Rhinebeck Sweater #2

Now that I have officially finished this sweater, I feel it's safe to officially talk about it. I had big ambitions of starting and finishing this in time to wear at Rhinebeck this weekend.

I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it, so I didn't want to talk about it being my second Rhinebeck sweater. Of course, I know some of you are saying "What is she talking about? Of course Miss Flying Needles could get it done in time!". I guess in my mind if I talked about it, it wouldn't get done in time. But, since it did, here's all the details...

Pattern: Heather Hoodie Vest (KnitScene Fall 09)
Yarn: Berroco Cuzco (7 skeins) (Came from stash - bought last New Years in SC on sale)
Needles: Knit Picks Options Circs Size 10.5
Started: September 28, 2009
Finished: Octover 13, 2009
Mods: The original hoodie is oversized. I thought I might run out of yarn and also wanted a more fitted hoodie. I followed the increases on hoodie as per pattern. I only knitted to 10" in st st instead of 12" and then completed the decreases as per pattern.
Buttons: Gear buttons purchased from Buttondrawer.com.

Aren't they adorable?

Homecooking Saturday and Then Some

On Saturday's dinner menu was Vegetable Gratin-Souffle. It called for three cups of veggies so I chose Cauliflower, Broccoli and Butternut Squash. After DB and I took our first bite we both said, "MmmmmMmmMmm." Will definitely make again.

No leftovers.

On the knitting front, Ursa is complete!!!! My intentions were to finish the remaining seaming between today and tomorrow. However, I got on a roll and finished the whole she-bang, buttons included.

I purchased the the Swirling Leaf buttons from Buttondrawer.com. I thought they were perfect for the fall sweater.

For those of you who will be looking for me at Rhinebeck on Saturday, this is what to look for...

Springtime Bandit will be wrapped nicely around my neck, peeking out from the top of Ursa.

Pattern: Ursa by Berroco
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca (Colorway: Oceanic Blue) 6.5 skeins
Needles: Knit Picks Options size 6 and 7
Started: August 15, 2009
Finished: Octover 5, 2009
Mods: Absolutely none

My Thoughts On Sweater: Ya'll remember this yarn when it was knitted up into the Gathered Pullover. Ya'll also remember how I wasn't overly thrilled with how big the sweater turned out to be. It was even dubbed as the *Flashdance* sweater. I can honestly say that I am in love with this yarn as Ursa. I am so very excited to wear it and show it off. This sweater really tried me in the finishing/seaming department. It showed me that I have grown in this area of knitting. I am so proud of how it turned out and can't wait to wear it in one week and five days!

Finally, here is an update of *what may be on my needles* now...

Persimmon Tree

Multiple things were blocking on my apartment floor yesterday. Puzzle pieces were everywhere. But of course, this is a sign of progress to me.

As you can see there is another shawl being added to my FO list. Unlike the Springtime Bandit, which is more of a triangular scarf, this one is an actual shawl. On a small scale but a shawl nonetheless. Ursa is still in the works, however, I can proudly say that I have completed all the knitting. Now it's just seaming. Got the sleeves spread out below.

This is the color of the water after the new shawl soaked for 20 minutes. I knew that there would be a lot of red coming out of it, because whenever I knitted with it, my hands turned red. Reminded me of Yarny Old Kim's Stigmata sweater.

I took advantage of the cool, rainless, fall day to snap some outside pictures. I am pleased with the outcome of the shawl and it even got a compliment from the mailman as he passed by while I was in the midst of the photo shoot.

Pattern: Charlotte's Easy Lace Shawl
Yarn: Persimmon Tree Farm Pot Luck Yarn (Colorway J5) - Purchased at Rhinebeck '08 (1 skein)
Needles: Knit Picks Options Circs Size 10
Started: July 22, 2009
Finished: September 28, 2009
Mods: None really except that I ran out of yarn and was only able to complete 1 of the 4 garter rows before bind-off. Also used the Russian bind-off method.
Dimensions: 48" wide and 24.5" deep

I have to say that I am really pleased with myself. I purchased enough yarn from Rhinebeck 2008 to knit up five projects. I have completed four of the five. The only yarn that remains is my purchase from Brooks Farm which I am going to use to knit up the February Lady sweater. I am thrilled I am heading into Rhinebeck 2009 with an almost clean yarn stash slate from the previous fiber adventure.

