I must say; I am absolutely in love with Ysolda Teague’s Vine Yoke cardi! The construction is genius. Seriously, how do you come up with this stuff?
This is knit for Campy Loopy III, so you know it has to be done by the 15th of September. Knock on wood, but I think I can do it!
As of Tuesday (one week post CO) I have completed the right front with half of the first sleeve done, which was my goal. Plan to finish the sleeve and the back this week. Hopefully I can accomplish that!
Partially this is moving along so thanks to my Lantern Moon interchangables I’m sure!

Summer is quickly winding down, but the heat seems to be here for a bit! Yesterday my mom and I took off for a mini retreat into “the hills” as B calls it (mountains) for some good food and relaxation! The boys had a wonderful time and THANKFULLY were both very well behaved!

Additionally I’ve been working on several new designs for an exciting new project I’m working on. Here is a sneak peak:

The goal is to have it completely tested, editing and ready by August 1st! Fingers crossed!

I can hardly believe that spring is almost here! Spring is a busy time around here starting at the end of this month with two special birthdays! At then end of March B will be turning 4 and P 2. Where has time gone?
With their upcoming birthdays I’m hot on some birthday projects.
For this birthday celebration I have chosen Freddie’s Blanket. We purchased a “treasure chest” that my husband will be finishing and we will fill it with the book (by Joanna Johnson), Freddie, and May. Eventually I will add Freddie’s blanket into the mix but Brown Sheep has one of the main colors on back order for now.
Here is my progress so far:

I’ve knit Phoebe from her first book, and let me tell you, I love her patterns! Such an interesting construction for a toy! Both Phoebe and Freddie are knit from the top of their head seamlessly down. Can’t beat that! It’s quite a quick knit too! I started mine on this past Saturday and as of Monday I am down to the last leg and the tail.
I will definitely be adding more photos with the treasure chest all filled!

6 months without a blog post. I’ve never been a prompt blogger but even this may seem a bit extreme! The last 6 months have been a bit difficult hence the lack of blogging. The same month of my last post my grandmother had to undergo some surgery to remove her gallbladder and a part of her liver.
On September 14th, 2010 at 72 years old she was diagnosed with liver cancer and given approximately 2 months to live. Unfortunately she did push forward with chemotherapy in hopes of gaining one more Christmas but it was just too late. I’ve never seen anyone deteriorate so rapidly. We spent day and night with her and watched how just one day seemed to be a week in the development of this disease. We watched it take over her body, mind and soul.
Now for a little background information. Other than 2 short years I’ve spent my entire life where I live now. Both sets of grandparents living no more than 10 miles away from me. My grandfather on my dad’s side passed when I was 9 and my grandmother when I was 11. I was very attached to both of them as well even though they passed when I was quite a bit younger. So for many years my grandma and pa were my only set of grandparents. Just 3 years ago she started keeping B for me while I went back to work and she kept P for a bit too. She was always really active gardening, sewing and doing all sorts of things. She had only been retired from working not quite 2 years.
After the hardest few months of all of our lives she passed on November 29th. We’ve spent the last couple of months recovering from the experience and grieving. We still aren’t even halfway there. People will tell you “I know how you feel”. NO ONE knows how anyone feels. Possibly you’ve been through a similar experience but, everyone grieves differently. Everyone feels differently. I’ve always felt for people that had to deal with a terminal experience. Wondered how it may feel to know there was no cure and no hope for what you are dealing with and you just can’t imagine. Even when you are facing it as each day goes by you just have to hold on to something that SOMEONE will find something that can be done. Something to save them. I mean how are you supposed to function know you are going to die? Knowing tomorrow could be your last, or even today? Words cannot describe the torture and torment.
My mom will never recover. We were all there for her last moment and she was there for her last breath. Everyone tells her that it will be ok one day and one day she will heal. Maybe it’s still too soon to say but I don’t know how she can. I have nightmares of the last 3 days of her existence (I say existence because she was unconscious and I’d like to think no longer alive for what she was going through) literally watching her die. You could see her body shutting down and the life disappearing from her features.
Some days you don’t want to get up. Shower, dress or even eat.
We had some good experiences and a lot of poor experiences dealing with health care staff. Through the pain and the grief I was inspired to go into nursing. Mainly as support for those that are going through such tragedy. There are not enough good and compassionate nurses out there. At least in our area. So my journey in pursuit of a degree in nursing began this past month. It’s challenging, stressful, frustrating and believe it or not, fun. It has however extremely jeopardized my knitting time! So now I spend my days  trying to balance being a good mom, spending time with the kids, cooking, cleaning, laundry etc, classes, homework and working at the yarn shop. What a challenge it has been! My semester ends the 2nd week in June so I figure I’ll adjust about the last week in May and then have to start all over in August!

