Annie's Cocoon Shrug Class

At the end of May my LYS had Annie Modesitt in to teach some classes.

I was lucky enough to be able to take a few of them. They were awesome! She is such a wonderful teacher! She had just the right amount of humor, patients, stories and knitting knowledge to make the classes entertainingly educational. We all know that sitting in a 6 hour class can drag by, but man did the time fly in her classes. The only time that I wanted to stop was for lunch and that was only because my stomach was telling me I had to. You know this girl can't miss a meal. LOL

I can't wait to get my Cocoon Shrug finished. Not like the weather is really great to be wearing a wool shrug, but I want to have it when the weather decides to cool down. I have been diligently working on it when my son will let me. :)

I can say that once you learn the 2 section repeat it is an easy and fun knit. It is really neat the way that she had make the pattern so that you can figure out how to make it for the an infant if you want or yourself. Just 2 measurements and 2 simple formulas and you have everything that you need to make one to perfectly fit. How cool is that?!

Also the Cocoon Shrug can be worn 2 ways. One way you have a long collar and it is short along your back. Then if you flip it over the collar will be short and the back long like a jacket! How cleaver is that?! 2 garments in one knit. I am so there!

I will have some pictures of my progress in another post later.

I would recommend taking any of her classes if you have the chance. They were great!

Thanks Annie for 3 GREAT classes. I hope that you come back to Lambikins soon.


Here are some pictures of the sample Cocoon Shrug that Annie brought for us to see and drool over. Great motivation. :) Christina (the owner of Lambikins) is the one modeling it.


Cocoon Shrug Class


Front of a Cocoon Shrug


Back as Shrug with Long Collar


Back as Jacket with Short Collar


Annie also brought a sample of her Corset pattern. It was gorgeous!!!! Aimee (that is pronounced Ah-Mee NOT Amy) was kind enough to model it so I could get some pictures. I hate her for her body! ;) I just love the corset. That will be something I can look forward to knitting if I could ever loose some weight.


Corset Front - Aimee, you are just Beautiful!


Corset Back - Ok so you wouldn't normally wear it with sweat pants LOL, but come on it was a 6 hour class. We all came for comfort.

Frisky Shrug Update

It is finally to the blocking stage!!!!

It has been blocked and removed from the board. I took it to my LYS on Monday for help on how to sew it up since I have never sewn up anything before. I was asked if I would mind waiting until next Monday because the owner has a class this week on finishing and sewing techniques. So she just might come back with an ingenious way to go about it. I was more than up for that so it went back in my back for next Monday.

I can't wait for it to be finally finished. I am sure my Niece has thought I have completely forgot about her. I PROMISE I haven't!

After running out of the original stash that I bought I had to have my LYS look for more. Ok I got more then ran out again!!! So we went through the same process again. So now it is knit and blocked and I HOPE that I will have enough yarn to finish sewing it together. I should I have at least 3 balls left.

Mother's Day Gifts

Yeah I know that this is late and it is almost Father's Day, but it is better late than never right?.

I made wash cloths for my Mom and my Mother-In-Law. They came out really well. The pictures are after they have been washed and dried. I think that they came out really well. They are so soft! I also got some homemade soaps to go with them.

It is so hard to figure out something to get them. I wanted something that they could use so I thought that they would like something that I made that they can use as well. They seemed to like them. My Mom is already using hers, so at least I know my time was worth it for her. I don't know if my Mother-In-Law is using hers or not. I am sure if she isn't using them she has them proudly displayed somewhere in the house. :)

2 More Chemo Caps

There is a lady at our church who is going through chemo now. I grew up with her 2 sons and we were all like an extended family.

I really hate to see her have to go through this. It is horrible to watch someone go through the pain and sheer exhaustment of it all. So I found out that her favorite color is blue. Of course I had to get some yarn and make her a few hats. I know that it isn't much, but I hope that when she wears them she will know that someone is thinking of her.

She will be going into the hospital for 4 weeks soon so please keep her in your prayers. I don't know the details of it, but I have been told that it is for a bone marrow transplant.

I really wish that I didn't have to make the caps. That would mean that there is a cure for cancer, but until then I will make them for who ever I know that might need them.

They are a quick knit and the yarns that I use are so very soft. So I do enjoy knitting them, but really wish it didn't mean that some one was sick.

Thank You

I would like to thank all of you for your kind words that you have left me. It really means a lot to know that others know what you are going through and feel the same way about their pets.

He was a very special dog. I can NEVER replace him. It was so unfortunate that his life was cut so short. But I would rather he went in his sleep like he did than to suffer.

