One new, one old

I feel like I've been going non-stop since I moved back to Michigan; mostly non-stop working, but I finally have a day off...five to be exact! So I have two finished projects to share with you all, my Sunset Suncrest Shawl and an oldie, my February Sweater. I finished the shawl a few weeks ago and it is the perfect color for fall. Plus, I finally got around to finding the perfect buttons for my sweater the other weekend and sewed those on this morning. Of course, I love them both!

Sunset Suncrest Shawl
Pattern: Suncrest by Tanis Lavallee
Yarn: Valley Yarns Charlemont in "Sunset"
Modifications: None
Difficulties: The picot edge bind-off was tedious!
New Techniques: "Feather and fan" pattern stitch, two-directional knitting, picot bind-off

February Sweater
Pattern: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in "Lava Heather"
Modifications: Some added length on the body and sleeves
Difficulties: Connecting in the round for the sleeves without making holes
New Techniques: Top-down sweater knitting, no seams! Larger button holes

I have to admit that I've already started a new project...Shallows Cowl by Bonnie Sennott. I would love to have it finished this weekend, but we'll see. Not too sure how I will fill my time off this weekend, maybe some baking or more wine tasting? The snow is already falling here, so staying indoors just seems like a good idea. If you're looking for a good cookie recipe, I must share one for some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I've made two batches already and substituted dark chocolate chips instead...you can find it here on this blog. Enjoy!

The Hobbit Vest

Bennett in costume, running around!

Happy November! Can't believe it's here already! But now that Halloween is over with, I will share with you my special creation. I was able to knit up a vest for my best friend's toddler, Bennett, as part of his Halloween costume this year. Amy wanted to dress him as a hobbit and I was happy to jump on the opportunity. I must say it came together perfectly; he looked so cute! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see him in person, as they live in Georgia, but I loved seeing the pictures. Here are the details for my project, "Hobbit Vest":

Pattern Used: Pepo Pie by Joeli Caparco
Yarn Used: Knit Picks Swish Worsted in colorways Camel Heather and Truffle
Modifications: I used two different colors; one for the seed stitch border and one for the body. I also attached three buttons, instead of four.
Difficulties: Using the two colors was kind of a pain in the butt. Carrying the yarn up as I went made the skeins tangle together and then I had soooo many ends to weave in.
New Techniques: This was technically my first time using two colors at once. I have also never made a vest before and never constructed pockets before.

Overall, I am very pleased with how it turned out and so is Amy :-) Now it's time to finish my Suncrest shawl....and bake some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!

Home Sweet Home

Well it's about time I posted again, this time from a new home...I'm back in Northern Michigan and much happier. I guess you could say that Tennessee just wasn't for us, so Brendan and I are on to something new and something big; we are planning on starting a vineyard and winery. We already have land available to us behind my parents house, so next spring we will be planting about 3,600 vines or about five acres. It will be a huge project to take on, but we are excited and ready to get started. So far we've cleared most of the land and need to get the vines ordered; then we wait through the long winter until the fun begins.

For now I am back working at an old job, but hoping something will open up at a local non-profit. I've already inquired about volunteering with some and am taking on the role of trail steward and preserve steward for the Gauthier Preserve in Cheboygan for the Little Traverse Conservancy. I meet with the volunteer coordinator tomorrow and am excited to get started. Other than that, nothing else is new. I'm glad to be back in colder weather to keep on knitting more and more! I will have some finished projects to post soon, so keep an eye out for them.

As the leaves continue to fall more and more each day, I will be sad to see Fall leave the area. So here are some pictures I've captured of the season during my trip out to New York.

The view from Brendan's mom's house.

Hike at Grafton Lakes State Park, NY

Rock cairns in the water during our hike.