Mardi Gras

The gator is ready...


The beignets and cafe au lait awaits....


Happy Fat Tuesday everyone!!!

It looked simple enough.

I was surfing the blogs after I finished the Olympic hat and came across Behind the Times KAL. I viewed numerous Clapotis that were beautiful. I went out shopping for inexpensive yarns that would become my next project. I wanted something that would be variegated as these seemed to really look good in this pattern. I purchased the following:
My 4 year old picked it out for Gramma cause she loves purple. Right by this color was Caron Simply Soft in yummy summer colors for $3 per 12 oz. skein. Cool, I decided to "practice" this pattern with "Papaya" Simply Soft yarn first. I'm about halfway through the Clapotis and I hate it. Maybe I hate it because I got used to fast, simple, hat projects. This pattern seems to go nowhere. I guess I didn't contemplate how long 359 rows would take me. I'm going to try to give it until I run out of yarn to see if it may look better the further along I continue.

Maybe the crochet hooks will surface for Gramma's wrap/shawl as I would like to complete her project by the time she visits for Easter.

I'm officially an observer.

I finished the hat I decided to knit for the Olympics. I don't think I'd get any medals for this one. I'm happy I was able to follow the pattern, start and finish it in a short amount of time, and it looks like a hat. For all those still in the beginning phases of your project-keep stitching, you can do it!!

A map for my yarn habit.

This website I found is just what I need for my RV adventure. Check it out. It lists over 1100 yarn shops across the US. I'm so ready.

There is a convention for knitting and yarn addicts. Stitches Midwest 2006 (Aug-10 to Aug-13 in Rosemont, IL) This is the one closest to me, they have 3 more locations around the US too. I don't think the husband was impressed by this when I told him about it. I think it's fantastic. Vendors with yarns from around the world all in one place, how can I possibly pass this one up?

We headed into Chicago for the day today. It's great having a big city an hour away. We made our yearly trek to the Chicago Auto Show. It's cool to sit in the new cars and see the concept vehicles. The kids were entertained by crawling in and out of the cars. I picked up free tickets at the local Toyota dealer so that was a bonus. Then we headed over to the Shedd Aquarium. They were having their free admission day so that was great. It was so nice and quiet on the way home with two very tired boys from an awesome day of big city adventure.

Go team go.

Practice.

I finished the purple cable band hat last night. Of course I didn't follow the pattern correctly so the decreases at the top look funky but it fits. That's a step in the right direction. I started on another hat pattern. A cable/rib hat.

Fun stuff.

Simple things are much more enjoyable than they used to be. We adventured out Saturday morning to go roller skating. It was a blast. I think we (the parents) had a better time than the kids.
I started another knitted hat Friday afternoon and am hoping to finish it up in the next couple of days.

If the hat doesn't fit, you must not quit.

I've been a little distracted from the knitting projects this week after working 2 night shifts. I was determined to try knitting in the round. It took me about 4 cast ons but I think I figured it out. I found the pattern here. The yarn is from my scrap pile but as my oldest son observed, it looks like Gryffindor colors. I think it's more USC colors but that's my California longing kicking in.

I finished it up last night.

Lesson learned:
1. Don't attempt to make a wearable item from a pattern without a gauge listed.
That's ok though. I was able to practice DPN knitting, increases, and decreases and I have another item to donate to charity.
I signed up with the Sexy Knitters Club yesterday. They only have a month left to their first project,Picovoli but I may order yarn for it and try my hand at my first shirt.