I called my mother after I finished this one and told her it was my new favorite. Of course, she laughed and said that I say that after every sweater I finish. Ha. Maybe I do. Please don't think I don't have issues with some of my knitting (and life), I do, just like everyone else. However, this one? This has all those things I look for in a sweater, while making AND wearing.
I like it worn closed. I like the big needles that make you feel like you have made all sorts of progress in a short time.
I adore a sweater with pockets. The 3/4 sleeves are great especially since this yarn is heavy and warm. Not to mention that they can be knit in a couple of hours.
I like it worn open. It sort of flows when you walk. You know, it just feels "cool".
The back is good 'ol stockinette. It felt like a little blanket draped across my legs while knitting. Bonus.
And of course, the design of the wickerwork pattern is truly my favorite. Just enough detail to make it interesting.

(You see it. I know you do.)

I should be home right now.
However, I took my annual trip out west and decided to spend an extra day in San Francisco with a great friend. (That's Noreen!)
We did a bunch of fun stuff which of course included a trip to ImagiKnit. Allison couldn't be nicer... oh, how I love knitters.
Of course, a bazillion photos where taken of the city and the bridge. (And everything in between.)
I mentioned I would be talking about this fantastic book. Unfortunately, since I am en-route, I have no other photos than this to show you. (Sorry!) I can tell you that there are a bunch of cute cowls in this book. (Forty to be exact.) They range from quick and easy on chunky yarns to a little more advanced with intricate designs on finer yarns. Some are knit in the round, some back and forth. Lace, cables, striped. Really, a cowl for every cowl lover.

The random number generator chose two numbers:

Chocolate croissants, chocolate chip pancakes and fifteen balloons. (Fourteen really, cause one popped.)
12" ham and turkey sub for lunch.

This book is like the all purpose knitting book. Projects for your home, your kids, your friends or yourself. There are 60 projects (SIXTY!) something for everyone that is for sure.
Hats, gloves, mittens and socks.
Sweaters for adults and children. (This hooded house coat looks like something I would live in.)
Hot water bottle covers, tea cozies, cup warmers and place mats.
Felted bags, baby slippers, dolls and baby blankets.
Pillows, wraps, throws and totes.

I cast on for a new project earlier in the week. (The big girl version.)
I must say I am loving the color which seems to fluctuate between brown and deep plum depending on the light, as well as working with this yarn on size 8 needles. There is something about the needles sizes 6-8. They just seem to be super comfortable in my hand. Sort of like I am hanging with an old friend. I like that.
We also made these cookies, twice to be exact. I knew they were a must after seeing Alicia's. They may be the most delicious crisp and airy cookie I have ever eaten. A couple of things to be noted about the recipe. It calls for a good quality white chocolate bar. Not the white chocolate chips. Well, the only thing I had was a bag (I used half) of the white chocolate chips. I can't believe that these cookies can actually get any better.
I also found out (simply by forgetting) that there is no need to flatten each ball. They turn out exactly the same either way. I did find that they came off the cookie sheet easier if left to cool for a few minutes first.

Since the last time I posted:
i loved learning things about you :: i realized that I still can't throw a football :: i thought a lot about tricia u and how she taught herself to knit with unsharpened pencils :: i watched a family of turkeys cross the street :: i finished both fronts of my sweater :: i felt happy :: i got a haircut :: i collected pocketfuls of acorns :: i had coffee with friends :: i gave kisses :: i walked trouble, a lot :: i made more pesto :: i got caught in the rain :: i went shopping :: i bought this (in dark grey) :: i had lunch with friends :: i realized that the back of my sweater was shorter than the front :: i ripped out the back of my sweater :: i made chocolate chip cookies. 3x :: i said good bye to summer :: i welcomed fall :: i re-knit the back of my sweater :: i tried a few new recipes :: i felt sad :: i cast on for the sleeves for my sweater:: i went to yoga :: i had dinner with friends :: i learned a new technique for weaving in ends, thanks shelly :: i laughed until i cried :: i went to an air show :: i gave hugs :: i took photos :: i spoke to an old friend.

This is a little "step out of my box" sort of post... but I guess I'm going with it. I repeatably receive comments and e-mails on some topics. So, I thought I would go ahead and address them all in one post. A little about me, because you asked.
How do you choose your patterns?

I haven't knit many garments with pockets. (Some a pretty long time ago, well before the old blog.) Thinking that the last sweater I made with pockets was the Farmers Market Cardi, but that had a completely different way of making those pockets. There are the patch pockets, pockets with flaps, side-seam pockets, pouch pockets, cut-in pockets and inset pockets. (I may be missing a one or two.)
Inset pockets happen to be my favorite and the method of choice written in the pattern for my new project.
You make the lining before, then after you bind off the front piece, you pick up and knit across the lining stitches. Thus, creating a layer of pieces. Hence, your pocket!

It rolled around again... today. Funny how it came so quickly.
One in the big high school. (9th grade -ouch.)

I wish I could choose every single number to win the collection of books. But since I can't the random number generator chose one and it is #95, Amy J. Amy, please send me an e-mail (address in side bar) and I will make sure it gets to you!

To all my new knitting friends that haven't tried cables. I promise they are not hard. If you can knit and purl then you can put stitches on a cable needle and move them to the front and back of your knitting. Swear!
I can only say really wonderful things about this project.

Have you seen this book? Or "encyclopedia of books" I should say?
The Stitch Collection by Debbie O'Neill is the perfect collection consisting of five mini books. Each book is small enough (and light enough!) to be carried around in your knitting bag.
I love how it is packaged and laid out, in an organized easy to find manor. It is a set of five mini books of the stitches themselves, designed to help you choose the best stitch pattern for a particular project. Each individual stitch pattern (225 total) is ranked according to its level of difficulty and amount of drape. It basically consolidates a bunch of valuable information into a simple little book. I love that!

Well, that week pretty much flew by. I seriously don't know what happened to our summer. I do know driving has been my number one activity.

I sat outside yesterday (in the heat, drinking hot coffee, alpaca in my hands) working on the second sleeve, watching an intense game of frisbee. Don't know why I didn't buy them that white plastic disc earlier in the summer. Who knew it would be such a time filling hit. Anyhow, about this sweater, I started it on July 19th. (Do you do that? Write down your start date? I have been doing that for years. Always love to see how long a sweater takes.) It was started while my slouchy was blocking, before photos were taken. On size 10.5 needles this thing is practically knitting itself. I plan on finishing it this weekend. Hoping to find three fantastic buttons for the finishing touch.

I love August and its lazy days.
(These would be cute to try to make.)

This is the one knit that I feel would be a great first sweater for someone. Very little rib. (One row, I did two.) A few simple decreases. Stockinette. And voila. You have yourself a sweater that can be worn over and over. Over jeans. Over a dress. Over slacks. Over a skirt. And most importantly, over your jammies.
I'm as happy with this one as I am with my first one. I made one change. The pattern says that the hood is optional. Good. I opted out. I decided I was pretty much ready to be finished with it, and would love to have some extra charmed to make a pair of toast mitts.
Pattern: Slouchy Cardigan, Greetings from Knit Cafe (I see it is currently out of stock at Amazon. Hurry, call your library!)