I had the best of intentions for Project Spectrum: finishing all sorts of colorful crafts, trying new patterns, etc.  While I did do several things, I also left a lot undone. I am realizing through this Clean Sweep month that my good intentions translate into a busy September!

Take the Seed Stitch purse I started back in April…  If you blinked, you probably missed it.  I only blogged about it once. 

I am using some inherited Tahki Cotton Classic in gold, and basing my purse on the one seen in the book, Cool Girls’ Guide to Knitting.  The buttons are from my grandmother’s tin, all of the orange ones I could find.  I may mix in some other buttons from my collection, but I like seeing the seed stitch in the background.  I am planning to use a pillowcase I found at the thrift store as the liner for this bag.  So, all of the ingredients will be hand-me-downs or thrifted!

The Pomegranate Hoodie is still forefront on the Finish List.  I worked on her all weekend, and the front is nearly complete. 

The yarn is quite a lovely color - despite how it looks on your monitor.  It is hard to photograph without looking too “harsh” and fiery.  It is actually more pink than orange, and I hope that shows when it is finished.  Paula and Kate did an amazing job with this yarn - there is no pooling, just a beautiful variegation of light and dark pomegranate colors.  Just to make sure that the colors matched my complexion, I did the ol’ yarn-by-face trick before balling the second hank.  The yarn even looks nice as a cowl/necklace!

I was able to make such great progress on the hoodie because I had a great companion who knit with me all day on Saturday! Jenna was “baching” it this weekend, so she made a trip to the ‘burbs to see me, get some yummy Indian cuisine, and shop at the LYS.  After all of that, we made a cozy nest in my basement, watched movies and the Discovery Channel, and knit the night away. Despite the rainy day, we had a wonderful time. 

Behold!  A finished Carla sweater!

Jenna finished her Project Spectrum August knit: The Carla sweater from Rowan’s It’s a Tape Thing.  Just brilliant!  I think hers turned out better than mine - maybe that is because I am on such a brown kick lately.  She just blogged about it too! She also had something to do with this…

14 Balls of DK wool - brown, cream, and eggplant

Jenna wanted to go to All About Yarn and buy some yarn for her next pair of socks.  They just happened to have this lovely wool on sale - Jo Sharp DK Wool - and I just happened to have a pattern in mind for it.

This is the Nordic Memories pullover from Interweave Knits, Winter 2003. This was the first Interweave magazine I ever bought - I had just learned to knit, and I looked through and said “Someday… someday…” Now, almost three years later, I am finally ready to tackle the color work and learn how to do Fair Isle.

CosmicPluto did this sweater last winter, and I can’t wait to have my own version. Brown as the base color, cream as the bird’s eye pattern, and eggplant as the collar and sleeve edge. Jenna and I sat on the floor of All About Yarn putting this combo together, and I really couldn’t be happier.

Adding another knit to the list… yet another “good intention”.

PS - What a loss! You’ll be missed, Steve.

When I was in New York last month, I came across a wonderful Japanese book store near Rockefeller Plaza. At the shop, I picked up an origami notecard set: decorative papers with good illustrated instructions for many patterns. This simple pinwheel pattern is the base for my April Project Spectrum postcard. (Mandie - try to act surprised when you receive it!)

Please try to have your postcards mailed out by the end of this week, in order for them to make it to your pal in time. For those of you who have still not received an email from your assigned pal, please let me know as soon as possible. Email me or leave a comment here. There are postcard "angels" who have volunteered to make additional cards! The next round of postcard pals will be sent out next week. Please let me know if you do not want to participate in the May swap. If you are already signed up for the swap, I will automatically assign you a new pal, unless you tell me otherwise!

Unfortunately, crafting time has been pretty sparse around here. With the holiday weekend, a super surprise visit from my 'lil' sis Sarah, and the end-of-the-semester school assignments, the weekend flew by and I have very little to show for it. I did manage to start on my intended April project, however. The one I hinted at in my last post…

This simple seed stitch purse was a perfect fit for the Tahki Cotton Classic in my stash… and it just so happened that I had some great vintage yellow and orange buttons to complement it. This pattern is from the aptly named Cool Girl's Guide to Knitting. I will be cool with this purse in tow, no doubt! I plan to find a wide grosgain ribbon in orange or yellow for the strap. I am altering the pattern a little to make the purse longer… I have a lot of things to carry with me.

We had a lovely Easter. We spent the morning and early afternoon with my family. The obligatory Easter photo shoot was not so obligatory with the backdrop of my dad's lovely garden. With the tulips blooming below, and the dogwood tree above, it could not have been prettier!

Momma Addie, me, and Lil' Sarah (smile mom!)

We stood in the exact same spot for our prom photos back in 1999!

Go say HI to Celia at Counting Stitches - she was the 1000th person to join Project Spectrum this morning!

Do you ever feel like so much has happened since your last blog entry that you have to write up something soon so as not to forget a single detail? Well, that is this post… so buckle up… whirlwind tour with pictures!

*Sarah's Birthday*

Well, the bag was opened and immediately went on to her head. Is this a sign that she likes it? Funny thing is: every other member of the family also got her a purse!! (We are all big accessorizers!) Well, mine was the only handmade one! So, little Sis is 18 now. Wow, I feel old.

