The Gabby Knitter

Monkey Swap 4 Package

When I got home from my son's soccer game a package was waiting for me by the door. I already new it must be my Monkey Swap package as my pal had told me she mailed it  a few days before. I opened up and there were so many wonderful goodies in side. I opened the card and found out my swap pal was Jess ( I don't think she has a blog but we won't hold it against her lol!). Then I started taking out all the other wonderful things, here's what was inside:

I was very spoiled! There was a beautiful monkey sock bag and dpn case that she made just for me, monkey potholder, kitchen towel, a Cookie A pattern, a gorgeous skein of Farmhouse sock yarn, monkey stickers, and little monkeys that grow in water that the kids have already claimed as there own.

And of course

the gorgeous socks that fit perfectly! She made the purless monkeys and used STR in the pink granite colorway that I've been lusting after for awhile but have not purchased. I also have been able to wear them as the weathers been a bit chilly the last few days. Thanks so much Jess for a wonderful package!

My Monkey swap pal was Anne. I wish I had a picture of the socks but when I sent them off I had left my camera in blogless Jean's car after seeing the yarn harlot. Oh well maybe she'll post a pic on her blog. Have great afternoon all!

Yarn Therapy

Last week was a bit of trying week. I won't go into to details because I really do try to keep this a happy place but I may have bought some yarn while under duress. It all started when Sheri at The Loopy Ewe had sent out the sneak up notice that she sends you to let you know she just posted some new yarns. So I thought I just stop by and look and spend just the twenty five dollar gift certificate that I had. I figured it cheer me up. Well this is what happened.

I really wanted one of those Go Knit pouches. We bought seasons passes to Six Flags since know the kids are old enough to go on most of the rides and we only live about 15 minutes away. I thought this bag would be great to use while waiting in line or waiting for my kids while they go on the rides. Anyway it didn't stop there, then I thought I'd check to see if the LL Daffodil colorway I'd been waiting for was back in stock and behold it was. I also couldn't pass up the Parfait, I mean could you? I should have stopped there but then I looked at the patterns and saw this

It's a Tulip Sweater for adults! You can find here. Then of course I had buy the yarn for the sweater.

I really like the colors of the original Tulip sweater. The only color I omitted was "Strange Harvest". I figure it was cheaper than therapy and did make me feel a bit better.

It was like Christmas when this package came on Friday. I was so excited about the Tulip Sweater that I started on it right away.

I'm having a blast with this pattern! It's easy and soothing which is what I really need right now, but not boring due to the color changes every ten rows.

Tomorrow I'll show you the other fabulous package I got in the mail over the weekend. Have a great night!

On the needles

Forgive me for my lack of posting but I sort of lost my blogging mojo somewhere. I feel it starting to come back so hopefully I'll be posting more often. I figured since it's been so long I'd show you what's on the needles that I'm working on now.

First I have two stealth projects one that I finished and will show picks of after mother's day and the other is a pair of socks for my  Loopy ewe swap pal, Angela. Since this is isn't a secret swap and she knows my blog you'll have to wait until next month to see them. These are the only socks that I'm currently working. Not that I don't have a few on the needles but these are it until they are finished.

I started working on Agatha again after a brief time out. I'd like to be finished with this before summer gets here and it gets to hot to work on. I have 4 more repeats left and then I can start the last chart. It's really a lot of fun to work on and I'm really enjoying the Dream in Color Classy, so soft and squishy. The colorway is Cloud Jungle. It reminds me of a muted rainbow. It'll soft and cozy to have on hand come fall and winter.

This it is the meager beginnings of the Lace Ribbon Scarf. I'm using Numma Numma baby boo in the Strawberry, Banana, Kiwi colorway. The yarn is soft and I absolutely love the colors however it is making me crave a banana split.

That's all I'm working on now there are plenty more things on the needles but these are what I'm going to focus on for now.

I hope you all have a great weekend and to all the moms out there have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Whriling Wednesday: Thursday edition

Sorry to have been away so long. The kids were on vacation last week and we had beautiful weather. We spent a few days at six flags (pictures to come) and the rest of the time was spent outside. I would have posted earlier this week but I left my camera in blogless Jean's car after the Yarn Harlot event at Webs and wasn't able to pick it up until yesterday. The funny part was I didn't even use it not even once. I was to overwhelmed by the thousand or so knitters that were there. Now I have it back and figured I'd show you some fiber that picked up at Ct sheep and wool. That's have a look shall we?

