Alpacas Playing

We have been heavy on the knitting posts around here. So I thought I would throw in a little video of some alpacas playing. Taken a few weeks ago...but still cute.

And a picture from today of my little guys saying hello to the herd.

Have a great weekend! -Leanne

That's Garbage

Over the summer I have been using my reusable grocery bags on most of our outings. So on my last few trips to the grocery store I noticed I didn't have any clean reusable bags. The ones I had are filled with sand, toys, diapers or other misc items. So now I am left with a big pile of plastic bags, which my husband insists I just toss in the trash. But I refuse and insist I'll find a use for them.

A few people have asked me for spinning lessons and I haven't given any because I feel like I am still learning myself. But a light went off in my head that I could cut the plastic bags into strips and knit my own reusable bags. I discovered this is a fantastic way to practice spinning. So for anyone out there that is leery about wasting roving for their first attempts at spinning, give those plastic bags a second chance.

I can tell my clown fish was pleased with my recycling efforts. He swims next to me while I knit.

Happy Knitting,

Andee

Wednesday Yarn Along

Happy Wednesday! Once again, joining in on the yarn along fun, I bring you just a small sampling this week. I'm also adding some of my reading into the mix. I tend to forget that part of the yarn along. I had grand plans of reading a lot while I nursed the baby, so I stocked up on some books before his birth. Yeah....that's not happening the way I thought it would. I've read half of Shadow of the Wind, half of The School of Essential Ingredients and now I have Let the Whole World Spin and Secret Daughter on my nightstand. I'm managing fitting knitting in more than reading. I think the reading make my eyes tired. Maybe I'll make it a goal to read a bit this week. I love to read. It's one of my favorite things. Just need to make it a priority now with a little one in the house again.

Ok...so on to knitting! How I do love knitting. I've fit in A LOT of knitting time at football practice. My middle guy plays EVERY night of the week from 6-8 so I've been on a roll. I was able to get a huge chunk of stockinette stitch done on my Bluebell Sweater. I'm almost done with the body and will have to add sleeves and the button band. I'm excited about this sweater. Should be the perfect light cardigan for fall. Love the color of the yarn. Beautiful blend of blues and greens. Pretty stuff.

Bluebell Cardigan:

Ravelry Link:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leannecoppola/peasy

Potter's Booties:

Sending these out to a friend's new baby boy named Potter. Not sure where the name Potter came from, but I'm taking the Beatrix Potter angle and put some Potter buttons on them!
Anna, if you read this today, act surprised when the arrive!

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leannecoppola/saartjes-bootees-2

Andee's Legwarmers
Fantastic and Soft!!!


Mosey Legwarmers
Ravelry Link http://ravel.me/AndeeKF/m1

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Eco Duo
Craft: Knit
Needle: US 9 16" circular

Happy Knitting!!!
-Leanne

Sweater Weather

Just a quick post to say that it was just cool enough tonight at football practice to put Chase in his little green alpaca sweater...and I didn't feel like it was child abuse. I do love the summer, but "sweater weather" is my favorite. Especially when you can wear flip flops with jeans.

Football season is upon us. Bring out the handmade sweaters!

Happy Knitting
-Leanne

Pumpkin Blossom

Thursday Night Knitting

We had knitting club last night at my house.

Great company, wine, food, yarn piles, patterns being downloaded, yarn being wound, kids and babies all around. A good way to spend a Thursday night.

Quinn and her hand-dyed yarn (and one fancy band-aid)

Lizzie making cowls for farm day

Lizzie and Dalton having a laugh at a YouTube video

Shalom is blocked! Quinn's first sweater.


Knitted Gifts

We decided to knit each other a secret santa gift for the holidays. So in order to give ourselves enough time, we picked names out of a wine glass.
(I felt this was the most appropriate way to pick!)
I'm excited to find the perfect pattern for my pick. I wonder who got me??? Should I start sending pattern hints to everyone?

Picking names....


