I learned so much on my knitting journey this year. I made lots of new friends, began test knitting, and even released my own designs. I can only hope for continued luck and success in 2014. Now, let's relive some of finer moments of 2013...

As most of you know, I love Instagram. A lot. I post most of my FOs there as well as snippets from my everyday life. These were my top moments this year.

Or maybe you remember when I was featured on the Ravelry homepage (this one still blows my mind)? I knit my daughter and I matching tops - hers is Goldilocks and mine is Alice in Wonderland, which somehow got the attention of Christina and ended up being featured for the Matching Families Community Eye Candy.

• alternate rib cast on
• knitting in the round
• grafting
• duplicate stitch (full charts included)

I've been on a mitt(en) knitting spree lately. In the last month, I've knit four pairs. Two of them for my kids (one pair for each kid) and two for me. Fair, right?

Both for both kid pairs, I used the Kveta Mitt pattern by Monika Sirna, just opted for different embellishments. For my daughter, I chose to crochet some flowers. Her mitts have fold over cuffs on both ends. The top cuff will cover her fingers when fully extended. They're not the best snow mittens, but they did a great job this fall keeping her tiny hands warm while still allowing her to play.

I had the pleasure of test-knitting Carabe - a new pattern from Justyna Lorkowska of Lete's Knits. It's a striped sweater with a slip-stitch detail and shawl collar. It has easily become my favorite comfy sweater.

I can finally re-home that ill-fitting bright pink cabled Gap pullover because my Shifting is finished!

Years ago I bought a bright pink cabled pullover from the Gap. I don't know if it ever fit properly, but now it's about 3 inches too short, and if I'm honest, the crew neck isn't all that flattering. It's still in my closet because I love the classic, preppy style of it and I can't bear to let it go. I never wear it, but I want to. Once a year or so, I try it on thinking that magically it will have gotten longer. It hasn't, so back into the closet it goes...except this year. This year, it's sitting on top of my dresser as a reminder that it needs to go. So this year, I'm replacing it with something that actually fits.

I know it's been a long time since I last blogged - I'm sorry. Our Fall schedule has been a lot busier than I anticipated. But, I'm back with a bit of exciting news. Grace and I are featured on the Ravelry homepage today as a part of their Community Eye Candy series. This week is featuring matching families.

If you follow my blog regularly, you may have noticed that I took the month of August off from blogging. I decided that instead of focusing on knitting and blogging, I wanted to focus on the last month of summer with my family. My oldest child starts preschool next week and our entire schedule will be changing. I wanted to spend my days running through the sprinkler, playing in the sandbox, chasing fireflies, lighting sparklers, and just enjoying my kids. I spent a lot less time knitting than I usually do and therefore, didn't have much to write about. I hope you'll forgive me. At least I'm back with a pretty great FO.

Project Details
Pattern: Larch Cardigan by Amy Christoffers
Yarn: Madelinetosh 80/10/10 Sport in Grasshopper
Needles: US 5 (3.75mm), US 7 (4.5mm)

After finishing Alice, I decided to finally cast on for a Larch Cardigan. Larch has been in my queue pretty much since I started knitting. I don't know why I put it off for so long. I'm using Madelinetosh 80/10/10 Sport in Grasshopper. The MCN sport is amazingly soft and drapes so well. This sweater is going to be like wearing a hug. A hand knit hug.

I started Larch a week and a half ago and while I'm making progress, it really doesn't feel like I am. To this point, I've only knit top-down sweaters for myself. I don't know about you, but I get all kinds of "new project excitement" and generally fly through the first several inches of any project. When a sweater is top down, the rows are shorter and I can move much faster. Since Larch is bottom up, I'm knitting all of this stockinette at the widest point of the sweater and it feels like I knit forever with no progress. I've started clipping stitch markers to the edge to prove to myself that I am, in fact, making progress. I have a few more inches before I can shape the neck and divide for the fronts and back.

I'm not totally convinced that I have enough yarn, so I'm going to attempt to do top-down set-in sleeves (another first for me). If I can pull that off, I can knit them two at a time and ensure that I will use every last inch of yarn available. Anything to avoid another yarn debacle. I'll keep you posted.

Over the weekend, Justyna Lorkowska released her newest pattern - Alice in Wonderland. I had the absolute honor to test knit it. It's the adult version of Goldilocks, which I knit for Grace last month.

I finished Jack's Gathering Stripes last week and as predicted, he wanted to wear it on the hottest day we've had so far this year. I guess that means he likes it.

This little sweater has been languishing in my WIP pile since the beginning of June. I started it at the end of May, quickly made it through the body, promptly tossed it into the WIP basket and forgot about it. Oops! I'm not in a hurry to finish a long-sleeved, cowl neck sweater for my "always runs hot" 3 year old. By his own choice I'm sure he'll wear it constantly. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite understand dressing for the weather yet.

