a virtual thank you note
2008 @ 5:25 pm
Thank you to the lovely Spiders for the woolly goodness bestowed on Cassie this weekend at her babywarming. These things are becoming extremely frequent, aren’t they? Behold the cuteness…
Clockwise from the left: Jess’s Hemlock Ring Blanket, Lisa’s brown sheep, Steph’s elephant, Nancy’s crochet bear, Carrie’s crochet hippo. Can you even stand it? There’s more…
Cathy’s Baby Surprise Jacket, Connie’s leg warmers, Virginia’s socks, Katy’s bonnet. Not pictured: an adorable squeeky pirate and top from Tea (my fave) from Jess F&P
I am so grateful for friends like you! Now, please do me one final favor and publish links to your patterns right here in the comments 
THANK YOU!
Ribbed Baby Jacket
2008 @ 7:45 am
Apparently, this pattern is my go-to baby gift. It’s easy to figure out why. It takes exactly one skein of cotton ease, is fun, easy, practical and cute! I hope Amanda’s baby will get as much use out of this sweater as Maia got out of her versions.
Details can be found here on Ravelry. Mod: I did a little seed stitch border to prevent rolling around the bottom at at the cuffs.
Pattern: Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss
Size:b0-3 months
Needle: US 7 / 4.5 mm and US 8 / 5.0 mm
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, 1 skeins in Lime
This pattern is now available for FREE here.
Single Sock Spider Swap
2008 @ 8:05 am
WOOOOOOOOOOOW! This was hands down the best swap I have ever participated in. From soup to nuts, this one went according to plan for everyone involved. This was the very first Spider swap and it was an extreme success. Not only did everyone’s sock fit, they were all so beautiful! Everyone stepped up and knit gorgeous, fancy footwear. Perhaps there is something about wanting to impress your knitting comrade that pushed this one to the next level? Surprising a stranger is nice, surprising your friend is ever better…
I knit up a single Eleanora sock for Jess–it was completely addicting, but i am really happy not to knit another one. If for the size zero provisional cast-on and hem alone Pic to come when she posts–I didn’t want to stretch out the sock with my large and in charge feet!
And what did I receive? From Sandra, a gorgeous Twisted Flower Sock (Cookie A). The blue of this sock is beautiful and the pattern is enticing–I can’t wait to make the other. Check out that heel–super fancy! And not to get too sappy, but Sandra was one of my very first knitting friends–like pre-Spiders and everything–so it was pretty cool to reconnect this way
More details once I cast on!
Spiders Swap!
2006 @ 10:14 pm
Last year, the Spiders had our first annual White Elephant gift swap. I made out great and have been looking forward to this years party. I really wanted to come up with something good–something that would get stolen.
I was confident, but the day started out rough. I decided to walk over to the store with MJ–a brisk half hour. Sans deodorant. Nice. All was going well at work though, if not busy. My parents came in to take MJ away about half way through my shift, which I was definitely looking forward too. When they arrived, I took MJ out of her carrier and discovered that we were both soaking in pee. Fun fun fun. So, MJ was on her way home and I was smelling awesome. Ready to party! Big props to Carrie for loaning me an awesome shirt upon my arrival at her kick ass duplex.
The swap was a great success–lots of cool books, a couple of neato project pouches and many skeins of fabu yarn. I wound up getting Sandra’s gift–an funny thing since she got mine last year! I am the proud owner of a skein of Yarn Pirate sock yarn. Yay! Pic to come. I’ve been wearing my Jaywalkers and love them so much. It’s time for another pair! And this from the mouth of “not a sock person”. Wearing them makes all the difference I guess. Any pattern suggestions?
So, here’s what I gifted:
Inside the pouch, which I made with help from my friend Lulu last night, was one skein of Sheep Company wool and a pair of rosewood needles. Fancy-pantsy. I picked these things up at the Katonah Yarn Co last weekend. (Oh man, i just realized I haven’t posted about a few yarn purchases. eeks. Stash enhancement post to come soon!). I also tied this ornament on to the booty:
I’ve been cranking these things out and not putting them on Etsy. I guess that’s because marketing an Etsy shop can be very difficult. I email blasted friends and family, but it’s not really making a difference in my hits. I will most likely just give them as gifts to my extended family. I think that was the plan when I bought the materials anyway! I really like the ones I’ve done this year much better than last year.
