Christmas cowls

Christmas cowls
Originally uploaded by elletrain

So, I've been going to town making cowls this year for Christmas. It's a great quick project and I have loved wearing mine so much that I thought I'd share the gift with my family. It's nice to have a cowl because, unlike a scarf, it doesn't get in your way if you want to wear it around the house. It won't get in the cookie icing or hang in the dog food...but it will keep your neck nice and toasty!

In the pictured cowls, I have used the following yarns, from top right, clockwise: Rowan Big Wool (one skein plus a little), Crystal Palace Merino Frappe (1 skein), Classic Elite Desert (1.5 skeins), and again, Crystal Palace Merino Frappe (1 skein).

For the aran weight yarns I cast on about 80 stitches on a size 10 needle. For the Big Wool I cast on around 50 stitches on a size 19 needle. Just knit for about 8 inches or desired height. It's nice to have the ribbing on the larger yarns to bring it in around the neck some. This is a great way to use extra skeins and make a quick project that people will love!

First sweater design done!!

First sweater design done!!
Originally uploaded by elletrain

Yay! I finished my first sweater design on Friday. It's amazing how well you can fit a top down construction. I think I'll call it the Everything Gold Cardi. It's 3/4 length sleeves and has a cable on one side. The collar is my favorite b/c it stands up. It's kind of a jacket construction meant to be worn over a long sleeve top. It's perfect for my southern, not-so-cold city of Nashville. The pattern will be written up soon, in preparation for a book I'm hoping to someday write. Stay tuned!

is NOT successful at playing pool this evening :(

Today's outfit

Today's outfit
Originally uploaded by elletrain

So...I'm gonna start taking pics of my outfits...not because I think I'm cool, not because I think I have fun clothing, but, yes, because I'm getting older. I need to remember good outfits for a later date when I blank on what to wear. It's been fun taking pics in the same spot each day tho. I have to say it's a great new way to make getting ready each day a little more interesting. Btw, today's outfit didn't photograph so well, so I posted the one from last Tuesday b/c it was cuter :) And one from the other day showcasing my new awesome shoes (tho you can't see them so well) and one from last Friday, too.

Steph and I at Angel Hair

Steph and I at angel hair
Originally uploaded by elletrain

Yay! Stephanie who now lives in London came to visit her old Nashville friends for a couple of days. She and I met when I was a customer at the shop and she was an employee. She definitely inspired my knitting greatly!! Now I'm at the shop and she is off doing wonderful musical things all over the world. Love you Steph! Thanks for visiting. xoxoxoxo

"Hattie"

"Hattie"
Originally uploaded by elletrain

I made this tiny hat for the Innocent Juice project at www.innocentdrinks.co.uk. Mattie was nice enough to model the hat for me. Doesn't she look excited? She is.

random thoughts

So, I realized I needed to post on this bloggity blog. Let me say a few things that I'm glad about lately:
*the overall interest in the upcoming election; I'm glad to see my generation more involved than ever before.
*the amount of classes that are filling up at Angel Hair. Thanks for helping me pay my bills :) and teach you fun knitting stuff!
*my upcoming trip with my mom (a belated 30th bday present) to Arizona for some pampering in the red rocks of Sedona
*some weekend plans to meet new people
*Stephanie Meyer's book series...I'm totally addicted
*the fact that autumn is coming soon!

Make a short list of your own about what you're glad about. It will help your perspective. xoxo

your fairy name

Your fairy is called Bramble Goblinfrost

She is a bringer of riches and wealth.

She lives in leafy dells and bluebell glades.

She is only seen during the first snow of winter.

She wears bluebell-blue dresses. She has gentle green wings like a butterfly.

Get your free fairy name here!

Log Cabin Cork Socks

Log Cabin Cork Socks
Originally uploaded by elletrain

I LOVE these socks. They'll be great house socks...sitting-around-watching-movies socks. Surely there's a yarn out there similar to Rowan Cork since it's been discontinued. Why would they stop making something so cozy??

