Purple obsession?

That's kind of what my friend asked me when she saw pictures of some of my recent projects. For some reason, they've all been purple lately. My sage remedy top (although meant to be in a mint green) was purple. The basil baby blanket for my friend was also made in purple. Then my 2 most recent finished projects (see below) are also in purple. What's up w/ that? Usually, I tend toward blue or a mint green, but I guess I was trying to branch out of my preferred colorway and that's what I ended up with.

Ishbel, by Ysolda Teague, was my first attempt at the triangular shawl. I'm not much of a shawl person (we all know how hot I get), but figured I should give it a try. It's nice to have a wrap of some sorts at the office for when it gets cold in my office. I made Ishbel in Dream in Color Smooshy in Purple Rain. I think it came out really well; however, I think I would have liked it a little bigger. I made the large and finished w/ about 5 yards to spare! I lucked out on that one!



The next project I finished was another Pucker, by Norah Gaughan. I love this top and get so many compliments on it that I had to make another. This time, I made it in Berroco's Seduce in Muscari, which is actually the color I initially wanted to make it in. I like it, but I must say that I think the green one looks much better on me. I made this about an inch longer and b/c of that, I ran out of yarn before I could finish the edging on my last sleeve. Luckily, a woman on ravelry saw my plea and sent me 5 yards so I could finish. Thank you!!!!



I'm now working on the Whisper Cardigan from Interweave Knits Spring 2009, and this time it's back to blue. I'm also working on another Flow in Seduce in what I thought was a pinkish color, but it now looking more lavender. Oh well, I did try to get away from the purple, really I did.

Oh wait! As I was going through and linking some sites, I realized that I never actually posted finished pictures of my sage remedy top! As I posted back in February, I ran out of yarn w/ about 30 rows left to go. The yarn was hand dyed by Carol at Black Bunny Fibers and she didn't have anymore of the yarn, even if should could replicate the color. So, I took it off the needles and immediately cast on again w/ a skein of Brooks Farms' Mas Acero that I purchased at my first MD Sheep and Wool Festival. I love the top! I've gotten lots of compliments on it and shock that I made it. :-)

Housewarming Party

I moved into my new place in October, yet I didn't finally have a housewarming party until a couple of weekends ago. I wanted to take the time to get settled, but I also didn't want to do it in the winter. I wanted to be able to utilize the back deck and grill out. So, I ended up having the party a few weeks after I got back from my trip.

It was great to have my different friends mingling and having fun. Folks brought some yummy treats and Flint took over as grill master. Carolyn made cookies shaped in little houses, including little pink houses. :-)



As expected, my orange mushroom was a huge hit! As was my new Buddha from Cambodia.

I was surprised at how well my place was able to handle the crowd. Out back it seemed a bit tight, but inside, we had folks spread out including a good 7 folks talking it up in the kitchen! Yup, my kitchen is big enough for 7 folks to easily hang out in it.

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All in all, it was a lot of fun and I look forward to having folks over more often, including for Fairmount's celebration of Bastille Day next month!

Beautiful Basil for Baby Schlomina

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted since I got back from my trip. I've been so busy w/ work and traveling and who knows what that I haven't even sat down and gone thru my pictures yet. Once I do, I'll be sure to come back here and post some of them.

One of my former walking buddies moved with her hubby to Toronto about 2 years ago (wow, I can't believe it's already been that long!). We found out they were preggers last fall and immediately I knew that I wanted to make her Courtney's Basil. I wanted to make this for my niece, but my sister said that she already had too many blankets. Her loss.

Even before she got pregnant, my friend referred to any child she'd have w/ her husband as schlomo -- a nice, generic name. Once they learned it was a girl, it was only appropriate to refer to her as schlomina.



I made the blanket out of Koigu which is 100% merino wool. Very soft and warm, even w/ the holes in it. For those who knit, I used 4 skeins of the main color and 1.5 skeins of the contrasting color.



I think my favorite part was the edging. It was a folded hem that added weight and stability to the blanket. Although it looks complicated, it was actually very simple to do.



My friend is due today (no word yet) and she received the blanket earlier this week. I hope it will keep baby schlomina warm and comforted as she grows up!