Valentine

Pattern: Helleborous

Yarn: Ornaghi Filati Superkid

Needle: US 9

Start: February 4, 2009

Finish: February 12, 2009

I had to interrupt my sweater knitting to do some gift knitting. I decided at the last minute to knit a scarf for my friend Heidi for Valentine's Day. I had this yarn on hand and it worked perfectly with the pattern. I held it double and about half way I thought I was going to run out of yarn before it was long enough, but I just kept knitting and ended up with a scarf that was about 60 inches long. If I would have had time to block it, I could have probably gotten another couple inches, but I didn't have time. It turned out great and looked beautiful. I really hope she likes it as much as I do! I love mohair - its so soft and so warm, despite all the holes. I have another mohair project on my mind.

I hope ya'll had a nice Valentine's Day... Alex and I decided last minute (I was looking for an excuse to take my new car on a little road trip) to go up to Pagosa Springs for a night to sit in the hot springs and relax. It was snowing and really nice, but COLD! I persuaded Alex to go cross country skiing - he had never done it before. He has been downhill skiing since he was 4 years old, but had an accident last season and tore his ACL, so he hasn't gone since then. He said cross-country skiing was like 'driving a ferrari all your life and then being demoted to a golf cart'. So, um, I guess he wasn't sold it. I think next time we're gonna try snowshoeing instead.

One wedding gift down...

One of my best friends in the whole world got married a couple weeks ago. We were college roommates for three years and have shared many incredible times. I love her dearly, miss her tremendously, and wanted to wish her and her new husband the best of the best... so naturally, I figured the best way to do this was with a handmade gift.

I made them this picnic blanket... It is patchwork on the outer ring, linen in the center, and the backing is a vintage sheet I found at the thrift store. I embroidered some little ants carrying away a cherry on the front and made a patch for the back with their names and wedding date. I had SO MUCH FUN making this... especially the embroidery. I did it all free hand, which was something I hadn't done before. I am in love with the way this turned out... I have to admit that when I took this to the park for the photo shoot, I layed down for a bit with a book. I so want one for myself. I am really smitten with picnics lately. Anyway, I found a nice ol' picnic basket at the thrift store and got them a copy of The Notebook; kinda cheesy, but a great love story nonetheless. I hope they'll spend a couple Sunday afternoons in the park reading to each other.