Regardless, these are one of my favorite projects I've made. I would definitely recommend them to anyone. A great gift too!

World-Wide Knit in Public Day Nashville

sporting our tees
Originally uploaded by elletrain

The day was quite successful! It stopped raining at about 12:30 and the weather was great after that. We had a great turn-out and had fun chatting, laughing and knitting. It was great to see everyone!

Here's a pic of all of us that wore our t-shirts to the event, with the lovely Parthenon in the background. I know my sunglasses are HUGE but it makes my head look smaller...a good thing.

Thanks to all who came out and supported knitting in public and thanks to Charisse, my hard-core knitter friend who braved the rain with me... See everyone there again next year!

lady eleanor wrap & wwkip day

lady eleanor wrap
Originally uploaded by elletrain

So, this is the latest project. I've always wanted to knit this stole from Scarf Style. I splurged and got some Silk Garden and have really enjoyed knitting this. Entrelac is so great because it looks hard and is interesting to knit, but it's not hard and is great to take along to work on. Love this!

Also, new updates about WWKIP Day for Nashville. I've got t-shirts, bags, and mugs on cafepress! Check them out here: http://www.cafepress.com/elletrainknits

Hope to see you on June 14th! It shall be fun. I hear we'll have a Catfish Rodeo going on at the park to entertain us :)

WWKIP Day!

Well folks, the latest is that I felt the need to organize the Nashville World Wide Knit in Public Day gathering. Check out their site for details. www.wwkipday.com

We'll be hanging out in the park and knitting together. There's rumour of going's-on at Angel Hair that day to coincide with WWKIP. Hope to see all my knitting friends there!

pom pom weekend & great new book

pom pom weekend & great new book
Originally uploaded by elletrain

This weekend I'm making a pom pom rug to put by my bed. It's a great way to use leftover yarn. I heard about it on Stash and Burn's podcast. It will be nice and warm on my toes when I wake up b/c I have really cold floors.

I also bought "knitalong" at the bookstore today. It's a great book celebrating knitting together. It has cute patterns as well. The design and photography are superb and it's really a nice refreshing take to a knitting book. Definitely check it out.

tiffany mitten

tiffany_mitten.jpg
Originally uploaded by elletrain

Fair isle! I'm currently making the Tiffany mittens from knitty.com and it's my first attempt at fair isle. I'm LOVING it. Of course, I love the bits that are true fair isle better than the areas where I have to do a bit of intarsia, but overall, this is a super-fun technique that I will definitely continue to do.

These mittens are quite colorful and lovely. I'm using Jo Sharp DK Wool in 5 colors. (see ravelry for the complete list) I've really enjoyed starting these, especially because I'm on Rosewood needles. If you haven't used Rosewoods, you better! They will change your life. Even more than the Shins.

snow day mittens

snow day mittens
Originally uploaded by elletrain

I started these mittens last night just before it started snowing. About the time I reached the thumb of the first mitten we were getting snow at 2" per hour. Unfortunately, it only snowed for another hour. It's a lovely snow though it's melting now. I lucked out and got the day off of work because of it. All in all, a great snow day.

lace socks

lace socks
Originally uploaded by elletrain

I am loving socks now. I never thought I'd love socks and never really wanted to get into them, but I made my first pair for Alex for Valentine's Day and now I'm hooked.

I've declared Sunday Sock Day. Not that I don't work on them at other times too, but Sundays are especially for socks. I definitely recommend this book from Interweave Press "Favorite Socks." I gave it to myself for my birthday and love it.

I'm using Rowan Wool Cotton and size 1 needles (yes, they ARE very much like toothpicks.)

tree jacket sweater

tree jacket sweater
Originally uploaded by elletrain

Finally finished! I loved this pattern. And I looooove Malabrigo yarn. I changed the sleeves a bit and made them half garter half stockinette. Top down sweaters are the way to go my friends. If you like top down construction, check out www.zephyrstyle.com and www.glampyreknits.com. Two of my favorite sites!