=)

So I got over the feelings I had before about not being able to go with my mom/family to North Carolina, and I'm now more excited about going to Italy for 6 or 7 weeks. It will be such a great experience and I will be truly submersed in their culture.

Plus.. authentic Italian food. Who wouldn't love that?!

I'm scrambling to make arrangements and purchases before I leave. I've been comparing ticket prices for the past couple days and I'm probably going to make a purchase tomorrow or so. Plus, I need new summer clothing along with other things (Such as yarn and needles for knitting projects I'd like to take with me- it is a 14 hour flight, afterall).

I plan on doing a bunch of knitting for the afghan I'd like to make for my boyfriend, perhaps a link to it later. I plan on doing an 'oddball sampler afghan', but with many substitutions, things that mean a lot to my boyfriend, his favorite bands, out initials, a peace sign, etc. I'll be teaching myself intarsia and that will be an adventure. =) I'm also going to try and knit myself a top, and before I go a pair of shoes. (Links to all these later! If you're on Ravelry feel free to look them up-they are FREE patterns).

And, I finished my pillow for my mom the day before mother's day (the 10th).




An easy garter stripe I made up as I went along. I used Lion Brand Homespun in Barley.

Materials:
-Lion Brand Homespun (1 skien)
-Size 10.5 needles
-Tapestry needle
-14X14 pillow form

Please swatch and adjust accordingly, as I did make this up as I went along, and the sts/rows may need to be adjusted.

CO 43 sts

Work in st st for 11 rows

knit 3 rows

work in st st for 6 rows

purl 7 rows

work in st st for 6 rows

repeat until you have 3 small stripes and 2 large stripes

after the last small stripe work 18 rows of st st

knit 3 rows

work in st st for 6 rows

purl 7 rows

work in st st for 6 rows

repeat until you have 3 small stripes and 2 large stripes

after the last small strip work in st st for 11 rows

bind of LOOSELY, the yarn isn't very stretchy and if you bind off tightly the edges won't be the same size.

Finishing:
With the right size together back stitch the two ends (the stripes should be line up together)

Mattress stitch up one side (when you get to the garter stripes, use the actually stripe bump, because garter stitch is dense enough not to need every running thread stitched)

Insert pillow form and mattress stitch the other side.

Voila! =)

Please let me know it there are any glaring errors if you choose to make this pillow.