The post I SHOULD have done three weeks ago!

Yes, I'm alive. AND I got a new computer, so I can get back to blogging again. Yippee! Did you miss me?

First things first- I'm on Ravelry! My name there is Kate Jackson Knits. If you go check it out, don't be too dissapointed in the total lack of projects. I'll have a photo shoot soon and get more things up there.

I got new furniture at the shop: two new couches and a coffee table, and I brought a hutch from my in-laws too. You can see them in these pictures from the alpaca yarn tasting.





We had a blast sampling different alpaca yarns - I can't wait to do another one! I've already done bamboo and alpaca - any suggestions for the next "featured fiber"?



This is a progress photo of my Acidic Seed Stitch purse. I designed this pattern for the Fall Knitscene, where I used a yellow Blue Sky Alpaca yarn. This one is Cascade Tuscany, a super-chunky wool. I am going to add a leather handle (new at the shop!) and line it with something pretty.




This is my Fair Isle Pillow, which I did a class on this past month. It is knit with only two yarns: Lamb's Pride worsted in light grey, and Noro Kureyon, a self-striper that makes it look like I did more work than I did!

I'm kind of on a Kureyon kick with this and the Lizard Ridge. Sooo . . . .




The man in brown brought us a present!




Ten new colors of Kureyon! Yippeeeee!

Now I just need to find more knitting time! I can blog with Audrey on my lap, but knitting doesn't really work that way.

Speaking of Audrey . . .



She wanted to model this darling knitting basket for you. She wants you to know that the lining is very soft and yarn-friendly. Hey, you didn't expect this long of a post WITHOUT her, did you?

New yarns!

Yes, it really is like Christmas every time the UPS man comes to visit. What can be in that big box?

Fun colors, even through the plastic bags.

Ooh . . . . Adrifil KnitCol

washable merino self-patterning dk

Aah . . . . Plymouth Suri Merino

alpaca/merino worsted blend

solids, heathers, and handpaints

yippee!!!

And now for some knitting: This is the swatch in-the-round for a fair isle pillow. The pillow will be the subject for a class coming up in October. I swatched the fair isle in the round, since that is the way I will be knitting the project. A regular stockinette swatch would not do the trick, since stranded colorwork pulls the stitch gauge in significantly, and I am also not purling at all. I will use my "swatch" as a very schnazzy travel-mug sleeve.

The swatch, I knit in 40 minutes. Then it took me 5 days to knit this? Two inches? This is just an example of how LITTLE knitting time I have. I'm going crazy! The pillow is looking lovely, regardless of how long it's taking. I am using Lamb's Pride worsted and Noro Kureyon for a much more complicated effect than I'd get with two solid colors. What do you think?

My birthday is this Friday. I'll be 25, and my sister Eileen will be 22. Are we feeling old yet? Come celebrate at the shop with me! All my favorite yarns will be 25% off. And let me tell you- I really like a lot of yarns!

Wrap it up!

Sorry I've been gone so long from the blogosphere! Life happens, you know? One good thing about not blogging for awhile is that I now have an incredibly long entry to make!

I started AND finished a project last week. We had a dedication at our church for Audrey last Sunday, so I went shopping for my outfit Tuesday night. I found great clothes, but I needed a wrap to go with my new outfit! What's a girl to do? Make something of course! I had a black and white skirt with a black top, so black was the obvious choice.

I grabbed some soysilk:

And my ever-ready Denise set:

Did some quick figuring:

(yes, it's the ravings of a mad woman)

And we're off!

Don't we look lovely?

Quick wrap, my own design

1.5 balls Phoenix soysilk from Southwest Trading Company

Size 10 Denise needles

started August 29, 2007

finished August 30, 2007

I know it's not the best picture of the finished object, but how important is that really? I have it at the shop if you'd like to see it in person. I will also have the pattern available sometime next week. The yarn knit up very quick and soft. I added dropped stitches to save myself some knitting and add more drape.

By the way, isn't she the cutest?

Please sew me together! I want to be a jacket!

Here is a picture of one of my many UFO's. Yes, it's a sea of Noro Iro feather and fan, all knit and waiting to be sewn up into the Tailored Scallops jacket from the cover of Lace Style. The peices have been knit since before Audrey was born, back in May! My goal is to get it done this week. We'll see!



I also have recently finished a cropped cardigan in Plymouth's Shire Silk tweed. It is seamed and blocked, awating buttons and a photo shoot. Coming soon!

This is Debbie and Kathy, the two knitters who just finished Boot Camp 3 and 4 this Saturday. They are modeling their new hats, fresh off the needles. Hooray for new skills!

I really DO knit!

I finally have some current knitting to show! First, the project that is on my needles today: The Lizard Ridge blanket from knitty.com. This is a pic of the first four squares, out of 24 needed to make up the blanket. The two on the right have been washed and blocked, and the two on the left are just knit. (one still on the needles!)



The yarn is Noro Kureyon, in colors 102 (bright pink and orange) and 185 (Fall tones). I am knitting on addi turbo's size 8, and I am knitting backwards in the short row sections. Though this does take a bit of practice before coordination kicks in, it does save time and extra movement in the long run. Rather than purl, I knit from the right needle onto the left, almost like knitting while looking in the mirror.

I am waiting on a shipment of more Kureyon colors, due sometime this week or next, to add to the mix. The colors are so beautiful, it makes the yarn a real joy to knit with.

I have recently finished knitting Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket. This ingenious piece of knitting is a true engineering marvel, that you just have to knit to believe.

This is what you knit:

Then you fold it up into this!

I still have to sew seams along the shoulders and sleeve tops, and it will be done. The class for this is coming up in September, and there is still room in the Wednesday evening section. The times are Wednesdays, September 5, 12, and 19, from 5 to 6:30. Email or call me if you would like to sign up.

We had a young knitter in the shop today, working on her first dishcloth project. This is Madison, and she is planning to make something for her new baby sister next. Here's to the next generation!

Zimmermann books

Three Elizabeth Zimmermann books came in to Knitting on the Square last week, along with her Baby Surprise Jacket as a single pattern. Her genius approach to knitting is both inspired and inspirational. If you're late in finding EZ, like I was, be sure to check her out as soon as possible!

Here goes!

I've been planning this blog in my mind for awhile now, and I finally did it! I had to overcome several obstacles, including a severe lack of time AND a broken camera, but I persevered and here I am. I have several reasons for writing a knitting blog, not the least of which is to give myself a motivation to tackle the shameful amount of nearly finished projects lurking in the corners of my life. The need for posting material will hopefully give me an extreme case of finishitis.

To begin, here is a pic of my most recently finished project:

Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A. from knitty

Yarn: Southwest Trading Co. TOFUtsies, color 788

Needles: size 1 bamboo DPN's

Aren't they nifty? These are the first socks that I ever made for myself, and I think I'm hooked. I'm definitely a sock knitter now!

Another purpose of this blog: To fulfill the many requests for more recent pics of my sweet baby girl.

Confused Audrey

Happy Audrey

She's modeling a super-cute pair of jeans, knit with love by my best bud Katie. Thanks Katie! The blanket she's laying on was knit by another great friend Maribeth. So pretty! You guys are awesome.

I'll be adding my profile soon, as well as a list of my favorite blogs, and VERY LONG list of UFO's. Stay tuned for news from the store as well. More soon!