Whoopie!

Yes, these are whoopie pies! Hakucho was right! My mom used to make these all the time when I was little. They're great!

My friend, EB (no, not the Easter Bunny) gave me this book yesterday. And as I was scanning it to see what delightful concoctions were in there, I came across the peanut butter whoopie pie! Might have to try those out! Oh, and she loved her hat! (There are plenty of recipes for the whoopie pies out there, most of them are the same, be careful which filling you do. I like marshmallow cream whipped with confectioner's sugar, vanilla and unsalted butter or solid veg shortening.)

Happy knitting (and baking if you get inspired)!

Another Hat

Pattern: Swirl Hat, from Smariek Knits.
Yarn: Plymouth Encored Worsted, color is very hot pink.
Needles: What the pattern says.
Modifications: I made the ribbing at the bottom 2 1/4", enough to cover ears.

This is the top! It's great, it swirls all together and makes a very neat looking top.

But this hat isn't for me. I'm gifting it to my friend EB (and no, she's not the Easter Bunny) who lives in Indiana and is visiting for the week. I figured she needed a shot of spring color when she goes back! I was going to make her another hat, but as she's coming today, I don't think I'll have time to surprise her, so she may just get it before she leaves. You'll probably see this pattern again, but for me, in the near future. I love the cable twists and there's not a purl stitch in sight (only on the ribbing)! (Thanks to the Munchkin who modeled for me.)

Still working on my CPH, but it's been a few days. I really, really want to get it finished before it's too hot (what? too hot did you say?), yes, too hot here to wear it, but I probably still would!

Just to tempt you! I made these last week (Thursday) and they're gone! Know what they are?

A Doggie Tag

Knittinggal's Oliver tagged Ella. So, here goes.

What three things would you do that you have never done before; If you knew you wouldn't get caught, Get in trouble or suffer any consequences?

Hmm...(this is Ella thinking about what to tell me here)...

1. Jump over the fence and play with my friend Charleaux (pronounced Charlie) [she's a chocolate lab] all day long.


2. Eat all the snacks mom makes for me!


3. I don't know, run all day in the desert chasing the bunnies and maybe actually catch one! {But I would never, ever eat it, I swear!}

Ella would like to know Gracie's answers.

Dogs on Thursday -- a picture profile

These are some of my favorite pictures of Ella! Enjoy!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Happy Monday!

I've been working on my Central Park Hoodie, maybe tomorrow I'll have some updated pictures, but it will probably be more like Wednesday! I finished the back last week and started the left front today. It's definitely a quick knit and I'm liking it better every time I pick up my needles! I don't think I picked up my knitting at all over the weekend. Sometimes I do that, I just never get to my knitting when everyone's home for the weekend.

Check out this great contest at The Bag Lady and the Pro! Thanks to Smariek Knits for promoting it!

Happy Knitting to All!

Spring Has Sprung (or hopped)

This is the little baby bunny my Hubby and I unearthed while getting rid of some of the buffle grass in the wash behind our house. (This grass is so invasive that if you don't keep on top of it, it will take over your yard.)

He was so tiny! And there were two of them the same size, they were about 5 inches long. I accidentally scooped one up! He was sleeping in the dead grass under a huge clump of the grass!

And their eyes were open. They both crawled under the grass to hide/keep warm/sleep.

Too cute!!

So, for all of you still suffering from winter's wrath, the bunnies are coming!

As I was doing my blog reading, I came across NH Knitting Mama and her PMS (promote my shop) entry. So, I'm going to do that for her so you can go here to find, and buy her great yarn.

Double and a Half Diamond Fingerless Mitts

More fingerless mitts for all! Here is my first creation in the fingerless mitts world! I've included the directions, if you'd like to make your own. (And if you do, let me know, I'd love to see them!)


Double and a Half Diamond Fingerless Mitts

Double Moss Diamond Twist Pattern (taken from The Harmony Guides, 220 Aran Stitches and Patterns, Vol. 5)
Panel of 11 sts on a rev. stst background.
Note:
T3RP (twist 3 right purl) = slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next st from left-hand needle, then p1, k1 from cable needle.
T2F (twist 2 front) = slip next st onto cable needle and hold at front of the work, purl next st from left-hand needle, then knit tbl from cable needle.
T2B (twist 2 back) = slip next st to cable needle and hold at back of work, knit tbl st from left-hand needle, then purl st from the cable needle.

Row 1: (RS) p3, T2B, k1, T2F, p3.
Row 2: k3, p1, [k1, p1] twice, k3.
Row 3: p2, T2B, k1, p1, k1, T2F, p2.
Row 4: k2, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times, k2.
Row 5: p1, T2B, k1, [p1, k1] twice, T2F, p1.
Row 6: k1, [p1, k1] 5 times.
Row 7: T2B, k1, [p1, k1] 3 times, T2F.
Row 8: p1, [k1,p1] 5 times.
Row 9: T2F, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times, T2B.
Row 10: as row 6.
Row 11: p1, T2F, p1, [k1, p1] twice, T2B, p1.
Row 12: as row 4.
Row 13: p2, T2F, p1, k1, p1, T2B, p2.
Row 14: as row 2.
Row 15: p3, T2F, p1, T2B, p3.
Row 16: k4, p1, k1, p1, k4.
Row 17: p4, T2RP, p4.
Row 18: as row 16.
Rep these 18 rows for pattern.
Note: on the twist sts, knit into the back of the st for better definition.
(Cactus edit: I forgot that this is written for working flat, ie in rows, so you'll have to mentally change the even rows to work in the round. It's not that difficult once you figure it out!)

Needles: #5 dpn
Gauge: about 6 ½ sts = 1" and 7 rows = 1"

Left Mitt:
CO 48 sts.
Join, and work in k2, p2 rib for 10 rounds.
On the 11th round, inc 1 st f/b on the 9th st, continue in pattern until end of round – 49 sts,
At this point you may need to re-arrange the sts as follows:
Needle #1 – 18 sts
Needle #2 – 16 sts
Needle #3 – 15sts.
Next round, needle #1, k2, pm, row 1 of pattern, pm, k1.
Rep the cable pattern, working in stst for the rest of the sts, until you get to the 12th row in the second repeat of the pattern.

Left Thumb Placement: work in pattern to needle #3, k7, knit next 6 sts onto waste yarn, then slip those same 6 sts back to left-hand needle and knit them again with the working yarn, k2.

Continue to work the pattern through the 8th row of the third pattern repeat
Next round – purl.
Next round – knit.
Bind off all sts purlwise.

Thumb:
Carefully remove the waste yarn, placing the live sts onto 2 dpn. You should have 6 sts on the bottom needle and 5 sts on the top – 11 sts.
Starting at the bottom, knit across the 6 sts, pu and knit 3 sts on the edge, knit across the 5 sts and then pu and knit 3 on second edge – 17 sts.
Working in stst, rep 9 rounds.
Purl 1 round.
Knit 1 round.
Bind off, loosely, purlwise.

Right Mitt:
Complete right hand mitt in the same manner except at right thumb placement:
At row 12 of the pattern, on needle #2, k3, knit the next 6 sts onto waste yarn, slip them back to the left-hand needle, and knit them again with the working yarn.
Continue as for the left mitt.
Weave in loose ends and enjoy!

copyright February 29, 2008, Cactusneedles.

Yarn Used: Lion Brand, Lion Wool, color dark teal.

Happy knitting!