Destination: Florida

I came across this old photo while helping DS with a project. I loved this catamaran and its Carumba sail.

This was my toy back in the early 80s. It was so much fun and is probably a big part of the reason I need wrinkle-hiding cream!!! This pic was taken on Shackleford Island, NC - one of the uninhabited barrier islands that has wild ponies. I used to sail out to the island with my friends to collect shells and watch the ponies. It was a great day trip destination. Sometimes we would see giant sea turtles swimming in the water, and once we saw a carcass of one on the beach. Undoubtedly someone poached eggs from a nest and killed the mama turtle. I remember how mad it made me. : (

I am heading to Florida tomorrow for a fast and furious 4 days. I will pack my camera and my knitting first, then I will see if clothes will fit in the suitcase. : )

And maybe I will see a boat like my old one.

Rah-rah!

A little late for the Super Bowl, but just in time for March Madness - Team Spirit, a new pattern for little girls, sizes 2-7.

This little outfit uses only basic knitting skills and is a good introduction to changing colors. The skirt has an elastic waist, so it's easily adjusted to fit; the top is knit flat (in 2 pieces) and joined at the shoulders with the 3-needle bind off technique for a polished finish. Yarn shown is Berroco Comfort worsted (blue/white) and Knit Picks Swish worsted (red/cream).

The inner panels of the skirt hide behind the outer panels, but give plenty of flare when jumping and twirling (and we know little girls like to jump and twirl).

Pattern is $4 and is available here or on the sidebar.

Stash acquisition from last week: Noro Silk Garden and coordinating Cascade 220... I can't wait to knit this up, but it's about the third project in line. Eventually!

Knit on, stay warm, and watch the snow melt!

More Menagerie

I was looking for the satisfaction that a quick project provides and settled on Rabbit to go along with Ribbit that I made last summer.

He is another tennis-ball tummy pattern from Susan Anderson's Spud and Chloe blog. My Rabbit is made with some scrap Cascade 220, and he was definitely a quick knit. I am still waiting to get my hands on some of the heavier weight Spud and Chloe.

Tennis balls come in a 3-pack... so I wonder what animal will be next?

On another note, this has been a week of new and old patterns. A friend gave me a pattern she ordered for 50 cents (plus 15 cents s&h!!!) "a while ago".

That's the pattern in the background on a sheet of paper that is even bigger than sewing patterns! I can only imagine the headaches folks must have had with typesetting and proofing back when this was printed. Publishing is so much easier now. The envelope has 6 cents metered postage, and it is postmarked 1969. I remember seeing pattern offers like this one in the newspaper as a child. My friend never knitted the coat and hat and now even her granddaughters are well beyond the sizes of this pattern. The Zoo book was a surprise in the mail this week. It is a re-release of a book from many years ago (the early 90s, I'm guessing), and I got a copy because I tested the patterns in the book at its original release. I did? I really don't remember that at all. My mind must be going!

Thursday night SnB was fun this week, but oh so fattening and hard on the wallet! In a perfect world, knitting would burn lots of calories! I'll post pictures of my acquisitions next time.

SOS

I know that SOS is supposed to be a distress call meaning "Save Our Ship", but today it means "Sick of Snow". I'm thinking of Spring. I am officially tired of snowplows, slick roads and salt pellets that are impossible to keep off the kitchen floor.

Here's to Spring... a new scarf pattern that is more sassy than warm. It's called Sensational Spirals.

This one is quick to crochet - it was a weekend project last weekend amid the NFL playoff games and lots of interruptions, so that should tell you that it is a quick project. Only basic stitches are used. It's worked in rows until you get the to the end, then it's joined into rounds to create the "cupping" above the tassels, and finally the tassels themselves.

The tassels are a fun finishing touch!

The yarn I used is Aslan Trends Glaciar Del Cielo in colorway #03 Petal. It's a sportweight cotton that I picked up last summer at Yarn in Hutchinson, KS (this shop is a coffee shop, too, so it's a real treat to step in the door and be surrounded by wonderful fibers, good company, AND some tempting aromas).

More treats to come soon... stay tuned and keep knitting (and/or crocheting)!