Nine Tenths of the Universe

serendipitytank.JPG, originally uploaded by amy_elizabeth_west.

I love this tank although, as always, I find photos of myself a bit disconcerting. That's not quite what I see in the mirror...

The Soysilk is great to knit with and great to wear. However, it's way stretchier than I expected. I could have reduced the tank by a repeat of the lace pattern (18sts/side = ~3"/side) and it would have been fine even though I worried that would be too tight when I started. It also stretches _down_ so that after 3 wearings it's a lot lower cut than intended. I'll certainly knit with SWTC soysilk again, but next time, I'll go narrower than otherwise and shorter in the body and neckline than I would with another yarn.

Posted by Amy West at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

First Buds of Spring!, originally uploaded by amy_elizabeth_west.

woohoo!! Winter may actually end! I have to go to work now...phooey.

Posted by Amy West at 07:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Every year I start checking for signs of life in the yard; usually way, way, way too early. This year is no exception. I had hopes for signs of the dwarf iris, but since the *mulch* is still frozen, I think I may have a few weeks to go....

Posted by Amy West at 07:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

snowongrass.jpg, originally uploaded by amy_elizabeth_west.

first real snow this year on the neighbor's ornamental grass. Imagine that if you fill a huge open space with more of the same, you'd get an idea of the prairie as it used to look.

Posted by Amy West at 06:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sam's Baby Shower, originally uploaded by amy_elizabeth_west.

From left to right:
Evan, Laura, Charlot, Patt, Donna, Carolyn & Raggedy Ann (aka burrito baby) made by Laura and wrapped in swaddling blanket with crocheted edging by Tammy, Sam & Sam Jr. holding dada fish made by me & beautiful quilted ball by Charlot while surrounded by more gorgeous gifts, Diane, Cathy, Kris and Wendy.

Posted by Amy West at 07:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yvonne Jr.'s washcloth/possibly towel, originally uploaded by amy_elizabeth_west.

Needles: #7 straight
Yarn: Fantasy Naturale 100% Mercerized Cotton in color 6399
Pattern: http://www.knittingknonsense.com/babyfeet.html

Posted by Amy West at 07:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yvonne Jr.'s baby blanket, originally uploaded by amy_elizabeth_west.

Needles: #8 circulars
Yarn: Carron's Pound of Love in Yellow
Pattern: http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/babyblanket.shtm

Posted by Amy West at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

IMG_0832, originally uploaded by amy_elizabeth_west.

Barney's first handknit sweater. I took this at 7:15am because it's going to be 95 today {in early July]. I modeled it on a sweater he has and the measurements were right, but the yarn I used is less stiff than the model yarn and I think I lost some gauge at the neck/shoulders because the upper-chest proportions are clearly off.

Ah well, he likes it. And even likes the big shoulders and neck because he'll only be wearing it over collared shirts.

Yarn: Ironstone Yarns "New Wool" Color 106
Needles: 24", 16" no. 10s, dpn 10s
Cable: Double Moss Cable; p.85 of the Harmony Guides 450 Knitting Stitches, vol. 2.
Pattern: taken off existing sweater

Posted by Amy West at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Posted by Amy West at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Blooming now, but either/both not picture-worthy or too early for pics are: companula, blue sage, stonecrop sedum, bell flowers, thyme, milkweed, coneflowers and foxglove variant. They all should bloom for 2-4 weeks. The bell flowers, coneflowers and milkweed don't all go at once so I expect to see them for more like 6 weeks at least.

Posted by Amy West at 06:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Since I really only use this blog in the way that Flickr is designed to be used, I think I may move to it from here on out. The URL is http://www.flickr.com/photos/8558150@N07/. Just put up some vacation pictures from visiting my father-in-law in South Carolina (alligators!); will be adding pics of my garden, latest completed knitting, and the Montreal Botanical Garden soon...

Posted by Amy West at 09:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's growing nicely... About the same time the creeping phlox bloomed, but they're so weedy and parts of them died for reasons I don't understand, so I'm skipping the picture.

Posted by Amy West at 09:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

These guys are at least living up to their rep as ground cover. I plan to let them do as they wish - they're so pretty and they give the weeds some competition. Even though you can't see it, the hostas behind are also doing quite well and I will be dividing this fall to have 2 full layers of them. Yay! I'm also going to divide and move a little to the north the pulsatilla (at the end of the tulips to the right hand side of the screen). Same for the companula on the other end of the tulips.

Posted by Amy West at 06:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I bought this because it's supposed to be a ground cover. However, over the last 4 years, it's been more of a ground migrator than anything else. I suppose if it doesn't start filling in this year, I'll break down and buy some more...

Posted by Amy West at 05:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Lost most colors except for the striped and the deep pink. Still pretty though...

Posted by Amy West at 07:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)