Because yarn is a terrible thing to waste.

Last winter I fell in love with the genius that is Stephanie Japel and Fitted Knits. Her patterns are so approachable, flattering, and fun. I jumped off and made Boatneck Bluebell and knit with a fervor never before seen. I wore it for exactly 3 hours in early April. Then I felted it.


I called my friend, Chris. I showed her the shrunken felted mess and we had a memorial stout to help ease the blow. Then my friend Chris, who is a very petite gal and at least 6 sizes smaller than me, pulled the sweater over her head and walked out the door. Yep, that's right, the sweater shrunk to fit her size small frame vs. my large frame. I chalked it up to kharma and knitterly cockiness. I shouldn't have been knitting that selfishly on a sweater. I gave myself some time to digest the problems and recommitted to doing it again. I started it sometime in July and finished it in August. Meet Boatneck Bluebell versions 1.0 and 2.0 (unfelted).

I'm officially a dumbass. Any questions?

In search of completed UFO's

I didn't make any lofty goals for my Olympic viewing knitting...other than to, um, finish every unfinished object in my house (which includes 3 sweaters, 3 pair of socks, a pi shawl, and well....that's enough for now).


What did I do instead?


I finished a market bag I started knitting exactly one year ago:

Wow did I feel self-righteous after that. ONE WHOLE UFO finally finished after just one year!


What did I do next: I sagely started knitting mittens...because, as my Alaskan friend can attest, nothing says Oklahoma winters like wool mittens.


I give you Malabrigo burgundy:





...and Jil Eaton (from Classic Elite):





It's mate is on the needles now. This was my first time knitting with both of these yarns. The Malabrigo was everything I've heard it would be, but I have to tell you that the Jil Eaton is way up there too. Both have amazingly soft hands...and in my humble opinion, have a lot in common.


THEN as I suffered through the Olympic track and field events, I pushed through sleeve island and finished my Boatneck Bluebell (version 2.0 [unfelted]).

Coming soon: pics of versions 1.0 and 2.0 together and the story of how this knitter got a bit wiser despite her stupidity!

Teeth, Tweed, and Temperatures (and a note for Mamacate)

In the last few weeks the following excitement (or lack thereof) have happened to the Blanco Bunch:

Gabe lost his two front teeth:




Seth lost his first tooth ever:


(For the record, Eli still has a "wiggle tooth" but no action.)

The Boatneck Bluebell Version 2.0 (Unfelted) is well underway. It's knit in Cascade 220 Tweed and I'm loving it. I'm optimistic that I will have it finished this week and can have a photo shoot of Versions 2.0 and 1.0 together. In the interim, here's what I have done to date:



Despite the climbing temps (100 promised today), I am having a blast in the garden harvesting tomatoes, squash, and green beans (with plans for expansion next year since it seems that the deer aren't interested in the fruits of my labor)!

I'm also thrilled to share a pic of my first ever Passion Flower that was discovered near the garden. This is the most amazing flower ever -- doesn't it look like it should be on Star Trek or something?



I will be propagating this baby next spring and trying to get it to do it's thing. It's just amazing!!!!


Oh, and Mamacate, I have identified and am plunging through my first lace shawl. Okay, wait, plunging makes it sound like I'm working on it nonstop and am obsessed. Truth be known, I had to borrow the needles for another project but am ready to begin my 3rd repeat. I'm working it in RY Cashsoft and am convinced that when I wear the FO I will look JUST LIKE the model on the pattern page. Does DK count for true lace...even for a first time lace gal?