Ribbed Baby Sweater

This was a quick and easy knit for a co-worker to give to her cousin's new baby.  I used 2 skeins on Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Seaspray on the Ribbed Baby Sweater  (6-9 month size).  The leaf motif was a cute addition and I love the collar.

The hat is the Magic Coffee Baby Hat and took around 1/3 of the third skein.  The little boy has a full head of dark hair and it will look so cute on him.

WIP Wednesday - Notting HIll Vest

I also gave up on the original vest for my dad.  It didn't fit him right and I am NOT a pro at writing/re-writing patterns.  I found this instead and it seems a much better choice.  It's the Notting Hill Vest from Interweave Knits by Kathy Zimmerman.  If only the fiber didn't make me itch so. 

Here's the back.  I really like how the cables turned out.  I'm not sure if the armholes are too deep for him or not, but I will measure it on him in the next couple of weekends.  That, thankfully, is an easy fix.  

I already did the ribbing for the front and am starting the chart tonight....  good so far!

Cable Slippers

Remember these...

They started a trend.  I needed more.  I found this little booklet at Joann's a while back and instantly fell for the adorable cable slippers.  Then I forgot about them for a while.  Well, I needed an easy road trip project a few weeks ago and started spending too much time on Ravelry when I found these in my que and remembered that I had the book!  BINGO!!!!

About the same time, I moved my sewing area to the front (bedroom) storage room.  It was in the living room and the Hubs couldn't see the TV while on the Ellyptical, so he wasn't using it.  I had to move yarn, and we all know that takes a while, because it needs to be looked at and held, while the computer is sitting on the floor with Ravelry open next to you.  WELL, I had just under 2 skeins of Australian Merino leftover from a Capelet I made years ago.  Gauge was right on!  Yippee, road trip project that fills the need for more slippers too, I love 2 for one's!

They are wonderful.  That's all, no complaints, they fit perfectly and I still want more (of these) exactly like this, in more colors.  Yep, happy feet!

Apologies....

First of all, I would like to apologize, I have been incredibly negligent when it comes to my little space here.  I have dozens of blogs written in my head right now so I will try to get them typed up and out here in the blogsphere.

I started a new job in April!  (Woooooo Hooooo!)  I also started a workout routine shortly after and have been heading directly to the gym from work every day.  The hubs and I are trying to get into a new routine and I'm trying to get dinners ready or at least prepped on the weekends so we aren't eating at 9pm.

I haven't knit, I haven't been at my sewing machine.  I've read, but that's about it.  Oh, yeah, I read all 4 Twilight books in 10 days.   I read these three books and loved them all.  I'm hoping to get to see The Help next weekend with mom.



































We have been staying home every other weekend or so, but even though we've been home, we've been busy!  We've spent several afternoons and evenings cooling down in our friends pool - thank you Ron and Sheri!  We did the original Detroit taste off between Lafayette and American Coney Island.

We are proud to say that we agree, Lafayette is the winner!  We drove around Belle Isle, because sadly, I had never been there.  It was a fun afternoon!

There was a wedding.  We spend some fun weekends with family and friends at the lake.  My niece is 12 (12!) and she is taller than me by a good inch!  Crazy!  And we celebrated our 3rd Anniversary!  Three years have flown by!  Love ya!

've cleaned out some closets and have several boxes ready to go to good will.  I made enough room in the closet in my sewing room that I was able to move some things around and make more working space.  I can get to my ironing board now!  It's great.

We spent the day at Eastern Market today with my mom and dad and had lunch at Loco, YUM!  Dessert at Cold Stone on the way home.  And I decided that it's time to not only get back here, but to start my second quilt!  I've had this magazine since last summer, I've had this fabric for almost 2 years, and KNEW I would make this quilt with this fabric as soon as I saw it.

So, why on earth has it taken me this long to start it?  I sat down with my cutting mat, circle template and fabric and got to work.  I'm altering it a little because I only had 24 squares of fabric instead of the 32 called for, BUT, my squares are bigger.  So yeah, it's altered a little.  I can't wait to get the quilt top together, because I found a long arm quilter and it's going to her to be finished!