I have been asked what actually happened. We really don't know. He went to sleep that night and didn't wake up. I didn't take him to the vet when I found him that morning. There was nothing that the vet could do at that point unless he was a miracle worker. I just wanted Leon to be able to rest in peace and not to have him cut open with his organs all over the place. I just couldn't sand the idea of taking him all the way to the vet just for that. I know with pure breeds there are so many problems with them so I figure that it was his heart and it was weak. I have talked to the vet and they feel that it was a heart attack as well. So there was really nothing that could have prevented it from happening if it was going to happen.

He had a very spoiled life. He was such a good dog and was my baby. He slept on the couch, bed, or anywhere else that he wanted to. We didn't do much table food since I know it really isn't the best for them, but he did get the occasional soft food in a can for a special treat. He was kind, gentle, caring and just always knew how I was feeling inside even if I didn't show it on the outside. He was an amazing dog and I will never find another one like him. I miss him so much!

I still have days and moments that are bad where I just break down and cry. I still carry the heaviness in my heart and chest. It is just so hard sometimes. In a way I think it is harder to loose a pet since they are depending on you for their health and safety and when something happens you feel as if you have failed them. I know that is how I feel about Leon. I feel as if I failed him in some way. I know that heart attacks will happen no matter how well you take care of them, but it is just hard to convince myself that I did everything for him that I could.

Well I will stop rambling now. Thanks to everyone that left me a comment, sent me an email or I saw. It means a lot knowing that others feel the same way about their animals and don't think that I am completely crazy. Thanks - it means a lot to me.

Leon - You Will be Missed!

Last night our Black Lab, Leon passed away in his sleep. He was almost 9 years old. He was such a sweet, caring, compassionate and loyal friend and family member.

Today he was laid to rest next to his friend on my In-Law's farm with his bed. He has a nice peaceful place to rest. I can just imagine him and my Dad together in heaven. My Dad is in his recliner with Leon laying at his feet. Take good care of him Dad - I know that you loved him too and he loved you.

The best that anyone can guess that happened is a heart attack while sleeping. He was in the same position that he always lays to sleep when we go to bed at night, so it just looked like he fell asleep and some time in the night slipped away. I just couldn't stand to take his body to the vet for an autopsy. I just wanted to let him rest in peace.

Remington is doing ok. He seems a little confused, but is alright. He isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he is really sweet and always happy, so I think he will do ok. He is liking the extra loving that I have been giving him. The cat couldn't care one way or the other, but the cat really isn't very social anyway.

I know that some people probably think that I am crazy. People are saying that he was only a dog. Our pets have always been raised as part of our family. I have always gotten attached to my animals and it is hard to see them go. Really hard sometime - like now. I have been crying off and on all day. I so wish that he wouldn't have passed away, but I am glad that he didn't suffer. My heart aches and my chest is so heavy with grief. I know that time will make it better, but it is just so hard to see the light right now. Guess I need to go through my grieving process and I will begin to feel better.

Please remember me in this time of sadness. Thanks.



L to R Leon (Black Lab), Winston (Black Cat) & Remington (White Lab)

Sockapaloooza Loot

Well here it is as I promised.

I am sooooo happy with them. They are so comphie and fit so well. They are made from Lorna's Laces. Have I mentioned that I love Lorna's Laces? ;) Jenny Raye was my spoiler. She did a great job on the socks.

I think I will have to try the pattern myself. I have quite a bit of sock yarn in the stash and I am always looking for a new pattern to use. If you know of anywhere that I can get any type of sock patterns I would appreciate the info. I am constantly on the look out for great patterns.

Without further ado....

Sockapaloooza Socks Finished!!

The socks are finished in the mail and Jennifer has already received them and left me a lovely comment on them. I had a blast making them and would love to be involved in the next one.

During this I found a new sock yarn. Lorna's Laces! I had heard people talking about it and how much they loved it, so I thought that I would give it a try. Oh My! I never thought that it would be so nice to work with. I have a new love. The next socks that I knit will defiantly be from Lorna's Laces. I enjoyed knitting with it so much that I couldn't wait to do the next sock. Normally I dread the second sock. Of course I am going to be making a pair out of Malabrigo so I am positive that I will love that too. :)

On to the pictures and specs. of the socks.










Materials:

2 Skeins Lorna's Laces Shepherds Sock in the Mt. Creek color way.
Size 2 Addi Turbo 60" Circular Needles

Sock pattern is the Jay Walker from MagKnits. I used the biggest size of Casting on 84 stitches. I worked it from the cuff down. I did everything by the pattern, other than the length of the sock, I just played that by ear. No other modifications. I was very happy with the way that they turned out. I am going to have to make me a pair of them soon. I am a tight knitter, so I used ALL of both skeins for the socks. I am glad that my sock pal liked them as well.