So, now that I’ve filled you in on the past few months I hope to blog about my knitting (of course) parenting, school and in general triumphs, failures and tantrums of being a mom!

I hope your like photos, ’cause I got some! With a move being talked about I’m literally obsessed with organizing what is probably meaningless in the scheme of thinks (aka yarn and projects!) but hey, what can you say? I have my priorities straight!

For months and months I’ve wanted to participate in SKA on Ravelry

So…… I did several!
First are my Owl Socks (SpillyJane on Rav)

(notice the matching project bag :-p)

And there is my new miPattern from Slipped Stitch Studios in action!

On top of that I have started the Norwegian Rose Socks by Wendy Johnson AND Transition Socks from Shibui Knits. All colorwork and all FUN!

Also on the fun side I started a Smith (Agent Smithy on my Rav Page) because I love hedgies!

The on the topic of hedgies in my ever so cute hedgie back from Jessalu is a top secret new design that I hope to reveal really soon!

Since I did start off by talking about organization, here is a small sample of some of my yarn bins that don’t fit in other areas. These bins are all sock yarns and are now sorted into categories (special ones, hand dyed, workhorse, etc)
SHHH! Don’t judge me! :-p

And last but not least, Brooks could not stand not having his picture taken! So… he managed to smuggle some candy and wanted a picture of him eating the last piece.

Show notes coming soon! Show notes below!

Where to find me:
Knit Fit Knitting
What’s Needlin’ Ewe
Twitter as knitfitknitting
Facebook e-mail nataliej723@gmail.com
Ravelry as KnitFitKnitter
AND Knit Fit Knitting is on Facebook too! (just search Knit Fit Knitting)

On the needles:

• Owl Socks in the Loopy Solid Series in Fuchsia and Iron for the 3rd Quarter Challenge
• Milk
• Longjohns in Knit Fit Knitting Nutcracker Prince on Addi Turbos 8″ circs size 1
• Laurel Socks from Toe Up Socks for Everybody by Wendy Johnson in DIC Smooshy Shinny Moss for Mom’s B-day
• Brooks’ Socks in Regia (the Monster collection) on size 0 Signature Needles the Gridiron pattern by Anne Hanson

Headed to the frog pond are the Longjohns in the Berroco Comfort on size 1′s. Up a needle size or a sock size!

Coming up:

Baby hat in Baby Bunny

Maddox in Malabrigo in Stone Blue

Either Gothic Spires or Twisted Flowers by Cookie A in Bugga in Twice Stabbed Lady Beetle.

Have a great week!

I know I’ve supposed to been blogging daily and I promise I haven’t forgotten, it just so happens that for the past several days in my blogging window we’ve had some lovely southern storms!
So back to it. Today has been a day full of wonderful computer stuff. I shouldn’t complain though, it is 96 degrees out! I did attempt to dye some yarn and it didn’t go too well in the heat.
I did update the Etsy shop AND… (drum roll please) my Rav page! Honest to goodness I’ve put all my WIP’s on there and I’m only missing a few photos of FO’s and WIP’s (just forgot a few until I sat down) will have photos of those over the weekend.
I have been working on one project pretty monogamously (because the deadline is next week) and it’s been keeping me from things I want to do!!! (it’s also been kicking my butt, not because of the difficulty or the pattern, it just has)

So to brighten up the monogamy I have a couple of favorite things.

Yep, it’s a Gnome!!! It’s a Jessalu bag and it makes me SOOOOO happy! Really well made too. I little bit of padding. Perfect to keep my Lantern Moon Sox Stix and my Signature DPN’s safe!

I haven’t picked it’s first project yet!

