Lye-eee...

Yes, out of all the things I have knit for my daughters, this ratty, holey, yucky looking thing-she-calls-a-blanket is what my youngest loves. I had originally knit this blanket for my oldest when I was pregnant with her. I didn't know who I was having, boy or girl, hence the yellow color of the yarn. I wanted something soft and cushy and came upon this yarn at an LYS in Manchester, Vt. I loved the little bits of yarn on the strand and thought my baby would too. Well, I was right, but not right about which baby would love it. Baby #1 wanted nothing to do with it, but Baby #2 has yet to give it up, named "her" LYe-eeee, and refuses to go to sleep without her. She holds a really ratty corner of Lye-ee, in between her two fingers and thumb and sucks her other thumb. Rubbing this ratty corner while sucking her thumb is what gets her to sleep-it is so adorable to watch and warms my heart everytime I see her do it. At the age of 4, she refuses to give up Lye-ee and I have no intentions of making her do it. I figure when she's ready, she will and she's only going to be a child for so long so why should I force her out of this love???

So, what is it exactly that makes her love this blanket? It started out as a 2X3 rectangle of crochet (I even forget how I did it-it was early on in crochet for me) and I don't even recall the name of the yarn. It was before the days of Ravelry, so I can't even look it up. It is really soft cotton though and right out of the wash, it smells wonderful...after a couple of nights of cuddles with my girl though, and that's another story. She impatiently stands by the washer when Lye-ee gets her bath and I have to pull it out for her when it's nap time. I always thought my firstborn would be my yarn-lover as she is the crafty one right now, but I think it just might be my Lye-ee lover instead...

Totally OT, but if you're from NEPA, you need to go here!

Ok...so today was pretty mundane-housecleaning, playing Memory game with 4 year old daughter, errands to run and whatnot...but in the back of my mind all day, I've thought about....pizza!!!! Nope, not the regular, italian plain slice, which for most of the time, suits me just fine (Basilico's in Dickson City-hands down, is the winner of the area)-oh no, today, I've been obsessing about Kay's Pizzeria in Lake Ariel-specifically, their hot wing pizza with bleu cheese dressing. Ok-seriously, this pizza is to.die.for.-no really. If you live in the area, you MUST try this pizza-my local friend, who grew up in Lake Ariel, brought it to a friend's house when we were having pizza and since then, I've been trying to recreate the hot wing sauce at home-to no avail. I can't figure it out, but I can tell you that each time I have this pizza, I love it more and more. I've heard of two other dishes that they serve at Kays with the sauce: The buffalo shrimp (OMG!!!) and buffalo wing hoagie-yep, that will be next week's menu choice...for sure....

The sauce is tangy, hot, sweet, and sort of grainy??? I'm originally thought bbq sauce was used in it somehow, but no longer-I'm thinking it's hot sauce, honey, butter, and maybe brown sugar?? It tends to be on the runny side (that's why I thought honey) but it takes all of my willpower not to lick the inside of the cardboard pizza box when we're through....and as I type this, I'm not even slightly embarrassed that I admitted this to cyberspace!?!

If anyone has tried this pizza and would like to weigh in on how you think the sauce is made, please do so...if I crack this recipe, I think I will be using it on everything!!!!

Yarny things...

Just got back from some good 'ol fun in Vt and among other things, got to go to an indoor farmers market that had a whole lotta...yarn!!! There was even a woman spinning there-it was great. I wore my Ingenue sweater (thank God too b/c it's cold up in Vt!) and got to feel up some good local fiber-there was shetland wool and alpaca spun in various widths and hand-dyed in lovely colorways-esp. an oceany blue/green of 270 yards-that one really tempted me...BUT-I really must have more than enough yarn at home b/c I didn't.buy.a.thing. Can you believe it???

