A new baby hat, a new design element!

I started another baby hat, since the last cabled one looks a bit small for lil' Solly. So I pulled out this yarn from my stash and started another.

Being the inspired person I am, I again resized this pattern up a bit to accomodate a larger baby-head. Now that I started the cable portion I realized I made a grave error in the re-sizing: the cable pattern is done over a 16 stitch repeat, NOT an 8-stitch repeat!-DOH!

So I think I have decided that a design change would be appropriate at this time. Perhaps a larger cable utilizing the extra two 'plain' panels that are now side by side?

And look-I finished the Seaweed Cowl for my friend! I crocheted a loop and will add a button, since I had added a couple of repeats to make this cowl wider and want to give her the option to pull it in a bit at the top.

I LOVE way this colorway knit up! I first found it a bit garish, but found that it really is quite a fun colorway! (And yes, your eyes do not deceive you--my gauge changed 1/2 way through and it started striping!)

And again, time slips away and I forget!

The great thing about my yarn clubs is that my shipments go out automatically and are prepaid far enough in advanced that I often forget they are coming! So is the case with the latest WoolGirl current club shipment that arrived today. This shipment was a Cherry Blossom theme! Featured yarn? Yarntini in Plum Blossom!

Pardon double-pics, but I really feel Jen does such a great job packing up our kits, that you would really be missing out if you didn't get to see my goodies as they came packed.

This is my first Yarntini yarn and what a treat to have this lovely Plum Blossom colorway!

And there is so much in her kits, that seeing them displayed as one picture, you miss lots of the little goodies/details. Like the gorgeous crystal stitch marker from White Oaks. Or the rock sugar stick that was packed so nicely with the tea and strainer. And notice not just the coordination of color, but the overall feel and look that the kraft paper journal offers. Crissy Gardiner designed the sock pattern that peeks out a bit in the first pic.

And I've notified Jen that I want 'in' on next year's club, so I had better start putting aside the money for it!

The worst part about being sick...

is when you are too sick to knit! In my case, I was too sick to even entertain the idea of picking up my needles! Luckily, that part of this cold I'm getting over only lasted 3 days. But then there is all the catching up from when you slept all day, ignoring everything else!

The happy, happy news is that I did finally get to knit on Saturday, finishing a couple of quick gift knits. My Silky Malabrigo Tudora, v 3.0

A Malabrigo Seleccion Privada Calorimetry, modeled by Lil' Emp who decided he prefers it around his neck. Funny, the Malabrigo Loafers I made him were 'scratchy' yet he wore this around his neck for a good 30 minutes-1 hour with no mention of discomfort!

And on Sunday, I got to spend knitting time with great knitting pals Nartian, IrishGirlie and Cupcakefaerie! I was negligent in getting pics of our eatting-er, I mean knitting-get-together, but IrishGirlie did a great job photo documenting on her blog!

And speaking of photo documenting, I snagged this from her blog since she wanted me to post it with the recipe. This is so mega-easy and so yummy! I present to you...

Caprini Crostini (Goat Cheese Crostini)*
makes 15-20 crostini

Ingredients:
3 oz. of Caprini cheese or any soft, white, spreadable cheese (Philadelphia, Neufchatel or lowfat yogurt cheeses are good ones)
2 large cloves garlic
2 red hot peppers (the tiny ones)
a large sprig of parsley
3 Tbsp. olive oil
a pinch or two of salt**

Finely mince the garlic, parsley and red peppers. Place in a s mall bowl and add 3
Tablespoons of olive oil and salt to taste. Place the cheese in this oil and let sit for about 20 minutes. Spread on baguette rounds and serve.

*published in my sister's "Cortona in Your Kitchen...a little bit of Italy for my friends far away." recipe gift book she gave us in 1991. This recipe is characteristic of typical antipasti made in the region in Italy where she lives.

**OOOPS! IrishGirlie-I think I put black pepper in mine but the recipe doesn't call for it afterall!

Since Cupcakefaerie was willing to allow us to invade her place (and I instigated it, evading hostessing duty), I had to make some Cupcakefaerie-worthy cupcakes, so this is what I came up with...(and the reason for a 'quick and easy' appetizer, cuz this is what I spent my time working on...)

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate-almond filling; a splash of ganache over the top with a toasted sliced almond for decoration

And born of the sage knitterly advice and opinions offered during our time together, the decision was made to cast on a Seaweed Cowl...

Seaweed Cowl CO with Malabrigo Seleccion Privada, colorway "Y"
Yes, it is further along; I have knit about 12 rounds, or about 2"

Lastly, there is nothing like the temptation that comes from reading about a new Etsy discovery (Butterflygirldesigns.etsy.com). Thanks to Rocky, I now am the proud owner of a new spindle...

My new spindle is in the front-it has a carved agate whorl! And the Bosworth spindle behind it is filled with the wool/mohair roving-my first BMFA roving purchase-which is getting so close to being completely spun and plied!

I must think I have money this month or something!

Oh yeah, I fogot...

That I had also caved and placed an order with KnitPicks! The nickle plated sock DPNs were on sale and I was unable to pass it by. And the book sale was irresistable, as well. So of COURSE I had to add some worsted weight yarn for gift knitting to the order for free shipping!

As much as my intention was to knit the gifts from my stash, I realized my stash lacked dark colors for the soles of the loafers I want to make. So this should more than make up for the deficiency.

