Too Much Travel, Not Enough Knitting

I've neglected our blog badly these last few weeks. I've been spending a lot of time in Memphis during the week and then busy doing various things during the weekend, so I've been a bad blogger.

I'm currently knitting a wrap in some handspun wool that I bought at Mossy Creek, an arts and crafts festival that mom and I work at twice a year. This time they had a woman demonstrating spinning and she had some wool with her that she had spun. Her prices were more than reasonable. I bought approximately 600 yards for $27! I'm working on a simple little garter stitch wrap using the wool which is an interesting color mix of a light lavender and kelly green. Forgive me, these photos aren't that great, but you'll get the idea.





It's just beautiful, very different, soft and it knits like a dream. I'm using size 15 needles so the thin parts in the yarn have a lacy feel. It's easy and not very challenging, but it's what I need to distract me in the evening and on the short hop I make to Memphis twice a week. I hope to have it complete before I go to Boone on Thursday so I may get to use it before the fall.

I've started a few things, the pink sweater, Heidi's purse and this wrap, but haven't had a finished project in awhile. I need to focus on something in cotton after I complete my wrap. I've found a nice, easy, raglan sweater pattern in a Family Circle knitting magazine. It seems simple. I've also got plans to do some flowers using my yarn from KnitPicks. I'm dreaming, I know. My goal is to dedicate more time to knitting over the next month. I'll let you know how it goes!

Traveling, models and summer knitting

Sorry that I haven't posted anything lately. I am busy with traveling. Last week was in Lincoln, NE and then Chicago for the weekend. Returned home on Sunday and left again on Monday for Lincoln. These weeks that have weekday and weekend travel are so hectic. I did a little knitting. Am working on the sleeves for the pullover from sock yarn. I really like the weight of the finished pieces and am looking forward to finishing it. If I like it I may knit another from a different color. I chose a blue/gray/black/cream multi colorway since it will work with jeans so well. But would rather have a brighter colors for another. The yarn I am using is also from Knit Picks and I like knitting with it. The price is right and quality is good. I'm sure I'll order from them again. I ordered yarn from a local yarn shop in Lincoln about 6 weeks ago and it still isn't in. I'm not real pleased with the fact it has taken so long. I try to patronize the LYS (local yarn shop) whenever I can feeling that if we don't support them then they will go out of business and where will I be able to go and squeeze yarn? But if the service is this poor, why bother? I could have ordered the same yarn on line and would already have been knitting with it. Oh, well. Live and learn.

I had knit the Wild Forks shell and cardigan last year for publication in Cast On magazine. After the mag has photographed it I get it back. Knitting for the model is a different size than I wear so I gave the sweater to my friend in TN. She and I attended the same meeting in Chicago this weekend and she wore the sweaters. They looked so great on her and I was delighted to see her wear them. She gots lots of compliments on them as well. I almost lost the buttons on my blouse! I was so proud of the finished garments and the reception she got when wearing them.

I'll keep knitting throughout the summer. What about you? I especially like knitting with cotton yarn in the summer, but don't have anything planned. I need time with magazines to dream a little. My latest issue of Cast On came just as I was leaving the house on Monday, can't wait to get home tonight to read it. Maybe I'll get inspired by it.

Plane Reading

I'm not traveling this week, but will probably be back at it next week. I get more knitting done on the road, so not a lot was accomplished on my sweater this week. I've finished the back and I'm half way through with the left side. I guess just three and a half more pieces left before assembly begins. It looks a little big based on the back measurement, but maybe it will come together nicely.

I've gotten into the habit of buying a knitting magazine or book before most of my trips and I read on the plane since most of my trips are short hops, not long journeys. I'm headed to Toronto in May, so that will be a knitting trip. My favorites so far are Vogue Knitting and Interweaves. Both serve as a dream book for me. I love to look at the photos and think about the possibilities. I'm not sure if this qualifies as a magazine, but I love to read knitty, an on-line magazine. It's got great designs, but the best part is the writing. It is so well written for an on-line publication. If you've not read it, you should check it out. They have great flower patterns in the spring issue which will be perfect for some take along knitting over the next month.

I ordered yarn from KnitPicks and it's great. I love the colors. I just bought a single ball of a lot of different colors just to see what it looked and felt like. It will be perfect for knitting up some flowers.

I found a pattern for a greyhound sweater, but it has cables and it looks kind of masculine. I'll have to get some good measurements of her so we can create something special for her.

Magazines

Gosh, I too haven't had time to do much knitting. First was the onslaught of spring allergies. I was really having a rough time last week, but thankfully the Bradford Pears are shedding their blooms. That usually signals the end of my spring allergies and I am finally feeling better. Hopefully I'll be doing OK from this point on.
The greyhound coat sounds like a great project. When we spend some time together this fall, perhaps we can work out something that will work. Meanwhile begin to think about what you want it to look like. More later on that project.
Which magazines have you decided you like? My favorites are Knitter's Magazine, Cast On, Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting. I guess my real favorite is Knitter's. Their patterns are usually unique and stylish. A lot are more challenging and require that you learn new techniques.
I didn't bring any knitting on the road with me this week. Can't believe I left home without needles and yarn. I'm having a little withdrawal.

Greyhound Sweaters

Well, I've not had much of an opportunity to actually knit this week. I've done a lot of dreaming and looking at a variety of sweaters in three different magazines that I have my eye on. While I'm always looking for any knitting magazine, I'm starting to get a better feel for the ones I like and the ones that are cheesy. I'm now on the look out for a dog sweater pattern that fits a greyhound. Kevin and I adopted a former racer today - Solitary Seka (we're calling her Seka) - and they usually wear sweaters or coats or something during cooler weather due to their thin skin and lack of body fat. I'm excited to try my hand at something for her, but I have all winter to really find something that will fit her in the end since she is such an unusual shape.