Vogue Knitting Live: Seattle

Last weekend Vogue Knitting Live was in Seattle for their first show in our area. It was full of classes, lectures, fashion shows (in true Vogue fashion) and of course, a marketplace.

I met up with some dear friends for an afternoon of catching up, knitting and yarn "browsing." Upon our arrival, Rebecca and I quickly decided we need to walk through the entire venue before making any purchases. A tactic employed by our friend Monica - who shows great restraint at all yarn shows for day one. Then on day two - stand back and just take it all in. It's that impressive. So we decided to try "The Monica" and wander and just marvel at the soft, pretty yarn.

That lasted maybe 20 minutes before one of us broke down and bought something. (It was Rebecca).

I at least waited about 30 minutes and 10 minutes of knitting before dashing back to the Cascade 220 booth for this beauty.

It'll be turned into this beauty.

I also learned that Cascade 220 has a huge inventory of lovely and FREE patterns on their site.

Knitting shows are so educational.

Then, after another 10 minutes of knitting I returned to the Cascade 220 booth and took advantage of their special: 4 skeins of Cascade 128 Superwash for $25!

Yeah, that's right...no typo there! That's enough to make this coat for Ruby that's on my knitting list.

(For great pictures of VKL Seattle, check out Rebecca's blog. I had my camera but was clearly mesmerized by all the pretty to take any pictures.)

FO: Rusbud Hat

Pattern: Rosebud Hat by Jared Flood

Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Shelter

Not yet on my Ravelry page. Took me this long to get it on the blog...so...yeah....Ravelry is up next!

What's missing from the blog?

I've been looking over my blog lately and I realized what's been missing from Meg's Knitting Knot: the knitting.

I entered 2013 with just a few goals: do more writing (such as getting my blog going again) and to knit for myself. While the first goal is going somewhat well (I'd like to post more but due to lack of time/energy/mostly nothing that interesting to say I don't), the second isn't going that well. But I am knitting.

I'm almost finished with a baby gift for a dear friend who's expecting her first baby (a girl) in early May. I'm making the Baby and Toddler Tiered Coat. It's pictured here in a rare moment of quiet. The wee one was asleep. The hubby was out of the house. And I either finished the chores or chose to ignore them and sit in the sunlight on the couch. It was glorious. I'll post a photo once I'm finished with the gift.

Oh, and my hat obsession may have come to an end. I finished Rosebud by Jared Flood. It's gray, it's slouchy and I love it. I just haven't taken any photos of it. I'll work on that for you all. I know you can't wait!

A hand knit kind of day

I've always loved the Anouk pattern from the Yarn Harlot. When I found out I was having a girl, I pretty much went from the ultrasound appointment to the yarn story to get yarn for this sweet dress. But as life with a baby is pretty messy and now life with a toddler is also messy and much more mobile, the dress got shoved to the back of the closet. Until the recently.

I pulled it out and decided today was a hand knit kind of a day. And you know what? The wee one agreed with me.

Then she decided my hand knit hat Foliage would be the best choice to complete her look.

She was right.

Details of both projects can be found on my Ravelry page.

Hat Trick

One thing I've discovered while on maternity leave with no baby yet, is that I can get a lot of knitting done. It also helps if it's quick baby knitting. And it helps when one also discovers Masterpiece Theater's Downton Abbey Season One is on line. Hence, the mass knitting.

 F.O. #1: A pumpkin hat for my little pumpkin. (I actually whipped up two of these in a weekend since another friend is also having a baby right before Halloween). So trust me, this counts for two.

F.O. #2: The baby umbilical cord hat project out of left over sock yarn. The yarn is so old I don't even know what brand it is. But it's perfect for my little one. I even have enough yarn to make another hat.

F.O. #3: Finally a little something for me! This is Catherine from Winged Knits. I've been wanting to make a tam for myself for over a year now. I've cast on at least three other tam projects and haven't loved/liked/been smarter than the pattern on all of them. But when a friend made this one, I knew I had to have it. The yarn is Malibrigo Twist and I just love the color. The photo doesn't due it justice as sunshine is scarce in Seattle these days. Plus I wanted to block it and get it ready to wear!

Now baby and I will be decked out to step out in style. In about 6-7 weeks. Give or take.

F.O.: Felicity

Project: Felicity

Yarn: Plymouth Select Worsted Merino Superwash in Rust

For: Me!

Physical Therapy: a.k.a. The Hat Project

My Physical Therapist said I should start knitting again. Hearing those words made me pretty happy. I was almost as giddy as I was while on the pain killers. But I wasn't sure what to knit. I knew it had to be something small, easy and most importantly: something for me.

And then, while watching a movie one night it hit me: hats. I need more cute hats. I live in Seattle. It's cold here - a lot.  Where did this inspiration come from you ask? Good question. Love Happens - a romantic (dramedy?) "based in" Seattle. Translation: a fake Seattle set in Vancouver, B.C. They got a few things right (not necessarily with the script) but with Jennifer Aniston's wardrobe. She wore several kick ass hats like theses:

(photos from IMDB)

Enter Felicity.

The stockinette stitch is easy on the hands & somewhat the wrist. But it's a cute hat so it's worth it. I'm thinking The Hunch from Knit & Tonic is going to be my next pattern. Any other easy hat suggestions for me? I'm thinking I need several of these gems.

