I know that I am already over capacity in the bag department, but check out the new duck bag by Baggu! I think it would make a great book bag, a market carry-all, the perfect everyday tote. I love how you can carry in your hand, on your shoulder or across your chest. It made of 100% recycled cotton canvas and only costs $18! Mama wants!
Retro Leg Warmers
I just finished up a pair of leg warmers that I’ve been working on for a Christmas gift. I’m not going to post a completed picture of them, so they can still be a surprise for the recipient. I chose to use JoAnn’s Sensations It’s A Wrap yarn. Its color-wrapped plies with a touch of wool, so it has a slight fuzziness to it. I thought that the color way is great and would reference the original ones we wore in the 80’s. I just cast on 60 stitches onto size 6 DPNs and worked a 2×2 rib for 2 inches to create the cuff. The I switched to stockinette, working for 26 inches, then back to 2×2 rib for cuffing opposite end. Easy peasey. It was actually a little too easy, read boring, so I think that if I make another pair, I might try to add more pattern or even attempt to do some cabling. That’s something I haven’t tackled yet.
Elizabeth & Darcy: Zombie Killers
Just in time for Halloween: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!
Um…what to say? When I first heard about this book, A quarter of me thought I should be outraged, the other three-quarters was insanely giggling at the very idea, and then there’s the very small uncounted minority of me that was throwing her fist in the air and screaming "Finally! This is the best idea ever!"
And now that I’ve read it? Well, actually, I still think it’s pretty awesome idea. It was weird reading it though, because the "zombie mayhem" fit into the story so seamlessly that I kept catching myself stopping after every line trying to remember how the original version went. The zombies just seemed to fit in so well! To be honest, I always found the original to be a bit dry at times and somewhat slow moving. The zombie addition speed things along quite nicely, while never taking away from the original story. I think that it’s a great way to introduce the classics to people who would otherwise ignore them. Good show!
It’s been a rough time for the Torto family.
About a week ago, my brother had an awful bicycle accident. He flipped his handlebars going about 30 mph and landed on his right shoulder. He ended up dislocating his shoulder and blowing out part of his shoulder socket as well as breaking his scapula into about five pieces. He just had major surgery on Monday to put in a handful of surgical screws and plates to piece things back together. The Torto family rallied as we always do in times of crisis. I went down and stayed there for a week to keep watch at the hospital and help however was needed. Mike is now back at home and hopefully on the long road to recovery. He’s still in A LOT of pain, but is one tough SOB, so I think he’ll make it through. All positive thoughts and prayers to be directed his way would be much appreciated.
little rocknrolla socks
I knit up some socks for my nephew. I used Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn in the Rock & Roll colorway. It had a little pooling of colors here and there, but overall I like the way it had an almost tie-dye effect when knit.
I used good old Silver’s Simple Sock pattern again. The same that I used for Shawn’s pair. They are a little big on him, but I think that is okay, since he is growing like a weed. Maybe they’ll last a bit longer this way.
Anyways, my favorite little rocknrolla seems to enjoy them, which is what really counts!
A hat for hubby.
I decided to knit up a hat for Shawn. I wanted to make it fairly simple, he’s not really into cables or stripes, but soft and warm for this blustery fall that we are having. I decided to go with a fisherman’s watchcap style. I picked out some black Lion’s Brand Mircro-Spun and doubled it so it would be a thicker knit. It’s really great yarn to work with – soft and squishy but not fuzzy or too stretchy- I’ll definitely pick up some more for future projects. I did about three inches in a 2×2 rib stitch so he’d be able to fold up the brim then proceeded with a basic stockinette stitch. I think it turned out great, and more importantly, the hubby is happy!
Wall #1
My very talented friend Angi (check out her blog tabula rasa) posted some of her amazing photography on RedBubble for purchase. She has a great eye and captured some gorgeous images from her time studying abroad in Florence. (Jealous!) I particularly love her series capturing the walls of the city. The colors and textures look like they are some type of modernist painting. I snatched up the one shown above, but I’m already trying to decide my next purchase. Not only is she insanely gifted with the camera, she is also an amazing violinist! Talk about a one-two punch!
Image: Wall #1 by Angela Harris
Well hello, Lonny!
As you know, I was devestated when CondeNast canceled the publishing of my beloved Domino magazine. I feel like it truly left a void that as yet to be filled in the design magazine genre. Luckily, I think that we have been rescued! Behold: Lonny Magazine. Lonny had been created from those geniuses that were at Domino. The premiere issue has just been published on line. Please, please, please check it out!
Apple Festival ‘09
This past weekend my sister and nephew made the trip up from Chicago to join us in celebrating all things apple at the Gays Mills Apple Festival. It was a beautiful day and the drive showcased Wisconsin’s autumnal splendor. We strolled around the little town of Gays Mills and took in the sites . . . and tastes. I had the best apple fritter of my life. Wow. We were chased by some bees that seemed to agree with me, but no stings. Watched my nephew climb a rock wall like the little monkey he is. We stopped at a local orchard and picked up a big sack of honeycrisp apples to bring home. While there, we had some yummy apple cider and apple donuts, but the best was yet to come. An apple cider slushie. Words cannot describe the ecstasy . . . truly nectar of the gods. All in all a fabulous day. I am already looking forward to next year.
Elkins Baby Blanket
My friend Dawn is going to be having a little boy on October 12th. (No name picked out as of yet.) She already has an adorable little girl, Gabrielle, so she will not be having another baby shower. I still wanted to make something for her to welcome Baby Elkins into the family, so I decided to knit another version of Stitch’N’Bitch’s Big Bad Baby Blanket. This is the same pattern I used for Kaci. I decided to make this one a little thicker, so I used two strands of yarn. I had a bunch of Lion’s Brand Wool-Ease in Avocado, so went with it. I must admit that I am really pleased on how well it turned out. Plus, it took much less time to complete. I think that this shall be my go to gift for babies from now on.
Widdershins 