Purls and Pugs

Modeled knits

I am going to make a better effort to take some modeled pics of my knits. Since the weather was fantastic this last weekend, I decided to wear my Pink Rusted Root out. BFF was nice enough to take some pics for me. I'm actually going to try to get the Chic Hoodie done so that I can get some modeled pics of me in it with all the pretty Fall trees.

edited to add: I wanted to apologize for the picture of me in the creepy casket. I guess some people (Mom) weren't big fans, so here I am alive and in color!

Also, I just got an email today from my cousin about voting for the best haunted house in Illinois....even if you don't live in Illinois, your vote counts. So, if you want to take my word for it and believe it's the best, please vote! Here is the url: Vote for Dream Repaers in Melrose Park as the best Haunted House in Illinois!!!!

FO Friday!

Yes, my friends, I have finished the second Rusted Root, and I even wore it to work. Unfortunately, I was unable to coerce one of my coworkers to take a pic of me in it, so you'll have to do with the mannequin shot for now. 

I like the way it turned out, and I think it will be great next year for the spring with a cute little khaki skirt.

Pattern: Zephyr Knits Rusted Root
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece - Pink-a-boo (signature color!)
Needles: Knit Picks sizes 6 & 4
Notes: I made the second size. I did 12 lace repeats plus rows 1&2 for the length. I used size 6 needles for the ribbing on the arms, but size 4 on all other ribbing.

In other entertainment, here are a couple shots from my window at work. I have a southern view. It's a little disappointing in that I don't have a view of the Sears Tower because, well, I'm in it!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Are you sure it's not winter?

Because it sure feels like it out there! We've been having some rainy, cold weather so far this week. I was able to wear a sweater to work...that's crazy!

So the weekend was good...somehow the Bears managed to win against the Colts. (You know I like both teams, so I'm not sad either way...) BFF came over and we grilled out for the regular season opener of Bears Football. Yoda was all set in her pretty scarf, and BFF matched her in his hat. I felt a little left out...only a little. I made Rachel Ray's burger of the month--Apple-Cheddar Turkey Burger. And I have to say it was fantastic. A little messy, but tasted great. If you have not yet discovered Rachel Ray's Everyday magazine, please hop over to the site and check it out! Mmm...

This past week was Lillie's birthday! She turned 3, and had a little celebration. Here are Yoda and I wearing our party hats! Doesn't Yoda totally look like she loves Mickey ears?

And don't fret, there was knitting! I didn't completely finish the Rusted Root #2, yet, but I am darn close. I think tonight I'll get myself to the ribbing and work on that tomorrow during the commute. Soon, my friends, soon!

That is one HUGE ball of yarn!

So, I got a little ahead of myself and wound some yarn tonight...I decided to wind the Tess yarn for the Cable Down Raglan. It's ginormous! I took a picture of it, but you couldn't tell how big it is without something there for scale....this is the yarn with a regular size ball of Pastaza. Massive!

I'm getting excited to start this sweater...I need to keep myself focused on the Rusted Root #2 even though I may not get to wear it this year. It's getting to be a little cool and, well, wet. That's wool, alpaca, cashmere time and not cotton time.

I also think I might really pick up the ribby pulli sleeves again. I looked on Ravelry and got some good ideas on how to do the sleeves and help my brain blockage. I just was having one of those moments EVERY time I picked that sweater up. And it's CUTE! So my inability to figure out the sleeves was due to me just wanting to wear it. Makes sense, right?!

New Beginnings

Well, folks, I started the new job this week. I have to say that it's been more eventful than I can imagine...I've started taking the train, working high in the sky with a great view (yes, I have windows!), meeting new people, learning new things, and going to see an Oprah taping. Yeah, I got to be in Millennium Park today watching the taping of the Oprah Olympic Heroes episode. My boss handed me a wrist band on Tuesday and said, "All the new hires are going. Just show up." Um, ok.

So, it's airing on Monday, September 8 if you are interested in trying to see me. You may...I was in an area where the athletes walked by us. Not too shabby for the second day of work...

And my prediction was right...more time on the train = more knitting! Are you so excited? Here is the Rusted Root 2...I think I am chugging along pretty well. As you can see, I've already separated the body from the sleeves. Since the sleeves will have minimal finishing, I'm thinking that I *might* be done with this by the end of the week. Just a couple more good hours and I'll have a new sweater.

