torture not knitting....happy Mother's Day

No knitting last two days has been very difficult. Knitting has become my therapy to relieve stress. ( and this week continues to be stressful getting my unhappy and hard to please mother settled in her new apartment ) Knitting and using the mouse on my right hand results in pain. This rainy and damp weather does not help. Instead of knitting -I have been just drooling over patterns and future lace yarn purchases and wishing I was a speed knitter with painless hands. But this weekend knititng won't be missed..

because

I am off to Albany area today to spend the night with my best friend , my daughter. I am leaving extra time to stop at this shop in Cohoes NY.http://www.beauknitsltd.com/
What a perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day!

lace is like chocolate

These arrived yesterday from Knit Picks. Reading these is like being in a candy store and wanting to taste them all. Problem is is if you eat too much -you get sick. Knitting lace too much results in hand and wrist pains . Now I must go on a lace diet for a few days to ease this pain.

My second swatch with size 3 needles of the Slow Bee Mystery was painfully completed last night.

My feline helper and I decided the original one in size 4 looks much better

size 4 is on the left..The pattern looks much clearer to me .

( Honestly- it might be because last night my hands hurt so much and it may be knit looser so my hand would not hurt as much ) Either way- I think the size 4 will be easier on my hands .

The birds continue to come to our feeders . Yesterday first hummingbird of the season was at the feeder. I love looking out over my sink and seeing colorful these birds. So does Stinky!

yellow finch
woodpecker

more lace

First swatch for Slow Bee Mystery is completed. I used size 4 Addis.

While blocking it looked a bit long compared to what is suggested by Moni. After it dried it was closer to the correct swatch size. I plan on doing another swatch in size 3 to see how the lace looks and size . That has to be done before next Sunday. I have silvery beads on one end that don't show up in the pictures but look better in real life. The dark multi ones showed up in the picture on the right side but can hardly be seen on swatch. Who would ever believe that one could get so excited over a lace KAL?

Last summer it was socks, winter was mobius and now it is lace. I decided against the River Stole after I started a few rows with the lace merino. It was too open and lacy. That patterns needs a fuzzier yarn. After looking thru websites and my books at home I have decided to try another Forest Canopy. If that does not turn out- my next option is trying one from Victorian Lace book.

Look what returned to my bird feeder. Sorry about the glare.

Rose- Breasted Grosbeak