The Call of the Lace

Now that I've completed two projects, long languishing on the needles, I feel the need to knit something more challenging. So, I am taking two lace charts and putting them together to make a little lace scarf. I have some of the lavender lace yarn that I used on the Swallow Tail Shawl and it's been in my little yarn box whispering at me for a long time, "Use me up, I'm ever so lovely."

eta: JaggerSpun Zephyr in Violet, I think

even though it seems to light to be violet

Here are the two patterns I plan to merge, and without violating any copyrights too terribly - the way I plan to merge the charts partially shown. This all from the stitch library of "The Knitter's Bible"

You can see my hand written additions

Diamond Lace with Rosettes + Quatrefoil Eyelets equal awesomeness =)

(hopefully)

We'll see soon enough, won't we?

GOLD!

Actually, I didn't officially join the Olympics - but I have managed to unofficially get gold medals on both my languishing WIPs.

Self patterning yarn is the best. The only problem I had with this yarn is that once you drop a stitch, the yarn gets excessively splitty. Much of the knitting I did on these was in low light, which doesn't help.

As for my finished sweater, it turns out I don't have the ability to take a flattering picture of myself in it. Hopefully when I wore it the other day, it wasn't so unflattering - lol At any rate, it's very comfy and warm. It's pretty scratchy, so I wear something under it, which is sorta what I have to do with all sweaters, since the wind blows into them and gets me frozen.

On both projects I used the Miraculous Elastic Bind Off which is the first bind off I've ever used that I don't have to use an oversized needle in order to have the bind off as stretchy as the knitted fabric. It's my new favorite thing.

And here is my lunch today, it turned out pretty, so I took a picture =)

On a side note, Gene Kelly aka D'Artagnan is whistling on the TV and my dog is rapt at attention - I love rewinding the DVR and watching George tilt his head and perk up his ears. hehehe

OH I Want to Vent

but I have not the time to do so. ***scream*** Seriously!!!? I'm ok, just annoyed at something stupid. Actually like 8 stupid things, but that's a venting that will have to wait.

I CAN report that I have finished the sweater and taken a very unflattering picture of myself in it, and hopefully it's the picture and not me - lol It's very warm and I love it and it's a GOLD medal for finishing it before the closing ceremonies. I will soonishly take a better picture and post it here.

My second project is in the wings, I've turned the upside down heels that I was so scared of, and it's actually sorta great. I didn't think I would like it, but I do.

Yes, both heels are turned and I'm making good progress up the ankle. The above pic was taken just after the heels were turned. So there's more progress than what is pictured. I have only two days left (not counting today since I have to RUN and clean my house for company) to finish them. Hope I can do it!

must mantra now....

Positive thoughts positive vibes and yes I can keep from going on a rant - I think I can I think I can - ARG!

On a Happier Note...

You guys are probably right, it's just those Winter knitter no sun yarn splittin blues. Most of the snow is gone, we still have patches and piles and the humiliated remains of snow men hither and thither.

I've been watching the Olympics quite a bit and it's pretty exciting with all the speed and snow and crashes and medals and stuff =) At the moment I'm watching curling and listening to the screaming Deutschlanders - those guys can really yell. I always wonder if the players of this particular sport ever stop and float out of their bodies and look at themselves and think, "This is a lot of stress over a bit of granite and some funny shaped brooms." Probably not, I always think about that, volley ball, basket ball, football, tennis, whatever it is, I look at it and think - "all these people are so serious about smacking a ball around" lol

Anyway, the real point of this post isn't the philosophical approach to games, but rather the fact that my long languishing sweater has a sleeve that is nearly complete. The Olympics are good for me! Here's the sleeve sharing the limelight with a very funny niece of mine.

The Knitting Olympics and Whining - Whinging

I am watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Vancouver and it's a very moving experience. I have been in that place where a person just needs to cry, anyway, and it helps to have something that provokes the tears, rather than trying to get up that momentum on my own.

Hopefully joining the Knitting Olympics will help me get out of my - well I was calling a knitting slump, but it has been more like an unintentional boycott.

It speaks to where my head is at the moment. A little down, frustrated and in a bit of a rut. Nothing too monumental or fear inspiring. No dangers of slipping off the face of sanity or any of those freaky places I've been. Just ... I don't know how to explain it. Maybe I'm just wallowing in my freakish not quite misery.