But when the order arrived, I was actually surprised...
who would know that 22 50-g. skeins takes up so much space!

And lack of disciplined prevailed when I cast-on for some mocassin socks...

EZ mocassin socks started!

MAIL DAYS are HAPPY DAYS!!!

Especially when you receive TWO Speed Racer Cereal Bowls!
(Yeah, Grandma's are such the suckers!)

And I am quite sure you can guess what this is...

Yep! My WoolGirl order! THE WoolGirl order. The very same that I just blogged about. And here it is, having arrived TODAY! Gotta love that Jen, I'd say!

As with all WoolGirl orders, there were goodies galore...Halloween hot chocolate, a stitch marker, pen, jelly beans! Could I be more spoiled? I think not!

Far left-Flat Feet (yes, I am only now purchasing my first one...). Right side, top to bottom: The Unique Sheep Footprints yarn in Froggy Feet and Zombie, Mama Llama Sport in Autism, White Oak Studios tvyarns fingering weight yarn in Cool Blue.

I know you've been missing all the eye-candy, KnitGolfer! ;) See what sacrifices I make for my readers? I had to order new yarn just for your entertainment!

The Mystic Light Edition...

I'm so excited to have Clue 4 completed for the Mystic Light No-Longer-Knitting-Along KAL!


This was the best way I was able to photograph the progress. (Yeah, another co-worker pulled into my knitting insanity...)

Not the best pics, but you can kinda get the idea...

Where did this come from?!

I arrived home yesterday to find a box-rather large for a Sock Club shipment box...it was from WoolGirl Jen! I thought, "Dang! I forgot we were getting our club shipment!"

I open the box and realize-'Doh!-it's the Wicked Witch of the West (WWW) kit!!!' Yeah. I ordered it and forgot all about it! I love it when I do that!

So here are all the goodies that were stuffed into the box...
And all the goodies in the bag, opened so you can see it all...
In the bag?--White Oak Studios TVYarn, orange hot chocolate, a WWW tin, bookmark, card enclosure, jellybeans that match the yarn color; not just 'green', but bright green and greenish-brown! A witch PEZ dispenser, broomstick pen, notepads, cloth bag, and the cutest, tiniest, lil' ol'...

witch stitch marker!

Oh! and of course, a pattern: "Where's My Broom?"

And yesterday, I started yet ANOTHER Tudora with the leftover Malabrigo Silky...

BIG THRILL to report? I have now finished Clue 4 of the Mystic Light stole and will post a pic when I get a chance to take a pic of it!

Ta-duh! Look what I got!

An award from the fabu-Cockeyed!

Here are the rules for the award recipients:

1. Please put the award on your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3. You must nominate at least 4 fellow bloggers for this award.

4. Add links to the recipients.

5. Leave a comment so the recipients know they have received an award.

Well, Cockeyed already named Stilaholic Nartian Knits and IrishGirlieKnits, both of who I would name, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed a repeat...

How bout if I add...

1) CUPCAKE FAERIE

2) CHICKENKNITS

3) VORTEX OF CHAOS

4) LIFE IN LILT

Bless Me, Readers, for I have Sinned!

It has been three months since my last yarn purchase confession. Well, except for the one skein of Wollmeise because what Knitter in their right mind passes up on a Wollmeise opportunity? And the other purchases between weren't purchases, since I used gift certificate; therefore, they were gifts.

So I walk into a local crafting store and walk out with this... I mean, the good thing is none of this is yarn, right? The afghan booklet had quick knit afghans that look like they won't bore me--worked doubled and in clever panels! I promised a friend he'd get an afghan by his 50th birthday--I have a bit less than 4 years to go and thought this would be a good start! The hook? Well...some of my lovely 8/0 beads' holes are a tad bit too small for the size 12 crochet hook. Yeah, I paid more for the new hook than if I bought a new bag at less than $1.50 for around 275 beads! I paid for the two items, then the bead spinner caught my eye...it was at the other register and on sale! Grabbed it up, paid for it, done. Yeah, I'm sick that way...Then I thought about Chicken Knit's resolve not to purchase anything she absolutely did not need for a month...I failed that task!

Final confession? One word: Woolgirl! Yeah, I'll dish when it arrives...

And now for the planned Malabrigo Holiday Knits:

I'm hoping these will be converted to gifts this month! Recognize the upper left colorway? I used it for the Quickie Cowl and hope to make a Tudora for my cousin. The right was used for a Tudora and I haven't decided what it may end up being. It's the Colchina colorway. The two colors at the bottom are the Privada collection colorways that ImagiKnit has had sitting forever on their sale shelf. They didn't look nearly as attractive unwound, but I suspected they were more of a 'wow' once wound. I think I may be correct.

The blue/grey/pink will be a Calorimetry for a cousin and the orange/green/pink will maybe be a cowl for a friend's December b-day.

But wait-that's not all! I started the soles pre-October 1 start date, but the tops I started after the 1st. These are two not-Malabrigo Loafers to be. I'm using whatever worsted wool I have for the soles. The top of the first pair is Weavers Wool Quarters from Mountain Colors. Clever Me to discover I had this in my stash to use!
No completed stole clues yet, but the baby hat has been long-finished. A new Baby Solly hat, though I understand that Little 6 mo. Solly is wearing 12 mos. old clothes! This hat may be too small...

Th-th-th-that's all, Folks!