Lastly, there may be a new sweater on my needles....

Saturday...Saturday

Last night was "Cooking At Home" night with DB. Since I bought Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone cookbook, we've been trying to make Saturday nights home cooking night with at least one recipe from this book. Two weeks ago I made Chickpeas with Pasta. It turned out to be a big success! Forgot to take pictures of that meal, but I remembered for last night.

My sis called me as I was preparing the meal. She said that she wanted someone to cook for her. Well since she couldn't be here to eat it, I thought I would share what it looked like.

On the menu was...

• Tomatoes Stuffed with couscous, roasted pine nuts (roasted them myself), garlic, Parmesan and herbs. [Recipe from cookbook]
  
• Sauteed Zucchini/Carrots with onions and garlic.
  
• Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
  
• It was all washed down with Yellow Tail Merlot.
  

To top it all off everything made was organic. Yum!!!!

Table for Two

I know you want some.

In 3 Weeks Rhinebeck

Wow. Is it really only 3 weeks 'til the best fiber festival ever???? Ok, so I am a little bias since I have only ever been to Rhinebeck. I'm sure I am not the only one out there knitting away on the garments that will adorn our bods as we hop around the festival grounds. I actually finished one item I'll be wearing. It's my Springtime Bandit! The stats....

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Lighweight (Gingerbread Dudette)
Needles: Knit Picks Circs Size 6
Started: Sept. 18, 2209
Finished: Sept. 23, 2009
Mods: Completed 5 Body Chart Repeats instead of 4. Russian Bind-off (Knit 2 together, Move stitch back to left hand needle, Knit 2 together)

I absolutely love this pattern! Once I got past the crochet chain, pick up stitches, turn sideways & pickup stitches in garter, pick up 2 stitches from chain and remove waste yarn, everything was super duper easy! This is the first time I have used STR for something other than socks. This is going to feel so nice and soft around my neck. I'm hoping to score another one of these in this colorway so I can make a matching hat. Ya'll will have to wait for model pics from Rhinebeck.

Things are still progressing with Ursa. I started knitting the button bands and am seaming them to the sweater front as I knit. MB gave me this little tip so as to help in gauging the correct length of the band. Since I am one to dislike seamimg this is perfect. I knit a little, seam a little and knit a little more. Makes seaming more bearable.

I'm hoping to have the bands done by the end of this weekend. Then I'll just need to seam and attach the sleeves. Seam the sides. Then go shopping for the perfect buttons!

Philly Distance Run

DB and I spent this past weekend in Philadelphia for the Philly Distance Run (13.1 miles) on Sunday. We arrived Saturday afternoon, did some sight seeing, ate some pasta for dinner with friends and went to bed as early as possible to be able to get up at 6:30am for a race start of 7:45am. I had no problem getting up considering I woke up all on my own at 6am. Guess I was a tiny bit excited about running the race that morning.

When we signed up for this race back in June, I was suppose to be one of three runners doing this together. Turns out I was the only one able to run the race and was the woman representing the men of our little group. I think I did well. I finished the race in 2 hours and 10 minutes - my third best half marathon race time and best since 2006/2007.

Here is the race in photos - complementary of my photographer DB.

The start line before the crowd came.

Even Rocky was there!

Gearing up to take my place at the start.

The Pro's...Ryan Hall was the winner and finished in 1 hour 1 minute. He's in the white tank wearing #1.

This is me crossing the start line. Apparently I was the only one running at this point.

Me at mile 4.5.

Me quite happy to see the mile 13 marker and DB. The finish was right around the corner.

Very happy!

This medal is way cool and doubles as a weapon!

Rhinebeck Sweater #1

We are 5 weeks and 2 days away from Rhinebeck weekend!!!

Even though I am still jobless, I am looking forward to this event. My sis will be coming into town for a week and we get to spend the weekend inhaling yarn fumes with good friends.
Since the heat of summer has seemed to pass, I have been knitting furiously away on my Rhinebeck sweater. Depending on how quickly I can get this one done, I will be knitting a second sweater for the weekend since the festival IS 2 days.

The pattern I am knitting is Ursa from Berroco. I am using the yarn from my deceased Gathered Pullover. So far I have The Back, Left and Right Fronts done. I am knitting one sleeve at a time and am about 17" complete on that.

The pattern is knitting up super fast. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is seaming it up. We shall see how long that takes me.