Next is this dodad. I don’t have one in my hands yet because I’m waiting on a fabric to catch my fancy but they look too cool!

You can read more about it here.

Hopefully this weekend I’ll get some new colorways ready for you guys. Also, watch out for a blog contest coming soon!

I’m not a monogamous knitter by any stretch of the imagination. Although I’m trying to push myself that way. I have soooo many UFO’s I just desperately need to get them narrowed down. In that journey I ripped at least 10 last week and have a lot of empty project bags and needles (WOOHOO) and I’m trying so hard to finish WIP’s (honest, I am!). It makes me feel disorganized to have so many WIP’s in my basket (it’s really under 10 now though) but it’s near impossible to do with all of these new patterns being posted to Ravelry DAILY. (Is anyone else amazed at the number of patterns published per day? Seriously, knitters rock) soooo I sit here struggling to finish a project with a deadline and I see this:

and now I just cannot wait to cast on. Ugh. I must finish at least 2 projects before casting that one. I think I can, I think I can….. maybe.

I’m not a monogamous knitter for more than one reason. Number one, there are too many fabulous patterns out there and not enough hours in the day. Number two, I do get bored and I need something else to float me through. Number three, it’s about the journey (until the UFO’s take over your house).
I know several knitters who are monogamous and kudos to you, I haven’t achieved it, yet.
I’m working on it, though I don’t intend true monogamy. I’m shooting for one project of each category (sock, sweater, shawl etc)

I’ve had a difficult time keeping up with blogging world, Ravelry (projects and such) and in general accomplishing everything I’d like!
Well, that’s about to change. I am the type of person that needs a schedule to operate so that’s what I’ve done. This doesn’t just affect my knitting life but house work, fitness, dieting, horseback riding… well pretty much everything!
I’ve found myself unhappy with my life lately and most of it stems from pure disorganization and not getting done what I want.
I know this is cheezy, but I found myself really liking Jillian Michaels (from the Biggest Loser) which led to me watching her new show on NBC, Losing it with Jillian. Although I don’t necessarily consider myself fat (I do have some weight to shed) I do like how her message is more about health and wellness. Not just in diet and exercise either, but in your whole life. I know at least personally if I fall short in one tiny area it’s a domino effect.
So, blogging comes into this as sort of an accountability thing. Keeping me on track, on schedule etc. I’ve also done things like adding a calorie counter on my iPhone and a fitness thingy too (I love my iPhone) in that area as well as a To-Do app and more to help me keep it together. Now, if more hours could pop up into the day it would be fantastic!
A few things to kick off my new blogging:
#1 I’ll be blogging daily
#2 I have 12 lbs to lose by July 23rd (my birthday) to get to my goal weight, and I CAN do it.
#3 I’ll be posting weekly weigh-ins to be accountable for my weight loss.
#4 I’ve started taking a kickboxing class (which I love) M-W-F and I’ll be running T-TH-S taking Sunday’s off.
#5 I WILL be adding projects with photos and notes to Ravelry or my project won’t be done.
#6 I WILL be posting photos of WIP’s and blogging about them as well as doing product reviews etc. that I intending to start out with.
#7 I WILL be a healthier, happier and more productive me!

I hope this post wasn’t too terribly boring, and I hope you’ll stick around for more.

I haven’t mentioned work well at all here because that’s a whole book entirely, but we do have some new colorways up in the shop. You’ll find the shop kinda empty. Well I’m working to rectify that situation but it’s become more than a full-time job to fill wholesale orders, club shipments AND stock the shop. Clearly the shop is the one that gets pushed to the bottom and it’ll remain that way for a while unfortunately. Hopefully you’ll see something you like in the next few months!

Until tomorrow….

Ask and you shall receive!
I know many of you that were in the Twilight Sock club and now the New Moon club were disappointed that I have no designs on doing an Eclipse club (at this time) so now here is a surprise for you!!!
Pre-order a LIMITED number of skeins of the Eclipse sock yarn! Pre-order that the introductory price of $30.00 (including USPS Priority shipping in the US, First Class in Canada.) Once photos are released the price will be increased.
Yarn will ship Wednesday June 23rd. 1 week before the movie is released!