Harlot n Me

ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Yes... that is me and the one and only YARN HARLOT! Look, we are totally in a picture together like we're buddies!

She came to Indy on her book tour and I was SO GLAD I finally got to hear her speak in person and meet her!!!!! She is SO NICE and freakin' hilarious!!! I barely stopped laughing during her speech!


Here you can see her signing my book, and you can see the beer I brought her! Its a Mad Anthony beer, brewed right here in Fort Wayne. Woot woot!

Also I have started my first "real" pair of socks, and I took it with me that day to meet the harlot and get "sock pics" just like she does... lol...


Sock on left, Harlot on right. ;-)

I freaked out over the size 2 needles initially but now they aren't bad at all!!!!

Anyway it was a great trip to Indy and now I have my very own signed book, and some great pics. Hope any other harlot fans out there get to go see her!

OH! AND I want to give a shout out to my first random blog fan, JULIE! HI Julie!!!!! Apparently she knows my knitting guru and coworker Cynthia, and they ran into eachother at the Harlot signing. Julie made a comment wondering if "Knitting at Lunch" was around... of course Cynthia knew who that was! I was totally amazed that I had blog stalkers!!!!!!!!! :D

I also got to meet Rachael, who ive met through Ravelry... we both made it to the harlot signing and BOTH made it (our pics) on the yarn harlot blog, Rachael for her washcloth and me for my first socks! See if you can find us!

http://yarnharlot.ca/blog/

Anyway, TGIF, hope everyone has a great weekend... I know I am sure ready for it!

Brrrrrrrr

So the high today was like 30 degrees and it is SNOWING. I mean, it's freaking APRIL!!!!!!!! Ugh!!! I cannot wait until next week, when I go visit my friend in Florida. WOOT! But come on people... this is not natural:


Global warming, where are you?

Onto the knitting. OK, so I would say that April's theme will be: "distracted". That is because I have been neglecting a few things:

The second sock. I have a little bit of second sock syndrome, but I plan on maybe working on it tonight. I am just glad I have it started, that is the tough part!


The neglected hourglass... hiding under my end table all forlornly. Dont worry little guy! I pulled you out and put you on the coffee table, and I am going to work on you as soon as I am done blogging, I swear!


Cynthia went to see the Yarn Harlot in Ann Arbor this last weekend, and kindly picked me up a copy of her latest book. Unfortunately, they couldn't stay and get it signed(the line was huge and they had to get home before it was crazy late), but she was so kind to get it for me anyway! I am almost halfway through and it's a great book!!!!


SO... what has been distracting me from my poor sock and lonely sweater??? Why, another sweater of course! But this one is for a baby:


So cute! and size 10 needles + holding 2 yarns together = fast knitting.


In fact, I finished the back at lunch today and even sewed the shoulders together! (it is a boatneck sweater)


Thanks to my penguin that lives on my desk at work for modeling. (It was a bit big on him) But that was the first thing I have ever seamed together! Fairly exciting. This sweater is very simple, but I figure its good practice for when I have to seam up my hourglass! (P.S. The light blue is Caron Simply soft that I used for my baby blanket, and the dark varigated blue is mystery acrylic yarn that came from a learn to knit kit!)

OK everyone think warm thoughts and maybe spring will come back (pleeease)... Bye!

Sock it to me!

Success! The three needle bindoff on the toe was easy as pie!

Now... I must avoid the dreaded second sock syndrome!

Slow but Steady

Wow! I first want to say thanks to everyone for leaving me such nice comments on my last post! I think 7 comments is the most I have ever had. I feel so loved. :-D

OK on to the knitting, which I assume is why you all are here!

Sock progress!



I think I could get a career as a sock model, don't you??? Oh, and actually these pics are from the other day, I am now to the point where I need to switch colors for the toe... ooh la la! But must save that for sock class on tuesday. Here's hoping I have a finished sock next week!

Sweater progress:

How can I be in the black hole of endless stockinette ALREADY? Haha oh well. It will be totally worth it when I am done!

AND! Today was Cynthia's Yarn Sale!!!!!!!! Look what I bought:

Mostly wools, one ball is cotton. See the two balls of sock yarn? I am already thinking of my next pair! I must be addicted already.

Oh... and Cynthia?

I GOT A PICTURE OF YOUR STASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hahahahahahahahahah *evil laugh*

I win! YOU LOSE! NICE TRY! Now who's the sneaky one?!?????? Too bad the table blocks a lot of the yarn on the floor, but I had to take this shot really really fast. I am still amazed she didnt catch me.

But her dog Purl is adorable!!!!



Purl says: "Lauren is Evil!"

sock that ROCKS

Woo! Today was totally awesome. With the patient and kind Cynthia looking over my shoulder, I TURNED MY SOCK HEEL!!!!! Look:

It's a heel!!!! Amazing, no? Once I got it turned, it seemed a little less difficult, but I definitely could not have done it without Cynthia's guidance. THANKS C! (by the way, it is being knit with grey and green Cascade 220, if i already didnt mention that)

Oh, and here is the sneaky ballband that I finished last week: (like my artsy shot?)

Why is it sneaky? Because when starting it, I got cocky and was like... I've made many ballbands! I have the pattern memorized! I am awesome! And then proceeded to cast on TWO TIMES with both times ending in the pattern not coming out. Finally, i swallowed my pride and looked up the pattern. My problem? Cast on 45, NOT 40. hahahaha. C had a good laugh at my expense on that one. ;-)

Anyhoo, I am glad to be feeling better this week! Got a little progress (a few more rows) done on my hourglass. I will try to get a pic this week, but its still not very exciting to look at (well to me it is).

bye!

some knitting, some baking, its all good

Happy wednesday! Halfway through the week, yay. Well I havent been updating with anything interesting lately, so here is all the fun I have been having so far this week:


Yarn and a magazine from Jessica! I got the pleasure to visit with her this last weekend, and being the generous person she is, she gave me yarn AND a knit1 magazine! THANKS JESS!

Finished hat!


This is a hat I made for my neighbor. I just gave it to him today, he said he liked it. I hope he actually wears it sometime (although it's getting warmer out!)

And... check this out.....

My first sock! Obviously in progress, but woo! Cynthia is teaching a sock class at work during lunchtime (see why my blog is called knitting at lunch??) and I am excited to learn how to do the heel next week. :-) Thanks Cynthia!!!! (P.S. why does my leg look huge in every picture I took?)

Let's see.... OK no further progress on the sweater, because ive been sock knitting, but I do have several MORE projects waiting in the wings (just what i need!):

These are just in case i dont have ENOUGH to knit... the yellow chenille is waiting to be come a facecloth, and the kitchen cotton another ballband for a gift. Mason Dixon Knitting, curse you for having such cool projects! Lol.

Oh and I made brownies! Well, brownie "cupcakes"!


They didnt turn out half bad! I used a recipe I found online. Here is the inside of one:


Crunchy edge, chewy outside, and moist center... perfect texture! Still not sure about the flavor. It was good, but seems like i could have added something to give it an extra kick. But hey, im not complaining!!!! I ate one just fine. :D

OK well hope everyone has a good rest of their week, and keep on knittin'!