Good Friends, Great Reasons to Knit

I recently re-discovered a good friend of mine from a while ago. She is a fabulous person and why we let our friendship slowly lose speed, I have no idea. I think that we were both going through different phases and had our priorities listed a little differently. However, she and I occasionally do find each other on IM and send a "hello." Recently, she found me on IM and told me that she is pregnant! I'm so thrilled for her, I just can't tell you. She and her honey "eloped" this past Wednesday and had a wonderful co-ed baby shower today. Some good friends of the newly-expectant (and newlywed!) couple threw a fabulous shindig and a good time was definitely had by all. I left feeling a bit sad and a lot happy. I am sad for the time that we lost between us and that we might have to start a little bit over again, but I am so overwhelmingly happy for Mary and her wonderful new life. She is an amazing person and I couldn't be happier for her. I'm sending her hearts right now. :)

Here is Baby Sierra's new non-Hoodie Baby Blanket. Well, the reality is that I hardly followed anything at all in the pattern. In fact, I think that the only thing that I did do was the edging.

Pattern: Hoodie Baby Blanket by Nikol Lohr

Yarn: Cascade Luna, 2 skeins ea. of colors #709, 722, 725 and one skein of color #710 (for edging)

Needles: 47" US 7, several of them for edging (that's probably what cost the most!)

Mods: Decided against hood when it was finished and I placed it on the blanket - it looked too busy; used Cascade Luna instead of Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Dyed Cotton; used US7 instead of US8, which was obviously not that big a deal; CO 120 sts instead of 100 (to accomodate for changes in gauge); used alternating stripes and used the seed-stitch pattern during rows of color-change (the pattern used in the Tulip/Rocketry cardigans).

Aren't the colors just sweet?! :) I can't wait to meet Sierra!

Anastasia's Non-Christmas Cacti

Well, these were supposed to be socks that I could wear for Christmas, but I didn't put the pressure on myself. So now they are just simply socks to wear anytime. Who needs an occasion to wear these ones, though?

Pattern: Anastasia by Pepperknits

Yarn: Emily Parson's Sophie's Toes in Christmas Cactus colorway

Needles: One 47" Addi Turbo circular (I'm really loving doing socks on these!)

Mods: The only mod that I made was to knit the cuff in 2x2 ribbing for 1 1/2". There was no need to make any other mods since the pattern is perfect as is. :)