My Apron

Yesterday I went to the apron class that I have been anticipating since May. It was great to see Gwen again. It was her book, When Life Hands You Alzheimer's, Make Aprons,  and the pattern that got me all excited about my sewing again.

For four hours she shared stories of her mother, father and growing up on a farm, while we all sewed and shopped for more fabric to create more aprons. We also learned some new tricks to make the sewing go faster, and how to create the really cute towel that hangs on the apron. The one I made is called Katie's Apron. There are two others in the pattern, one is for a child.

This one will hang in the shop for a while as a sample, then I will have it at home to use. It is a great project to practice your sewing skills.

Return from Breck

Just some random pictures to share of the return from Breckenridge. I had to come back after the last associate session so I can get ready for the apron class tomorrow. I have been looking forward to this class since May, cannot believe it is already here.

Trek to Breck: New Hat to Knit

When I went up to Breckenridge for a work event, I took a new pattern for a really cute hat to knit in my off time. It is from the latest Knit Simple magazine. It is called the Tasseled Hat. (looks like I am the second person to be knitting this on Ravelry).

I found some Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool to knit it up and cast on this evening with a little help from MiniMoose. My first adjustment to the pattern was to do a provisional cast on because the pattern calls for picking up stitches to do the brim. Otherwise the rest of it reads well. It calls for a size 9 however I think I will have to use an 8 because I am not getting gauge and think this will be too loosely knit.

I love the color and hope it will have some leftover so I can knit stripes into the grey I got for handwarmers.

It is beautiful in Breck and I got to see some snowflakes and soak up some much needed cooler temperatures. I hope everyone is enjoying some Fall weather where they are~!

Shoulder Cozy 2: Just in Time

The second shoulder cozy is finished and just in time for my little trip to Breckenridge.

It is done in Berrocco Boboli  in a multi-jewel tones. I knit it longer than the first one and will be glad I did.

Not much to show because I did not take a picture yet, however as usual I had assistance and supervision. Hopefully this pic of Pedro is more entertaining than just another knit. :-)

Happy first Sunday of Fall~!

Oktoberfest: Rocky Mountain Style

Mom and I had a little adventure today when we met in Woodland Park and went to the 15th Annual Rocky Mountain Oktoberfest.

The weather was fabulous for the first day of Fall. There were two music venues and we chose the traditional German music indoors at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. There were dirndls, lederhosen and folks who knew the traditional dances, and we polkaed and Chicken Dance'd. It was great fun.

Of course, there was beer and brats. The one big difference this year was they had more service booths than arts and craft sellers. I think that was because of the summer we had this year with the fires. It was good to see the community out supporting their own.

The Apron that Started it All

This is the apron that re-energized my sewing bug. Earlier this summer I met the woman who designed it and learned the story behind it. I was impressed and knew that I had to take this class.

This is the apron that makes money for the Alzheimer's Respite Care program. The pattern and the book, When Life Hands You Alzheimer's, Make Aprons by Gwen O'Leary, are sold to raise money for the program with all proceeds going to that end.


Gwen offfers the class to interested shops and, according to the website, has done that around the country.


She will be giving the class in Woodland Park on September 29th at Nuts and Bolts. I think there may be a couple slots left if anyone is interested. I will be showing off my work on this project as it happens. 

Island Fiesta

Another sewing project is done and gifted.

These were a wedding gift to a co-worker whose biggest excitement about getting married was the honeymoom in Hawaii. I hope these remind her of the great time they had.

Now I am off to start a new knitting project and eyeball the fabrics I have for another sewing project. I hope everyone is finding ways to enjoy the cooler weather that is coming~!

Termination Dust - 9/14/12

The first indication that summer is ending and winter is in the wings - snow on Pikes Peak this morning.

Finished - The Giraffe is Done!

The giraffe I started in June is finally finished. Seems like to took a long time this summer to complete this project. I guess that attests to the kind of summer we had this year.

I will be taking this to work today to give to the new grandmother who is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first grandchild (a girl, I understand).

This was knit from the Itty Bitty Toys book.

Salida Fiber Festival

The knitting gals and I went over to Salida today for the first annual Fiber Festival in Salida. It was at the River Park downtown and was a fabulous day. The highlight was Brooks Farm from Texas was there selling their fabulous yarn.

We had a great day of visiting, talking about knitting, actually knitting, and watching the tabloid that is Salida. Best picture of the day was the bride and her bridal party wading in the river for a photo shoot. The boots are awesome.

In Sewing News

This is my first major sewing gift project.

I created 4 napkins and coasters to go with a slumped wine bottle cheese tray I got for my sister's wedding gift.

I used grape and leaves fabric as a primary fabric and added purple printed and a plaid to offset. The coasters were done with a block weave and a triangle weave technique.

It all goes in a basket and will be gifted to them next week. I had little notice of the upcoming nuptials so could not get this done in time for the Labor Day wedding ceremony. Oh well, better late than not at all.

I am making another set for a co-worker and they have a really great theme too.

Rios - Pile of Gifty Goodness

The holiday season is fast approaching, no, I will not torment you with the number of days in the countdown, but I know it is time to get knitting.

I opted this year to do neckwarmers aka cowls for gifts and I wanted the softest, bestest yarn I could use. Lo and behold, my mother tipped me off to a sale at Paradise Fibers for Malabrigo Rios. It is the worsted weight version in superwash.

So, I ordered a bunch of skeins after I made my gift list of who would use a neckwarmer of this caliber. I looked for a pattern that would be great for portable knitting and do justice to the fabulous colorways that I ordered. The pattern I tested and really like is called Malabrigo Neck Thingie. The pattern shows off the subtle color changes beautifully (even if the picture does not reflect this).

Each Thingie takes less than one skein and I plan to make a car version for myself out of all the leftovers, I think that will be really cool.

Note: picture above - all Rios in the colorways as follows:
Top row from left to right - Archanger, Purple Majesty, Ravelry Red, Candombe, Cumparsita.
Bottom row from left to right - Glazed Carrot, Purpursa, Zamazora and Teal Feathers.

New Knits - Juliet Cowl

Another hat project from the Cascade 60 More Quick Knits book is the Juliet Cap, #53 in the book.

In this case, the cap became a cowl. I tried the pattern as written on US size 4, got to the decreases and realized that the hat was TOO big, frogged it and started on US size 3. When I got to the decreases again I realized that it was still TOO big, so I turned it into a cowl by finishing it with K5, P5 rib for about an inch.

I love the bobble edge and the lace pattern in it. Not sure what the problem is with the pattern but have found no errata at the Cascade site. I think it will make a lovely neckwarmer this winter.