Spring has Sprung

I just can't resist taking pictures of the tulips in bloom, each year.  It is always such a joy, when the weather warms and all of the flowering trees are in bloom.

These tulips are growing in the planter boxes just outside my office.  They are so pretty to look at each morning.

The Spring weather can be quite fickle here in SLC, but even with threat of frost, everyone is always in a hurry to bring out their shorts and tank tops.

Like always, we are planning our Summer vegetable garden, although it may not do as well as in years past, since I am sure we will be put on water restriction this year.  It has been such a mild winter, with hardly a snow storm here in the valley.  I hope we'll have enough water to keep our lawn semi-green.

We making a fast approach on the arrival of our new little twins.  A new grand-daughter and grand-son (#7 & #8).  I've been neglectful on my baby knitting, but do finally have a few things finished and wrapped.

This is the "Small Things Romper" by Carina Spencer, along with a couple of little newborn hats.  My overnight bag is packed, and in the car.  Just waiting for the call.  We'll be leaving soon, for an extended vacation, that was planned long before these little twins were on their way.  I'm just hoping I don't miss their arrival.  I'm hoping the packed bag will hurry them along.

I have selected the patterns, purchased the yarn and have started knitting little Blessing Clothes for the two of them.  These will be the perfect little travel projects.  I've knit the 2 legs for the little boy's romper.  I knit them both at the same time, on US 2 needles.  Although it has just been a week, they seem to have taken forever.  I've now joined them together and I'm knitting away on the body.  A long dress and bolero will follow for the little girl.

If time permits, I hope to knit them each a blanket as well.  The "The Lotus Baby Blanket".  I've knit several of these little blankets, and they knit up really fast.

We've just been informed, that grandchild #9 is also on it's way.  Being a Grandma is so much fun!

I hope Spring is shaping up to be a glorious time in your life too.  Happy Knitting!

Upcoming Vacation

I attended a recent Knitting Guild Meeting, where one of the ladies was wearing a beautiful, lacework vest.  I immediately recognized it from the cover of a past "Vogue Knitting Magazine".  I rushed home to look for it, and sure enough, the vest was featured on the cover of the 2009 Spring/Summer issue.  It is: "Botanica Medallion", designed by Shiri Mor.

Since we are planning a Panama Cruise soon, I had been digging through my summer knitting patterns, in hopes of completing at least one summer sweater to wear.  This was the perfect pattern.  I quickly ordered up the yarn:  Blue Sky Alpacas - Skinny Cotton (White), and got right to work.

The medallion on the back knit up quickly, only taking one evening to complete.  I blocked it and started knitting the outer ring.  I wasn't too far before I realized there were mistakes in the instructions.  I went to Ravelry.com, to see if there were any errata (pattern mistakes) published.  There were a few errata there, but these didn't correct all of the problems.  Once I figured out where the mistakes were, I re-wrote the 4-row directions, and started again.

The design incorporated some unusual, but beautiful, stitch patterns.  I was so happy to learn these stitch patterns, and I'm sure I will incorporated some of them into my future designs, as they created such a beautiful lace.  This lace was unlike traditional knitted lace, but rather looked like crocheted hairpin lace.  Truly a skill I am happy to have mastered.

I will be wearing my vest with some light-weight, flowy print pants, with a flowy tunic tee-shirt.  I'll be sure to take some picture on my cruise, for a later post.

Now that is finished, I must hurry and getting knitting for my daughter's new twins.  A boy and girl, are soon to arrive, and I am getting a really late start.  I've started with a blue and pink romper, "Small Things Romper", by Carina Spencer.  I'm knitting them of KnitPicks Comfy (flamingo & sea foam).  They are working up fast, but I've decided after finishing the pink one, to unravel the arms and legs and go with a tighter silhouette and ribbed cuffs.  Once these are finished, I'll need to get busy knitting blessing clothes for each of them.  These are both still in the design phase.

I still have two summer sweaters partially finished from last year, Eva and Stella.  

Stella is nearly finished, with just 1 sleeve left to knit.  I'm planning to attach some long, french lace to the bottom of her.  

Eva is still in the beginning stages.  

These will be soon be my focus, but I have my eye on another pattern:  "Maja-Kiito" by Marita Rolin.  I just cannot get my fingers to knit any faster.  There are just so many sweaters in my head, dying to get out.

I hope your knitting is going well . . . Happy Knitting!