winning...

And the winner is:  #3, Quinn of Comptonia.  Congratulations Quinn!  Please send me an e-mail with your snail mail address and I will mail you the mitts. Again, I wish to thank everyone who participated and especially thank Vicki for hosting this years Grow your Blog party.  It was an amazing event and I look forward to participating again next year.  Enjoy your weekend.

A sweet valentine

Happy Valentines Day

I will post the Grow Your Blog Party drawing winner tomorrow, good luck!

  Thank you to all the sweet bloggers who visited Knitalatte during this years event.  It was great fun meeting all of you...

gyb party

Vicki is our gracious host!

I’m honored to be apart of this years Grow your blog party hosted by Vicki at          2-Bags-Full. Be sure to stop by her blog and check out this year’s list of participants. You won’t be disappointed as there are so many different types of blogs to visit and enjoy. And thanks for stopping by knitalatte where there is always something on the needles. I’ve been busy with finishing up a baby blanket for my niece Hailey’s expected arrival. I hope to have a blog post up soon with the fo pictures.  

Giveaway, did someone say giveaway?  Well of course!  I’ve a pair of knitted mitts to give away this year.  I’ll draw a number and announce on February 15.  Happy blog hopping trails to you...

Mitts

  Like many of us knitting obsessed folks, I follow Stephanie the ‘Yarn Harlot’ blog on a regular basis.  I’ve attempted to make a few of the projects that she herself has made and blogged about.  Most recently, the Sakura fingerless mitts. (Oct 9th post)

  I'd been looking for a pattern to make a pair of mitts to go with a scarf I completed using Noro yarn and when I saw the Sakura mitts, I thought, perfect!

  The free pattern is by designer Kate Atherley for Estelle yarns.  It knits up quickly except for the matchy thing…it made me a bit crazy. Stephanie had even warned about this in her write up, but I didn’t know how much it would bug me till I was in too deep! 

  I do love Noro yarns super long color ways most of the time but after almost completely unwinding the remainder of the ball of yarn, I rewound it to try and start at the same point of the color way I had originally started with on mitt number one…and after a couple of false starts, I just decided to ‘go with it’ and completed mitt number two, close enough…

  I don’t know if my sister Diana, the recipient noticed that they are not exactly matchy, and I didn’t ask, but she does wear them and that’s good enough for me!

a word, my word

The word I've chosen for 2014 is acceptance.  It’s a big one…

I need to face up to the fact that I’ll be turning 60 this year, as I’m approaching a kicking and a screaming.  I know my feelings about it are much more dramatic than need be, I learned that when I turned the big 5-0 ten years ago.   How does one prepare for such milestones? I guess it is such a personal journey for each of us.

I know I’ve much to look forward to, as changes are a coming big time…

I’ve joined in with Kim Klassens’ 14 in 2014 this year – What fun!

My list includes;

-De-clutter, especially my closet

-Tidy up computer use, including

   Unsubscribe to sites that continually send me e-mails that I systematically delete

   Un-follow the blogs, twitter and instagram sites that I no longer read on a

   regular basis

-Organize files for 2014 including photos, patterns and documents

-Continue to work on strengthen my left knee since I’ve a ragged meniscus (what

  ever that is)

-Exercise regularly to strengthen core for an upcoming trip

-Find a common interest for hubby and I to enjoy outside the home

-Learn more about retirement and begin planning my own

-Knit a pair of socks (I planned on this last year, but didn’t get er done)

-Decide what projects I want to knit and/or crochet this year and try to not get side-tracked when I see something new that I just have to make

-Continue learning about knitwear design, take an on-line class and read all I can about the craft

-Make time for friends and family

-Paint my bedroom – as I’m ready for a new color to wake up to

-Continue to learn and improve my photography skills

-Watch more sunsets...

Cheers to 2014!

I know, I know, where the heck have I been?  It has been way too long since I've checked in here at Knitalatte to let you know what I've been up to.  Since my last post, I learned that the baby I've been making the crochet star blanket for is a GIRL!  So down with the stars and up with the basket weave knit blanket in pink (more on that later)...

Can you believe it?  2013 is coming to a close.

I love this time of year, when we allow ourselves to reflect on past accomplishments and failures.  To let it go of it all and look forward to the New Year.

I’ve had such fun with the knit and crochet projects that I worked on (completed, ufo’s and frogged items too).

I’ve bought way too much yarn, I mean seriously, do I think I can really produce mass quantities of knit objects within the timeframe that I’m not working, taking care of things or sleeping?  Jeeze!

I thought it would be fun to share with you the books that have peaked my interest and I plan on diving into in 2014.

Woodland Knits by Stephanie Dosen

Stephanie has been one of my favorite knit designers for some time.  I was so excited to see that she put together a collection of her patterns into one book.  I want to make the Dragon Watchers hood, and can’t wait to get started.

Knitting Gifts for Baby by Mel Clark

Who can resist baby knits?  I love Mels patterns and baby knits work up so quickly. The finished product is well received by the proud parents to be, a win-win in my book!  I’m crazy for the Leia Bonnet and have already gotten the yarn to make this up for a special baby.

  

The Yarn Whisperer by Clara Parkes

I’ve read such good reviews about this little book and I’m sure it will be a quick, satisfying read for a Sunday afternoon by the fire.

Knitting Yarns by a collection of writers and edited by Ann Hood

I’ve already read the Knitting Circle by Ann Hood and loved it, so I thought I’d give this a go.

And for pure inspiration; Running with Nature by Mariel Hemingway & Bobby Williams. My sister suggested this read and I’m glad she did!

So I’m wondering what is on your reading list for next year?

I want to thank each and every one of you who have stopped by for a visit, left a sweet comment and allowed me to be apart of your blogging adventure this past year.

Have a safe and Happy New Year.  Cheers to 2014!

some patterns are just magic...

I recently learned some wonderful news, we have another great niece or nephew on the way.

How lucky are we that our family keeps growing!  My lovely niece Hailey is expecting her first child.  Now what is a great auntie to do when the parents to be are not going to find out if it is a boy or girl?  Why create two blankets of course.  I’m knitting a pink basket weave patterned blanket for a little girl.  I’ve knit the pattern numerous times so a pink version will be a fun easy knit.  For a baby boy? 

I found this adorable pattern ‘all star blanket’ by designer Doris Chan to crochet.

The yarn is elsebeth lavold Eucool that I've in stash.  The colors; blue, red, tan and creame for the squares and brown for the connecting rows and trim.

 The magic of this pattern is how the shapes of the individual squares change with every round; Round one a circle, round two creates the star, round three a circle again and round four the square shape that will make up the blanket. 

Magic!  

I'm thinking 30x30, so I'll need about 36 squares.  I’m loving watching it progress.  Stay tuned for the ta-da…