I have some recipes to share and I did finish a few projects that just never got photographed toward the end of winter, so I will be sharing them soon.  I hope to be back on a regular blogging schedule soon!

Finishing the Acadian

I finally got up the nerve to block my Acadian Shawl.  It turned out really well.  I can't wait to wear it!

Holiday Handmades

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday!  I can finally share what I've been working on for holiday gifts this year!  I have been busy knitting and sewing away, therefore, all of the creative juices have been flowing in that direction.  I have barely thought about interesting meals at all.  Ask Brian.  The dinners have been very uninspired around here.  Back to the menu planning next week!

I digress....  Here is the crafty goodness...

Jamie is a U of M fanatic!  I have reports that he sleeps with the blanket every night and it is hauled to the couch first thing in the morning.  I'm so glad he likes it!

I love the one I made for Sophie.  I told her I would keep it if she didn't like it, but she smiled and shook her head.  Apparently that means I did well choosing the colors!  I'm still the cool aunt!

I had to keep up with tradition and make Mimi another shawl. She got a shawl pin from my parents and pinned it right on and wore it the rest of the day!  

Terttu Shawl  

Raveled Here

Springtime Bandit Shawl for Mom
Raveled Here

Mom loved her Christmas shawl.  I think she will get a lot of use from it!  I also made her coasters, but I can't find the picture!

I think I will start next years gifts in a few weeks.  I always say that, but maybe this year I will actually do it!

An adventure with wool

So, here's the story...  My dad went to Ireland in September of 2009.  Before he left I asked him to bring me back Bono, or The Edge, or yarn.

Fast forward 2 weeks...  He's home and so excited to show me the yarn he picked out.  Then he says to me in an Irish accent, "I thought you would make me a waistcoat!"  He looks like a kid on Christmas morning, rubbing his hands together and everything.  Oh, so you actually bought yourself some lovely wool in Ireland in the hopes that your wonderful daughter would be gracious enough to take the time and make you a vest.  I see how it works.  (plus I still have 3 different kinds of yarn waiting for the perfect projects from the last time mom was in Ireland)...oops.

We finally found a pattern.  It's from Knit Simple Holiday 2009, P. 75.

 I punished him by making him hold all 4 hanks while I wound them in to balls.  He blissfully sat there smelling the sheepy wool and telling me how wonderful the lanolin felt on his fingers. Punishment backfired, he enjoyed every second of it.   Then I went to work getting his measurements.  Oh boy.  The back of the sweater is smaller then the smallest size listed and the front is a medium to accommodate his belly.  Completely custom.  He doesn't make things easy, that man, but I love him.

I promptly discovered that I didn't mind at all that the yarn wasn't going to reside permanently with me, because my eyes, nose and skin itched like mad within about 5 minutes of starting his "waistcoat", making it difficult to work on for an extended period of time.  Then summer came and his project took a backseat to other, smaller, more warm weather appropriate projects.  

I got it out again a few weeks ago when the cooler weather arrived (and he had asked me about 5 times when I would have it finished)  I finished the back and went in search for buttons.  Thank the powers that be for Etsy.  I emailed him a list of links and he picked the buttons that I would have picked myself, so predictible.  A special thanks to Lulu's Emporium for having exactly what I needed!

I blocked it last night.  The buttons were in the mail box today.  Nice right?  It should be dry by tomorrow.  Finished this weekend with a picture to share next week.  A happy man with his new, custom, daughter made waistcoat.  P.S.  I have 2 balls left.  What should I do with them?

Easy Lace Shrug

I love this project so very much.  I love it.  I love the lace, and the way it looks, and the way it fits, and I would really like to have one for myself.  Actually, that's not quite true, I do have one for myself.  It is a deep green and it's beautiful (photos when the weather gets a bit cooler), but what I really want is one in this fab Champagne color..

Great, right?  Goes with everything, huh!

