So, with all of the stress in my life [...]]]> Before I even start on my weekend, I want to thank all of you for the lovely comments on my Mi Escuelita Knitty pattern.  I’m glad you all like it so much and YES, due to popular demand, I will be creating an adult version.  )

So, with all of the stress in my life lately, I decided I needed to spend time with a few people I’ve been neglecting:  Me, Myself and I.  Having been convinced by several people to take some time to be alone and just hang out and chill, I took off upstate on Friday afternoon.  I have spent the weekend in a LOVELY home very generously offered to me by a good friend.  Friday was wonderful to just drive around, have dinner, knit knit knit, watch my soaps, drink wine.  Just fantastic.  No kids yelling and running, no dog barking, complete silence.  Ahhhhh!  I started the first of a pair of Glows Gloves and was able to get through the cuff by Saturday morning.

Next, I grabbed my bag and camera and went off to meet Maven at Katonah Yarn in Katonah, NY.  It was a beaaaautiful afternoon.  Lovely fall-like weather.  Perfect day to meet up.  Here I am in front of this adorable storefront.

Isn’t it cute??    And here’s Maven:

Isn’t SHE cute??  Well, not only is she cute but we hit it off in person even BETTER than we had online.  We’ve been in contact for quite a while online and I cannot begin to express how good a day I’ve spent with her today.  We laughed, we talked non-stop, we shopped, we ate.  We spent 6 hours together and if it wasn’t for the fact that I had to drive an hour to get back, I would’ve probably stood longer (if Maven would’ve wanted to of course!).  We just had a really fantastic time.  Thanks again for coming out to meet with me, sweets!  Love ya!

The shopping?  Oh, yeah.  Well we walked into the store and saw this:

I was completely in heaven.  We spent TWO HOURS at the shop browsing, sitting, browsing, chatting, browsing, flipping through books, chatting…well, you get the picture.  The store is absolutely wonderful and has sooooo much stuff (well, duh, look at those pictures!).  The two ladies that were working there were sooo friendly and sweet.  They allowed us to just chill there and would chime in sometimes in our conversations about this project or that button or this yarn.  It was just a GREAT experience.  If you’re ever in the area, you MUST stop by!!  I scored 4 skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport from the 50% off bin (!) for holiday gifts, the new Debbie Bliss mag, some notions I needed, some 4″ Hiya Hiya dpns, and some Shepherd Bulky to make Quincy, from Brooklyn Tweed’s new book, Made in Brooklyn.

We finally left and went to eat next door at a grill.  We had some really good food after which we ordered coffee.  So, here comes the waitress, sets down Maven’s cup o’ joe and then, after she sets my cup down, she knocks it over – right in my lap and off the table, onto and INTO my new black Namaste Hermosa bag!!!!  O.O  MY NEW FREAKIN BAG – THAT CRISTI GAVE ME FOR MY BDAY A COUPLA WEEKS AGO  (I LOVE IT THANKS AGAIN BABE LOVE YA)!!!  AAAAAAARGH!    oh.  em.  geeeeee.   If it wasn’t for the fact that Maven and I had had SUUUUUCH a good time and I was totally relaxed, I would’ve probably tore that chic a new hole to poop out of, especially since she’d been rude to us since we WALKED IN.  I had to empty out the bag and wipe everything down.  The lining was soaked but it’s ok now after cleaning it off with seltzer water brought to me by one of the waitresses.  Luckily, my stuff was ok and even better, our food was on the house.  Well, damn right it should’ve been!!!  Shoot.  LOL

All in all, this weekend has been immensely helpful for my peace of mind and I’ve had a GREAT time just chilling alone.  Tomorrow I head back home around noon.  Back to the real world.  But I miss my kids and Tano so I look forward to going home.

Don’t I look relaxed??    G’nite everybody!

I decided to go with the yarn used in the pattern because it’s a good quality, a good blend, and hey, the price is right.  [...]]]> As soon as I saw this tam in the new Twist Collective, I knew I wanted to make it as a gift for my super-generous boss, Lauren.

I decided to go with the yarn used in the pattern because it’s a good quality, a good blend, and hey, the price is right.  Although the yarn is a tad splitty, it was nice to work with.  The finished hat is super soft.