I knit away at my Dad's MIKEY Cap-a present for his birthday, and got a bit more on the debbie bliss 9 to 5 cardi. Then, I got stumped...You see, I've modified the DB pattern to be seamless at the sides but forgot what to do when I got to the armpits??? This stumped me-frustrated me, to the point that I had to rip out 4 rows of what I'd done and start all over. I even mulled it over in bed and woke up this morning, still trying to figure out what was the best thing to do. Well, I'm going to bind off 6 stitches at the armpits, put it away and start on the sleeves and once I finish the sleeves to the point where they need to be attached, I will reattach them to the body, and just keep knitting-should work right? Feel free to weigh in here...would love other ideas if you've got 'em...

I may even sneak in the hat while I bang away at the sleeves-who knows??

Now, to locate some nice dark brown silk for the lining of Dad's hat....maybe etsy??

Also on the back burner, desperately waiting to get cookin' is Trina....my Trina, to be done in Cascade's Sienna Quattro yarn in yellow....I can't wait to do this one but I've got a few projects before I can even CO for this-AND I want them all done by my birthday in April....Man, I think I've got knitting ADD.....I just can't focus on one project at a time....

Speaking of birthdays...Happy Birthday, Amber!!! If you haven't checked out her blog, she's great!-she's in my blog list that I read and she's also got a GREAT etsy shop that sells handmade soapy goodness and other lovely items...check her out!!

Ok-more knitting to do....

My Ingenue....

is GREAT! Loved knitting this sweater and loved the FO! It's perfect (barring a good block to make it a tad longer). So what did I learn on this knitting journey???

1. Modifications are always good. I knit 10 more rounds to the body to make it longer for me-thank God I did b/c even with that, it will still need blocking to be perfect for me. I also added a repeat of the bottom ridge stitch pattern for length to the body and sleeves...love it. I single crocheted the collar down on the inside making a nice, clean inside edge that won't bother me one bit when I wear it. Collar sits perfectly....

2. I also learned that I should've tried it on with what I was going to wear it with (t-shirts), b/c I could've done more shaping in the body to make a better fit. It is a bit boxy but that is the design of the sweater...next time...Guess I'm not so big as I think I am. I knit this in a large and while it could use some length still, it's a bit big everywhere else. Gauge was spot on...

3. Good yarn = good sweater
I will have this sweater forever b/c it is a classic style knit up with REALLY GOOD yarn. Can't say enough about Berroco's peruvia-it's just good, yummy yarn. I wet-spliced the ends of balls together so I didn't have any ends to weave in-worked perfectly. This yarn is one of my faves! Will definitely use it again. Sooooo soft and warm!!

And now for pic:



So what's next?
1. Last-minute mittens for the girls and me for Vt. and Debbie Bliss 9 to 5 sweater and hat sets for the girls...should be a good time-I'm using 1824 Mission Falls-what could be better??

I think I might be back???

Yep-been thinking about the blog, and actually, how I've ignored it for so long....oops. I guess life just got in the way...seems like that happens a lot to me...especially b/c my girls are getting older and more busy with activities...

But-I'm back to report about my yarny findings on new patterns, yarns, LYs's that I visit, etc....To catch up, on the needles right now is my Ingenue by Wendy Bernard-seriously, the most gratifying, easy, stress-free knitting I've done in awhile. Maybe b/c I know it's for me and there is no deadline really except that I'd love to wear it for Valentine's Day (it's red) or maybe b/c it's seamless, fun knitting? I'm not sure-maybe it's just that Berroco's Peruvia yarn is to.die.for??? Yep-if you get the chance to fondle this yarn-you will buy it for sure~! 100% peruvian highland wool-at it's best...so soft and the colorway that I have is perfect...for me. Pics to post when I get the moment...

I also visited an LYS in NJ recently-Yarn Depot, in Augusta, NJ to be precise. Lovely yarn shop-great selection and no one working there, following me around the shop. I met my friend (who lives in NJ) there and it was fun to go around with her and show her just how great shopping at an LYS is-she usually frequents big box craft stores for the convenience...The shop holds a great selection of basic stocks-Plymouth Galway, in great color choices-great variety, ella rae SUPERWASH, in again, GREAT COLORS, and nice choices in chunky yarns, like Sirdar click...All in all, a great variety, including Berroco, Debbie Bliss, Classic Elite, Plymouth, Sirdar, Ella Rae-definitely will be there to visit again or just to meet my NJ friend. The shop also holds classes and I'm waiting for a class schedule. It would be fun to go with my NJ friend as I don't get to see her too often...