Lastly, Spideys, I am sorry I bailed on the cookies and that I had to break out early. I was part of the exchange in spirit! I’ll make it up to you
oops! Forgot to blog this…
2006 @ 9:30 pm
MJ finally fits into the beautiful top that Sarah knit for her! Here she is with my friend Nivia…
MJ got tons of compliments… it is an absolutely perfect pattern. And Sarah’s execution is brilliant.
Later, we went to The Point and found that it was Jade bracelet day. From some occasion a while ago MJ had one in her diaper bag so she joined Sandra and Jess. She somehow managed to take it off herself a few minutes later. These things always happen when I am looking the other way, of course. In Chinese culture, jade wards off a number of evils. In addition to the bracelet, we have attached a jade buddha to her carseat for safe travel.
MJ meets the Spiders!
2006 @ 1:29 pm
Okay, we’ve actually hung with the Spiders twice now, but here are some pics from MJ’s first evening at the Point. Sarah was in attendance and it was the perfect weather for a smoking jacket. Just kidding, but that is what it looks like on her. This is the Ribbed Jacket by Debbie Bliss that Sarah made for MJ . She did an amazing job, no surprise there!
MJ slept through most of the experience, but this past Friday she spent more time awake and getting to know the girls. We even spent yesterday at the Renegade Craft Fair! Mommy bought a fanny pack… yes, a frackin’ fanny pack. It’s cool, I mean hip, I mean cool… I swear. Basically if it’s not tied on, it’s gonna get lost. Steph is fixing the strap up for me and then I’ll take a pic. Basically, if you need to wear one of these things, this is the one I recommend.
The Fair was pretty cool, but I felt like it was basically a place to get t-shirts, bags and plushies. Not that our crowd wasn’t interested in just those things! There were a few places for cards and handmade books, but mostly it was a fabric bonanza. I need to get a sewing machine. hmmm, i do have b’day coming up! A big one too…
Gratuitous shot of Brooklyn’s cutest baby:
“It’s hot here in NYC and I am a sweaty baby”
Another reason to love the Spiders
2006 @ 9:46 am
As if I needed another reason to love my Spiders, on Saturday morning I was presented with this labor of love…
I reveal, Project Blankie (here for larger photos)!
The blankie is made of mitered squares of Rowan All Seasons Cotton, is machine washable and gorgeous! I feel very special The girls threw a great baby shower at The Point on Saturday morning, complete with mimosas and my very favorite Lemon Cloud cake from Two Little Red Hens bakery. In addition to the fabulous blankie, some of the girls brought other adorable gifts for le bebe. I must put up a picture of Veronique’s adorable embroidered bib! Very clever indeed. Thank you so much to everyone at The Point for being so accommodating to our group this weekend and always! Seriously, you will not meet a better staff in all of retail. To read more about the secret life of Project Blankie, visit Veronique and Lisa (so far!) It is clearly a labor of love and will be treasured always. You girls are the bestest.
In other good news, I blocked the Shetland Triangle! Let me tell you, crawling around on the bed pinning this sucker down was pretty much the dreaded experience I thought it would be. My pregnant belly was the hold up the whole time. However, it was worth it as it looks gorgeous and I’m wearing it today! I’ll model it later in the week–my shirt today is the same color as the shawl and won’t make for a good shot. Blocking was also a challenge due to lack of proper tools. I wanted to staple the thing to the bed more than once. The beading wire I chose was a little too flexible for the task and the pins a little too weak. And maybe the mattress a little too soft. I think I may go with safety pins to make the points next time. They’ll stay in place that way!
I anchored the wire across the back of the bed using the underside of the ironing board on the right and the bed post on the left.
Gong hay fat choy!
2006 @ 11:16 am
Happy Lunar New Year! In celebration our creepy meneki neko (lucky cat)* has agreed to model the Sassy Striped Stocking Cap. *edit: fixed the link!*
This means I’ve gotten my hands on the camera! Behold, progress shots + hand painted yarn by me. The Spiders had a marathon dye session at Marie’s yesterday. So much fun! Take a run through our ring to see everyone else’s excellent results. Highlight of the day though? Amanda accidentally getting locked in the bathroom and me repeating it two minutes later! Classic.
Joy gave me 4 skeins of natural Handpainted Yarns and I went to town on a plan for the Pinwheel Baby Blanket that will start with a saturated color in the center and fan out to lighter shades of that color. Not my idea, I got it from JenLa! Her version is gorgeous and I hope mine will be too.
more of my bathroom than you wanted to see
on to FO and progress photos:
The Kaitlyn Sweater in Brooks Farm Duet (test knit for Christine!)
more in the gallery
Diagonal Baby Blanket in Bernat handicrafter cotton Apple
Yesterday, Joy brought a laundry bag of yarn to sell off before she moves (sniff) to Hawaii. I grabbed 4 skeins of pink alpaca (knit picks) and 5 skeins of lilac Cotton Ease for baby stuff!