So, that brings me to what the next project should be....I'm thinking the Cable-Down Raglan is going to be the winner. I want to get going on some fall/winter stuff so I have nice new things! The best part about starting this new job is that they have yet to see all my sweaters/clothes, so it's almost like I got a new wardrobe! They have no idea what I've worn a million times...

I'm getting the crafty bug...

Sometimes I feel like my weekends are more exhausting than my weeks! Though, I don't think I'll every say that I want Monday to get here faster because I want the weekend to end...

Side note:
I should explain BFF and me. See, him and I dated a while and then we decided to become friends. So, it became a joke that we are Summer BFFs (Best Friends Forever). Well, that evolved into Big Fat Friends (not that we overweight, but more like the expression "that big fat pencil"...does that make sense?) So, now he is BFF. It's as simple as that!

Ok, back to our story...

BFF and I have this "Summer Bucket List". It's this list of activities we want to get done by the end of summer, and we have got to get going. We've accomplished a couple things this last weekend.

#1 - Sit at Jimmy's Grill in Naperville, enjoy some beers, and people watch

#2 - BBQ/Cookout with all the fixings (including veggie corn dogs on the grill!! Sounds crazy, but they were good...) 

#3 - Walk around Chicago taking architectural pictures to edit and print for my living room wall.

I think I walked over 10 miles on Sunday during our city picture day! I had no idea how far we had gotten until we took a cab back to our car! It's good exercise, though, so I can't complain! I'm hoping I get maybe15 good pictures from the 70 or so that I took. I would like to have them printed on canvas and then do a collagey type thing. OR get 2-3 good ones and have them printed on larger canvas...we'll see how it turns out.

In between savoring the last weeks of summer, I did some knitting. I met up for another KIB on Saturday, and had a great time. It was nice to sit down and just work on my sweater and be chatty with some girls.

I've been thinking...

Dangerous, I know! But I need to get knitting on something, so I've been thinking about what I have and what I like to wear a lot. So, I've decided that I think I am going to knit another Rusted Root. I love my black one and wear it all the time. I get so many compliments on it, too. I think I'm gonna pull the pink Cotton Fleece from my stash sale and use that. That'll be cute, no?

Also, I think it's about time I write up that Gucci Knockoff Pattern. Fall will be here before we know it, and people will need a big, warm, stylish sweater! It's a quick knit and warm and cuddly!

Rusted Root Done!

This was actually a very quick project once I got my act together. I had some gauge issues and some use error, but I finally got it all worked out. I really like the way it turned out. I will probably wear this the way I have it pictured with a floral black and white skirt. I am really glad I went with the black. The lace makes it a bit more dressy, and with black it can be dressed up or down rather easily.

Too bad it's freezing in the office...I still think I will wear it, though. Gotta wear the new stuff, right?!

Pattern:Zephyr Style Rusted Root
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Cavern
Needles: Addi Turbos size 6
Notes: Love the black! I think this is one sweater than can be dressed up or down.

I told you I would...

...post some knitting. Here is Rusted Root about half done. Well, at least the body is half done. I find I am not knitting on it quite as much as I would like because of some things going on in my life right now. The last thing I need to be thinking about is what row of lace I am on or if I did a yarn over where I needed to. But looking at it like this really makes me want to finish it. I was thinking I might start something less complicated, but I do think I will stick with it for now.

Rainy Sunday

Well, Yoda is doing much better! She even had a bath yesterday and smells very nice.

I have started working on the Rusted Root again. Originally, I had to rip it twice. Once because I was using the wrong needles, and the second time because I was, um, I don't know--crazy. It was a bit big, so out it went. Now, I look to be right on track. I am using the right needles, the gauge looks good, and it looks like it will fit me rather than a giant.

I just put the sleeves on scrap yarn, so I am just knitting away now. So, I guess now it's time to think about what I want to do next, right? That's how these things work. So, I looked at my 'To Do' list, and saw the Ribby Pulli, and thought, "I haven't really seen any of these done up...I think I'll try it." I'm all set on the pattern and yarn. AND it's a good thing I have on pair of Addi Turbos Size 6, and that they are being used for Rusted Root, otherwise, I would have cast on already!