knitter.

And it's $5 a knitter for this KAL. So, a rock star knitter that makes lots of money.

Money for more yarn I would guess :)

I'll keep you updated on my progress.

For now, here is my beginning without spoiling anything for other knitters.

Happy Knitting Folks.

Yarn Along

Happy New Year to my fellow yarn alongers.

Is that a word? Well, you know who I mean.

Anyhoo....

I've been a busy bee lately. Knitting for fun.

For me.

Selfish knitting :)

Well, at least for a little while.

My parents gave me this beautiful green alpaca coat for Christmas

and OF COURSE it needed a new scarf!

With the farm being named, Arrow Acres Farm, 

I thought an arrow scarf was the perfect thing.

Knit with fingering weight yarn held together, voila.

A fun scarf.

 

I have a customer request for a hand knit blanket.

It will be gift for her granddaughter's Christening in February.

I have my work cut out!!!

 

I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited for my up coming class with

MARY JANE MUCKLESTONE at Vogue Live NYC next week!!!!!

My cousin and I are all signed up for her 2 part Fair Isle class.

CAN'T WAIT!!!!

So, during the snow this past weekend I thought I would brush up

on my fair isle and practice while also making a gift for

my little nephew-to-be.

These booties seemed perfect.

Cute and tiny and might fit for a week, but I couldn't resist.

A hat to match seemed called for. Again, this boy is due early April,

so might not need a hat for long so it's tiny too :)

Lizzie, if you're reading this, act surprised.

 

And that grey blanket in the background?

Finished that up too. I LOVE this blanket so much.

 

In anticipation of the Follow Your Arrow Mystery KAL,

I bought some beautiful Tosh Light Yarn....thank you to my husband

for the gift certificate! I am really looking forward to this KAL.

I have never done a mystery one and I love that it seems like Choose Your Own Adventure books.

My cousin and I are ready for our Fair Isle class...

We were told to bring a few colors of 2 ply wool to experiment different color combos

for the Vogue Live class. My cousin bought all this fabulous yarn and we spent

some time splitting in in half. I think we're ready!

Ravelry Links:

Arrow Scarf

White Baby Blanket

Peerie Weerie Booties and Hat

Grey Blanket

Mystery KAL

On the reading front....

I am currently reading The Book Thief.

Although with all this knitting it's hard to read. 

Joining in with Ginny again this week.

And hop over to my sister, Andee's blog to see her new design.

I am currently working on designing the pdf of the pattern so it

should be released and ready for sale within a day or two.

It's beautiful!!!

 I am giving knitting lessons starting Friday at the farm.

If you are interested in signing up let me know!

We have a lot of fun :)

Guernsey Wrap Is Done!

Fresh off my needles...

The Guernsey Wrap, a Jared Flood patten.
Knitted with Queensland Collection Rustic Tweed Yarn

A blend of wool, alpaca and Donegal (what ever that is!)

It's a pretty pumpkin brownish color. Light drapey fabric when blocked and I can't wait to wear it.

A joy to knit. Easy and kept my attention.

Ravelry Notes Here: Guernsey Wrap

And since I'm talking about  Jared Flood pattern here,

did you all see the new look book for Brooklyn Tweed, Wool People v.6??!!! Beautiful!!!!!!!

Want to knit it all. I especially love the Tree Rings blanket.

I sense a knit-a-long. Anyone in????

Still reading The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, and I love it. Just wish I had more time to read.

Joining in with the yarn along over at Ginny's.

Happy Knitting!

Fair-ly Obsessed

I have always like fair-isle. The way it looks...the fun of using different colors...the freedom to change a design every few rows...what ever you're in the mood for...and the "classic" look that it has.

After meeting Mary Jane Mucklestone at Rhinebeck, my obsession grew.

I am on a roll....can't be stopped!

Here are the latest creations of my needles.

I used a blend of handspun yarn by my mom (the dark blue), alpaca yarn, wool,

some left over Shelter yarn, some Spud and Chloe...all good stash busters.

Garrett and Chase helped me out with the modeling :)

Most of the patterns are from this book by Mary Jane Mucklestone.

200 Fair Isle Motifs: A Knitter's Directory

Mostly, I just do what ever I am feeling at the time.

But sometimes I use a larger pattern like this hat...

The dark blue is handspun by my mom. The pink is a left over wool in the stash and the light blue is from our alpaca, Tsunami blended with blue merino.

This hat is a toddler size.

 

All of the hats are on sale at the farm store.

On to more knitting!!!!

Joining in with Ginny and the yarn along folks :)

Also wishing Ginny good luck with the new baby that should be arriving soon!

Happy Knitting.

Yarn Along

Happy Wednesday.

It's yarn along day again and I'm joining in with Ginny at Small Things.

I just started reading Cutting for Stone. It was recommended to me and I chose it for my book club.

I've been a busy bee knitting for our upcoming busy season at the farm.

I am enjoying mindless knitting. It's fun to just knit what ever you like, regardless of who it is for, girl, boy, adult, baby...just fun.

So here goes....my most recent knits.

A sweet baby bonnet. 

This is clearly for a smaller baby than Chase and probably much more suited for a girl. Wouldn't it be adorable on a chubby cheeked little girl? Knitted with Cascade Alpaca. So soft.

Ravelry notes here

 He's not a fan of hats...AT ALL. So I tried my best to take some quick shots of him.

 I think I insulted him by making him wear a  "baby" hat.

Another little baby hat, more for a 6 month old. Knitted with yarn from our alpacas.

 And it's off.....

Baby hat knitted with eco baby alpaca yarn. Casted on 66

Would fit a 6-9 month old well.

 This one is off too....

My very pregnant sister, Liz, requested a soft little baby alpaca hat for her baby boy.

I made this same hat for Chase but in different yarn. It's a simple 5 cable hat. 

Ravelry notes here

Now onto a little girl sweater. With a house full of boys and all little nephews, I don't get to knit many sweet girl things. So I'm making this cap sleeve cardigan to sell at the farm. I'll add my own details to make it my own. LOVE it.

Ravelry Notes here

That's it for now.

Happy Knitting!

-Leanne

Well that is the End of That

On Friday at 10:22 am Leanne discovered she can no longer knit with Chase on her lap.