And the very same night…

*Little Love Story*

As you know, my other sister, Mimi, is getting married in June. Her fiance, Dan, is currently serving in Iraq. He will be back in May, but he sent a little something for her this week…

So, he purchased this ring, sent it to my dad, who hid it in Mimi's room. Dan called late on Thursday night, and asked her to check something in her room, and the ring was discovered! Lots of crying, giggling, and "awwwws" . So very sweet!

My little sis is getting married, and now has the *bling* to prove it! I could not be more happy for her and Dan!! Love you both!

*Meeting and Eating*

After class, I met up with Rebecca for dinner. Have you ever tried to identify someone that you know online from a tiny photo on their blog? Well, it was hard, but we finally found each other, and headed over to the classy and delicious Heritage India in Dupont Circle. Good conversation (library/archives/records), good wine (Pinot Noir), and good food (saag paneer for me)! Thanks for the fun time, Rebecca! Next time, we knit! (Heritage was deemed not the "appropriate" place to whip out the needles and yarn…)

*Strictly Knitting*

That's right, friends, this is my Lucky Clover swatch! Three weeks after the knitalong started, Lolly picked up the size 2s and went at it. My gauge is dead-on after some light blocking. I swatched in a light pink color (leftover ball) but I am making my cardi in the dark violet color you see at left. Tomorrow morning, I will be casting on with my fellow knitalongers, Donna and Megan at FAS. You know I will take pics

I knit up a quick little spring cotton scarf this weekend with one ball of Aurora Bazar. This yarn is amazing. Can't wait to get back over to All About Yarn to get some more. The colors are fabulous, and the texture is so even. I am totally loving cotton right now. This new scarf matches my pink spring jacket perfectly–I just have to take a picture to show you!

*Interview Me*

These interviews going around the blogs are so fun. I really got into the spirit of things and now I have 4 interviews! Their questions are so well-researched. Thanks girls! The questions and the responses take up some space, so click on each interviewer's name below to see the five questions:

• Interview Questions from Kathy at MinxKnits
• Interview Questions from Suzie at The Purly Gates
• Interview Questions from Renee at A Good Yarn
• Interview Questions from Jodi at JodiGreen

If you want ME to interview YOU, please leave me a comment email me saying "interview me". If you leave a comment, make sure you leave your blog address. I will go in the order that people asked to be interviewed, and depending on the turnout, I cannot promise more than 5 interviews a day.I will respond by asking you five questions here on my blog.

*Tonight's News*

Dad and the daughters went to a dinner banquet tonight. We had a lovely time! Thank you Daddy for the corsages and the sweet cards. You are the best.

…and their has been a new addition to the Lolly scarf collection, compliments of a wonderful (and very stylish) Momma! Thanks!

Maryland had a spring day today! I was so happy to wake up to the warm sun and see the snow melting away. This nice weather gave Kris and I the opportunity to do some much-needed spring cleaning! Of course it is supposed to rain/snow tomorrow, but I enjoyed the day today!

Thank you for all of the comments about the bridesmaid dress! The measurement appointment went very well; the seamstress was very flexible and told me that we can do another fitting closer to the wedding, and she can make adjustments. I hope to lose some weight before then to make all of her work worth it. The fabric that Mimi and mom chose is stunning. I love it!

In an effort to be a perfectionist knitter, I frogged my entire Balmoral sleeve because I am not adept with the DPNs, and it looked too crappy and lumpy. My answer is the 12" circular Addi Turbos… these are great! The small circumference takes a little "getting used to", but is really turning out better than the DPN thing… I am up to 7 inches now, this was an early picture.

You know what else I frogged? The Landscapes purse that made my last post. After blocking it, I realized that I did not like the way it was looking… thank goodness I did not seam or line it. I would have been too embarrased to give it away… even to my sister. So, I regrouped, and came up with another idea for her gift.

My first felting foray!

Pattern: Based on Hello Yarn's Fulled Lopi Tote
Yarn: Reynold's Original Lopi in Apple Green and Magenta

I can see how so many people are addicted to felting. I loved it! I put the tote in for three cycles, and I could have even done one more, but I was happy with the third. Lopi is extremely furry yarn, and I spent about 15 minutes picking off the huge hairballs. I like the finished product, but it will require some maitenance with regular shaving to avoid the fuzzy buildup and pills. Hope my sis likes it! If not, I keep it More felting is definitely in my future!

I finally picked up this amazing book. I could not wait a moment longer–even bought it sight unseen! So many of my knitblogger pals recommended it so highly, and once again, you all did not let me down. I love it. The Hourglass Sweater is a must-knit… maybe late summer/fall. These will be made too! Several others make the list as well. My advice? Run, don't walk, to your LBS (or fave online vendor) and pick up this great book!

The Dalegarn Svale I picked up at the Folk Art Studio President's Day Bash was destined to be this tank. Thanks to my girls, Heather & Eilene for helping me choose! So this one will be knit … sometime in the future. I cannot put a date on it. Too much on my plate right now!!

A great big THANK YOU to Cara and Michelle for sending me wonderful gifts! Cara sent notecards with her amazing botanical photographs. Not only do I love the photos, but I am a total stationary slut… Darling Michelle sent me a GREAT CD with her favorite band (and one of my new faves), Belle and Sebastian. Love it!

Keep knitting in the free world!