First of all I got there right when it opened at 9:00 and we left at 10:30. My oldest son had his first soccer game that day and no amount of fiber was going to make me miss it but I really missed seeing all of you guys. Hopefully we will meet up at Cummington.  My main goal was to find a fleece to mix with Bob's bunny fluff so it was off to the red barn first where I found a gorgeous CVM fleece. I didn't take any pics sorry it's already been sent of with the angora for processing. I so can't wait to get it back! After that we walked around a bit and bought just a few things.

My first purchase was 4oz. of beautiful Cormo from Fox hill fibers.

Some merino/tencel from one of my favorite places, The Sheep Shed. The colorways are Bermuda and Summer fields.

The last purchase was from a new to me dyer,Dye Dreams. It's a very soft alpaca and I love the colors. I'm thinking maybe a nice lace scarf for this one.

It was a great hour and a half I do wish I could have spent more time though and didn't bring my camera because I knew we were only going to be there for a short time.

Over the last few weeks I did manage to spin up three yarns.

From top to bottom : Merino hand dyed by me I call it "Sugar and Spice" even though it looks orangey in the picture it really isn't. Then there is 4oz. of superwash wool that I bought from The Loopy Ewe the colorway is "Neapolitan" and it came out a nice fingering weight, and the last one is "Think Spring" from the Spunky Club the fiber is South African fine and it came to be a Sport weight it's a little on the light side but still very pretty. It kind of reminds me of those marshmallow peeps.

That's all for now I hope you all have a great day!

Be back soon!

I just wanted to let you all know I'm still here. I came down with Strep throat on Monday. I feel like total crap. I did go to the doctor's yesterday and got some medication so I'm on the mend. I'm going to take the next few days to rest and then I'll be back. I hope you all have a great rest of the week and weekend!

Someone got bitten by the sock bug

The sock bug has spread to my daughter. You know the one who likes to tell me that knitting is just not her thing.

Here she is knitting her first pair of socks using magic loop, and liking it no less!

Doesn't she look happy! She really is proud of the progress she's made ( she just started them on Saturday). She is a really great knitter a natural in fact which is why I was so bummed that she didn't take to knitting at first but she seems to really be enjoying it now. Ahhh the power of the sock!

Quick post

I just wanted to pop in real quick and let you all know I'm still here. I won't go into details because and I'm sure all tired of hearing about the sickness that's been running rampant in our house. The short of I got sick almost two weeks ago was feeling better the beginning of last week and then it came back full force on Friday and I've was sick as dog all weekend. Now I'm feeling better but am going to rest for a few more days so it doesn't come back.

I'll leave you with a little cuteness

Gabby and the my little guy snuggly on the couch. Just so you know I didn't pose my little guy that way he's just a ham and every time I take a picture of him he has to pose. It's really cute.

I'll be back next week I promise and I have quite a few fo's to show you. I hope you are staying healthy and having a good week!

Flu round 2

The flu came to visit us for a second time this year. My son was sick with it since Monday and has been out of school all week. I took him to the doctor's yesterday and he's on some medication and is finally starting to feel a little better. I started up with it this morning so I'm going to have to take a little time off blogging.

I'll leave all with a pic of one of the two shawls I promised to show you

Agatha in DIC Classy with the Cloud Jungle Colorway. When I come back I'll have some progress pics of the Cherry shawl.

Happy Easter to all who celebrate it and Happy Weekend to those who don't!

Monkey Swap Four Q&A

Shoe size: 9

Foot length in inches: 9 1/2

Circumference: 9

Yarn Preferences

What are your favorite colors? ppurple, green,pink,blue

What color clashes with your wardrobe? orange

Do you prefer solids or variegated yarns? I like both semi-solid and variegated yarns

What are your favorite brand sock yarns? There are so many. Right now I've really been in to trying all the Andie sock dyers.

Is there a new sock yarn you really would like to try? I haven't tried Ocean Wind Knits, Tempted, or Sheep Paints.

Cookie A. Patterns

List the patterns you do not have but would like to receive: Mingus,  Felonious, Gothic Spire

Allergies

Do you have any allergies that your pal needs to know about? (animals, fiber, sensitivity to smoke etc.) No

Will you knitting be exposed to animals? Yes. I have 2 dogs, a cat, and a bunny

Will you knitting be exposed to cigarette smoke? Nope

Shipping

What country do you live in? USA

Are you willing to ship outside your country? If you really need me to I will but I would prefer to ship inside the US.

Sock Madness Round 1

I finished up my Sock Madness Zombie socks last night. I started them around 5:00 on Thursday. That's about 3 1/2 days for a pair of socks! I think that my be the fastest pair I've made to date. I used CTH Supersock and a size 1 Knitpick's Circular needle. This pattern was a lot of fun and I think it works so well with variegated yarn. Can't wait to see what round 2's sock will be.

Have a great day and I promise next post: Shawls

Happy St. Patrick's Day!