Yep, that's why I want one for me....  But, being the generous, wonderful, giving person that I am, I don't have one for me yet...  Until now...  I made one for my mom for Mother's Day, and that's when I really fell in love with the color, so I went out and bought the yarn and made another one.  Well, the fam was all together to celebrate my Grandpa's 90th Birthday, (yes, 90th and he is great!) and Bri and I were heading out to the back yard at the lake house to get some pics finally when my Grandma saw me and went nuts.

About 4 years ago, my Mom, Aunt, Grandma and myself flew to Washington to see our family there because my Grandma's brother wasn't well,  and she wanted to see him and her sister and our cousins and the old family home on Whidby Island.  So, we made a trip of it and we stayed in Bothell with my Great Aunt Phyllis and Great Uncle Francis.  I, of course, took my knitting with me everywhere, because we were in the car a lot.  My Aunt was amazed that I could knit and carry on a conversation at the same time and always asks my Grandma what I have been working on.  Well, Grandma asked if I would knit another shrug for her to send to Washington and I gave her this one after the photo shoot!  She was thrilled and mailed it out that Monday.  I am so glad that I could do this for her!  My Aunt was thrilled when she got it in the mail and wore it several times that first week and has already received countless complements on it!  She loves it and raves about the fact that she has a hand knit from me, so that makes it all worth while!  Oh, and I just found out that my cousin Allison, who I was sitting and talking to on my visit has now started knitting and is currently working on her first shawl!  Yippee!  A convert!

So with this post, I have cast on the shawl that will be mine (God willing) and I will have a completed one within the month!  What are you working on right now?

Acadian Shawl

I'm not going into details.  You can read them on my Ravelry project page if you are interested, but I am really glad that I finally finished this!  I can't honestly remember having such a difficult time with a relatively simple project!  Obviously, this still needs to be blocked, but here it is.  I used 3 skeins of naturallycaron.com Country in Deep Taupe and I used every inch of those three skeins.  I had just enough to weave in the last end!  Wheew!

I know these aren't the best pics, but it's dark and I still need to block it, so I will get some more to post later.

It's Hurricane Season....

I love knitting small projects in the summer time.  It's so nice to whip up mittens and hats in the summer and not have the weight and the heat hanging on you.  Thus, the inspiration for Hurricane.  Since I STILL have left over skeins of Snowbird that I can't seem to use up...  here it is...

I love the subtle lines in this hat!  It fits perfectly and I can't wait to get a picture when the weather gets cooler!

And how bout these beauties!  My Peekaboo Mittens.  I'm loving the flap!  My falanges will be toasty warm this winter!

My poor neglected blog.... getting back on track post #2

There is another reason that I haven't been updating as much as I should, but some things can't be shared yet, because they aren't completed!  Things like sewing projects for the shop that I am trying to stock before opening, and knitting things that are gifts!  Not to mention the fact that I neglected my camera for the whole holiday weekend too.  What is wrong with me?

Well, I guess I can show you this...  Finished this weekend: Toasty Mitts from Leslie @ A Friend to Knit With.  I seriously love her blog.  All her knitting projects and the recipes she shares!

And this was such a quick and easy knit.

I had grand plans for little projects for the weekend, Cupcake Mittlets, Toasty, Bella Mittens, a re-usable swiffer cloth, and I only got these done.  (Oh, and the left Cupcake Mitt too, but that was in the car on the way up, so I'm not sure if that counts...)  I spent most of the afternoon and evening on Sunday dragging little Texans around on inflatable boats in the lake!  We had a crowd of people at mom and dad's all day, including our friends 3 grandchildren from Texas who spend 5 weeks here every summer!  It was so much fun!  Not to mention the food.  My dad grilled a whole turkey.  YUM! That's all, just YUM!  More soon, promise, just not sure when.  And possibly a recipe or two...

Oh, I do have a picture to show you...  The Cupcake Mittlets went to Jodi for her birthday!

Nice view I get to knit with on the weekends, right?

Oh, and BTW, RuRu has recently decided that he's got some junk in the trunk goin' on, so he's been getting on the ellyptical daily.

See you soon!

Baby Gift - complete!

