❤ Noro ❤

My obsession love of all things Noro continues…

I love the textures, long colorways, and pure joy I derive from working with their amazing yarns. I love looking on Ravelry to see what other people are creating using Noro, I Love looking  at boards on Pinterest to see even more Noro completed projects. I love typing in the hashtag Noro Yarns on Tumblr too, to see all the colorful knit and crochet creations that have been made using Noro.

It is at the top of my list of go-to-yarns.  If you haven’t experienced Noro, I recommend picking up a skein and give it a go…Very therapeutic after a long workday. I repeat, I L-O-V-E this Yarn ❤

My latest project; Caplet, featured in Noro magazine, Spring 2013, by Designer; Kazekobo, aka Yoko Hatta is made using (3) balls of Noro Silk Garden Light in the colorway #2088 and a G size crochet hook. 

This project is intended for my dear Mother, who will turn the big eight-o this year.

She is a darling and I can’t wait to see her expression when she opens the package.

I wish her many years of enjoyment wearing this cozy, warm piece.

I’m currently working up another crochet piece from the same magazine, “Butterfly Sleeve Dress” using Noro Silk Garden Sock.  I’ve piles of crochet squares that need to be sewn together before I post pics.  Soon, I hope!

sweet Leia bonnet

I’m so excited to be headed up to northern California tomorrow to attend my niece, Hailey’s baby shower and visit with family. I’m hoping that there is a bit of a chill in the air as it has been way too summer like this winter in southern Cali…(seriously what is the point of making cozy knits if ya don’t get the chance to use them?) I’ve completed her gift, a Leia Bonnet along with a pair of matching booties. 

The hat Pattern is from designer Mel Clarks book, Knitting Gifts forBaby. I used the suggested yarn, The Fiber Company; Terra in the color way Acorn.  It is 40% baby alpaca/40% merino wool/20% silk.  And oh, it is so soft, perfect for a babys precious skin.  It is a quick knit and the construction is really unique in that it is knit in two pieces then kitchener stitched together before the final edging is completed. I did watch a youtube video on kitchener, to make sure I got it.    Since we know Hailey is having a girl, we are decorating in pinks and having a baby bird themed shower.  So sweet!  I also completed the basket weave blanket that I promised a ta-da for in a previous post...

...Hope she likes her gifts!

winning...

And the winner is:  #3, Quinn of Comptonia.  Congratulations Quinn!  Please send me an e-mail with your snail mail address and I will mail you the mitts. Again, I wish to thank everyone who participated and especially thank Vicki for hosting this years Grow your Blog party.  It was an amazing event and I look forward to participating again next year.  Enjoy your weekend.

A sweet valentine

Happy Valentines Day

I will post the Grow Your Blog Party drawing winner tomorrow, good luck!

  Thank you to all the sweet bloggers who visited Knitalatte during this years event.  It was great fun meeting all of you...

gyb party

Vicki is our gracious host!

I’m honored to be apart of this years Grow your blog party hosted by Vicki at          2-Bags-Full. Be sure to stop by her blog and check out this year’s list of participants. You won’t be disappointed as there are so many different types of blogs to visit and enjoy. And thanks for stopping by knitalatte where there is always something on the needles. I’ve been busy with finishing up a baby blanket for my niece Hailey’s expected arrival. I hope to have a blog post up soon with the fo pictures.  

Giveaway, did someone say giveaway?  Well of course!  I’ve a pair of knitted mitts to give away this year.  I’ll draw a number and announce on February 15.  Happy blog hopping trails to you...

Mitts

  Like many of us knitting obsessed folks, I follow Stephanie the ‘Yarn Harlot’ blog on a regular basis.  I’ve attempted to make a few of the projects that she herself has made and blogged about.  Most recently, the Sakura fingerless mitts. (Oct 9th post)

  I'd been looking for a pattern to make a pair of mitts to go with a scarf I completed using Noro yarn and when I saw the Sakura mitts, I thought, perfect!

  The free pattern is by designer Kate Atherley for Estelle yarns.  It knits up quickly except for the matchy thing…it made me a bit crazy. Stephanie had even warned about this in her write up, but I didn’t know how much it would bug me till I was in too deep! 

  I do love Noro yarns super long color ways most of the time but after almost completely unwinding the remainder of the ball of yarn, I rewound it to try and start at the same point of the color way I had originally started with on mitt number one…and after a couple of false starts, I just decided to ‘go with it’ and completed mitt number two, close enough…

  I don’t know if my sister Diana, the recipient noticed that they are not exactly matchy, and I didn’t ask, but she does wear them and that’s good enough for me!

a word, my word

The word I've chosen for 2014 is acceptance.  It’s a big one…

I need to face up to the fact that I’ll be turning 60 this year, as I’m approaching a kicking and a screaming.  I know my feelings about it are much more dramatic than need be, I learned that when I turned the big 5-0 ten years ago.   How does one prepare for such milestones? I guess it is such a personal journey for each of us.

I know I’ve much to look forward to, as changes are a coming big time…

I’ve joined in with Kim Klassens’ 14 in 2014 this year – What fun!

My list includes;

-De-clutter, especially my closet

-Tidy up computer use, including

   Unsubscribe to sites that continually send me e-mails that I systematically delete

   Un-follow the blogs, twitter and instagram sites that I no longer read on a

   regular basis

-Organize files for 2014 including photos, patterns and documents

-Continue to work on strengthen my left knee since I’ve a ragged meniscus (what

  ever that is)

-Exercise regularly to strengthen core for an upcoming trip

-Find a common interest for hubby and I to enjoy outside the home

-Learn more about retirement and begin planning my own

-Knit a pair of socks (I planned on this last year, but didn’t get er done)

-Decide what projects I want to knit and/or crochet this year and try to not get side-tracked when I see something new that I just have to make

-Continue learning about knitwear design, take an on-line class and read all I can about the craft

-Make time for friends and family

-Paint my bedroom – as I’m ready for a new color to wake up to

-Continue to learn and improve my photography skills

-Watch more sunsets...