So... then that happened

Specifically this happened:

And damned if I ain't done.  I don't think it's sunk in just yet, really... that I won't be going back in the fall.

And then this happened:

(and it tasted delicious)

I've also been working at a new job now for about a month.  I started part time while I was finishing up and then my first day full time was the day after classes finished.  I haven't really had a break, but I'm not complaining.  I am really enjoying my job and I'm so thankful to have it.

It means that I haven't had a lot of time for this though:

Madeline Tosh Sport in Robin's Egg - a shrug maybe? I'm interviewing patterns.

A new granny square quilt I've been working on.   No, your eyes are not playing tricks - the blocks are not the same size. I haven't figured out my crochet tension yet...  Join with black, maybe?

Kitten in a box. The shoes next to the box are what the intended purpose was, but I think both kitten and box have found their shared destinies. 

That's what's been happening with me lately. How about you?  I'm going to try to post a lot more often now that school's out and the graduation/birthday/new job situation is calming.  

Hope you're having a great memorial day!

{Here I Am!}

I know it's been forEVER since I posted.  I'm graduating in May and school is just bonkers, plus job shopping, internships, etc.  But don't worry, I haven't given up on crafting 100% . hehe I hope these pictures will be enough for you to hang in there with me until I return. :)  This is the non-boring stuff I've been up to over the last oh... 3 months or so!

.

New yarn from knit picks!

New compost in the backyard made from palettes.

A crochet experiment turned kitty bed

A Table runner made from this pattern from Craftsy.

Some closet organization.

($9 shoe rack from the dollar store + sticky hooks + some new hangers = one happy closet!)

{Buttons Buttons Buttons}

Buttons x 3! Three completed tiny sweaters!  I feel so accomplished.

pattern: Concentric Stripes Cardigan 

buttons:  Happy Piglet Buttons from stephaniexu

yarn: all leftovers of green acrylic, blue and grey wool

pattern: Autumn Leaves by Nikki Van De Car

buttons: Cute Fat Birds from stephaniexu  

yarn: Unplanned Peacock Superwash Merino DK

pattern: Concentric Stripes Cardigan (again)

Buttons: Natural Coconut Buttons from stephaniexu (sensing a theme?)

yarn: left over wools

  Ta Da!  There will be some very happy babies in the near future. :)

{Alora's Quilt is DONE!}

Oh my gosh I'm so excited to show you guys these pictures.  I love this quilt!  It's so fun and soft and warm and smooshy!

fabric: Sunny Day by Connecting Threads 

 pattern: Strawberry Fields by Moda Bake Shop

I did the binding in the perfect shade of pink satin.  OH my gosh it's so soft!  But let me tell you... cutting that stuff was a such a pain in the butt! My ruler kept sliding around and I could not get a straight bias cut to save my life. lol  I don't think you can tell too much in the end though. hehe

Then, you may notice that the quilting is ... minimal.  I decided to do this because where the blocks come together are the only straight lines in the quilt and I don't have a quilting foot.  I keep putting off buying extra feet for my machine because I'm pretty sure I'm going to want an upgraded model soon, and some of the new machines come with those things, so I don't want to be buying stuff twice, ya know?

(as an aside: if someone is selling a used Brother machine, I'd be thrilled if you put me in contact with them!)

I can't wait to get it in the mail!

{New Commenting}

Hello Lovely Friends,

I played with my commenting settings yesterday to make it so they appear below the post.  Can you let me know how that goes? lol  Do you like the commenting system here? I wish for it to be the least annoying possible.

Let me know what you think?

Sarah

{Casting On Advice, Please!}

Starting tomorrow, Friday, Mr. Pie and I are headed to the cabins at Douthat State Park! YAY!  It's the park where we got married, so it's a very special place to us, and it's promising some dark and dreary weather, which is perfect for having a wood fire all day!    Knitting in front of the fire at the cabins may be my very favourite thing ever.

So of course this morning, when I should be worried about getting dressed and getting to school to work on my final paper, instead I'm worrying about what yarn to bring for a new project to cast on!  I'll have lots of knitting this time weekend, (and lots of writing time...hopefully) so I'm excited.

Dark and Stormy is one option - this is what I was thinking of using that Vanna Heathered yarn on:

(c) 2010 Splityarn

  This cardigan is top down with worsted weight yarn, so I wouldn't think it would be too bad for cabin knitting - nothing overly fussy and such, so it holds good possibilities. I would have to buy the pattern today though. $6.50 isn't too bad for a sweater pattern.  I would probably have to fuss with the side seams a bit to put some shaping in, but I've been admiring this sweater for so long!

Maybe a sock pattern?  I have a few sock books kicking around and that killer skein of cashmere sock yarn kicking around that I could probably just cake it and toss it in a bag along with my sock needles and have a pretty easy packing job of it.  I do need to finish the second of Mr. Pie's slipper socks before I cast on for more sock though.  In for a penny, in for a pound?

I also haven't knit a shawl in a while and I have a some pretty lace and sock weight yarns that could be shawls.  Do I want something really complicated?  Usually for cabin knitting it's what i go for since there's no distractions, but if I don't *finish* the project this weekend that means that it'll drag over in to the spring school semester which mean - let's face it - it'll be unfinished until at least May. 

There's IS this one shawl idea that I've had percolating for a while: the Cladonia Shawl pattern in this great colour changing yarn, with maybe a soft grey to stripe it with... 

(c) redpepperquilts

So what do you guys knit when you're getting away?

{New Yarn!}

There's a general feeling out there, I think, that when someone gets something for free, that they don't value it as much as if they had bought it.  

I promise you I'm not that person.   I got my FREE skein of yarn from Eat.Sleep.Knit today!!  

Squoosh Fiberarts Merino Cashmere Sock in color "Bark"

If you are a yarn person and haven't shopped at Eat.Sleep.Knit you are totally missing out! Some of the best customer service, hands down, of any retail experience I've EVER had.   One of their totally cool perks is that with every order you get a little scratch and win ticket and I got one along with my christmas present this year.  And I won this yarn!  I am THRILLED!

In other new yarn news, I ordered some new yarn from Knit Picks to do some nice thick fair isle slipper socks for Mr. Pie:

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Worsted in Fedora, Winter Night and Dove Heather, respectively

And picked up some pretty acrylic yarn at a good sale Michael's was having:

Vanna's Choice Heathers in "Grey Marble"

At 1500 yards of worsted weight for $25, I didn't turn this down. It'll be enough to do a whole sweater for me!  I don't think I've ever knit myself anything in acrylic, and I like how this feels, so I'll give it a try.  I don't want to be labeled a yarn snob, right? :)

How about you, any happy stash enhancement lately?