I have also been to Electric City Yarns in Scranton, PA-GREAT selection of yarns also-especially MALABRIGO!!!!! I would visit this shop just to get that-really. Nice group of women in the morning sit-n-knit and nice cafe across the street too. I loved that the women didn't flinch when I came with daughter #2 in tow and of course, she was an angel....She just sat and colored....while Mommy fondled yarn and knit away with new friends...

But-I've got to say, that Jill Deal yarns in Milford PA is still my fav...here's why. Jill Deal is full of yarny knowledge(no question in pattern or stitch ever throws her), her shop is GORGEOUS and her yarn choices in stock cannot be beat. She always has something that I need and if not, can get it lickety-split for me. My hubby stops in often to pick up stuff as he is lucky enough to pass by EVERY DAY. Jill hosts wonderful classes held at the Hotel Fauchere and you are guaranteed a great day of knitting and food when you sign up for one of these classes. So, yep. Still my fav...

So, while I have been absent on the blog for awhile, I have been busy knitting. Check out my projects on Ravelry chriss1099 I've also updated my etsy shop www.yarnygirl.etsy.com I've been busy....I'm not lyin'....:0)


It's good to be back

Can Knitting actually be BAD for me???

Seriously, I've been considering this for awhile now, knowing full well that there is no way that I'm going to slow down, or stop but I do think that knitting might actually have an ill effect on my overall health and well being. Here you go-you decide:

1. Since my love affair with Ravelry began about two years ago, I have put on 16-20 lbs. Why? B/c of great exposure to so many new patterns that I instantly fall in love with, my knitting/surfing ravelry time has me sitting on my arse way more than I used to.

2. I sit and knit any chance I get. This results in a big arse, laundry piled high, housecleaning overlooked and all of this, in turn, throws off my psyche. As I type, I've got a pile of laundry looking at me, but you don't see me signing off yet, do ya?

3. I would rather sit with a cup of tea and knitty goodness than go for a run these days...not good for the above mentioned ever-growing arse....

4. I've got ADHD when it comes to knitting patterns and lately can get easily distracted. Startitis is strong problem right now as I usually am not like this but right now, I've got atleast 6 projects on the needles and more in my head...

So....what to do?
Any ideas??

Hoping to change the arse bit next week when I join a gym and commit to working out for 1-2hrs while my youngest is in preschool-can you believe by staying in the area of her preschool instead of driving home, even with my gym membership, I'll still be saving $$ that would be wasted in gas$?? Cool!!!
As far as the cleaning/housework/laundry...I'm out of ideas...Folding clothes and vacuuming doesn't hold a candle to yarny good times. While I do know that a little bit here, a little bit there does help to fix my household state of disarray, it could really use a thorough dusting and cleaning...but then there are those 6+ projects....

End of summer...catching up

Yes, on this rainy, cold day, it does feel like summer's ending and it's back-to-school!! Back to the rush of getting here and there and schedules, routines, etc. I think I'm ready, but if you were to look at me, sitting here typing in my pj's (at 11:21 AM!!), you wouldn't believe me!!

So, what have we been up to??

Trips to the farm to pick up CSA share has yielded quite a nice bounty of veggies! And the flowers....take a look:



We also got zucchini's which were then turned into "leprachaun bread"-it was a hit with the girls!


It has been really great getting farm-fresh produce this summer-can't wait for the fall harvesting to start!

As for knitting, I updated my ravelry projects-finally....with all that has gone on with Madi and hospital time, I did get knitting time in, but not much computer time. That is all behind us now though, as she is doing much better. Now we start school, soccer, and whatever else comes our way. I've got 3 hat and sock baby boy sets to complete-using a nice free Jimmy Beans wool pattern to do these. Will post when I'm done!

Until then...happy knitting!