I ordered some custom buttons for it around the same time that I tossed this into the WIP basket, and when they arrived last week I was reminded that I should probably finish the sweater. It's another Gathering Stripes. Jack needs a decent sweater and since he likes stripes it seems like a perfect match. He picked the color combo, which reminds me of Superman.

I was going to wait to post this until the pattern is released, but I love it too much not to share. I finished my East End test knit. In case you missed my last post on this knit - East End is a soon-to-be-released pattern by Alicia Plummer. Update: you can find it here.

I knit my version out of Tosh Merino Light - a single ply merino wool. It's warm, but airy and will be great on cool summer days (we've had a lot of those already this year).

I finished these adorable little legwarmers last week and despite our hot temps, they have already been worn a few times. My daughter loves them. She carries them to me and says "Mama, on" while flashing her sweet little smile. I can't say no.

And the winner of the Fable Fibers Folktale and Knitter's Pride stitch markers is.... Sherry!! Congratulations Sherry, I can't wait to see what you make!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A very heartfelt thank you to everyone that entered one of my Blogiversary giveaways this year. I am amazed at your support and love. I can't wait to do it again next year. :)

Stay tuned for a Finished Object Friday post later today!

You may have noticed that things are especially quiet around here. There are a few reasons for this and it's not because I suddenly hate blogging, trust me. One, it's summer, so naturally I'm spending more time outside and less time knitting. Two, I've jumped into the world of test knitting and I LOVE it! Test knitting wasn't even on my radar until a few months ago, but now I can't get enough. One of the drawbacks is that I generally can't share what I'm working on while I'm knitting. So, less time knitting + having to be a little secretive = not so much blog content. Luckily, today I can share my current test knit and I'm really excited to do so.

I'm testing Alicia Plummer's new design, East End. It's meant to be a beach cover-up, but well, I'm not really a beach person (let's just say that sand and me - we're not friends). Alicia originally styled her linen version as a t-shirt. Loose, relaxed and effortless. I fell in love! I asked if it would be okay for me to use wool for my version and she said yes. I'm using Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Fragrant. It's bright and pink, and I'm happy.

One of my favorite designers was recently published in Knitty's First Fall 2013. I've already raved about Monika Sirna's Cabernet Series a few times, so I think you're all familiar with my love of her patterns. If you aren't, or you've never heard of Monika, please go check out her designs. They are amazing! Her patterns are incredibly well thought out, easy to follow and she is fantastic about answering questions, should you run in to any problems.

When Monika announced that her Nozky pattern was published in Knitty, I was beyond excited. I was not only excited for her (because, hello, how amazing is that?!), but also for the adorable little legwarmer pattern! I almost immediately cast on for a pair for my daughter. It doesn't hurt that there's also a KAL happening in Monika's group right now. You know how I feel about a KAL.

By a total stroke of luck, I received a yarn purchase in the mail the same day that Nozky was published. I had purchased a destash on Ravelry and due to a tiny hiccup in the transaction, Nicole very thoughtfully included a skein of Madelinetosh DK Twist in Sweetheart. I think I might have actually jumped up and down when I opened the box. Not only was the extra skein totally unexpected (and wayyy too nice of her), but the colors are to-die-for! I knew immediately that yarn was destined to become a pair of Nozky for Grace.


I know, I know, long post about little legwarmers, but my heart cannot contain all of the cute. I have to gush. Please excuse me.

As promised, I'm back with the final blogiversary giveaway for this year. From now until midnight on June 28th, you can enter to win a skein of Fable Fibers Folktale in Silver Birch and a set of matching stitch markers from Knitter's Pride.

Since this giveaway is to celebrate my first year of blogging,  you have to be a subscriber of this blog (somehow!) to enter. All of the usual rules and ways to enter apply - just use the rafflecopter widget below. Be sure to leave either your ravelry name or email address with your entry. I'll announce the winner in a new post on June 28th. Good luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Just because it has to be said, this is not a sponsored giveaway. I just want to share the love and say thank you for a fantastic first year.

I finished my Goldilocks yesterday! I even had enough time to block it and get some pictures before bedtime.

It was a quick knit once I made it past the first 10 rows. Getting started with the contiguous increases and the cable pattern required a lot of paying attention. As you can imagine, I don't get a lot of undistracted knitting time. Most of the time, my kids are with me when I'm knitting, which can lead to mistakes (like knitting instead of purling, or missing an increase). This sweet dress was completely worth the short-lived confusion. Grace even agrees!

Congratulations to this week's winner - Carmen (cnuland on Ravelry)! Carmen received an adorable child's sweater pattern called #144 Three Flavor Delight Top-Down Cardigan. I can't wait to see your sweater!