Afghan Progress and Spring Blooms

Yesterday, Emily and I returned to Loops to pick up more yarn, already. So far these are the squares I've completed. I've had a bit of trouble with the intarsia, but for the most part I am very much enjoying the project. Since my Show Choir went to competition, I have 3rd period basically free at school, which makes for great knitting time. I have to make 15 of this specific square, and I've almost finished 3.

Here is an up-close and personal shot of the square, you can pretty much see the stitch definition of the hearts.

Last night, while I was knitting, I began to think of Savannah and how I taught her to knit barely 2 months ago. Time flies so quickly, but I had a few wonderful years with her and I will always respect her dying wish: to remember her. Savannah will not soon be forgotten and making this afghan for her sister, Taylor, has been a really great outlet for my grief, it's just been very rewarding.
Moving on to brighter and better things...
Spring has sprung upon us, and, with it, my favorite tree is blooming beautifully. Sadly, a picture does not do it true justice, plus it's overcast today (there's been a tornado warning issued), so I can just blame the picture on the lighting.

Here are the beautiful flowers. I always know Spring is truly here when my beautiful tree begins to bloom outside my bedroom window. This tree has been in my front yard forever and it has become a part of my seasonal traditions and my family always takes Easter pictures in front of the tree after church.

This year is going by so quickly and I feel like I'm almost missing it, but it's been pretty good so far. I cannot wait for this year to be over and for my senior year to be here, just so I can get through all of this.
Since March ends today, I would like to wish everyone a Happy April Fool's Day, especially the members of my KTC group as we begin reading Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders

~allie

Mystery Swap Package and Afghan for Taylor

I received the most amazing package from Carrie for the KTC April Fool's Day Mystery Swap. She gave me two books: The Maltese Falcon and Designer Knockoff. Also I received wonderful things like 5 skeins of ArtYarns Regal Silk, a bookmark, Marie Claire magazine en francais, a pop-up map of Paris, and a small book about Paris: Passport to the Soul. In addition to all of this, I received Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans and Vanilla Mint Velamints. How great is she?

My friend Emily and I went to the new yarn store in town: Loops. A mutual friend of ours, Savannah, had been suffering from leukemia for nearly 8 years and passed away last week on March 22. Her younger sister, Taylor, is only 12 and is having a very hard time with her sister's passing, so Emily and I have decided to make her an afghan from 100 Afghan Squares to Knit. We purchased 7 skeins of Wilflower DK, thus far, but Emily currently has the pink and green in order to start a square. The heart blanket we are going to make is absolutely beautiful and I am very excited about beginning to make it and use intarsia in a project for the first time.

Beach Time and Disneyworld Adventures

The title sounds like this might be interesting, but don't be deceived.
I left Wednesday, March 15, to hop on a tour bus for the next day and a half in order to go to Disneyworld. The show choir from my school, the Treblemakers, had a performance in Epcot. And this is how we were made up:



That's my friend Allyson (right) and me (left).
Our program theme was '80's Fame. Don't you love my bangs?


Here's another fun picture of Allyson and I, with my favorite Disney characters, Mulan and Mushu:



On the trip down to Florida, I finished my striped scarf, which I also have pictures of, but I have to admit I had picture-taking issues.



Now, all I have left is adding the fringe:



I also finished my Checkers tote and bought the fabric to line it with, and planned to complete it at the beach, but I didn't have time.



Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the Disneyworld adventures.

Just to update: I sent my Knit the Classics gift exchange package yesterday to Becky.
Since I gave up buying yarn and books for Lent, I have been doing fairly well. The only thing I've purchased is yarn for others and for projects for others, and the book for my KTC book swap. So, I'm really proud of myself for my progress and efforts.

~Allie

Project AND Pictures

Here is the project I started last weekend, beginning with the pattern in Weekend Knitting:



















Here's my progress so far on Friday:





















































Here's my current scarf, which I somewhat fashioned after In Her Shoes:






































I love the colorways from this scarf.

Then, finally, here's my progress on Hush-Hush:



















I have about 4 inches to go and then the top lace section.