Probably I just need a new project of some sort. Stop thinking so much and try to learn French very quickly. haha Not that I have been SO down, it's just one of those states of being where a wash of sad goes over you every now and then. It sort of came to a head Wednesday when I had my therapy and talked about some things that have been bothering me and it all led back to my dad and some old junk and sorting through it is a chore.

What a bummer I am! lol somebody slap me!

Fiddle dee dee - tomorrow is another day =)

Side note, we got about 12 inches of snow yesterday! It was/is awesome and I love it and it did cheer me up that I got the exact amount I was hoping for =) The kids were out in it most of the day making forts and snow people and having epic snowball fights.

There's the torch! Better dig out that sweater and at least get my

needles in the right row.

Au revoir mes amis!

A Little Progress to Show

This is hardly any sooner than the last post, but at least this time I have a decent reason *read excuse* =) About 8 weeks ago I got a pretty bad migraine that never went away completely, and it was only last week that it finally went away. Needless to say, it was not easy to focus on much more than the every day stuff to get through it. Fortunately I have a super good friend with an array of diagnostic tools who fixed me up last Saturday, and I've been mostly back to normal since.

I'm not loving this picture so much, but it's the best I could do at the time. There was half of a sleeve, but it was looking very wonky - I'm not using a pattern really, just knitting by the seat of my pants as usual. So I ripped it out and looked up some online instructions for sleeve decreases.

I haven't restarted the sleeve yet, but maybe that's something I can get to fairly soon. I've been wanting to do color work and lace and socks, so I'm hoping to get out of being bogged down on this sweater and do something else.

At first I was thinking about doing bell sleeves, but as cute as they are, they aren't very practical. I'm still thinking about it though.

Anyway, hopefully there will be another post and real progress to report soon.

What a Neglected Blog this is!

I have not been spending my time wisely, and it shows. My knitting is sitting next to me languishing away instead of wrapping itself around me to keep me warm during the first real Winter we have had in Texas for 20 years or so. Hopefully, when I put down my computer (the real cause of all my wasted knitting time) I'll take said knitting, a flattering sweater to be, if I'm not punished for taking so long to finish it by the powers that be in knitting lore.

Stacks of clean laundry also taunt me from their temporary residence, my broken and holey papasan. One of these days fairly soon, I am going to have to invest in new, less easily breakable furniture. That particular piece was given to us 11 or 12 years ago, and I bought another one around the same time. For such cheap things, they did last quite awhile, but they just couldn't stand up to the sort of abuse that comes with being in the constant company of children. My sisters were little when they were newish, and they delighted in running and jumping into them. Then my own children had the same inclinations once they came along. I guess a papasan just has that look that says, "Please come and jump into me, I'm so very fluffy and comfy. =) We also have what is called an "everything that touches your body is leather" sectional sofa. Leather is good, but this sort of furniture has many drawbacks. The vinyl that isn't supposed to touch you, absolutely does touch you, especially once it gets is gets cracked and sharp it leaves microscratches on your legs and arms. One of the cushions is also coming apart at the seams, and though I've stitched it back up, is coming apart again. I guess I need twine to do that and tide us over till we get to the point that we make said investment a reality.

Why am I regaling anyone with the life and times of my furniture? Probably because that's what is in front of me, along with carpet that needs a vacuum's attention. Oh well, at least MOST of the laundry is done, even if it's not quite made it upstairs.

Back to this actual Winter we are having. We have had snow four times, if memory serves. One of those snow storms even lasted all day and stayed on the ground in drifts and patches for nearly a whole week. That is very rare, here. Usually, it's 70 degrees F today, 30 tomorrow with snow flurries and then back to 75 the next day. It's been nice actually having Winter for me, since I am really a Northerner by birth. Heat really takes it out of me.

Speaking of cold, I seriously need to get to making more wool socks! Cotton just doesn't cut it when it's cold. So this means, I am rededicating myself to knitting and shall put down the computer (for a few minutes at least) and get to it.

I think I could finish this sweater in a day or two, if I just did that - get TO it already. I am just finishing up the bottom, then I have the sleeves, and they should progress very quickly. I think I'll go to FB and ask for knitting encouragement! Until next time, here are some snowy pics to tide you over till I have proof of knitting =)