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

Forest Canopy done

My feline helper, Stinky, and I blocked this at midnight last night
I never blocked anything before so I need his expert help!

Even with all the mistakes it looks beautiful to me!
yes- I am officially I am hooked on lace .

more good news
The Boy got home this am from his fishing trip in Costa Rica. He had a fantastic time and full of fish stories and adventures.

Slow Bee Mystery

Slow Bee Starts soon

.

First clues come May11. If you want to join this KAL -you need to do it now as Moni is closing membership .

My Forest Canopy is almost done.The stitch count for the border is way off but I am continuing anyway. Not a good week here for concentrating on lace but next week should be better.

Ravelry lists the pattern called River Stole as free but the link does not work. Jolynn suggested this for a bride and it looks absolutely perfect. Now- if only I can find the pattern .

*******Thanks to Beth via Ravelry who sent me this link to the River Stole/Wrap

http://www.allaboutyou.com/craft/Knitting-pattern-lacy-wrap/v1

knitting on hold

Not much knitting done this past 4 days as my mother is moving . It has been extremely emotionally and physically draining plus time consuming. Packing her up and getting everything in a new spot has not been easy. Coordinating cable,phone ,newspaper and electric have been a nightmare. I waited for the cable guy 4 hours Sat but when he shows up at last minute he decides he needs to come back again today instead so another 12- 4 waiting for them to show up. Quess where I will be all week? My car is still full and the old apartment needs cleaning and stuff in closests removed. Please let my mother be happy after all of this.
So I tried doing one row of lace last night when I got home. The stitch count was way off. So I had to just put it on hold till I calm down.

DH is in Costa Rica. I hope he is having a good time but iI miss him helping me.

Help to find Bridal shawl pattern

Yesterday this brilliant idea came to my head !

Why not make a simple but delicate bridal shawl for my daughter?

I have the yarn and the beads but now need a pattern. The wedding is 8/16 so I have time?right? (along with 2 Kal and an afghan)

Anyone know of a pattern that :

Not anything too big

maybe rectangle or triangle

not too complicated..

Is it obvious I am an addict? Thanks again to Sue

some patterns to consider:

another Forest Canopy?

or

http://elann.com/ShowFreePattern.asp?Id=228024

or

• http://www.alltangledup.com/movabletype/my_images/my_patterns/kiri.pdf
  
  

Bits of news good . and sad

good news:

May 11 Kal for Slow Bee 1 starts . What a perfect Mother's Day gift. You know what I will be doing that day. My yarn is picked and some beads . I ordered the yarn from http://sarahsyarns.com/JSZephyrColorCard_big.html . Two sets of beads were purchased on EBay from Emilia Beadelia'a Bead Shop. I love the name of this store . Long ago I read Amelia Bedelia books to my daughter many, many times. One set of beads is multi colored with some blues and the other looks like little ice crystals. When I do a swatch( Yikes- for once it will be done) a few beads will be placed to help make the decision.My shopping has been a little out of control lately due to this KAL obsession with the purchase of Addi Lace needles in several sizes, blocking wires and pins.

Knitty Gritty is taped automatically so last night nothing new was on TV so I watched Lily Chin demonstrate a 9 Block Baby Blanket. Never would I actually do the blanket but her blocking methods got my attention and the idea to change the afghan pattern being made for my daughter. This is mindless knitting in between lace. Only 4 squares of 15 are done and need this by July 19th shower . My worry was that the squares are not turning out to be the same size but Lily showed how she uses a foam template and pins each square to that to make them squares.. Wires will even make it easier. She single crochets around each square and then sews them together .The whole blanket gets a single crochet edge around it eventually. My pattern calls for knitting sections in between the blocks and then attaching them. After they are blocked it will be easier to decide. But- thank you Lily chin and Knitty Gritty for showing me a simple way to block the squares using inexpensive foam. My worry was this blanket would turn out like crap! I bought the kit at Stitches 2 years ago when I saw a sample blanket displayed and spent much $ on it. Really should have done it in a washable yarn because my daughter has 3 cats and a dog but so what.