So, those are my current projects, sorry for the picture overkill. I hope you like all of the projects.

~allie

Book Swap Info

Book Swap Info:
Yarn:
1. What is your favorite type of yarn/fibers? Cotton and wool
2. Any yarns/fibers you absolutely hate? Not a big fan of acrylic and eyelash yarns
3. Any type that you would love to try but haven't yet? Cashmere or silk
4. Any yarn allergies or sensitivities? No
5. Favorite colors? I love blues, greens, pinks, and peach: either very bright colors or pastels
6. Favorite type of thing to knit: socks, lace, fair isle etc.? I love to knit dishcloths, scarves, have yet to try socks, but have a feeling I will love it!
7. Any knitting tools you would love to have? Basically, I just need to get some more dbl ptd needles, I only have 4's, 6's, 9's, and 10½'s
8. Favorite tools you already have? I really do not have tons of gadgets, but I don't know if I have a favorite one
9. Favorite knitting designer? I love Rebecca magazine, so I guess I love any of their designers
10. Favorite knitting book? I love Handknit Holidays and Hollywood Knits Style, I tend to like the more modern and trendy fashions or very classic cardigans
11. Any knitting books you would like? I really want the Rebecca magazine Home edition
Food:
1. Favorite foods/flavors? Chocolate: especially with espresso beans
2. Foods/favors you dislike? Not a fan of spicy foods
3. Any food allergies? Not that I know of
4. Do you like tea or coffee? tea: fruity varieties, like raspberry, and coffee: chocolate varieties or traditional is excellent
Books:
1. Favorite genre? I can't say that I have a favorite genre, I love books of all sorts
2. Favorite authors? Jeffrey Eugenides, Megan McCafferty, Richard Wright, too many to name, I seriously love ALL kinds of books
3. Top three favorite books? The Crimson Petal and the White- Michal Faber, The Virgin Suicides- Jeffrey Eugenides, Bridget Jones' Diary- Helen Fielding
4. Anything you dislike to read? non-fiction
5. Do you like to listen to audiobooks? No
Cassette, cd or mp3 format? None
Misc:
1. Other hobbies besides knitting? Reading, watching movies, cooking(sometimes), watching Friends and Sex and the City, speaking in French to get ready for my trip to France this summer!!!
2. Do you collect anything? Books and yarn, I guess
3. Favorite scent? Vanilla is the BEST
4. Any scent you dislike or are allergic to? Musk
5. Music that you like or dislike? I like all kinds of music except rap. I love relaxing music to knit with and soft rock, even sometimes I love classic rock, country, bluegrass, whatever... you really can't go wrong with music

Olympic Crash and Burn Survivor

So, I am a Knitting Olympic dropout, but I guess I figured that would happen. I've been reading the Yarn Harlot's blog where she's been talking about having trouble with project monogamy, and I simply can't do it. I have about 4 inches and then the top lace section before I finish Hush-Hush. But the Olympics made me a little sick of it, so I bought some BEAUTIFUL Plymouth Galway yarn and used the Random Stripe Generator to make myself a beautifully bright horizontally striped scarf. And I must say that it is coming along wonderfully.
I have a digital camera and I've been trying to teach myself all the ins and outs of posting photos of my WIPs on the blog, but I'm a busy person, so it'll probably be another week or two before I get around to it.
Happy March to all. I just wanted to comment on the beginning of Lent. I have given up purchasing yarn and books. *gasp* I will try my best, but this is an even bigger challenge than giving up chocolate, which is what I did last year. I will keep my efforts posted. I need to vent to someone who understands a life without buying yarn. And by yarn, I mean no needles or any supplies!!
One way I will have to get around it though is for the Knit the Classics April Fool's gift exchange, which I am very excited about. I will be making a small project for the recipient,Becky, but I will not disclose what it is. I will need to purchase some yarn and a book for that. But it doesn't count if it's not for me, right?
Another great thing about the beginning of a new month is the dishcloth KAL, I just love instant gratification. It's really empowering. I also love shamrocks and everything!!
I hope I've done the past week of my life justice, it's really just a hodge podge of thoughts and events.

~allie