It's Done!

I can't believe it but I finished the shawl for M for the wedding. It ended up not being as bad as I thought it would be, I don't know why I kept putting it off. It's blocking and I know I'll have to block it again in side sections but just take a look. It looks huge and a darker blue than it really is, it's just the picture. I hope M loves it!

In Progress

My life as well as my knitting. I've been trying to figure out the new computer and how to find and post my pictures. We'll give it a go and see what happens. I've been working on a proposal to reconfigure my job. A business person I'm not! I'm hoping what I have done will convince those that need convincing. We'll see how that goes in the next few weeks.

I finally stopped procrastinating on the wedding shawlette for M. I have ripped back more than any other project. Luckily the yarn is holding up well and I think, make that I hope, that I finally have figured out the rythm of the pattern. Here's an in progress photo.

The Summer Shawlette in Sunshine Yarn's Sunsilk (Powder)

I'm hoping that when it's done it will be perfect. Isn't that what you want in a garment for a wedding? The blue fabric underneath the shawl in progress is the wedding color, remember Penn State blue and white? I think the shawl will bring the blue in gently and complement things well. I hope M loves it.

I'm also working on a scarf in Blue Heron's Metallic Rayon in the Blue Grass colorway. I am LOVING this yarn. It is so smooth and luxurious feeling. All of their colors are beautiful. This one has a hint of gold in the fibers. I'm usually not a sparkly person but this is just soo pretty. I bought another skein in the Melon colorway, no sparkle but just as beautiful. I'm hoping to make the Flower Basket shawl or the Candle Flame shawl with it when other projects are done (see last post) are completed.

Kim over at Butterfly Yarns has been delving into some dyeing. Seems everything she does comes out beautifully. I got her to part with one of her first skeins of wool/tencel sock yarn last night. The colors are just so pretty and summery. Not sure exactly what pattern I'll use this for. Right now I think I'll just sit and appreciate it. She was so good to part with it. You can look at my picture Kim if you miss it. I'll treat it well!

Excuses, excuses...

Really, we bought a new computer and my husband has everything all over the place and things aren't hooked up and talking to each other. At least that is what he tells me! That and the fact that work is driving me bonkers has kept me from blogging. But I have been knitting.

I finally finished the Everlasting BagStopper from Knitty. By finishing I mean I finally put the ribbon on for handles. I love it! Be forewarned, the sucker s..t..r..e..t..c..h..e..s!!

I also finished some baby sweaters for some of my co-workers and their upcoming babies. I love both of them.

The one on the left is the Seamless Kimono. Made from Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo. The pattern is extremely well written and works up like a charm. The yarn is scrumptious. I think I will be making more of these for future babies. There is also a Kimono version that wraps with a tie. The right hand sweater is the Yarni Lace Baby cardigan. While I love the outcome I have to say the pattern wasn't as well written. There were a few errors that made me crazy. I also changed the sleeve so that the pattern just goes down the center rather than all the way around. I think I like it better and it was much easier to deal with the decreases that way. It is cute though, don't you think? The author of the pattern was quick to respond to questions which is great but I think a few more rounds of test knitting might have been helpful. This one is made of sock yarn from Ellen's 1/2 Pint Farm that I got at New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.

I did finish the shawl for M from the yarn that I bought when we went out to visit them in Minnesota. That's not the wedding shawl but a plain basic garter one that she loved. I forgot a picture (or if I did take one it's somewhere in one of these computers hiding). She loved it as did her mom, sister, and grandmother. Hmm, do I take that as a hint?

So I need to finish the wedding shawl because we are under the year mark now and you know how time flies. I also have my own shawl to finish. I'm working on another baby sweater, Helena, from the new Knitty. It's 3/4 of the way done. I'm using Sheep Shop three in a soft purple colorway. Very nice. And my new passion is Blue Heron Yarns. Oh My!! The colors and feel, pure luxury. I have a feather and fan scarf on the needles now and eventually I will make the Flower Basket Shawl with it.

Which leads me to the upcoming projects. I finally put yarn and patterns together for things I need to get moving on. As you can see the pile is daunting. I need to stop throwing in projects and get cracking on the pile. How to stay focused? And just in case you hadn't thought about this for a while, Christmas is just a little over six months away. Yikes!!!!

Awesome Swap

I just received an awesome package from my swap partner in Arizona. We participated in the "Sock Yarn from Your Stash" swap on Ravelry. Essentially you send your partner a skein or two of sock yarn in your stash along with other goodies according to their questionaire. I got sooo very lucky, check it out-Lots and lots of chocolate (yum), chai tea, a ladybug tape measure, Zen Yarn Garden yarn in the colorway Almond Branches (too pretty to part with, don't know how she did), and a lovely bracelet with a ladybug in the center. My partner just outdid herself! Round two is under way, I didn't sign up but I will for round three. Such fun!

