Modeled Alexandria...and a Hat for Seth

I finally got around to getting some modeled photos of my Alexandria Cardigan:

And here's a hat I whipped up for Seth:

He picked out the colors of Lopi from my stash, and specified exactly how many rows he wanted each of the stripes to be.

That's it for now!

Love,
liz

Resurrecting the Garden....Sort Of.

This week I've been trying to resurrect the garden. I installed a fence around the raised beds and replanted the radishes (they seem to be doing well so far!). Seth and I hit up the Farmer's Market on Saturday and bought some plants for the garden. Since all of my tomato starters died, we picked up 4 tomato plants. We also bought some jalapenos (again, to replace my starters that bit the dust) and a zucchini plant. Next year, I'll just save myself the trouble and buy plants instead of starting seeds inside! Our green beans are looking okay, but there are definitely some bugs nibbling at them. Our raspberry bush has had a few ripe fruits already, and it looks like we'll have more than we could ever eat! Raspberry jelly/jam, anyone?  Our apple tree also has tons of fruit.

In knitting news, I finished my Alexandria Cardigan as part of the KAL at Purl Diva. I don't have any pictures of it on me, but here are a few detail shots:

                                             

I love the faux seam at the side. The look of a side seam, but without actually having to sew anything together! 

                                            

I really like the use of bust darts for shaping (you'll be able to see the effect of those better in a modeled shot). 

                           

Pattern: Alexandria Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio

Yarn: Fleece Artist Woolie Silk in colorway Salt Spray

(bought from the lovely Purl Diva)

Modifications: I made the body a wee bit longer than the pattern called for (maybe just 1/2 inch or so), and the sleeves are probably a bit shorter than called for (I just tried them on as I knit them). 

I've also started another Tea Leaves Cardigan, but this one will be for my Mom. She has soooooo much yarn and so little time to knit. So, I told her to pick out yarn from her stash and a sweater pattern for me to make for her (this is a very belated mother's day gift!). 

Switching gears to food...

                             

We had some neighbors over for dinner and Seth requested a dessert with fresh strawberries from the Farmer's Market. Chocolate cake, homemade whipped cream (can we just discuss how much I heart my Kitchen Aid!?), and fresh strawberries. We do have strawberries in our yard under the grape vines, but the rabbits really like those. I find them half eaten in various places around the yard. Ah well, at least the garden is protected now.

And one last parting shot (because he's just so darn cute):

                  

Miss you! I hope camp is going smoothly....

Love,

liz 

Wood Hollow Vest FINISHED!

Phew. I feel like I've been working on this for sooooo long. Which isn't really true, but I've worked on it non-stop the past few days in order to finish it. The seaming and ribbing alone took at least 4 hours today.

So, here it is:

Pattern: Wood Hollow Vest by Kristen Kapur of Through the Loops

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers 

Modifications: None

This is definitely the most complicated pattern I've done, as far as cabling and different stitch patterns go. I think it would probably be more flattering if I had knit the smaller size so that it had some negative ease or did some waist shaping. But I'm still happy with the end result. The ribbing on the sides makes it super stretchy, so I'll have to be careful when I wash it to make sure it doesn't stretch out. 

The Cascade 220 is a great all-around sweater yarn (or hat yarn, mitten yarn, scarf yarn....you get the idea!). It's affordable, the stitch definition is great and it comes in any color you could ever imagine. There is also a superwash version that is great for kid stuff. 

All around a really well written pattern that was fun to knit. However, I think I'll be taking a break from cabled adult garments for a little while!

Love,

liz

Cabled Baby Pants!

I finished the Leapfrog baby pants (from the newest issue of Petite Purls)today and knit up a quick little hat to go with them for a friend of ours who is due for her baby girl at the end of April.

Both were knit in MadelineTosh DK colorway Iceberg. The hat is a pattern by Debbie Bliss in the book "Baby Knits for Beginners". It is knit flat and then sewn up the side. The pants were fairly easy and used short rows to make the back more roomy to fit baby's "diaper butt". 

I finished them just in time to send them off tomorrow before I head back East on Wednesday. 

How was your trip to Vermont?? Did you have nice weather, like the rest of the northeast? We had a very rainy, cold weekend. The rain stopped long enough for us to take Sailor for a short hike so he could chase the chipmunks, ducks, and run like a crazy dog. Other than that, it was a pretty quiet weekend. Seth is running the Peterson Ridge 60K in a week (Sunday) in Sisters, OR so he had a light running weekend. 

I did finish the front of my Wood Hollow Vest this weekend. I haven't started the back yet, but now that I have the pattern down it shouldn't be too bad.

            

Hope you had a lovely weekend! 

Love,

Liz