phantom sweaters revealed!

alright. finally, here they are. chad and i went out yesterday evening and got some pics of the phantom sweaters i've been talking about. all three of them are cardigans-which i love. this first one is from twinkles big city knits. it's called the "best friend cardigan" and it's so cute. it was a really quick knit. i think i did it in like 4 hours. i used cheap-o yarn because i didn't know how it would turn out. i really would've liked to buy the twinkle yarn; but it's like $19 for 80-some yards. there's just no way. plus, i've heard that it pills really bad. so, i used lion's brand thick and quick and it worked out perfect. i made the size small even though the measurements for the small in the book are like really small (i think 26 or 27 inch bust?) and i measure a 32". if you read the book info though, it explains how to find the size you should make. overall, cute, fun, and fast. and best of all, i get so much use out of it!

This one was a pattern that i got off of ravelry called the "february lady sweater". it took me about 4 weeks to finish; but i'll be honest, i wasn't really that diligent. it's a raglan and is knit all in one piece. i love that 'cause i HATE seaming. the lace pattern was really easy-the whole thing was pretty brainless actually-i like that. i think the pattern is modeled after an elizabeth zimmerman pattern; but i can't say that for sure. anyway, it's nice.

this is the last one. i got this pattern from sweaterbabe. it's the "peplum waste top down cardigan". i really like working this as well. it's also done in one piece with raglan sleeves. it looks great with a skirt or jeans. it's comfy and i love wearing it. i used lions brand yarn on this one too ( mostly because i'm cheap). the sash was given to me by my sister keiko. it just happens to match perfectly.

overall i'm really happy with how all of these turned out. the two three-quarter sleeve ones will be great transitional pieces for fall because they look great with long sleeve shirts under them. i've already gotten so much use out of all of them, and so many compliments. it's so gratifying to wear something i created.

recent happenings

i'm finding it difficult to blog on a regular basis since chad and i live seperately now and i have not a computer of my own. it's tough; but i'm coping. here is a condensed version of not even a fraction of what been going on lately. no, not one bit of it has to do with knitting. and yes, chad promised that tomorrow he'd take pics of me and the phantom sweaters i've been talking about. i'm telling you people-they are real!

Here's the one and only picture i have of my engagement ring that i've yet to wear. there's nothing worse than being engaged and not having the privilege to flash around that shiny new rock. because i'm super anal, i had to get a new setting made for the ring. oh, but not just any setting. of course the one i want is no where to be found, we had to take it to a place where they specialize in custom jobs. i literally wore the ring for a day, took it to the shop, and almost two month later, still no ring. i guess the first time one of the prongs looked bent. the second time the cast blew up in the kiln. so, last weekend my mom threw an engagement party for us so we went to billings, where the ring is. my mom had picked it up for us as we arrived in town late. when i opened the box, hoping to find the ring of my dreams, i was crushed to find a ring that didn't even slightly resemble the picture which i had given these "specialists". so, yet again it's back in the hands of these alleged "professionals". this time i took a couple hours and drew a diagram (to scale) of the ring i was given, and the one i want. hopefully they get it this time...idiots.


On a lighter note, just 'cause we don't live together doesn't mean we don't cook! and yes, this was likely one of the tastiest meals we've ever made. particularily the shrimp you see on the left. it's walnut shrimp and is AMAZING! thank you silver seafood!

now that we're back in the M.T., it's only right to hit up a griz game. these are a blast.

here we are decked out in our griz gear.

our stadium is pretty cool. it's state of the art and seats 25,000 peeps. they're sold out every game.

chad and his buds: chance, rj, and cole

and a bbq after. classic.

Engaged!

it has been forever since i last wrote. so much has been going on and i've got so many pictures to post. in the last three months i've left chicago for montana, hung out with my folks for a month, done the six day hike from hell with chad, rocked my Arbonne, and moved to missoula. all the while keeping up with my knitting-producing three super cute sweaters (pictures to post later). of all this, though, the most exciting and life changing turn of events was that on august 12 chad and i got engaged! i know! i can hardly believe it myself! it was so unexpectd, but i was and am so so happy! it was so cute how he did it to-details on that later. in the mean time, i've posted a few of our engagement pictures. Brooke Peterson of Missoula, MT took them. she was so fun to work with and she did such a fabulous job, they turned out so well and we love them. thanks Brooke!