Summer of Simple

This will be just a short blog post today because I've kept the knitting really REALLY simple this summer.  It's a really nice change from the intensity and stress of my Stampede projects, so it's really a much needed change of pace.

I knit another hat for the collection, bringing the total to 14 hats.

At this point I'm fairly certain I've got more than 18 hats in this ball.  This is what is left for the yarn after 14 hats.  Any guesses as to how many hats it has left in it?

Because I'm weird and I like rules- I've decided that there must be two identical hats in the collection.  So, I've been trying to make sure each hat has a match.  This hat was supposed to be a match to the double moss stitch hat I knit, but it actually ended up being the wrong stitch pattern.  (I worked from memory, apparently wrong.)  Oh well- now I've got another one to make plus another double moss one!  (At least there's enough yarn.)

Also moving along rather simply and beautifully on my pink scrappy blanket and whittling away at the scrap pile.

This is just so easy (besides the ends to weave in)- and it's fun to see the color progressions.  It's a 2 row pattern I'm not bored, I'm just really curious to see how it's going to look when it's all finished!

So far my "summer of simple" is going beautifully and I'm definately in a relaxed knitted state!

Ribbon Roundup

Well- the ribbons are collected and Stampede is over for another year.

I'm pleased with my placing this year.  2 first in categories and a second overall is nothing to be disappointed about.  But I am.  Please don't mistake this next part for my being ungrateful or being bitter at the winner (I am not)- but DAMMIT I want to win.  And so, because I'm really just a hyper competitive spirit disguised as your average every day mother, I'm already plotting, already researching and already trying to think what I can do to be first overall next year.  (So far I'm not getting very far... )  So, yes, brace yourself because I'm probably going to be obsessing for the next 11.5 months on what I'm going to do next year.  And after 7 (8?) years of blogging I think it's clear I'm FIRST OVERALL when it comes to obsessing over things.

While I plot my next big thing, I'm knitting little, simple things.

A child-less trip to Vail (for a wedding) over July 4 weekend meant that I brought the sock out of hiding and enjoyed having airplane time to knit.  This has got to be a record for the longest it's every taken me to finish a plain and simple sock!  (Started back in JANUARY!)

I also eked out another charity hat because these babies aren't going to knit themselves!

And, I finally got to cut my teeth on an easy project that would also address some of the sock yarn leftovers.  Mother in law encouraged me to just let the project flow and be organic and not worry so much about matchy-matchy stripes.  But on top of being obsessive, I'm also like things painfully symmetrical, so say hello to my newest little stash buster blanket....

Just 2 rows to remember and fingering weight yarn make this is an ideal project to knit over the summer.  Light and easy- a well deserved break from the agony I experienced with the mittens.

So stay tuned to see what else I'm whipping up and adding to the "finished" pile.

The Results Are In

For those of you who don't get the privilege to go to the Stampede grounds- I'm going to spoil you on the final results in the knitting.  If you don't want to know yet and want to be surprised.... skip this post until later.

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I had a very successful year this year!  2 red first place ribbons AND a second in section overall.

The mittens, after all the agonizing, showed very well and were selected as "second in section"- which means CASH PRIZE!

The blanket also placed first in it's category and also had a lovely red ribbon on them as well.

It appears that I was not the only one who thought about Calgary themed mittens this year, as I had some competition....

My Mother in Law also did very well- with a red ribbon for her socks too!  My pic is really awful but her socks were really beautiful.

The overall section winner is the same person from last year who designed another really lovely sweater.  (Great job Tamara!)

Even my little man seemed impressed with mommy's work this year....

We had a great time at Stampede this year and it does feel that all the project agony I experienced was well worth it.  We've been busy taking in parties and playing Cowboy dress up, so knitting progress hasn't really happened around here- but once this week is over, things will go back to normal and I fully intend to knit up a storm sitting out on my deck.  :-)

HAPPY STAMPEDE EVERYONE!