Catching Up

I'm determined to get one more post in before summer is 'officially' over - wait, one more? How about just one??

The primary reason I haven't been posting is, well, that I haven't actually been knitting . . . at least not on anything new. But I do have progress to report - these are before and after pics of my studio, which, along with the rest of our house, got new flooring and baseboards this summer. (We'd had this poor carpet for more than 16 years, and I think it used to be blue, believe it or not!)

This little project involved way more moving and cleaning and storage and painting than anybody wants to hear about (wanna guess how many DPNs I found behind the furniture and in the couch cushions?) but we are thrilled with the results.

I spent a good chunk of today painting the last bookshelf for this room, and before this Labor Day weekend is over, I am determined that the final six (or maybe twelve) boxes, including my knitting books & stash, will be unpacked. Before the summer ends, we will be DONE! Finished. Finito! Free time, how I've missed you!

I guess I do have one other accomplishment to report - my first pair of Socks for Soldiers are actually finished - I kitchenered up the 2nd toe last night, and, per instructions, they've been machine washed and are in the dryer now. I'll be sure to get pictures before I send them off to be bundled with many others like them & shipped to either Afghanistan or Iraq. I may need to pick up a few goodies to add to the package, as well.

Meanwhile, I received two pairs of machine-knit legs last week from an amazing woman in Texas, who understands completely what it takes to get 'er done! So I guess I have my next project all lined up . . . except, I might have to take a small break and work on something that involves a bit more, shall we say, immediate gratification . . .

I signed on for a couple of swaps on Ravelry - just easy little ones, and I'm really looking forward to making a couple of fun, quick things to exchange.

Guess that's it for tonight - more SFS pictures before the weekend is out, with luck. Here's one last 'end of summer' shot - our cosmos have had a great season!

Almost there . . .

Seems like it's been way longer, but I've actually been working on my first pair of SFS for just three weeks. They've been pretty much everywhere I've been, every day, and I was making pretty good headway for a while - this picture is of the first giant sock passing it's two-liter stretchiness test. But, I kinda lost momentum for a minute or two after giving in to a new, impulse cast-on (mine is about as far along as this one, but no FO pictures seem to be available anywhere, not even on Ravelry - isn't that amazing? I could be the first person to actually finish knitting this!?) In my own defense, I have to add that though the project was totally spontaneous, I had all the yarn in my stash, so I clearly had no choice, right? My colors are more like the original Mags Kandis design, with a pale yellow rather than bright green base.

Anyway, back to the socks ... thought I'd try to get back on track by setting myself a little challenge last week, aiming to complete 4 inches of ankle (over 72 stitches on size 0 needles - ugh) and turn heels on both socks by the end of this past weekend. I came SO close - if I hadn't kept messing up the heel flaps I would've been there!

I did get the complete heel turn done on one, though I know it's hard to see in this pic, and the flap is finished on the other. It took a lot of help in the form of podcasts (so many fun ones out there!) and a great book on CD, but I'm still amazed that I got this close to my goal. If these weren't for such an incredibly good cause, I know I would've given up already.

On another front, just had to show off my mini-swallowtail-altar-shawl, all prettied up for Sunday . . . it was a bit small, but a big hit all the same, with several requests for a return engagement. It's very nice to feel wanted!

Blocking Breakthrough

So, who needs wires or pins for blocking?? Well, maybe I do - this picture will undoubtedly display my lack of skills, but even so, the transformation of this piece from wrinkly blob to defined lace is pretty remarkable!

I am completely in love with the
colors and the changes in the patterning throughout this shawl. It's small - about 36 inches at the top end, and 18 from top to tip, but it's perfect for the small altar we use for the kid's Sundays at church.

If you know this pattern and are looking carefully, you will see that I skipped the nupps and did not indulge in beading - there was enough going on, for me, with just the colors in the yarn. This was a pleasure to knit, start to finish.

And now, it feels so good to have 'broken through' my fear of blocking and to have this beautiful finished lace to show for it!

Just a few

Time for my monthly post! :^) Actually, I have a few actual FO's, and some almosts, too, that I want to document here before they go anywhere else.

First, and definitely cutest, are the puppy slippers - I just love these! It took months, for some reason, to get the cuffs on and the little faces done (had to take a needlefelting class at the lys, of course, to figure that part out) but they're completely finished now. It's going to take somebody pretty darn special to make me part with these!

This shawl is finished - it's an abbreviated Swallowtail - small 'cause didn't think I could get another repeat out of the bitty bit of yarn that's left. But it worked out, since this beautiful yarn was hand-dyed for me by my buddy Hunter, from church (one of his first attempts, but then, he's only 13!), and it needed an extra-special project.

I think this will be the perfect size for an altar cloth. We'll see, once I get it blocked ... still procrastinating on that front! I think he would be excited to see it there, though.


My sorta FO for today is this 'swatch' - I added the loop thinking it might double as a potholder, but it's actually a test for the grazing sheep bag that I first spotted here. Fell in love, got the book, and started sorting through stash late one night ... as I suspected, I think I'll have to use a different white yarn (I had heard that the Lamb's Pride white was a little fussy), but the others felted great - I love it when that happens!Of course, I have a new cast-on, too ... started these Socks for Soldiers last night at choir rehearsal.
Heard about the group on the Knitpicks podcast (they provide a lot of the recommended sock yarns), and decided to order a complete package, including this very cool medic's bag with great pockets for knitting gear, and lots of other goodies. I really like the fact that this group doesn't let politics enter their discussions, they just do what they can to make sure that our troops, who are working so hard, so far from home, know they are cared for.

Feels like such a positive direction to send some of my energy, rather than focusing on the more negative aspects of the war, since those never fail to make me feel frustrated and sad. You'll find the group on Yahoo or on Ravelry - in addition to socks, they collect hand-knit beanies, hand-knit washrags and hand-made soap, snacks, and toiletries. All in all, an amazing bunch!

Just a little

Just a little ways to go on my Leafy Lace Scarf, that is. Made great progress (for me, anyway!) over a couple of weekends, now just need to push on to the finish line. For symmetry, it's knit in two halves, and I'm thinking about blocking one half to see how much it grows. I don't have wires or rustproof pins, though, so that gives me another excuse to procrastinate ... or to go shopping, I guess!

My first (and favorite) excuse is still spring ... it's been too beautiful outside to get much of anything done indoors. Our tomatoes & basil are in, the strawberries are getting ripe, and the roses seem especially happy this year - here's just a little glimpse of some of their first blooms - such a pretty time of year!

More Green

Possibly the greenest place I've ever been ... the rain forest near Akaka Falls on the beautiful Big Island, Hawai'i.

Lots more green here.

Wildflower weekend

When the hub asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, I didn't have to think long - we've been talking about going out to Joshua Tree to see the wildflowers every spring for about five years now, so this year it was time!

We couldn't have picked a nicer weekend - the warm sun and cool breeze were perfect, and the wildflowers were amazingly beautiful.

I had no idea there would be so many varieties in so many colors.

We've visited the park several times, but always stayed near the northern end, where most of the campgrounds are. This time, though, we came in through the southern entrance, and that, as it turns out, is wildflower central.

I don't think it's going to take us

five more years to get back there for another springtime visit!