(I had to add this photo to the blog today. Tara looked mighty happy in the Wednesday post...which was totally fake. She hates knitting this scarf because the yarn is a pain in the you know what...this is a more appropriate picture of her. Gotta love her)

Wishing all a wonderful weekend!

Happy Knitting
-Leanne

Wednesday Yarn Along

Howdy.
It's Wednesday...and that means lots of knitting pictures for you all. Believe it or not, Sherman girls do work, have families and manage to keep our houses somewhat clean and our kids get fed. I have a feeling that if someone saw the amount of knitting we do in a week, they would doubt that any of that was true.

I realized this week that knitting keeps me sane. Within minutes of that thought, I received a text message from my dear friend, Tara...It said..."I hate knitting". Well, at least most of us around here love knitting. She's more of a crochet girl along with Lizzie. It's ok. I don't judge.

(Tara...clearly faking that smile while she knits)

SO onto the pictures of what we are working on.......

Andee's Projects and her notes....

Item #1-
Fisherman Cowl
yarn: Sublime baby cashmere merino silk dk
needle: US 6
Ravelry link http://ravel.me/AndeeKF/fc
I love this pattern it is so soft and squishy


Item #2-
Leg Warmers
yarn: Cascade Yarns Eco Duo (70% undyed baby alpaca / 30% undyed merino wool)
needle: US 5 circular
pattern: Mosey by Susan Powers
This yarn is wonderful. When these leg warmers are done they will have cables and pom poms, very exciting.



Item #3-
Melody Bear
yarn: Sierra Melody & Buffalo Gal, 10% synthetic cashmere
yarn processed by Autumn Mist Fiber Mill
Sierra Melody is one of Arrow Acres Alpacas. This yarn was processed by the farm she was purchased from last year.
pattern: Andee original (I still need to put it in writing)
Ravelry link http://ravel.me/AndeeKF/mb


Item #4-
Waterfall Cowl
yarn: Debbie Bliss alpaca silk
When I finished this my son told me it looked like a waterfall. I am hoping to find a nice fish clasp to pair with it. I am going to have to go do some fishing on Etsy.
Ravelry link http://ravel.me/AndeeKF/wc



Item #5-
New Spindle
I custom made this spindle the other night. I was looking for a way to handspin thinner yarn. I don't have a spinning wheel and I don't think it would be safe for me to have spinning wheel in my house (my sons are age 3 and 2). I have seen what they can do to my sisters spinning wheel so until they are older I will have to stick to spindles for making my yarn. I absolutely love this spindle. I have made the softest yarn with it and I can't wait to make more yarn. I will also make some more of these spindles and if anyone is interested in buying them I can put them on Etsy or sell them at Farm Day. I will also post a video of how it works.


Item #6-
Handspun Alpaca Yarn
I have spun some black alpaca yarn and some of Awan's (Arrow Acres Farm alpaca). I got a new Ashford niddy noddy. Now it I can just get a ball winder and swift I'll be set.




Item #7-
Melody and Bing Hat
Ravelry link http://ravel.me/AndeeKF/mbh
I finished this hat from last week. I didn't get a good picture of my kids wearing it. It is a silly hat. I love it.


I also made a large set of samples of different samples of stitches. I made 10" x 10" blocks of different patterns. So someday if we finally get knitting classes going I'll have samples of different techniques.


Leanne's Projects
I finished the pumpkin sweater for Chase. I just need a toggle. He modeled it here, clearly with plenty of room to grow. Should be a perfect fit for Fall.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leannecoppola/ribbed-baby-jacket

Funky Cowl

Making this out of yarn I scored at the sidewalk sale in Red Bank. Not my usual style, but I think it's going to be very cool....either that or it will look like something the cat threw up.

Sweet Pea Aran Pullover
Knitting this as a fall/winter sweater for Chase.
Yarn: Quince & Co. 'Lark'

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leannecoppola/aran-pullover


Liz's Projects

She's almost done with her beautiful shrug sweater. Here she is showing it off!!!


Wow....that post took me way longer than usual! Typing with a baby in your arms is tricky:)

I hope you have a great day and fit some knitting in!!!!

-Leanne