Dropping By...

... to say, "Hi."

I'm mid way or so into repeat 5 of the chart, I'm starting to think this will be a very short scarf, indeed - shouldn't have made it quite so wide - but that being said, there's NO way I'll be ripping it back. I'll just block it very severely on the horizontal plane.

It's good practice, at any rate, I plan to make something rather larger on the lines of scarf/stole lace thing for a friend in a pinkish color. I really love the JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk Yarn so I think I'll be looking to invest in some for a few projects to come.

I'm just taking a lunch break from a gazillion things I must do before a little jaunt I'm taking, so this is a mini-post of sorts. Hopefully, I'll be finished with this by the time I get back. I really want it done by Tuesday next. So... until then, Live Long and Perspire =)+)

OH Bother!

AH, errata, thou dost vex me so! In hindsight, it should have been obvious, right? I mean look at it! HELLO!

It's just that any time I start any lace pattern, I'm all muddly at first which means I don't comprehend the chart as a whole and I don't look ahead in the chart as I ought to. I always have a few false starts and do-overs. You'd think that by now, I would realize that I should always always always use some of my other, not so wonderful, yarn and do a trial run. Maybe it sank in this time enough to be remembered next time. One can only hope so, eh?

At any rate, the yarn dealt with the multiple knitting and raveling incidents, and only the first few inches came untwisted. Of course, I'm much happier with this attempt, now that I have a better overall understanding of the chart and how it goes.

Isn't it nice when muddly gives way to clarity?

And now, I just have to think up a name for this scarf. Any ideas?

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!