Grow your Blog party is in full swing!

Party!

Hi, I’m Karen and I’m participating in the very first ‘Grow your Blog’ party that begins today.  Vicki from Two Bags Full is our host.  She has been one busy lady putting this all together.  Thank you Vicki! What a great way to visit like minded bloggers and get to know a bit about them.  Hop on over to her site and see all the links to those of us that have signed up for this special event.

A bit about me.  Well, as my blog name, Knitalatte, implies I’m all about the craft of knitting. I spend much of my free time with needles and yarn.  Honestly, I just can’t seem to get enough of this enjoyable pursuit.  I’ve always got a project or two in the works. I started blogging about knitting after I’d wandered around blog land and visited other knitters who shared this same passion.  Exploring blogs out there is so much fun and I’ve met some amazing people because of it.

If you are a knitting enthusiast and want to see what I’m up to, stop on by anytime and leave a comment and I’ll stop on by your blog to do the same. Or send me an e-mail; kace520atyahoodotcom.

Well it wouldn’t be much of a party with out goodies, so I’ve having a giveaway…

I’ve knitted up this little hat in my favorite yarn, Madelinetosh and it will be sent to the winner. All you need to do is leave a comment to enter. Good Luck and thanks for visiting Knitalatte!

Once...

Emma’s baby blanket from season 1 of the hit show ‘Once upon a Time’ became an obsession of mine from the very first time I spotted it on the TV screen.  I kept looking for it every episode, as I wanted a closer look, so I could figure out the stitch pattern and perhaps make one myself.  Fortunately I found that Caitlin had posted the link to the pattern to her website on Ravelry. (Love Ravelry) How cool is it, that she knit the blanket for the show and was generous in sharing her pattern with all of us? Sweet! Thank you Caitlin.  The only modification that I made to her pattern was the edging.  I chose a crochet in lieu of a knit finish.
  This little treasure is going to a soon to be baby girl named Camryn.   I hope she loves it as much as I loved making it for her.  Like the Emma blanket, I attached a piece of muslin to it with her name embroidered using floss and edged it with a blanket stitch.  Yarn used; Spud & Chloe Outer

Hitchhikin in pink

I’ve just completed this ‘pretty in pink’ Hitchhiker Scarf.  This one is special as it is going to be sent to my dear friend Vicki for her ‘Pink Scarf’ project, make a scarf, make a difference.  Vicki is one of those wonderful people, that once you’ve met her, via her blog, travel writing or in person, you immediately feel like you’ve known her all your life.  Her generosity knows no boundaries and I so admire her tireless work helping others. Thank you Vicki for all you do.

I chose this pattern for the scarf because of what the designer Martina Behm says about why she knits.  She ‘loves to create something and have yarn in her hands’. Her intention is that her designs and the finished object should be fun. 

Isn’t that why we create, for the pure joy of it?  Her Hitchhiker pattern has given me so much happiness in the creating of the scarf.  The yarn is one of my favorites, Rain days & Wooly dogs ‘Henbane’ 100% sw merino because it is so soft and I love the variegated color way, Cheeky Blush. 

My intention for this creation is to put a smile on the recipients face.

(You can also click on the link over on my side bar to learn more about Vicki’s project)

Happy New Year!

Can it really be, the end of 2012?  It went by way to fast! I woke up this morning thinking to myself, how will I spend this very last day of the year?  I decided, it was time to organize my yarns;

review my UFO pile;

 seek out new inspiration;

and pause to reflect...

I learned a few new knit and crochet skills this year and I worked on many fun projects that brought me much joy and happiness. But most of all, I had the pleasure of sharing all of this with you, my followers.  I am so very grateful to each and every one of you for stopping by. I look forward to the year ahead and making plans for new projects. Cheers and a Happy New Years!

a celebration and much needed r and r...

Woo Hoo...Hubby and I celebrated 25 years of marriage this December and spent a wonderful week on what we consider the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands, Maui. In the middle of our crazy work schedules and all the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the Christmas season, we put our everyday lives on hold and headed off for a great adventure, and it turned out to be just that.  This was our first trip, less children, in way too long and it was exciting to think about how we wanted to spend our days while there. It turned out that our mornings were for snorkeling and our afternoons for exploring and hiking.  A week is certainly not enough time to see everything that Maui has to offer, so we concentrated on three areas that we chose to explore.  First was Honokowai, on the west side where we rented a condo that had a beautiful view looking out at the islands of Molokai and Lanai.  

View to the island of Molokai

We saw the best sunsets while there, the most rainbows and had fun looking thru our binoculars for whales spouting, breeching and tail slapping (all while hanging out on our lanai sipping cold ones).  The time we spent reconnecting with each other was exactly what we needed.  Why is it that our everyday lives give us so little time to do exactly that?  (Note to self; need to work on this).

Resting after a long hike

Our next destination; Hana.  Now we’ve been to Maui several times but have never made the trek over to the east side to see the waterfalls that everyone raves about.

Baldwin Park near Paia, stopped along the way to Hana

So off we went driving on what seemed to be the never-ending road up the mountain and over to the wettest side of the island. We spent a couple days exploring this lush paradise.  The flowers were amazing and the local papaya, bananas and cocoanuts were delicious. We’re glad we got to experience a bit of Hana, but the high winds, huge surf, intermittent rains and the sense of remoteness were not our idea of a restful vacation.

Hamoa Beach - Hana

Been there, done that… and off we went to our third stop, Kihei.  Unexpectedly, it turns out that this part of the island is our favorite.  Gentle breezes, great snorkeling and beautiful sandy beaches welcomed us and stole our hearts.

Kihei...we love you...

What an amazing week of focusing on the Us that have been partners for the past 25 years. It seems like yesterday that we said our I-Do’s. We’ve known the joy of raising a family and have also known the heartbreak of difficult challenges over the course of this journey called marriage.  I’m happy to report that we return refreshed, full of gratitude and ready to face the challenges that lay ahead, because as we all know, life just keeps on coming at us…P.S.  made time for a bit of hexipuffing too!

Amazing Sunset

Just had to share this. The view from the lanai. Hubby and I got to watch this sunset unfold while we were having our dinner this evening. So beautiful!

a wonderful story...

Have you seen this?  Alana Dakos and her 6 year old daughter wrote this adorable little book ‘Annie and the Swiss cheese scarf’.  When I saw this on Alana’s blog, Never not knitting, I knew I had to get a copy for my grand niece, Madeline.  It arrived, and I couldn’t wait to sit down and read it.  It is a well-written children’s book and the illustrations by Neesha Hudson are perfectly matched to the story.

I just love it!  I decided to knit the scarf; pattern is available on ravelry, so my niece could wear it while she was reading the adventures of Annie as she takes up knitting. Madeline is 5, a great age to be introduced to the art and should the spark ignite, enjoy a life long love of knitting.  I’m excited to spend some time with her and this wonderful little book over the holiday season. I’m hoping the accompanying skein of yarn and knitting needles will encourage her to knit her very first Swiss cheese scarf…