FO: A pair of pair of socks!

I have had a long standing deal with my family. You send me yarn and I'll knit it for you. It's the best way to ensure a few things. One it's the yarn they like in the colors they like and two I get to knit with lots of different yarns.

My sister took me up on this offer and sent me two skeins of Cascade Yarns Heritage Paints

Two skeins = Two pairs of socks and after two years (what? there was not timeline!) they were done!

It totally helped that I joined a sock knitting group as they got my tush in gear to get the second pair of socks started and finished in just a month. They also helped motivate me to get the first pair, which had been sitting in WIP land for quite some time, done and dusted.

So here I show you the first pair:

Pattern: Lace and Cable Socks by Wendy D. Johnson

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Paints

Needles: US 2's

Style: Toe up

and the second pair:

Pattern: Shur'tugal by Alice Yu

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Paints

Needles: US 1 1/2

Style: Cuff down

Here are two pairs of socks on two pairs of very happy feets

and the best part is that each pair of feets liked the pattern of their socks best...

...that makes me one happy knitter!

FO: Kina & Booties

A good friend of ours just announced the arrival of their little girl. And I've been itching to knit with pink. It's the perfect match

I couldn't resist the subtle ruffles around the yoke

It was a quick knit that was just begging to have matching shoes

And the Madelinetosh ToshDK really softened up after blocking... perfect for a little baby

Pattern Details

Cardi Pattern: Baby Kina by Muriel Agator

Booties Pattern: Mary Jane Booties by Lucie Sinkler

Needles: US 5

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Molly Ringwald

Mods: I used the super stretchy bind off for the cardi and ended up really liking the detail it added around the edge

Happy St Patrick's Day everyone!

I hope you are having a wonderfully lucky day!

Early Spring

You have probably figured out there are a few knitters that I keep my eye on. I almost feel like a little sister in that I run around doing whatever knitterly (if it isn't a word yet it should be!) things I see them doing.

I love their yarn. I love their patterns. I love the yarn they use for their patterns.

As you have probably guessed Jocelyn is one of those knitters I like to copy... er umm... follow? yeah that's right. FOLLOW!

Well a few months ago I saw this post she wrote about Madelinetosh 80/10/10 in the Mansfeild's Garden Party colorway.

And even though I don't usually go for super colorful yarns this one was just too good. Ever since then I have had my eye on that colorway. Whenever I see an FO knit with the same yarn I stare at it and think "ooooooooohhhhhh pretty"

and when I found and INCREDIBLE deal on the last skein of Mandelinetosh Tosh Sock in the same colorway I knew I had to snag it.

And on this cold, sunless, dreary day these bright spring colors couldn't have arrived at a better time!

What happens in Vegas...

.... get's posted right here on my blog!

My husband surprised me last weekend with a trip to Vegas! I was so surprised and beyond excited to get away from cold, dreary Chicago for a couple days. (I gotta say Chicago is not at it's prettiest as it tries to thaw out for spring)

So I landed in Vegas at night and my husband (who was patiently waiting for me) quickly got me settled in our room and then back out to go eat at Nove Italiano, an italian restaurant at Palms Casino Resort.

(Waiting for our table)

I nearly melted on to the floor when I took a bite of my steak - al forno style. OMGSH I don't know why I have never thought to put parmesan and steaks together before! But they are a match made for each other.

(The view from our table - each window had its own fireplace)

And their pizza was so paper thin and just the right level of crispy vs. chewy that it was almost like eating that rice paper that melts in your mouth. And you could clear out a whole pizza with out feeling even the beginning pangs of fullness.

After we waddled back to our hotel and passed out from jet lag and fullness we got up the next day to tour the strip and go to one of my all time favorite burger chains EVER. In N Out Burger!

After filling up on delicious burgers and fries we were on our way to the new Cosmopolitan hotel when we found this boat sculpture in front of the Vdara hotel!

We were surprised to find that Vdara is a non-gamebeling establishment... but it sure is beautiful inside as well as connected to all the MGM properties

When we finally made it to the Cosmopolitan I was overwhelmed with their stunning 3 story chandelier! This hotel must have stock in Swarovski!

That night we got to go to my very first Cirque Du Soleil show - KA! So much fun! The stage did things I have never seen a stage do before... And I'm pretty sure a vampire from Twilight was in there too but I regress.

The next day we went out to dinner with a good friend of my hubbs and then I got surprised with another show. Jabbawockeez!!!! They have a perm show at the Monte Carlo

Seriously if you haven't heard of their amazing skills you need to check them out. In fact check them out right here

Amazing right? and their show is incredible. It's funny, thought provoking and just pure entertainment.

Jabbawakeez was a great way to end a great weekend!

We headed back to Chicago the very next morning (Monday) after a nice sleep in...

...and on Tuesday ... it snowed.