Summer's End

In a shocking twist... summer is ending.  DIDN'T IT JUST START?  And yet, here we are, exactly a week away from my baby (MY BABY!!!) starting kindergarten and me wondering how summer went by so quickly.  At least I have a lot to show for this summer's knitting. (Thanks crappy weather!)  So let's dive in- there's lot to see this week!

Firstly- the blankets are blocked... so let's show 'em off because I can finally count them as done!

Pattern: Baby Heart Blanket by Deborah O'Leary
Yarn: Lion Brand Pound of Love in "white" and "pastel pink" and Patons North American Solids in "pale grey mix".
Needles: US 8
Notes: It's a really great pattern that could be adapted a number of ways.  My only complaint is that this was maybe just a bit shorter than I wanted it.  The designer helpfully emailed me on Ravelry and told me that I could extend the grey sections which was a great idea.

It's really quite pretty and the pattern is very well written.  I'm not sure what to do with this right now, if I'll donate it to charity or keep it in my stock pile for the surprise babies that pop up from time to time.  (It happens!)  Either way it's a great stash buster and I still have a lot of acrylic stash to bust.

As if that wasn't enough great news... I have blanket #2 off the needles too... another stash buster! (SO MUCH ACRYLIC IN THE STASH!)

Pattern: Chevron Baby Blanket by Espace Tricot
Yarn: Red Heart Baby Steps in "baby pink" and "white" and purple and Teal of dubious origin
Needles: US 9
Notes: Another great pattern and bonus, it knits fast.  I added additional stitches (153 cast on) and knit the first and last 4 rows in garter stitch to prevent curling.

I really love how this turned out.  I only used what I had lying around and wow... is it cute.  I'm not sure I can part with this one for charity either.  (What is wrong with me?!)  I'll let these sit around for awhile and see how I feel after a bit of time and more acrylic blankets have passed.

Yes.  More acrylic blankets.  I've hardly dented the stash....

I have no idea why or how the stash got so big- but it's big and I want it gone.  So more acylic projects will be in our future.  (But lets admit it, if we can get past the acrylic-ness of the projects... these blankets look lovely!)

I finally, (FINALLY) got around to knitting some hats last week as I need to get 12 done.  I've decided to knit the adorable Cabled Teddy Hat pattern minus the ears, since the hospital's weirdo rules mean they would cut the ears off anyways.  (I guess not everyone sews in loose pieces within an inch of their life and baby's best interest should be at heart so I will comply.)

It's been awhile since I knit these so my sizing is a little off- but I think I know what I'm doing now so going forward there will be more consistent sizing in these things.  Maybe I'll knit one or two more this week.  (I've fallen asleep both nights after putting Parker to bed so maybe I need to stay up a little bit first!)

And lastly, as mentioned in my last post there was still more travel to be had, and I did just that by hopping on a plane for a childless weekend in New Haven/New York with my husband.  I packed along a sock with me to knit.  (I intended to knit a pattern but it became clear that it needs to be just a plain Jane sock... so I had to rip out a bit.)  I didn't make as much progress as I had intended... but a start is a start and there will still be some more travel this fall, so we'll see how this begins to take shape.

Also...

THIS HAPPENED and I was so excited about it that it was hard to concentrate on anything else, even knitting.  (IT. WAS. AMAZING. and EVERYTHING that people are so excited about.)

So there we have it- everything I did this summer and not really a specific plan for fall but there will be knitting, so don't you worry!  Blog posts should be more frequent and hopefully progress will also pick up as my child goes back to school.  (!!!!)

Vacation Sun Fun!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back!  We were down in Coronado/San Diego for a few days there basking in the California sun.  (SUN!  GLORIOUS SUN!  Sun has apparently foresaken Calgary...)  Sitting on the beach, watching the boys dig holes I got to pull out my knitting and work on the vacation sock.

(What a view!)

Like all vacations, this baby is also FINISHED.

Pattern: Hermoine's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder
Yarn: Koigu Painters Palette Premium Merino (KPPM) in "P444194"
Needles: US 1
Notes:  I've had this yarn in the stash FOREVER and it feels like I "did it right" by knitting it in this pattern.  The pattern seems to evenly varigate the color changes beautifully and overall I'm really pleased with the way this turned out.  Also- guys?  The eye of the partridge heel looks so great on these!

These socks are well travelled... showing up in Maui, Jasper, Coronach (Sask), Yorkton (Sask) and finally Coronado & San Diego.  The travel isn't over, just these socks... so I'll need to fire up a new travel sock to throw on the needles to take with me on my next adventure.

It wasn't all sock knitting on this holiday... there was a lot of other activity to be had.  I got very creative in the sand this time...

  

We fit in a lot of swimming.  (My kid is swimming/jumping/playing in the pool without water wings now!  I'm so proud of him!)

And we had all kinds of wild adventures in Legoland!

   

Vacation was a blast and a great chance to relax and get away.  BUT, it's also good to be home and to take stock on what needs to be worked on this fall.  I'm not sure what I'm going to knit next... but don't worry I'm sure the needles won't be empty for long.  Any guesses on what I start next?

Lazy Summer

Where'd you go?  I just slipped into a bit of oblivion this last week or two.. transitioning to the slower pace summer affords.  That's not to say things haven't been happening... it's just that I've been a bit lazy to address it.  Blogging seems less of a priority when the sun is shining and there's adventure to be had.

We've had a weird summer for us in Calgary so far.  Rain.  So much rain.  Sunny mornings with storms rolling in in the afternoon.  It's unusual.  We usually get 3 or 4 good thunder storms in a summer span.  This July we've had one nearly every day.  It puts a damper on enjoying the summer but I suppose as a knitter it also means I'm indoors more to get some knitting done.

The second scrappy blanket is coming along quickly.

  

I have two more sections to knit and then it will be done and then I'll block both blankets and put them in the finished pile.  I hope to have this blanket finished by the end of this week.  Neither of these two acrylic blankets I've knit have really dented the stash like I had hoped.  SO, I guess I'll keep knitting more.  It gives me a chance to knit the simple stuff and I must admit I'm sort of enjoying the ease of simple this summer.

Another quick trip to Saskatchewan, this time child-free, meant that I got to work on my travelling sock again and I've now reached the point where the end should come quickly...

I love having a quick sock on the go to grab, and as our summer vacation approaches I'm wondering if I should include another one or if I should finally get around to committing some time to the hats, which I have been conviently forgetting about.  

August posting will likely be sporadic.  There's a lot going on and at one point we'll be away for a bit.  Do not fret my lovely pets if you don't hear much from me... I'll be back in September with much to say and new projects to cast on and hopefully with some finished photos of stuff to show!  I'm NOT participating in the Ravellenic games this year.  I can't find myself mustering enough enthusiasm for the Olympics to even think about knitting on a deadline so I will cheer for those who are knitting from the sidelines.  (Go team Canada!)  For now I'm just going to let myself indulge in the laziness of summer and see what I can come up with.  (The weatherman is also promising less rain in August and so I'm hoping to capitalize more evenings OUTSIDE and less inside knitting.)

Hope your summers are feeling as lazy as mine is....