Now that it's November, Here's what I did in October

Lot's going on in October, and now I can't believe that it's November. Okay...here goes...lots of pictures and patterns for you guys in this one!

First of all. Meet the new addition to the Cactus family (well, the Cactus parents). Here's Tully the pug puppy. Isn't she cute?? Ella's not sure what exactly she is yet or what to do with her.







Now, my Dashing mitts and hat to match. Love these mitts! They are very warm and as you can see, come almost up to my elbows. Yarn: Patons SWS in gray mix.
The hat, it's my own pattern, using the leftover for the mitts. I love it! It covers my ears! And, yes, I have worn them both last week at the Munchkin's baseball game.























































A Norwegian Star Earflap hat from tiennie knits. I love the way this turned out! It's huge, but as it's for C in Colorado, she's got a big head (it's true!), so it will fit her great. Yarn: Vanna's Choice in turquoise, cream and Wool-Ease in brown.

From top to bottom: Simple Braided Cable Rib Hat [rav link]; Sutro Heights Hat [rav link]; and The Boy Hat [rav link]. I don't know the yarn used for these last three, don't have the ball bands in front of me anymore, but they are all machine washable as C tends to shrink wool hats. These were all sent off today (except for the dashing hat/mitts) to people in Colorado who definitely need them more than I do this week!

Fall In AZ

Went to Mt. Lemmon today. Here are some fall leaves.

Fabulous Fall Finished Objects No. 1

TaDa!!!
It's finished! Hot off the needles! (Last night I went out and bought the buttons! Got to do it quick or it will never get done!)
Took me almost two months (according to my Rav. dates), and that was knitting with wool/mohair mix yarn in the middle of the summer and the lingering heat we had in Sept.

Love the way this fits!
I used about 4 1/4 skeins of Brown Sheep worsted in the color -- tormented teal.
I picked this up while on vacation this summer and I'm glad I bought 5 of them, so I could work my modifications.
Pattern: Favorite Cardigan (rav link) from Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard (knitandtonic).
Size knit: small.
Yarn: Brown Sheep worsted.
Needles: US #8
Notions: 9 buttons (see modifications).





Modifications: When I knit the fronts, I started with a 2x2 rib, and then when I got the end of the row, I did a p2,k2 so that I would end with a k2 on the end. That's why there's more purl stitches at the ends. I like the detail though. Makes the cables stand out. I did not do as much waist shaping, only did 3 decrease rows and then made it longer (I used two full skeins on just the body of the sweater-from the top to the bottom). For the sleeves, I sort of custom fit them to my arms. I have long arms and didn't want the sleeves to fit tight, so I just tried it on as I went and decreased where I thought I needed to, ie at the elbow area and through the bottom of the arm.





This is my glorious self-timer shot! Came out pretty good I think. I did not block this, and don't think I'm going to.

Overall this is a relatively easy pattern. I do like that the sleeves are done in the round so you really don't have to seam anything but the small hole under the arm. I wanted this not as close fitting as my Central Park Hoodie (which I love but fits snug), so that I could layer a long sleeve tee over it.

Fabulous Fininished Fall Projects...

...Coming
Soon
to
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You!

Dogs On Thursday (Back Again)

Abby and Ella relaxing after a long day of vacation fun. (Notice their paws! Too cute!)

CocoMonkey getting some sun!

These pictures were from Ella's vacation to Colorado in July. She loves to visit her friends. The only thing she doesn't like are the thunder storms, they're really, really loud there, and fireworks on the 4th. Other than that, she loves it. She loves to get out of the heat for a week and romp and play with her friends.

Cool Waters

Seven Falls, Colorado Springs, CO

Needed to see some refreshing water today. Hot and sticky/humid here in the desert today. Am wanting fall to come soon. I'm actually knitting, because I just know it will cool off eventually enough for me to wear something wool! (Rav Link: favorite cardi). This is such a fast knit. I forgot how much I enjoy knitting from top down and the raglan sleeves are glorious! (they fit me good)

Back to School

My little butterflies are leaving once again to start a new adventure. First day of school here today. We're all ready. It's been a quick, but good summer and it's time to start that cycle of school once again.

(For all of you who say, 'Wow, that's early to go back!' they get out in late May, so it's been the requisite 2 1/2 months of summer vacation!)

(Edited: comment was correct, more like a little over two months.)