Scenes from  the weekend……  

First big snow of the winter. Doesn’t look like much snow here, but it was coming down at quite a clip (with wind gusts to 40 mph, no less).

There was some knitting done……

It’s B – Modeling her Slouch Copy Cat Hat. Turned out great. Although still needs a good blocking (no time to block, see top picture). Once blocked, lot’s more slouch to the hat. Highly recommend – very fun knit.

And, we have a new knitter amongst us….. B is knitting her very first item – a neck warmer. Out of Shibui Baby Alpaca DK.

Us girls, hamming it up.

Just after we went crazy at the chocolate  fountian – just because the 7 strawberries I ate were covered in chocolate doesn’t mean they weren’t good for me, right?

 
M & T – The life of the party, as always!

Hey there  B & W in Guyana  and T & L in Hickory……. you  guys were missed, it’s just not the same without you.

And, now,  about the contest.  Thanks to everyone for playing along  and, now, the winner is…… Lin! Lin – please contact me with your mailing information and as soon as your yarn is all dyed up I will get it mailed off to you pronto.

Finally, its back to business, in a BIG way here at TPK HQ. Heating up the dye pots, winding the skeins off the cones and ready to cook up some snazzy yarns for you all.

Look at that face!

Plucky girl doing her very best Vanna White imperssonation.

What familiar objects do these ancient  Roman symbols represent? Extra credit if you can tell me where this column is located.  

All correct entries will be entered into the random number  generator  and a winner chosen. What does the winner get? Why a skein of my brand spanking new merino/cashmere fingering weight yarn, of course!

**Edited to add:   Contest will be open until midnight EST Wednesday evening, November 21.**

**Edited to add #2: Please feel free to leave your message in the comments – I won’t post the correct answers/comments until the contest is finished.** Thanks!

Off white hat “Le Gretel”  a hybrid of these two kicky patterns. However, I so should have listened to that voice – you know the one…. “this isn’t right, it’s not going to turn out the way you want, it has to be perfect because it is for two of your most favorite people ever….. get it right” and on and on.

Gretel (as written) while lovely, was making my head hurt. Why? Well, for starters I didn’t have a cable needle with me. What’s the problem? Easy enough to fix, right?  Either use another circular or, better yet, learn to cable without a cable needle. Well, in theory it was a great idea, but I was also hoping for a knit that didn’t require too much concentration, I was on vacation, afterall. And Plucky hubby’s good nature was being put to the test by all my shhhh’ing and counting.

So, I thought I would get creative and combine all the great parts of Gretel with the snazziness that is Le’Slouch. Turns out I should not have gone with the moss stitch. The decreases – ick – I just couldn’t make them look right. (It really is a lovely, fun pattern though – think I will definitely have to make this in stockinette).

Then I remembered this pattern. Said to myself – “Don’t you dare start another hat with the yarn for M & B – use some other yarn and make a test hat.” So, that is where my extra skein of Malabrigo Graphite  Blue came into play. Good thinking, right?  But, wouldn’t you know it – gauge – waaaaayyyy off (yes, should have made a swatch). To the tune of I can’t get it on my head. At.All. Yet I kept knitting and by the time we reached Minneapolis I just couldn’t deny it any longer. Either I stop, rip and reknit or keep going and  give it to Sophia (and, while  she would look adorable in it,  I  really don’t think is quite what her Mum had in mind when she mentioned Sophia needed a new hat. See, Miss Sophia is only 11 months old and I think Mum was thinking more color). So, rip it I shall.

I’m thinking though that this is a great pattern with  nice detail without being to fiddly and will be lovely in the off white yarn. Just need to go up a needle size on the ribbing and on the body of the hat. What do you think M? B? Do you like this pattern?

Here’s hoping that works. The girls need their hats – it’s going to be cold Up North this weekend!

There was other knitting done. Knitting that turned out well and was even color coordinated with our surroundings. Yarntini Pumpkin Spice self striping, uber basic sock. Much further along that this picture shows (yes, that is the yarn I was making the Dublin Bay socks out of, but I ripped it and I am so glad I did because these are fitting perfectly).

And, because I am still in vacation mode – here are a few more pictures of our trip.

I leave you now with my favorite pictures from the trip. Beatnik B & S

Up tomorrow – A contest!!!

We went to the  Grand Canyon today – what a picture perfect day. Decided to take a hike down Bright Angel Trail…. but, wouldn’t you know it, I forgot my shoes.

Started the hike looking like this……

encountered some cowboys and pack mules (they were so cute – the mules, that is). Apparently my flip flop clad feet stuck out like a sore thumb on the trail, cause even the cowboy’s noticed and commented – “Nice toes” – I swear I saw him shake his head at me.

Ended the hike looking like this. But it was so worth it…..

Scenes from the trail:

Yes, that is my knitting project bag attached to the camera bag – never know when you might have an extra minute or two to work on the project….

Spindelicious Handspun, “A Little Night Music”  - Basic Handwarmers (my own pattern, if you want to call it that) for Plucky girl.

Coming up next – Le’ Gretel.

A Trunk Show out of the Amanda’s “Mom Mobile”

The ladies from Mesa Knits – what a fun and talented group of knitty ladies.

And for those of you that have asked about an update, please check out the etsy shop  - there is a “I’m on vacation so I am having a trunk sale, sale.” Everything is at least 10% off. And, those items that I have here with me will ship out while I am on vacation – so no extra waiting for our yarn.

Chocolate Covered Cherries – Sport Weight

Esmerelda – Merino Superwash Fingering

Blueberry Scone – Merino Wool Superwash Fingering

Summer of Love – Merino wool Superwash Sport

Bit of knitting too…. beginnings of Gretel for Ms. S and one for Ms. F. Knit from Malabrigo in the natural colorway. (Kersten – I LOVE the project bag you sent me – thank you so much!).

More details to come…..

I cannot remember ever being this excited about leaving town. We are headed here ~

But not before I go  here first. While there I will be meeting up with Amanda and some of her knitty friends from the Phoenix area to have an  mini trunk show  - so excited!

You may also have noticed that the etsy shop is seriously low on stock. Please note that you can find several colorways of the BFL superwash fingering weight at One Planet Yarn and Fiber  and quite a   few colorways of merino lace weight at The Loopy Ewe.

Until our return, there  may be a bit of radio silence. But, don’t be surpised if there is an update from the road….. and boy, did that new toy come just in time. Imagine all the fantastic photo opportunities that await! And, just you wait and see all the exciting things I have in store for you when I get back to the dye pot. New base yarns, a “back from vacation” sale and new colorways – always, always new colorways.

Until then, I leave you with this:

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting! Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked own his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, “PULL OVER!”   “NO!” the blonde yelled back, “IT’S A SCARF!”