VK shawl done (mostly)

I finished the crocheting on the VK knit and crochet shawl. Man, that crochet sure does eat up the yarn. I have just enough left to tassel it. Tomorrow I shop for a button, finish the tassels, and work in all the ends. I'll try to get some pictures in the next couple days.

All in all, knitting is still way more fun (and cheaper) than crochet, but I think I'll start doing the occaisional crochet hat. Also I have my eye on The Open Fan Cardigan, if I can get my hands on 4 skeins of Rowan Big Wool.


Lil'un and I went to the art museum this morning. He was suitibly impressed with the Egyptian exhibit. The first thing he sid was "zombie case, mommy!" Too many episode of Scooby Doo, I think. When I told him they were mummys, not zombies, he wanted to know if they were mommy mummys or daddy mummys. That made me smile.

THe museum has a trail running behind it with outdoor exhibits (and wild blackberries) We spent most of the morning exploring it and having "ventures" I highly reccamend it to anyone visiting Raleigh.

Yet more blocking...aka I'm not patient

I blocked the VK Knit and Crochet shawl last night, but it's still wet. The crochet bit can't be done until it is dry. I tried pulling it off early, but it tried to pop back to its old shape. Oh well, the FMB needs to be done.

Gatsby blocked beautifully. It is the perfect size and shape. I may make another one sometime.

Not much more to say...Do you want to see a picture of the smokehouse? Sure you do...

Gatsby pics and my WIP shawl.

I finally blocked gatsby and took some pictures. Here it is mid block. I'm thinking of keeping the points.

Here are some closeups. I ended up blocking it upside down.


Now that it is blocked and actually a semi circle I am quite pleased with it. I was a bit woried. I guess it's true what they say about lace knitting and blocking: It's like magic.

Here's my VK knit and crochet shawl. I'm nine rows from the end of the knit half. Hopefully it will be blocking tonight.

Knit Crochet Shawl update!

I'm on line 42 of 57 of the chart on my shawl. With any luck it will be ready to block tomorrow, and boy does it need it. The middle of the lace pattern draws up and pulls the whole thing out of shape. Fortunatly, I'm making it out of wool, so blocking will be no problem. Knitdamsel is also making this shawl. It's neat seeing someone elses progress, kinda like a mini KAL.

I'm going to try to get an early start tomorrow so I can get to my parents, take pictures, and block my Gatsby shawl. They have room so I can block it on the carpet. But I need to get to the dump first. Call me crazy, but the dump is neat. Sometimes you find eally good stuff. I found a nice tricycle there once and a coffee table.

Oh, anyone want to buy a car, cheap. It's an 85' Chevette. It runs, but there is a glitch in the electrical system. It keeps having these power surges; the headlights blew out and the radio kinda caught fire. It also has some minor body damage. We're only looking for a couple hundred bucks. It'd make a good parts car.

Gatsby is Done!

I just finished the edging to Gatsby. I'll block it and take some pictures next time I'm at my parent's house. Thank goodness it's done. I couldn't start a new project until that one was finished. If I can get gauge with something in my stash, my next project will be the knit and crochet shawl from the latest Vogue Knitting. I've had my eye on it for awhile, but couldn't crochet.


I have some Smart Superwash in milk chocolate brown I could try doubling. It was going to be Myrna, but would not meet gauge.

Lil'un is sick with a cold. Poor lil'un.

SP goodness and pictures galore

My Secret Pal sent me a wonderful package.

She sent me some yummy Noro, a bunch of awesome stitch markers, some cute ladybug and safari animal buttons, a sparkly princess journal and some sparkly body powder. Here's a somewhat better picture of the Noro:

I have such a nice SP. Thank You!!!

Here's my recent FO's. I'm gearing up for Christmas presents, if you can't tell.
First up is a New York Yarns Wild Thing scarf. It's the flamingo colorway and I added a dk. green fingering weight yarn.

Next I have the Knitty heart scarf made of Jager Chamonix. Unfortionatly, they have discontinued Chamonix, it's super soft.

lace cap from Midnight Knitters pattern. I just need to crochet a flower.


Ballet top from Loop D Loop. It only took one day to make. The only change I made was a round of single crochet along the bottom to minimize curling. Awesome pattern; I am definatly making some for Christmas presents.

UFO's
I'm making the front border on Gatsby. Here it is freshly off the needles.

I'm also making another French Market Bag. It's made from some dyed Wool of the Andes. This time it's going to be deeper.

Finally I'm making Angelina from some hollyberry Merino Style. Not much to see, but:

Baby's first crochet

I did it! I have defeated the monster that is crochet. Look, a swatch that did not end in tears:
OK, so it's not square, per se. But I'm getting there. The cast on is just a bit tight. New doors have just opened. I don't even realize all my options yet. Yay!

Thank you Secret Pal! I'll post pictures and descriptions tomorrow, when I develop my pics. You are awesome!

hooks, dyes, and needles Oh My!

Loop D Loop came in a couple days ago. I promptly made the ballerina top from it. Pictures will be up tomorrow. It's made from LB Kool Wool in the khaki color, which is actually more of an olive drab. I made it in one day and had no trouble getting gauge on sz 13's. I learned how to do a single crochet along the bottom hem. Yay! (Thanks, MIL) This may be the start of an all new obsession. I'll do the kids version of this top for the girls for Christmas.