My knitting is all over the place, not working on the things I should be doing and starting new projects. Par for the course for me. Buying yarn and more yarn, I need to get myself under control (right). Well let's see what happens!

What I've Been Doing When I Could Have Been Knitting

Well, I've been enjoying nature. The lilacs in my yard are finally starting to bloom. Hopefully I'll get to enjoy the lovely aroma if it doesn't rain all week!

Today I planted the window boxes and various pots around the yard and on the deck. Here's my new favorite pot, can you see why?I just love ladybugs!

And we planted a tree! A few years our neighbor put up a fence. I decided it was a great backdrop for a new tree. Due to circumstances it waited. This weekend we were looking at what was out there in one of the big nurseries near us. I loved this Pagoda Dogwood but at $150.00 it was a bit much. Cool leaves though and a flower about now with fruit later for the birds. Oh well. Then I saw a River Birch that I also liked. More reasonable and I almost liked it better, almost! So we passed and decided to keep looking. Today we went to another nursery. Just to poke around, no intention of buying. There, off in a little corner was a Pagoda Dogwood. Now it wasn't as big as the original one but it was a good size. We looked at it and then my husbamd looked at the price....$30.00!!! Yup. I stood guard and off he went for a cart, lickety split. We made sure to talk to one of the nursery guys though. We wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong with our little tree. Nope, it was just, are you ready, last year's tree! Overall healthy but an old model. Our lucky day. We gently put her in the car and off we drove to her new home. She was so thankful, I just know it. Since it will rain tonight we (by that I mean my husband) dug her a nice hole. Isn't she pretty?Grow little tree, grow

I also spent some time with K this week watching him ride and jump. Have to admit it was a little scary for me but he looked great and did a good job. I can't believe this is the same kid who used to be so afraid of horses. Now he wants to make them his career. Tomorrow he turns 20, no more teenagers in my house. I can't believe my boys are all men, and if I do say so myself, decent, wonderful ones at that. Happy birthday K!

Keith and his buddy Quill sharing a laugh

Back to some knitting now that most of the plants are in the ground. A new baby sweater is on the needles and then all those languishing projects that I keep plugging along on. Hopefully knitting pictures in the next post.

Day in NH

We didn't need the boat after all. Today turned out to be a beautiful spring day just right for a drive to the NH Sheep and Wool Festival. What a great day. Cute animals, unbelievable yarn, and yummy food. Honestly it can't get much better than that.

Aren't these guys too cute? They were friendly and so curious. Some of them had had their coats shorn and they looked like they were wearing cordorouy suits. I could have taken them all home but they just wouldn't have fit in the car. It would have been fun though cruising down 93 with their little heads sticking up through the sun roof!!

This poor guy looked like he just got out of bed! Don't know why he was having such a bad hair day but I think he got the most attention because of it. He (or she) reminded me of K on an early morning!

There was yarn everywhere. It always makes me a little crazy because I get overwhelmed fast. Should I buy this now or do I wait and maybe see something else I like better? Will I be able to find it again if I don't buy it now but want it later? Oh, the pressure. I was so busy looking I forgot to take too many pictures but it looked like this everywhere.

I managed to find some really pretty yarn from some places I hadn't seen before. Sock yarn, some lucious alpaca, and a sweater worth of organic cotton that feels like butter.

The three large cakes are the cotton from Decadent Fibers, the dark brown in front is alpaca from Sweet Maple Alpacas (Lydia donated her coat for the yarn) and the multi cakes are sock yarn from ellens half pint farm.

All in all it was a great day. Good company, beautiful animals and fiber, celebrity sightings (Grumperina and Guido), and food, lamb(sorry guys) and the best apple crisp!

Just one picture of a finished object, the garter shawl for M. The picture doesn't show how pretty the yarn is but you can see a little of the sparkle. The sparkle comes from a strand of KidSilk Night and it's held with one skein of another yarn but I can't find the ball band. Trust me, it's pretty. I've been looking for a horse or greyhound shawl pin but so far no luck. If anyone knows of a source let me know.

What Can I Say

The Harlot I'm not. I keep meaning to post but the words just don't find their way here. I'm going to aim for a post per week and see how that goes. A goal is always a good thing.

Knitting progress has been slow. I did finish the Garter Shawl for M. I started her Summer Shawlette but I'm taking that extremely slow. I want it to be perfect. It's been tinked a few times but so far so good. A lifeline is a shawl's best friend! Socks almost done. No pictures, soon though!

Went to WEBS last week. It was, as always, a wonderful experience. I bought some Shibui, some Northampton, Lorna's Laces, and Cascade. But ohhh, the temptation to buy so much more. Honestly it's a good thing I don't live close enough to be there all the time.

Tomorrow is the NH Sheep and Wool Festival. I can't wait. So much fun and friends to share it with. I'm really looking forward to the day. I hope the weather behaves, calls for rain in the morning. I'm going to get the boat ready.....just in case. Stand by for pictures and a report soon.