I took a class on Saturday at Unraveled with Janice Rosema (Fiber Goddess) and had a great time making my own lambie pie!  the process is not difficult at all - it's a little fiddly but quite simple - and since it's a stuffed animal, gauge isn't REALLY important either!  We had a blast knitting and hanging out - and one wonderful knitter bought pastries to share with us from the bakery across the street!

By the end of the class, many lambs were almost completed... most lacked faces and feet, but we all knew what we were doing... The next morning I woke up and spent some time adding ears and legs to my critter - and Sunday night, I added his face, complete with button eyes - he's adorable and I really enjoyed myself.  I recommend you go to Ravelry or Janice's ETSY shop and buy the pattern - it's a quick knit, allows you to play with the beautiful Ozark yarn and when you're done, you have created a creature with personality all its own!  I was impressed with the shop we were knitting in- it's in a beautiful old brick building with high ceilings and ancient beams - it's comfy, cheery, and the staff is very helpful - I'll definately go there again... I wish it was a little closer to my house... but I will say this: it's worth the drive!  I understan now why some people swear by this place!

I also did some organizing - this is how far I am on my mitered square blanket - after stalking finished projects, I think I like this style of layout for my blanket - it'll give a neat edge and when it's all sewn up, the seams make fun vertical lines... but I am a ways off from completing the piece - I have about 50 squares left to make....

I started a new sweater last night (8/10/08) and decided it's sleeves first this time - I think if I get sleeves out of the way, I can use them to double/triple check gauge and it makes it easier to complete a project because all it leaves for me is the front and back to knit which is, let's face it, the FUN part....

I also finished my guernsey sweater - but no photos yet - I'll post about that another day :)

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

This is my new dress form / mannequin - I got it through Studio Rox online - they're made in NY I believe and it looks a lot like the ones from Abercrombie and Fitch - pretty vintage looking - I must admit I would prefer a "real" old form, but the chances of finding a MALE one (yes, this is a "male" form) and in my size (36" chest; I'm a small guy) is pretty far fetched.  The plan for the form is to use it for designing, assembling, etc. and mostly for assembling components in freeform knitting... He doesn't have a name yet... any ideas? - for now it will live in the office - next to my rusty "K" and my EEG machine - which I got from a Dr's office in Pasadena - it's one of the original prototypes for the real one - from the dr. who helped invent it - (I know, I know... I'm strange)

The form arrived quick via UPS, in 2 boxes and is a cinch to assemble, although the directions don't make a ton of sense... I plan on re-doing the metal plates that cover the arm holes - making them wood, and replacing or painting the knob at the top with either wood or something - I already changed out the screws on the armholes to be brass to more match the gold paint they made them... I love my new toy! 

On the form right now is the zip up cardigan I made earlier this year...

while I was cleaning up this afternoon, I ran across more of my squares for the mitered square blanket!  It inspired me to clean up the next batch of squares that I have completed - these 10 make a total of 20 squares completed and ready for assembly - I pinned them to size and blocked them out so that they're all ready to go when it's time.  I have about 30-40 squares to go before I'll assemble... If you ever make the mitered square blanket, be sure to weave in your ends as you go or they'll make you cry.  I'm happy to say that 20 squares are knitted, blocked, trimmed and all ready to go when the time comes!

I also finished the rust raglan sweater this past weekend, but haven't taken any photos of it - I'm also days away from finishing the snowflake sweater - it needs its zipper and then it'll be done too!