Along with the book came 4 skeins of undyed Wool of the Andes. I am going to make another FMB with two of them. I dyed them this morning and they are drying now. When I develop my film, I'll post pictures. The other two skeins might end up as the brimmed hat from Loop D Loop

I'm about 1/3 of the way through the edging of Gatsby. It's very boring...yawn.

Anticipation. oh, yeah.

I'm trying to be zen like and wait patiently, but I can't. The wait is driving me loony. I have a SP package, Loop D Loop, and four skeins of undyed Wool of the Andes on the way. I was sure the SP package would be here by now. Of course, who knows where it's coming from. To pass the time I went out to Shuttles Needles and Hooks in Cary. I have never seen so much yarn crammed in so small a space. I could have spent hours; it overwelmed me. It was like someones stash gone horribly arye ;). They even had huge hanks of the Henry's Attic yarns. The only complaint I have is that none of the skeins were priced. I think my next big yarn purchase will either be some Mystical Creations Rayon/ Cotton/ Wool mix in one of these colorways I want it for the Corset Pullover

My other option is some Wool of the Andes for the Cabled Riding Jacket in Loop D Loop. I'm thinking about Winternight or Spruce.


I sent off my next SP gift. I hope she likes it!

I have not been completely idle in actual knitting while waiting. I've knit the first five inches of Angelina. I'm using Merino Style in Hollyberry. It knit to gauge on size 2's and is very soft. It's also slow going K2 P2 ribbing is dull. I don't need to have it done until it gets cool and that's...mid October.

Oh, found the instructions to Gatsby. It'll get finished in the next couple days. I'll be glad to have it done.

Lil'un is going to VBS this week. He's having a great time. I'm thinking of changing my church membership there. Bayleaf is nice, but very big. It's easy to get lost in the crowd and this church seems small and friendly.

taken for a loop

I finally got my hot, little hands on a copy of Loop D Loop, by Teva Durham. Let me tell you, I'm normally not impressed with knitting books, but this one blew me away. I saw several techniques and a few projects I would like to try. The assymetrical fairisle, The medallian cardi, The princess seamed cardi, the lace leaf pullover, the ballerina top, and the basketweave yoked top just to name a few. It took all my willpower not to buy the book right then. It's top on my wist list.

On the knitting front, I cast off Gatsby. All it needs is the front band, now if I could just find the instructions... Oh well, if they don't turn up I'll improvise. Mostly, I just need a break from it. I'll post some pictures soon.

The past couple days, I've been making super quick Christmas projects, a skinny scarf with a big tassle on each end out of Wild Thing in flamingo and Rowan botany 4 ply in dark green and a lace cap out of burgandy LB thick and quick. Isn't instant gratification great?

ETA: I ordered Loop D Loop and 4 skeins of natural Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks. Happy Mother's Day to me! There is enough Cool Wool in my stash to make the Balerina Top, assuming I can meet gague. I also think Wool of the Andes could work in the cabled riding jacket. That would cost me about $28. I'm so excited!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles...Er Planes anyway

Hubby, Lil'un and I went to a fly in yesterday in Knightdale. One of our friends, BD, and his dad, MD, both have small aircraft and were airbossing (that is a verb, right?)the fly in, so they invited us. We got to fly in MD's plane; I think it's a cherokee or something. It was so FUN! It was kinda like a rollercoaster, but I don't like rollercoasters, but for some reason I liked doing this.

Lil'un had a blast. He was so excited to fly and there were a bunch of kids there. Most of the time he played nicely with the others. Hubby, BD, another friend of BD whose name I didn't catch, and I spent most of the time watching the planes take off and land. There was even a heliocopter. We left not long after the band showed up. We were all pretty tierd (I was burned, Ouch!)and wanted to pick up steaks, and corn on the cob for supper. Nothing beats grilled corn(Yum).

Not much knitting to report. I'm slogging through the feather and fan section of the shawl. I need another project, but I'm just not inspired right now. All I know is that it can't be green. You ever feel like you need to get out of a rut...

On a brighter note, I sign up for classes for my first semester back to school on the 29th. It's so exciting and nerveracking. It's been so long since I've been in a classroom. I hope I'm up to it. Two of the classes I need to take can be done over the web. That way I only have to go down to the college twice a week.

Bored

Solid proof that I am bored and can't draw with a mouse:

That is all.

ETA: Please note that she is knitting the latest in knitting fads, invisible yarn. Talk about not being able to see your stitches. ;)

Mystery Yarn

Does anyone know anything about this yarn? It's a thrift store find.

French market bag

I finally have new pictures of my FMB and the Gatsby Shawl.

I really liked the FMB pattern and it worked up fast. I will definatly make another one. It did felt a bit short. Next time I'll make it longer. I ended up loving the colors. They're both yarns I dyed from easter egg dye. I'm calling this colorway (Yes, I'm naming it we'll pretend I'm not being a bit silly)Myrtle Beach Madness. Anyway, here it is:

Ah, progress on Gatsby. I'm done with section number two and on to number three. I have several inches of feather and fan ahead of me.