My cousin Angie is expecting her first child in a couple of weeks, so I decided to get knitting!  This is the Baby Top with Seed Stitch Trim from Debbie Bliss...  SOOO  freaking cute!  I made the 6-12 month size, but it may fit well into toddlerhood!    And the booties, I can't take the cuteness!    Raveled here for the sweater and here for the booties...  I used Paton's Grace in Ginger for the main color and Spearmint for the contrast.  US 2 and 3 needles.  They have some great colors and I loved working with this yarn!    Congratulations Angie and Paul! 

Winter Skies

Winter Skies, originally uploaded by brikelmilo.

Ah… this yarn.
Queensland Collection Leche is lovely…. Go get some! NOW! And while you are out, get Knitted Gifts by Ann Budd. Yep, that’s the pattern on the front. Winter Sky Hat and Mittens. Now, sit down and knit it for heaven’s sake! RIGHT NOW! Why are you still reading this? GO!

Slip on some comfort...

Aran Isle Slippers, originally uploaded by brikelmilo.

Aran Isle Slippers from Interweave Knits Holiday 2008... I used naturallycaron.com Spa...

These are wonderful for travel or visiting. They are so soft and cozy and you can toss them in the laundry when you get home!

Love them!

Time Flies

In the past 3 weeks, I have...
Made stuffed burgers, twice! I stuffed the Italian burgers with fresh mozz. Oh, and some food porn for you too, check out the Caprese in the background! But really, doesn't that oozy cheese look sooo good?

Here's another!

And the White Wine Pesto Burgers with white cheddar for Brian and Lauging Cow light Garlic and Herb for me! Yummy, ooey and gooey! I had such inspiration about stuffed burgers last night that I sat down and wrote out ideas, names and ingredients for about 15 more stuffed burgers. So, check back because I will be posting more!

We also GRILLED Brussels Sprouts on a veggie griller thingy. THEY WERE SO GOOD! Totally different flavor. It's way to hot here to even glance at the oven, let alone turn it on, so they got tossed in some oil with pepper and a little salt, same as we do for roasting, and got tossed on the grill with the burgers! Works for me! And it really did work!

Remember the raspberries... Well, they have become frozen yogurt! And people, if you don't have one of these, you really, truely, don't have an utter clue what you are missing! Seriously, I'm not kidding. I can't wait to make frozen yogurt with strawberries and peaches, or pistachio, mint chip, and cookie dough ice cream. I may burn the motor out this year! The recipe I used is from here...

Our friend Pam's sister is suffering from Melanoma and with a fundraiser coming up this weekend, I really wanted to donate something. I had some really pretty, varigated Rainbow Boucle in a pretty plummy color (they call it Berry Print) that was waiting to become a shawl, and I was so glad to drop it off for them this morning. I really hope it goes to a good home!

EDITED TO ADD:  It went to a great home!  Hope you enjoy Jodi!

And people, learn from my mistakes, buy two skeins... I didn't feel like carting 2 huge skeins up north this weekend and my poor (wonderful) mother helped me with more knots and tangles than you can imagine! This really is my favorite shawl to knit. The pattern is so easy you don't even need to haul the pattern around with you.

I finished the Cropped Raglan Sweater in record time too! I think it only took me about 5 or 6 days. Definatly not a full week though. I only used 3 skeins of Sensatons Kashmira for the project and I made it a few inches longer too!

What a great, cheap knit! It's so easy. Knit from the top down. I can already see some variations to this pattern too, the wheels were churning the entire time the needles were clicking! You have to check it out! Also on Ravelry.. sorry it's not blocked, I will hopefully get that done tonight or tomorrow! I see many more of these in my future! Actually I promptly went out and bought the same yarn in aqua (clearance for under $3/skein) and a really lovely soft and snuggly green yarn that might be by Paton's but I don't remember right now that was clearance for under $3/skein too! I see many of these in my future!

Congrats to Erin and Ryan! It was a beautiful wedding for two wonderful people! We had a great time! Sorry I don't have a pic, they didn't turn out that great for us!


Here's a cute kitty picture for you too! Ruger really likes his new lovie!!! I knit a few of these up last night for the boys! I just love his sweet face!