My only concern with this hat is that it came out kind of small before blocking.  As far as I know, I got gauge.    I had to stretch it to force it over a plate to block and now it fits my daughter Esmie.  The pattern states adult one size fits most; circumference at brim 18″; diameter across wheel 9.5″ after blocking.  When I make adult hats I usually use 20-21″ circumference around brim.

Since my boss is not huge like me, I’m sure it will fit her just fine.  It fits me like a skully when I put it on.  HA!

The pattern is very straight-forward and easy to follow.  The hat was a very quick and easy knit.  Yea, you are all saying, “she always says that,” but really, it is!  )

Cinquefoil

• Source: Twist Collective, Fall 2009
• Size: One-size fits most (?)
• Yarn: Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere
• Colors: Parchment (MC) (.82 skeins, 90 yds); Cashmere Blue (.46 skeins, 50 yds); Tapestry Blue (.22 skeins, 24 yds)
• Needles: US 2 and US 3 16″ Hiya Hiya Interchangeables
• Gauge: as pattern
• Cost: approx. 1.5 skeins of yarn used * $13.13
• Started: August 30, 2009
• Finished: September 1, 2009
• Mods: none
  

It’s a chore for me to set my hair in rollers every week and then sit under a dryer.  Ever since Cristi taught me how to use a diffuser two years ago, it has been even easier to maintain curly.  [...]]]> Once the summer is on it’s way, I like to keep my hair curly.

It’s a chore for me to set my hair in rollers every week and then sit under a dryer.  Ever since Cristi taught me how to use a diffuser two years ago, it has been even easier to maintain curly.  The only problem I had was for sleeping.  I didn’t like that my curly hair would sometimes get all knotted up at night.  I toss and turn a lot. I have several tight handmade crochet hair nets to sleep with when I wrap my hair when it’s straight.  I bought a loose one at the beauty supply to try on my curly hair and it started unraveling after just a few uses.

So, in comes A Little Nightcap.

Perfect for keeping my hair in curls at night with no knots in the morning.

I am a happy camper!  You can make it small enough for a bun net, too.

The nets stay in place because you hem in either a snagless (no metal) headband for the slumber cap or a ponytail elastic for the bun net.  It can also double as a quick cute cap to run to the store with if your hair is not done on any given day.  )

A special thank you to Sara (BaconPony on Rav) for helping me name my cap and winning one knit by me in the process.

A Little Nightcap

• A Rosi G. design.  Ravel it for your free pattern download.
  
• Sizes: Slumber cap and bun net
• Yarn: fingering weight, shown in Hazelknits Artisan Sock
• Yardage: 50 yds for bun net, 150 yds for slumber cap, more if you need a larger cap
• Color: Chocolatier
• Needles: US 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9
• Gauge: not important
• Cost: slumber cap: $7.50, bun net: $2.18
• Started and finished: Bun net takes about 1.5 hours tops, slumber cap maybe 2.5 hours

I can help with a few of those.

Let me introduce D’Lado – a quick hat and [...]]]> If you’re like me, you have a bunch of single skeins in your stash that half the time you don’t know what to do with. Most are probably hand-painted yarns that are difficult to find patterns for.

I can help with a few of those.

Let me introduce D’Lado – a quick hat and cowl set from ONE SKEIN of Brooks Farm Solo Silk.

That’s right, one skein for BOTH of these.

The hat starts off with an I-cord edging.  You pick up stitches and knit a twisted rib.  Then follow the charts along to create a cute swirl at the top with hidden crown decreases.

The cowl is knit as if it were a scarf, back and forth, with built-in I-cord edges.  You then seam the back to create the cowl.

Both of these will take you about 3 days total.

So, pull out your most gorgeous, soft, handpainted yarns and get to knitting!!

D’Lado – A Hat & Cowl Set

• Source: Rosi G.
  
• Yarn: Brooks Farm Solo Silk (about 220 yds for the hat and 184 yds for the cowl)
• Cost: I got the skein at Rhinebeck for $18 – that means a hat AND cowl for $18, ya’ll!!
• Needles: US 7 for the cowl; US 6 and 7 16″ circular and dpns for the hat.
• Started: December 20, 2008
• Finished: December 23, 2008