Here’s my excuse for ignoring the blog for the last six months- (it’s a really really good one)-

Brandt and I are having a boy!! This is very exciting on all fronts, I am currently 31 weeks along, which means I am in the single digits of waiting, and this make me very very happy. Next time we decide to procreate, there will be none of this pregnant all summer long business. We were also married on May 1st, which is also full of happy making. Neither of us are traditionalists, but this married with a baby on the way thing feels pretty dang good.
There are also a few other big changes ahead of us, all good. I continue to dye, though not in as big a quantity as I have, but production will go back to normal after baby boy gets here, and we get into a routine. I am very happy that I will be able to both work, and stay home with him. (At least that’s the plan!)
My Mom is also over the moon, first grand baby and all. I swear this kid already has a full wardrobe, and jebus knows I’ve been knitting for him like crazy. And maybe also quilting!
No promises, but I will try to pop in more frequently, even with just photo posts.

Filed by Julia at 4:10 pm under Baby Boy!!
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1. Saartje’s Booties, 2. Smooched, 3. Socktober Sock, 4. Baby Belle, 5. Colorwork Closeup, 6. Stealth Knitting…., 7. Hellfire Socks, 8. Awesome Deck: Finished!, 9. Red Top-down Raglan: FINISHED!, 10. Chevron Love Mittens!, 11. All the Pretty Yarns., 12. YIP 365.35 Commencing Kitting!!, 13. YIP 365.32 Man Socks., 14. Mmm, Plummy, 15. Odds and Ends , 16. YIP 365.7 My knitting bag, for once, does not overflowith.

A few favs from 2009. I mostly knit socks in 2009. I knit only 4 sweaters, two that I still can’t show you, and spun a bit. Looking back through my flickr photos, I was not at all photo happy last year, and focused mainly on my business. I’m hoping for a nice, rounded out 2010. There will be big things happening, that’s for sure!

Filed by Julia at 8:00 pm under General
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This Saturday, December 12th only! From 11am to 8pm, in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh, at the Hunt Armory. Admission is free, and the stuff will be amazing. More info here! Hope to see you there!

Filed by Julia at 1:38 pm under General
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This is my most favorite Pumpkin Pie ever. Ever. So. Good. It’s so easy too, no baking involved. Even if you think you hate pumpkin pie, you’ll need to make this too, just to prove yourself wrong. Enjoy!

Click here for the PDF.

Filed by Julia at 1:05 am under General
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I think this might make me officially crazy, because believe it or not, I DO like my sleep! BUT, I’m officially announcing the arrival of The Knitterly Things Fiber Club. Much like the Sock Yarn Club, this club will be a subscription over 3 months, December- February, and will be $65.00 with a double dose option for an additional $40. As this is my first go at this fiber club thing, spots are very limited, and will be available in the shop until we ship’um in December, or until they sell out. Whichever comes first.
I’m really kind of excited for this, and have picked out a great line up fiber for this run. They are all fibers I have spun, and really love, and the colorways will be fab, of course.

Filed by Julia at 6:03 pm under Shop!
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I’m celebrating with a new sweater. A sweater for Brandt. I’m having serious project OCD right now, specifically, sweaters.
I’m insane in love with about a dozen different sweater patterns right now, but I’m trying to be true to this one, and finish it up by Thanksgiving. It’s becoming a bit of tradition, Brandt having a new sweater each fall by Thanksgiving. He loves them, he wears them, I’m happy to knit them. It’s a win win. Check the details out for this one on Rav.

Filed by Julia at 7:00 pm under Knitting,Sweaters
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Today I am 29. I may not be going to Rhinebeck this weekend, but I’m having my own little fiber fest right here in south east Michigan. I’m visiting the fam this week, we came up on Saturday for the Steelers/Lions game. Part of the parental birthday package, you know. This also involves some very amazing cake, and mint chocolate chip ice cream. And maybe some new boots……
So far, this is a good start to my new year, and historically, my odd number age years have been the very good ones. That makes this year exciting.

Filed by Julia at 6:11 pm under General
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A few days after my last post, I finished spinning the yarn for the body, and cast on. I started it on a friday afternoon, and finished it Saturday evening. Making this the fastest freaking baby sweater knit ever. I think it has something to do with my being used to knitting with string on toothpicks (I like fine gauges, you know), and this being knit on US7′s.

Spinners, this is also a great, great, knit for using up those lone 4oz skeins of precious handspun in the stash.

Ravel the details here!

Filed by Julia at 11:57 pm under Knitting
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So let’s be Random.

* this is 100% Merino, dyed by me, and spun thick. As thick as my tendencies to spin thin will let me get.

* it is spun with a purpose. I’m going to knit Cosy’s Baby Belle.

* it doesn’t take half the time to spin 4oz thick as it does to spin it thin. No, really.

* My fairisle sweater and I are on a break. I started the colorwork a third time. It is still in my knitting bag, still at the top of the list, but my brain needs simple socks right now.

* I am knitting socks with this yarn. It is fantastic stuff, and I’m going to buy more of it.

* We started season 3 of Supernatural. It is the best so far. I don’t care what network it’s on, it’s a decent show. If you start with season one, try to stick it out half way, it gets better.

* It’s officially football season. This makes me happy. A game= 3+ hours of perfect knitting time. This year, I’m watching more than just Steeler games. Yay.

Filed by Julia at 10:38 pm under General
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and I was thinking I was about where I wanted to be to start the armholes. So I put half of it n a spare needle and tried it on, and guess how many extra inches of ease I had? 4. FOUR EXTRA inches of ease in the bust. Holy Toledo is that absolutely crazypants. So I ripped. I ripped down to about the top dark brown chevron. Then I reknit. I went down a needle size, and worked decreases rather than the called for increases. Now the sweater is back to about a little further than here, and again it is on spare needles, and I’m blocking the wip, to try it on and gauge the size again. First impression of it out of the dye bath is that it’s still too big, but we’ll see.
The good new though, is that I love knitting it, I love my color choices, and even if I have to rip again, I will still enjoy the whole thing. I want this sweater. Period.

While it was in the block bath, I hurried up and finished a handspun pair of socks for Brandt, and now I feel validated about knitting again, and the sweater can continue. Close call though.

Filed by Julia at 7:54 pm under General
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