Ooooo-eee!

I sent my package to my swap partner yesterday! This whole process has been fun and exciting. I really hope she likes the package (^-^)

To mail it, I went to the Shipping Depot which is only about ten blocks from here. It was not super busy (like the post office always is) and they give you options on how you want to ship! FedEx, UPS, USPS. I think that is just neat. I will definitely ship with from now on :)

Fair Isle

A sneak of what I am working on right now:

Birthday monster

For Penny, Happy Birthday!

Review: Yarn U app for the iPhone

Yarn U

**This review is sponsored by Mary Beth Klatt**

Yarns found in Mary Beth Klatt's app, Yarn U, include Berroco, Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Classic Elite Yarn, Noro, Cascade Yarns, as well as the Knitpicks line, just to name a handful. Yarn can be searched for by weight, manufacturer, fiber, and washability through the handy filter tool at the top of the screen, or by scrolling through the entire list. For each yarn listed, there is a picture and a brief informational section that includes manufacturer, yarn weight, stitch gauge, fiber content, and yardage, as well as pros and cons of that particular yarn.

              

This is not a complete yarn list nor is it static. Since first downloading Yarn U in December, I’ve noticed several changes in the app. For instance, the yarn list on the home screen is still alphabetized by yarn name, but now includes a brief description and the yarn manufacturer, which I find incredibly helpful. There are comment sections for users’ inputs for both yarns and app, and Mary Beth Klatt is constantly replying to messages. Many comments request a certain yarn to be added to the database and some comments are directed towards the app programming. I have no doubt that she reads every comment and sincerely considers them. 

              

Bottom line: Yarn U is a convenient and helpful app for knitters and crocheters who frequent local yarn stores or shop online for yarns, who want to know more about a certain yarn at a glance, and are handy with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod (and soon Android, as Mary Beth Klatt tells me).

To find more information on or to download Yarn U, visit the App Store. 

Looks like we're finally getting ours :)

What's on my plate

Man oh man, my plate is full!

In my last post I wrote about Hugo, the Couch Potato Monster. Hugo (or as Scott likes to call him: Hubert) is nearly finished, I just need to knit and fill his arms. It turns out I needed THREE skeins of yarn in total. I ran out of the main blue color twice, so I ended up using up some yarn that I had previously purchased. Now he is wearing a sweater. More on Hugo/ Hubert when he's finished. He is already stuffed with Polyfill (it took over TWO whole bags!!) and he is the comfiest, squishiest, most delightful pillow EVER!

Here is a picture of Berny for you all :) I think it needs higher contrast, or a black background. I know how to do neither of these.

Remember the hat I knit for my dad this Christmas? Well, one of his neighbors (and a longtime family friend) really liked it and put in an order for one! And she offered me money! This will be my first paying order :) and I am stoked. It is so exciting and I am thankful that she supports my craft! She sews beautiful quilted banner-like scenes so I know she understands the time and love that goes into crafts.

I have also signed up for a swap on Ravelry and am super excited for it! It's themed around Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, or Leap Day :) and with a real birthday this year, there was no way in heck I could pass this one up. My swap partner is awesome and we both love Harry Potter! I can't say much more about this now.

Next weekend I am going to Scott's brother's girlfriend's baby shower (whew!). For Christmas, I knit her a baby blanket and gave her some baby gowns. With the leftover yarn, I've decided to knit a baby hat and some booties. This will be my first time knitting baby accessories (besides afghans) so I am a little nervous about sizing and how little time I have. But they should knit up quickly since they're so little, right?

Let's see, I was also asked to review a yarn app for the iPhone recently, and am just finishing up my review! I will post the review here, so more on that later.

Gosh, I think that is all. Oh! The pair of socks I started for Scott in November are about halfway finished; I am at the gusset decrease. I would really like to finish them in time for Valentine's Day! If I do finish them in time, they will be the fastest socks I've knit so far! (well, that and my second pair :) )

Now all I need to do is make a knitting schedule and stick to it!

WIP: Hugo the Couch Potato Monster

I started this little guy last night at our family dinner, and he was kind of a hit :) actually, the entire Big Book of Knitted Monsters by Rebecca Danger was popular.

I'm using Lion Brand Quick and Jiffy (or something like that) on (my new!!) KP Harmony US 11 with a 32" cable. With this cable I am able to knit in the round, though not as easily if I had shorter needles. I Magic Looped the feet but the cable is too short to use this technique on the whole thing.

I have already used one skein, on my second, and am thinking I will need at least one or two more!

Celebrity Apprentice 2012 !!

Who else is anticipating the new season of Celebrity Apprentice?! Mark your calendars for February 12! Woo hoo :)

link for cast:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2082346/Celebrity-Apprentice-2012-cast-Aubrey-ODay-Teresa-Guidice-Debbie-Gibson.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Soup

Tonight I tried my hand at making my grandma's soup for the first time, which we fondly call Drop Noodle Soup. (I have since learned from another source that this type of noodle is actually called a rivel. Who knew?)

This is one of those childhood meals that now brings comfort and warm feelings. There are only a few ingredients: potatoes, flour, onions, water, eggs, and a little salt pepper and Crisco.

It was delicious and pleasing :) and I will definitely make it again, many times.

WIP: boy socks

We have reached my favorite part of the sock: the heel flap. I like the heel turn too. But I do not like the gusset. Luckily I probably won't get to that until tomorrow :)

The yarn is Patons Kroy sock yarn in Cascade.

Happy New Year!!!

I spent the beginning of the evening with my friend, Abbey, at Missoula's own 10 Spoon Winery. Live music by David Boone, which was amazing!, Farmdog wine, which was delicious and we petted a real dog too, and a picnic that we brought, which was a little embarrassing, mostly because it appeared no one else had brought food.

It was such a nice time! Plus, it was my very first time being at a winery, so that was neat.

This was how close we were!!

Hope you all have a wonderful and peaceful New Year!!