Finding a Nitch

I have wanted to be everything under the moon. I wanted to be a marine biologist, an art teacher, a criminal psychologist, a cosmetologist, a travel agent, a small business owner, a ceramacist and of course a knitter.



Out of everything I wanted to be, my longest lasting would be teacher, small business owner and knitter. Then just about 2 weeks a go my sisters boyfriend's mom asked me if I would knit her some mittens.



Well besides just the enjoyment of knitting, I loved playing around with the packaging and going that extra step to make the final product worth her money. From printing my own fabric tags to sew in, to finding the perfect natural cloth, ribbon and recycled paper to give it the organic look i love...I just enjoyed every second.



As I finished tying up all the bundles I felt such a feeling of accomplishment. I think I am finding my perfect little nitch in the world...putting in to motion the things I want to do and that I believe I can do.
And I am so excited about it.



oh yeah, and to top it all off...she just ordered 6 more pairs.

Tour de Drea Flashback

Name of the Game: First sentence of the first post of each month for the past year.

March 2006: "Well lets see...My name is Andrea...and I'm a knitter."

April 2006: "Well after attending a party last night...the consensus is in...Michigan, mainly East Lansing, really is the friendliest place in the world."

May 2006: "Well photo #1 is me wearing teapot cozy as a hat with a ponytail hole before felting."

June 2006: "I've said it before and I'll say it again...I've been busy."

July 2006: "So this morning I woke up...and well, I was in a bit of a funk."

August 2006: "As you can tell from this early "head shot" of my father he's a pretty good looking guy, perfect for the stage...and always ready to bring a smile to your face."

September 2006: "So I would love to be posting today with a picture of my fabulously finished Shell Tank...but I can't."

October 2006: "Well, I'm back in my hometown."

Novermber 2006: "I felt like a deconstructed pumpkin wearing them."

December 2006: "As if your best friend coming to town wasn't exciting enough...she then shows up with the most gorgeous box of Norman Love chocolates you have ever seen."



And as long as I am doing a Tour de Drea...I was tagged by Saskia to post 6 of my strange habits...heres crossing my fingers y'all can look at me the same afterwards...

1. I can't finish brushing my teeth until I gag from brushing my tongue.
2. I talk in voices. If you have ever talked to me fore more than a minute...than you probably know what I am talking about.
3. I break out in song and dance at regular intervals during the day.
4. I cannot for the life of me sing the correct lyrics or melody to any song no matter how hard I try. (I've given up trying)
5. I have to make sure my wallet is in my bag at least 3-5 times before I go up to pay for something.
6. I have a bad case of speech impediments (i.e. dyslexia and stutter) that only hit me randomly...mainly at the most inopportune times possible....oh and my voice always raises at the ends of my sentences so that I sound like I am perpetually asking questions.

A Few of the things that Make Life Good

Baking about 8 Dozen batches of Christmas Cookies.


Making a hat for my new nephew, Micah.


Making a washcloth for my Grandma who just generously taught us how to bake her homemade bread.


Turning broken sugar cookies into missing limbs.

24...24 Stitches To Gooo...I wanna be Sedated

So my all time favorite scarf is a store bought. I just loved the giant ribs, the color (its the pink one there) and the cozy fit. When people (knowing I am a knitter) would ask me if I would make it, I would guiltily reply...no...this one here is a purchase, and definitely not handknit.

It was finally time to take matters into my own hands. Equipped with a dream and my best friend it was time to head off to the yarn store and figure out how to replicate this oh so perfect scarf.



That was Saturday afternoon...by Monday afternoon we proudly bound off our better-than-look-a-likes and wore them out for the first time last night. I don't think I have ever in all of my knitting days gotten this excited about knitting something as basic as a scarf. But this...this just turned out better than we could've dreamed.



My only word of warning: Don't pose sitting in the snow, as it makes for a wet bum.


This pattern (which I could hardly call my own because it is not something difficult to dream up...) is as follows:

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick, 3 skeins
Needles: Size US 17
Gauge: Roughly 2 stitches per inch
Pattern: Cast on 24 Stitches

Row 1: k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1
Row 2: p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Repeat these 2 rows until scarf measures 101 inches, or your desired length.
BO in Pattern

Cut 24 - 14 inch Strands from same yarn. Holding 2 together at a time thread thru center of each knit rib along the bottom and tie in a knot for the fringe (6 on each end). Voila!

Swapping Switches

As if your best friend coming to town wasn't exciting enough...she then shows up with the most gorgeous box of Norman Love Chocolates you have ever seen.


And i FINALLY finished the Novella Socks from Knit 2 Together:

The only alteration I made to the pattern was to add in a 6th repeat of the stitch pattern so that they were long enough.

And last but not least, another new knitting book (because you know I need it). I got a copy for me and my visitor. I am especially excited to knit up some dishrags out of that yarn (after being inspired by my grandma).


Now I now this post is a little slack...and it had been a while...but I have been so sick I haven't even been able to barely pick up the needles. So cross your fingers that I will finally bounce back this week!

In the meantime I just cast on for a look-a-like of one of my favorite scarves and then have a whole lineup of things to knit.

Hoping to be appearing more frequently...and hopefully without the scabby nose and swollen eyes! Oh and the title of this post?? yes that was me mumbling in my sicky haze...