PATCHWORK AFGHAN Knit Simple Holiday 2006
includes 18 skeins of Nashua Handkits - Creative Focus Worsted yarn & magazineUS 6 needles (not included)
This beauty of a blanket is pieced together from large squares of simple colorwork and solid stockinette using 8 different jewel tones shades!!

and now more good news

171 rows are completed out of 196 on my Forest Canopy Shawl. It looks very small so another one or 2 sections of the pattern will be completed. How much bigger will it get when I block it? I am loving this project but now understand why it has been slightly problematic. I just read in The Knitter's Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes that you should never use boucle for lace . Quoted from her book:

"While boucle yarns can look gorgeous on the skein - especially those hand- dyed in variegated colors - they can be problematic to knit. Those open loop act a magnets for even the dullest- tipped needles , snagging again again. Most boucles, whether simple or complex, want to be knit in the simple stockinette. Anything else will be totally lost beneath the wonderfully jumbled surface."

The pattern is not showing up as much and the stitch count has been off with the little magnet nubs but on the other hand all my mistakes won't show up either- right?

some sad news:

My husband's best friend and fishing partner since grade school died last night of lung cancer. My husband is one of those guys who does not cry so seeing him last night so upset and choking with tears broke my heart.

This is the my DH (tall guy) and Warren fishing here on the Delaware last fall..

I have knitting . My DH's addiction is fishing .This morning he got up at 7am and went fishing with thoughts of his best buddy on his mind. Tomorrow he will travel to his wake and funeral. This will be an emotional week for him and me. He shuts me out at times like this and sometimes is not easy to live with but after almost 22 years I understand and accept it.

Friday he leaves for Costa Rica for a dream fishing trip.The timing of this trip is good.

I will be busy moving my mother into a senior complex this next weekend. Packing up up things last few weeks has been my job.. She is very sad and depressed. Maybe being around healthy people her age will help. All she sees now is my comatose father and the other helpless and sick residents. Nursing homes are way up there on my list of emotionally upsetting and sad places.It is a constant reminder of how fragile life is and that I am getting older too fast.

Lace addict/ Spanx

Thanks to my blog pal, Sue from NJ, http://craftitagain.blogspot.com/ ( who just happens to have a Mini and a spoiled canine like me) I have become addicted to lace. Yes -Even after I had to painfully frog 2 nights worth yesterday because for some stupid reason I took the first life line out thinking everything was ok. On further examining it in the sunlight yesterday it was obvious an even row was skipped so it was half and half front and back . No housework was done yesterday as that Forest Canopy Shawl kept calling me . At midnight I was still counting and celebrating every time a finished row was correct. My problem solving and counting skills are slowly improving . Knitting lace is much like doing a Sudoku puzzle that gives my aging brain daily exercise.



This is very hard to believe considering my frustration and observation levels are not strong.. It is a miracle I can even knit as my coordination and patience are lacking. I was never a crafty person. When I first started knitting 2 years ago it took me months to actually see the difference between a knit and purl . DH can't believe how far along my knitting progress and how dedicated ( obsessed) I have become.

Shhh Today he is fishing so as soon as he leaves I plan to plop in the sun and get back to the lace shawl.( no cleaning or yard work done for another day)



Dress for my daughter's wedding
( This is Not me!- found at Dillard's web site)

Good news ..I lost one more pound at Weight Watcher this week ! Only 5 more to go and I will be back to my goal. Lace may be postponed temporally to take a walk today. A dress was picked out for my daughter's wedding .(Damn -it costs 40$ less at Dillard's than what I paid locally) It is tight around the middle but the next size was too big. 5 pounds should make it fit .If not -I wear this which I bought on EBay . The owner of the bridal shop was raving about them and how comfortable they are but make you look 5 pounds thinner. Oprah endorse them here. Have till August 16 to get rid of the middle. Unfortunately - knitting only exercises the brain not the gut!

Forest Canopy Shawl/ more animal shots

Imagine if digital cameras were around when my kids were babies in the 80's. I would have so many more photos of them. Back then you had to go back and forth to the photo developing places and crossing your fingers to see if they turned out. Instead now I take a million pictures of my animal babies.