2009: Projects in Pictures

Here's a few of the projects I worked on in 2009. From baby hats to jam to baby dresses, quilts, sweaters and a few little projects for me (hat, started a sweater and made myself socks). Oh, and I learned how to make creme brule. A pretty productive year if I do say so!

2009: Holiday of the Hats

The holiday of the hats has come to a close. It was a close one this year as I just finished the last hat. I seemed to have spaced out the fact that I didn't get a gift for my bestest friend. Not sure how that happened but luckily, I am a knitter so whipping up a last minute gift isn't that stressful. Rebecca offered up a pattern sugesstion: ButtonTab Knit Hat, a free pattern that is super cute and super easy. I highly recommend it. In fact, I may be whipping up one of these for me because is so cute! And really, you can never have too many cute knit hats now can you?

Project: Button Tab Hat from ilikelemons

Yarn: Cascade 220

Color: Merlot

Foliage redux

The holiday season of hats continues. Of course, it took a slight detour the first time I knit the Foliage Hat for my sister (on the wrong sized needle). But now it's finished and I'm quite pleased with it. And if I do say so, it looks quite cute on me. Maybe Lindsay won't get the hat after all.....

Project: Foliage Hat from Knitty

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Some Summer Sky

Just one photo...please?

Clearly getting both Olivia, 2, and Hannah, 4 in a picture with their new hats is a tall order for an aunt.

Hannah likes to sit for pictures, but this one was a little blurry. Probably because Auntie Megan was still laughing about the picture escapade that occured moments earlier.

I finally managed to score this picture of Olivia only after she was strapped (and trapped) in her car seat. She and baby George wanted to go for a ride in Uncle Matty's Jeep. Baby George did not get a new hat.

They did finally get together for a picture with Rudolph, but only one was wearing their hat. But it's still a super cute picture!

Craft Show Season

Confession. Another reason I so love the holiday season is becuase of all the holiday craft shows that seem to pop up every where! I just love buying gifts for people at various craft shows. It's a great way to not only support local artists, but to also find a really unique and wonderful gifts for the people you love!

While I was in Boise last weekend, we hit an Etsy show in the Pioneer Building. Boise has always had great craft shows, but they've recently started having Etsy shows and Indie art shows which are a little bit hipper then a few of the things you may find at craft shows. I did a little holiday shopping...ok, it was all for me, but still. I met Heidi at Pepperberry Knits. I picked up patterns for her Hannah newsboy hat which after I saw it over at Living Senses knew that it had to be mine. I also picked up the pattern for her Jodie Fingerless Flap Gloves. I may have picked up a few other things, but shhh.....it's a secret.

My sister also picked up the cutest baby gift from Mockingbird Clothing Co. I will be hitting her Etsy page for a little holiday shopping for the neices!

If you're in the Boise area this weekend, you must check out the Hip Holiday Market at the Flying M Garage in Nampa. Pepperberry Knits will be there as will Sew Happy Jane!

If you're in the Seattle area, this weekend is the Holiday craft show for the Urban Craft Uprising! I checked out thier summer sale and it was fabulous! This is a must hit holiday show.

I won't be able to go to it because the hubby and I will be in N. Idaho for my sister in law's wedding. I can't wait to see what you all get from these fabulous shows! Craft on my friends!

#$%@*!!!!

Always listen to your inner knitter.

That is the moral of today’s lesson.

Why you ask? Good question.


I had been so pleased with myself and the Foliage Hat I was working on for my sister’s Christmas Present. I finally had some time to work on it this weekend and I was happily knitting away. I was enjoying the project as it was just coming together so beautifully, much better than the first time I knit the project about 2 years ago. I was thinking that I’ve really progressed as a knitter since this time around was so easy.


Boy was I freakin’ wrong.


As our plane began the descent from our flight back to Seattle, the little nagging knitter voice inside me was getting a little louder: this hat looks small. Really small for my sister. Then when I was just 7 rows from finishing, I really listened to my inner knitter: these needles also look a little small.


But the plane was landing so I just shoved the knitting and my inner knitter aside and went home.


Then, after the bags were unpacked and laundry churning away in the machine, did I dare open the knitting. I pulled out the project. And I pulled out my needle guide. Then I realized my mistake: the size 5 needles were actually size 3!!!


How could this happen I yelled (among other things I also yelled)? The empty size 5 needle package was also in the knitting bag. So where are these needles I wondered aloud? The hubby called this the Great Needle Thanksgiving Mystery.


I called it Really &%*#*%^ Annoying.


Now it’s all about the ripping out and starting over. Only this time, I’ve got the right needles. I’m sure of it. I just bought news ones instead of searching for my missing ones. Nothing like a little retail therapy to ease the knitting nerves.

Happy Birthday to the Hubby!

Today is the hubby's birthday!

But what do you get the guy that eats your "experimental" recipes; puts up with your vegetarian/crazy hippie cooking; installs a new headlight in your car that turns out to be way more complicated than we both thought; doesn't mind when we go to a bar to watch football and I bring my knitting and helps clean the house on a regular basis?

Nothing but a little hand knit love in the form of a new hat:

And an XBox 360 football game. But shhh....it's a secret!

Pattern: Kim's Hats from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in men size
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy worsted in Jungle Cloud

For Hannah and Olivia

Project: Kim's Hats

From: Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy

Color: Butterpeeps

For Hannah

For Olivia

Raveled project here.