It’s been a great weekend so far–and this is my first post from the mac! I am close to streamlining the photo tweak and upload process. wooo hooo!
*maneki neko is creepy because he is all gold, waves his hand and Sassy cat sits next to him for hours on end for no apparent reason.
MAC MAC MAC
2006 @ 11:52 am
The Spiders are big news! Check out this Daily News article about our little group. Well done, methinks.
I did some swatching this weekend… I have a plan for the Knitting Olympics and I’ve cast on for my Jaywalkers in Turquoise Socks that Rock. This is not a self striping yarn; it’s just a bit variegated. I am really liking it!
Sorry for the phone camera shots (color is brighter in real life!), but we are seriously compromised in the area of digital technology these days. Even our TV bit the big one. Why does everything happen at once like that? And always when you don’t have the money to replace it? The arrival of my new MAC and wireless router this morning should increase photo productivity! If I can find the camera that is. I think Mr. Sassy might be carrying it around every day. I’ll catch a glimpse and then its gone—poof.
The plan for the Shetland Triangle Olympic entry is WING IT. I swatched the alpaca, it was an inch off, but I really want to use the yarn. I have more yardage than the pattern calls for and shawls are flexible in size–you just add more repeats right? Ladies who have made a flower basket shawl, let me know if I’m asking for trouble! Anyway, I’m just going to knit until I run out of yarn (saving enough for the border). I wound it all up and am ready to hit the ground running on Feb 10!
There was a Spiders gathering for Steph’s 30th b’day this weekend too! I missed our Friday night at The Point and must say that it was much fun to hang with these ladies without the yarn. Although the margaritas were definitely tempting, the company kept my mind off the craving! Yea, it’s starting to get so I can’t go out to bars without getting bummed. I don’t just want to “have a glass of wine”, I want to get wrecked.
Friday I was off in Fairfield, CT listening to my friend Liam Bailey debut his awesome new album. That boy certainly has the gift of the gab–his stage presence is terribly charming and only adds to the depth of his pop arrangements. Well, he calls it pop, but that feels like such an empty description for the depth of it. You can listen to the whole cd at his site. Liam is light in heart and so are his songs, even if he’s talking politics and loneliness. Another friend, Marc Douglas Berardo, also debuted his new album, Harbor, which I own and love to listen too. Something about growing up on the water lends to identifying with his songs. And this dude just does not stop winning songwriting awards! Also playing that night was Charlotte Kendrick. She’s got a soft, layered sound that draws you in and makes you happy. All around, it was an acoustic adventure that was well worth the trip to CT!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2006 @ 11:53 am
Welcome to 2006 everyone! While it will certainly be an adventure of a year over here at the Sassy house, what with the new baby and the new restaurant, I do want to take a moment and acknowledge the good stuff of 2005–I started knitblogging in 2005 and am grateful for just a couple of things:
- Sheep & Wool Festivals
- Book signings
- The Lovely Ladies of Leisure
- The Spiders
- The Point
- The Skills
Maryland and Rhinebeck were my first ever sheep and wool festivals and both were an incredibly good time!
I went to two knitting related book signings (with Joy!) this year and each time I met even more fabulously fun knitters from NYC… and around the world! Without these events, there would be no Spiders.
My first meetup of knitbloggers was love at first site. Whiskey & Wool (MD) shall not be forgotten! I am so grateful to have met and kept in touch with these girls, specifically Sarah, Mary and Christine. I have an amazing time whenever we get together and hope it continues for a long time.
My knitting group–i heart these girls big time. Thanks again to Stephanie for making our crew legit with a webring and all. The founders are all fabulous friends and each new member is a breath of fresh air. I look forward to reading up on them and seeing the crew each week.
Oh, LYS, how I love thee. I love your treats, I love your yarn, I love your patience with our ever growing group. We feel at home and appreciate that you exist more than you could possible know.
Yes, my skills have improved this year! I hope yours have too. Knitting won’t stop being fun until i know everything there is to know–do you have any idea how long that will take? That is precisely what makes knitting so fabulous.
So, happy 2006 to all and thank you to everyone who contributed to making my year a great one!