Molly doing her yoga poise-

Stinky doing a little lounging



basking in sun on Sunday

To get ready for the Slow Bee Mystery KAl this was started this weekend.


Forest Canopy Shawl pattern was purchased here http://knittingasfastasican.com/forest-canopy-shoulder-shawl/
The directions are very clear and this is perfect for beginning lace.
This is the yarn being used for the Canopy Shawl. Not exactly the best choice of using the boucle as the nubs of it make it easy to miss or pick up an extra stitch. I have been saving this yarn in my stash since I started knitting 2 years ago for some thing special.

Here is my progress so far. .

It is very very slow as I need to count after each row to make sure that a stitch is not missed or added. Lifelines are being used but painfully so. Reading the knitting has not clicked yet. Last night while reading a helpful Ravelry forum one post said said t the center decreases should line up . So far the center stitch that is knit btl along with having a marker is really the only thing that stands out .

Baby Shadow Sweater. DONE!!!!!

Two different colors of Tofuties sock yarn SWTC were used. The light pink ridge makes a shadow effect . The pattern level said easy- NOT for me..!

Finally- this %$!@ sweater is done ( except for buttons sewn on). Never before in my knitting experience have I encountered such frustration- not even with my first socks .The seams were sewn and the ends woven . A crochet edge was added around the neck to make it look neater.

All the mistakes pop right out at me. It is a gift for my daughter's coworker.

pink pearly buttons to add...

Dogs on Thursday-Buddy

Buddy at my son's wedding 2005

Buddy is my part time pug but I love him full time. When my son moved out a few years ago he took Bud with him. Everybody loves Bud because he is so calm and friendly.
I helped deliver Buddy 8 years ago when Molly had her second litter of 5. Poor Buddy was a sick little pug and needed surgery on his elongated palate so we kept him.

Buddy stays for long periods of time because of my son's weird work hours and his wife being so busy with teaching and finishing up her doctorate at Columbia. Buddy loves to visit his relatives . Magoo is his father and Peek, a sibling from another litter, and of course his mommy, Molly!

BUDDY


Last night Buddy came as my son and DH are going fishing. He jumped right up on the chair and took a nap next to Stinky ( not a blood relative but sort of family)

VA retreat/ Happy Birthday DAd

Happy 87th to my dad. My mother ( pictured) and I brought the party to him at nursing home.

He is falling sleep while he eats. HIs face is bruised and cut from falling last week while trying to get out of bed .

Posting this picture makes me cry. All my poor Dad does is sleep and suffer pain when he is awake. Gettng him to stay awake to eat or talk is a challenge. Yesterday - he said to me " This is a hell of a state to be in - but I guess things could be worse." This dear man has suffered for two years and overcame mutiple flus and infections but still hangs on. It is time ....

Dad loves my log cabin blanket .

Now on to happier things......

Vogue Fashion show by local yarn shop located Woodstock, VA.

Christina and Peggy

loads of tempting fibery stuff

It was beautiful weather with blossoms and flowers bursting!

The main building where we ate. Inside the dining area resembled Harry Potter's

This past weekend was spent in VA at a relaxing Fiber retreat organized by Christina Parham . http://www.dyepot.com/ . On Friday the thought of driving 6 hours was making me have some doubts. Did I want to drive this long alone in the snow, rain and fog and spend all that gas? Am I crazy? But, what a pleasant surprise this retreat was with no high ( self -inflicted) pressure classes and just a bunch of friendly and sharing southern ladies. Some of the things shared that made me excited were Navajo plying, starting the Danish shawl in the new Spin-Off and the Baby Albert sweater. And oh yes- Christina had plenty of beautiful fiber stuff to purchase that was so reasonable in price one could not resist.

Dogs on Thursday

Molly - my sweetie

Molly ( with a lounging kitty behind her)

now...

Why are these socks in the garbage?

Blue Seduction Socks - Interweave done last spring

hardest socks I ever knit and the most expensive.... giant holes in heals in after wearing less than 4 times. grrr... This time they went in washing machine by mistake. I didn't like this yarn knitting them and will not get it again.

SocksAnn Budd, Contributing Editor Yarn Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction (50% merino, 50% tencel; 400 yd [365 m]/4 oz): blue moonstone, 1 skein.

