My trip began with a rocky start. The plane was really late arriving here to take me to Phoenix, so I was going to miss the last flight to Santa Barbara. After numerous phone calls to Joelene and intense scrutiny of the map of California, it was decided that I would fly from Phoenix to L.A. Joelene drove 3 hours to pick me up in L.A. and then another 3 hours back home. She’s sweet to me, what can I say?

We arrived at Joelenes house around 2:30am, slept for 4 hours and then jumped back in the car to head to Santa Clara for Stitches West. Being in Silicon Valley was interesting. There wasn’t a gas station, grocery store or hardly a restaurant to be found, but there was Yahoo. One thing I know is that all the techie types like a nice hotel! Even it the gift shop was a vending machine full of condoms and ipods.

Our SEVENTY DOLLAR class was really disappointing. I felt like we learned only an hours worth of learning (if that) in a 3 hour class. Basically we learned the double start cast on and how to strand yarn in front of your work. I’ve decided that the double start cast on will hereby be called the 70 dollar cast on.

The Stitches Marketplace was really amazing and at it Joelene and I realized that we were the youngest people there. We also saw some really interesting knitted pieces that led us to our new knitting motto, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” I sort of had a hard time buying yarn. Which I know is hard to believe. I think I overanalyzed my purchases. I did get yarn for a few projects and I also got a really nice knitting purse.

After having lunch with a couple more internet friends, we left Friday afternoon to head back to Joelenes. The car was packed full of sock yarn (and hardly any of it was mine!) and we were really tired. We spent the next day checking out the central coast, eating yummy food and knitting. And then I flew home.

I think Jim was more happy to see me than the kids. That’s ok, cause they made me this really great card. It was a great trip, but it’s good to be home.

I just finished putting Honor’s brace on. He cried and cried the whole time, saying “I don’t want my brace.” It was sad. When we were all done I told him he was a big boy and he said, “I not big, I widdle.”

And onto more cheerful things…

I sewed this! With a lot of help from my mom, who designed the pattern.

And I finished this modified cabled purse. I’m looking for test knitters, so let me know if you’d like to knit this! Thanks, I’ve got lots of test knitters now!

with broach

with bow

I also finished a shawl for my grandma, but this was the best picture I could get of it. The photo really doesn’t do it justice. It’s Kidsilk Haze and a Japanese yarn.

A few more things I’ve finished over the weekend. These bebe pants are knit out of Rowan denim (FYI: cotton, Elaine) yarn. It’s cool cause it shrinks and fades like jeans. They were a gift for my friend Jill for her baby shower on Saturday.

And I finished this kitty hat for the store (photo taken at the store.) I’m teaching the class in March. Good ole Stitch ‘n Bitch.

On another note, the carpets are being cleaned right now. Honor took the opportunity of my having my back turned on him last night to get the sugar jar and spill it all over the playroom. I can’t say HOW lucky he is that it was last night and not tonight.

I’m taking bets on how long it will take before he spills or purposely smears something (staining) on the newly cleaned carpet. Whoever gets it right will win a little prize!

I’m pausing from my “sword” fight with Honor with plastic knives (how safe is that?) to post a few pictures.

First! I woke up this morning to big, fat snowflakes! They’re still coming down!

I just finished knitting this Ballet Tee from Loop d Loop and I whipped up some little leg warmers to match with the leftover yarn. I added a garter stitch border at the hem and also picked up stitches and added a border for the neckline too. Does anyone know the washing instructions for Cotton Fleece?

Eden was none too pleased to be modeling for me today, hence the grumpy face.

EDIT: I forgot the most important part, a big FAT thank you to Leanne for the yarn! You’re such a sweetie!!!

I’ve been knitting like a mad woman lately. And I still have models to get done for my classes, not to mention three friends with babys coming soon!

The collapsable cloche, a model for the store.

Some more legwarmers for a swap, I’m getting the most beautiful green vintage lucite necklace in return!

And the mens beanie that I’m teaching in a couple of weeks. I wrote the pattern.

I also went through and updated a whole bunch on my knitting page yesterday, so check it out!

Wow, what a weekend. It was actually nice and really relaxing. It was probably the first year for the kids that it wasn’t totally overwhelming – which I think is so much better. I think they actually got to enjoy all their gifts.

Now that I’ve given all my knitted gifts, I can show them off.

This is the shawl I made for my mom. I need to take better pictures of it, but here she is trying it on for the first time. It’s made out of two yarns – a rayon boucle, and a mohair/silk blend.

and the fingerless mitts I made for my cousins.

This matches the scarf I made for her last year.

These are made out of Rowan Yorkshire Tweed.

Click the photo below to view the photos from our weekend.

The felted bag. Oh, was it easy! This is the first thing I’ve ever felted. I made it for the store and the class I’m teaching. The yarn is Paint Box (color 10 I think?) and Cascade 220 held together. The pattern is from the book Pursenalities – the only cool pattern in the whole book.

And my new glasses looking at you through a silly picture. It’s strange to be able to see well. You can see that I didn’t fork out the extra 80 bucks for the anti glare coating. I’d rather spend $80 on yarn.

Jim was out of town all weekend, and I was surprisingly busy. I worked and taught a class and worked some more. Eden kept asking me, “Mom, can’t you go on the trip with Dad?” I’m glad she likes to have me around.

I did get to wear my very first sweater this weekend though. The picture isn’t the best, but it’s what you get when you have to take pics of yourself.

The pattern was a very screwed up one from Rowan. Even after I fixed it, it could have been a little longer. Oh, well, live and learn….

I also made another cabled bag awhile ago, but just finally took pictures,

and I made this braided scarf for the store.

This is the hat I taught this weekend. It only took me one hour. The yarn is Rowan Biggy Print.

And my leg warmers are finally done. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in the 2 to 4 hour section. What a load of crap! Each one took me at least 5 hours.

I just finished this clutch from the Knit Scene Mag.

The handle is two pieces of dowel rods cut and then the bag is sewn around them.

I’m most proud of my lining, probably the best sewing job I’ve done.

Now all I need to do is crochet a couple of flowers and find the lucite chain for the handle and it will look kinda like this.

Too bad it’s not this color…