Lansing Cowl and Beret Pattern

Although it may seem that there have only been baby projects flying off my needles lately, there have also been a couple of secret projects under wraps. Today I'm excited to share with you the Lansing Cowl and Beret set!


The cowl is comprised of a few different stitch patterns of lace, bobbles, and cables- perfect for expanding an adavnced beginner along on their knitting skills.  The beret picks up the lace pattern of the cowl to tie the pieces together.

Of course, the cowl is ever- versatile, and can be worn a number of ways:


  As of right now, this cowl and beret pattern set is only available one way:  by attending the Lansing Shop Area Hop.
The shop hop will be running all this weekend, from Thursday, September 23 to Sunday, September 26. Here's the deets: 
Passports are purchased for $20. With this, you’ll get a re-usable goody bag stuffed with goodies from local businesses. $5 of your passport cost will be donated to a local charity. You will also get a chance to enter into 4 grand prize drawings - one at each shop. 
 When you visit all four shops you will receive the Lansing Cowl and Beret patterns. When you visit two shops you get the cutest ever Mitten pattern from Jill Bigelow Suttell. If you are a Michigander - or know one - you need this pattern. You also get a fun four day reason to visit all the area yarn shops, each with it’s unique flavor. Besides these patterns, you will also receive a pattern designed by each store owner.
To get your passport, contact one of the 4 shops (each have 75 to sell- get yours before they're sold out!):

Shop hours are as follows:
Thursday/Friday: 10am- 8pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 12pm- 5pm
I'll be making my way around the greater Lansing area on Thursday with my knitting buddies Erica and Jill- its sure to be a great time- hope to see some of you out there as well!
And for the rest of you- more details about the release of  this pattern coming soon!
***Special thanks to my lovely sister for modeling the new knitted garments***

Chubby Blue Birds

I'm not sure if I've ever been so excited to receive an Etsy package as I was the other day.  My anticipation actually started a couple months ago, at the Plucky Open  House, to be exact.

Sarah's good friend (who came along to help with the loads of yarn), was knitting when I noticed her stitch markers.  They were just about the cutest things I had ever seen, and for some reason, I just couldn't get them out of my head.  The story goes a little something like this...

This friend was a non-knitter when she fell in love with these adorable stitch markers.  She kept them in the glove compartment of her car because they just 'made her happy'.  She eventually did learn to knit, and was told she needle some stitch markers.  In a moment she was out in her car grabbing said adorable stitch markers and putting them on her work.

At the party, I was told who made these stitch markers, and when I got home, I checked out their Etsy Shop.  Unfortunately, no stitch markers.  I decided to (try to) forget about them.  Trying didn't work, and last week I decided to bug the seller.  Amy was more than willing to make some stitch markers for me, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

I'm sure by now you're dying to seem them....ok, you win:

**Don't let this picture fool you, they were not in the package long, they quickly found a new 'perch':**


See what I mean?  Are they not the cutest things ever?  If knitting alone doesn't keep you going, just looking at these little chubs will.

Besides her Etsy Shop, Good To Be Girl, (where you will find the best project bags), Amy also has a group on Ravelry.


And if you're wondering what is on the needles, that's the Plucky Yarn I scooped at the open house.  What will it be? A new cardigan pattern that I've had sketched out for some time- I can't wait!

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UPDATE:  Amy has added some little birdies to her shop.  You can find them here.
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Another Michigan Weekend

It's no secret that I love the state of Michigan.  Summer and fall provide many opportunities for weekends away in beautiful places.  It's crazy that driving just a couple hours from home can get us to so many resort towns and vacation destinations.  This past weekend, Joe planed a trip to Ludington, MI for our fifth anniversary.

*Look at that belly- getting big, isn't it?!*

Ludington is a place where I spent childhood summers camping with family.  Not only would my immediate family be there, but also all my cousins, both sets of grandparents, and many friends would gather and spend the last two weeks of summer vacation camping at the state park.


When I first found out we were headed to Ludington, I didn't think there was any way that I would be camping in my (pregnant) state.  I thought surely Joe had booked us a room at a local bed and breakfast or hotel... no such luck.

 Although I was worried at first, and my mood did probably not show much excitement to get away, sleeping in a tent while 6.5 months pregnant was not as bad as I imagined (he did get us a camp site right by the bathrooms afterall).

Our days were spent hiking and biking (my feet are sporting the blisters to prove it!), and every meal was prepared over an open fire.  We got a little cocky, thinking we had this camping thing down, until we realized that the next time we would be out camping there would also be a little one to attend to.

Although it was a week of Ludington pack into a day and a half, it was a wonderful getaway...

and a beautiful weekend.

And for those of you concerned with weekend knitting- I actually didn't get much done.  I was afraid of the smell of campfire and smoke creeping in to my yarn, so it stayed in the car for the weekend.  No trip is ever complete without a visit to the LYS- and we did find on in downtown Ludington.  It's called Nautical Yarns and it was a very impressive shop.  I didn't expect them to have such a large quantity and variety.  It's good to know I have a place to vacation that will be able to supply me with all my yarny needs!


Anyone out there ever been to Ludington before?  What's your favorite weekend getaway?

And We're Off...

The needles, that is.  I just finished sewing buttons on to my second Sheep Yoke Cardigan and it is officially a FO!

Sheep Yoke Cardigan is a free pattern on Ravelry from designer Jennifer Little.   This pattern was one of the first patterns I found when joining Ravelry, and I knew I had to make it.  After making it the first time, I wanted to make it again (and that doesn't happened too often with me and patterns).






Now, as I was knitting this one, I was inspired all over again.  I decided I would make this sweater yet another time with thinner yarn in a very neutral color palette.  The idea is that this will be what Baby Bernardi comes home from the hospital in.  Last week, I made a visit to Center Street Knits to pick out my colors. Here's the color scheme:

 *Sigh* So beautiful- makes me want to start another one right away!

If you haven't done so already, go take a peak at this designer's Ravelry page.  I may already see a few more kids knits that will be on my needle in the near future. 


How cute is this!?!

In other news, today Joe and I are celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary- I am beyond blessed to be married to such a  wonderful man.  I can't believe that this will be our last anniversary before we're a family of three!   

I think Joe has a little something planned for the weekend, but before we take off, I'll be teaching a slipper workshop at Knitting on the Fringe in West Bloomfield tomorrow morning.  As of this morning, there are still a few spots available for the class (Interested? Contact the shop).  If you are local to the area, I'd love to see you there.  

Progress Report

This past months has kind of been the month for baby knits, have you noticed?  No sooner did Little Sailor Girl hop off my needles than Sheep Yoke Baby Cardigan jump on. I made this cardigan for a good friend last year when she had her second son...


...I loved it so much that I knew I would make it again when I was having my own children.  Anyway, that was the picture from last year- right now mine looks a little something like this:



I love this part of a project- the part where you know a few hours of work will bring you to completion.  The end is in sight!

In other progress- this WIP seems to be coming right along as well:


I am now 28 weeks along- I can't believe the third trimester is already here!  I'm feeling big and daily activities are getting a little harder each day, but I know I still have a long way to go.  But, I have to think about it like this- I'm a little like the above sweater- mostly done, just a little finishing left...but definitely in the home stretch (yikes!).