Pet photos/ #%$&^! sweater

Stinky feels the same as I do about this Baby Shadow sweater. yes ... still plodding along with it... It is with sock yarn and size 2 needles so not a quickie with only about ? more hours and maybe this will get done! It is not impressive for all the work , frustration and time put into it. Put this on my never knit again list.

Now on a happier note............

2 pugs in a rug

cat yoga

cat eyes.............

Ann has had such creative photos of her pug and pigs . If you have need a daily chuckle, plenty of knitting knowledge and love pugs or pigs -visit her blog. ( Because I learned about Ravelry and became a member before the long waits.) Her latest pug shots reminded me to get that camera charged.

Va Spinning and Knitting Retreat

March has been a mad month after Feb vacations and my mother's cancer surgery and helping her find a senior complex. Packing and all the moving arrangements are time consuming and especially stressful doing it with my mother watching over me.

A shocking email reminder came today of this next week. April is already next week!!!! This was registered for way back in the fall by my sister and me. Am I crazy or what driving almost 7 hours for a fiber weekend?

2008 Spinners & Knitters Retreat April 4, 5, and 6 at Shrinemont Resort.
REGISTRATION FORM
Teachers List
2008 Door Prizes
Arrive Friday afternoon/evening to check in and have dinner which will run from 5:30 until 7 pm to accommodate late arrivals.
After dinner we will meet in our assigned space, right now its looking like it will be the Hall House which is # 37 on the map below. We can bring our wheels and other fibery goodies it will be safe and sound when we are out and about.
We will meet after we eat and get to know one another as we do what we love to do best! Knit, spin, hook, and socialize with other like minded fiber people!
Friday Night Brown Bag Bazaar!
Saturday Morning is Breakfast at 8:30 and then off to our meeting Hall. We are fortunate to have Shelia Helsley back as our massage therapist and she can bring another massage therapist along to make sure everyone that wants a massage can have one! Have her do the whole 9 yards or work on those gnarly knitting hands and arms and shoulders! She is a delight and I'm sure you'll be pleased!
We are very pleased to announce that Sheila Mahone from www.wool2dye4.com and http://wool2dye4.blogspot.com will be with us to set up shop Saturday morning! She will be bringing lots of yarn and fibers to dye for those of you who want to jump on in there & have a go at it!
Anyone who would like to teach a class no matter how informal please let me know. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. This is one laid back group! About 12:30 we'll have our lunch break.
After lunch back for more fibering.
Break for Dinner at 5:30
Saturday Night Stash Bash!!
Sunday Breakfast at 8:30 and then more fibering until lunchtime. After lunch, everyone say good bye to their new friends and old alike and plan to meet back here next year!
We are still lining up events and if there are any vendors who would like to participate please let us know! We will also have door prizes and other nifty stuff!
We are already accepting reservations on your rooms and it works great if you and a pal or pals can book together so we can get you into the same room or house
I have questions about this
See you all there!

100 hour baby sweater

Damn this Baby Shadow Sweater is taking me forever. After 4th attempt and four whole nights I think I have the button hole side started. I kept following thedirections but the button holes ended up on the bottom if I wanted the right side to show up. It made matters worse by stopping this UFO several months back after I found out my nephew will be having a boy .My memory of what I did on the first part is out the window.

Next time remember to take notes!!!

So finally- the pattern was ignored and I just read the stitches.. Now- now I am beginning to question if maybe it is the pattern not me ?As I approached the next section where I make 1 stitch four times by the collar the stitch count should go up 4 stitches-right? \Notice that it went up four for the smallest size with 54 stitches but not for the rest.?


Cast on 54(60, 66, 72) sts with color A and knit 4 rows. Begin pattern with Row 1. Next row (buttonholes): K3 [yo, k2tog, k5] twice, yo, k2tog, k to end.
Continue in pattern for just under 1.5", ending with a WS row.
Shape left front neck:
Next (RS) row: Knit to last st, M1, k1.
Next row: Work in pattern.
Repeat the last 2 rows 3 more times: 58(60, 66, 72) sts. Piece should measure 2" from buttonhole row.