I was in my favorite yarn shop there where I live, Knitting Corner and started a conversation with a woman who came in to pick up some special ordered yarn. I asked her what she was making and she said a shawl from Sheep to Shawl. I thumbed through the book with her and she pointed out some of the easier patterns. I really wanted to try one so I went home and mulled it over. I bought the book that day but couldn't decide which one to make. I was already working on the throw for the Knitting Olympics and didn't want to have too many projects started all at once. So I picked a pattern and bought the yarn. I wanted a dark green color since green is my favorite color. I don't usually wear shawls but when I sit and watch TV I thought this would be as good as a sweater. We'll see. Here is the beginning right before the Knitting Olympics and there is now.I also found the neatest thing to save myself all kinds of problems at the shop. While I was taking my beginner lessons, I spied the cutest way to keep from chasing my balls of yarn around the living room. I know the cats are disappointed but too bad! I want to say that I have used a paper bag, a plastic sack and other things to keep my yarn flowing smoothly but the dogs and cats loved those things for various reasons which really annoyed me. I bought two of these and they work great. If I spill anything near the yarn, it stays dry. So I thought $9.95 each, was well spent! I use them for all my projects including my crochet.

I'm DONE!
I am just tickled pink that I am done. Having said that, I am a bit nervous that the very first thing I ever have done in knitting should have been a bit harder. Being new, you just never know when you start something if it's up to your skill level. Now I know this is a quick project for emergency knitting gifts.

Knitting Olympics
I haven't been able to post anything since this site's inception because the digital camera has been on the move. First my hubby took it to Texas to take pictures of my son coming home from a year in Iraq, then he handed off the camera to me on my way out the door to a three day trip to Vegas for a board meeting. I just down loaded over 50 pictures this am.

I committed to doing the Knitting Olympics and I actually did cast on the stitches the day after the opening ceremony. I had just gotten back from my trip the same night as opening ceremony and I was trashed. So I cast on my stitches early Saturday morning.This is my very first large project. I have an elderly client who is always cold and I figured this would make a great present for her upcoming birthday. I picked a pattern that I had on hand due to Christmas. I got a Barnes and Noble gift card from my husband's family and made a b-line for the knitting section! I bought The Little Box of Knitted Throws. I picked a more simple pattern that I thought as a beginner I would be able to finish in a timely manner. The Knitting Olympics helped that! Pictured here is the front of the box. I love the box because it has anywhere from 15-20 different project cards that you can take out and transport with you where ever you go. I love the large color pictures of what the project is supposed to look like. That could either be good or bad depending on how badly I knit. It just so happens that the picture on the box is the pattern that I liked the most. I am using Plymouth Yarn, Encore Chunky for the yarn. I bought it as my local yarn shop, The Knitting Corner. We estimated that this yarn was about the same as what was recommended on the card. Frankly it wouldn't have mattered to me since I am going to give it away. I did decide not to use 100% wool because my client has a care giver who wouldn't take the time to be careful with the wool. So the 75%Acrylic and 25% blend was good enough.

Welcome Ya'll
This is the very first post of my new blog about knitting, spinning and some crocheting. I already have another blog about food but didn't want to the two conflicting. I know some foodies could care less about knitting and such and some knitters don't really care about the food business. So I have separated the two. I am so excited to have a place to post about my brand new hobbies. I have seen some fabulous knitting blogs and feel so inspired to really develop what I hope will be a new life long hobby, well two hobbies. I will never be like Yarn Harlot or Wendy from Wendy Knits, but I have something to aspire to. So let the learning and posting begin!!