Spring Fever

Well it must be spring...I've started cleaning and can't seem to stop. I even went so far as to order a new feather duster from www.flylady.com. (and one for my sister!) Somebody stop me before I buy a robot vacuum cleaner.

Along with my cleaning comes having a glance thru the stash to see what needs to be completed etc. So I've been busy "finishing up" this week. With the exception of my Mystery Shawl Along 3. (I haven't touched it all week long.) I've had good intentions though as I have taken it with me everytime I go out...but it just sits in the knitting bag while I knit something else. Maybe I should take only it and then I would have no choice but to continue on. I'll have to get busy next week and set the timer for 1/2 hour every night. Even then it will take me 28 or 29 days to complete. I must get it finished at all costs as I have gone ahead and ordered the yarn for Mystery Shawl Along 4 from www.bopeepswoolshop.com This one starts in June which gives me plenty of time to finish # 3. I should have been cautious and ordered white or cream yarn..but no I've thrown caution to the wind ordered the color "woodland." If I'm going to knit it I want it to be fun!
www.louet.com/kidlin.htm I understand that this mystery shawl is going to be circular. Nice for wrapping up a baby.

I dug into the container holding "nearly finished" items and came up with this Poinsetta Shawl from Lucy Neatby. I ran out of yarn with about 8 inches of edging to go last August. It took me almost 8 months to get more yarn ordered in. But it finally arrived in late March. I finished it on Friday. It still needs to be blocked but thought I would wait until weather clears up a bit (we are still getting snow!) This is the secnd Poinsetta shawl I've done, this one in "Hair" by Schachenmayr. Its fun to knit and believe it or not this pattern knits up quite quickly. I did the first one in White Douceur de Soie which was beautiful and went to a baby for baptism. Of course this one will end up for my new Grandbaby, due in early November. (Things are pointing to it being a girl, but I'm not confident enough yet to start making anything pink! )

Next, I finished my Rocking SockClub socks from Socks That Rock. They are called "Cedar Creek Socks". As you know I was struggling with the color. And not really liking it at all. It hasn't gotten any better even as I completed both socks. As it turns out I didn't have enough in the skein to finish the second sock and you will see the very tip of the toe with lots of ochre color. Thats a second skein I had to use. Not STR but Nature Spun fingering. Color seems to match OK and you can't really tell when they are on one's feet. Its disappointing as I was really hoping that the skeins would be big enough for size 10's. I actually made the leg part a little shorter than I would usually make it just so I wouldn't run out. I hope I like the next yarn color that comes more. But now that I know the skeins are not big enough for me...I guess I have all my Christmas socks planned for next Christmas. I hope the recipients realize what a NICE gift they are getting! Certainly didn't have enough for the "Baby socks" as I promised my daughter. But I did cast on Lorna Laces sock weight in Bittersweet and started another pair. I was holding this yarn for baby sweater when I found out for sure that the baby was going to be a girl. But wouldn't you know it I got a new sock book in the mail (Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks )and couldn't resist starting a pair. These are the fancy silk sock. True the color "bittersweet" may be a bit too busy for the pattern. But they are fun to knit and the pattern is easy to memorize. I did most of these out walking and didn't have to take the pattern. It's a fantastic color isn't it? Of course, I know only one person who would actually wear these socks in this colorway and that is my young neice, Kelsey. I've asked my sister, Pat, to measure up Kelsey's foot and I'll complete them for her. Of course another very nice gift for a child! I must add that I still prefer Fleece Artist yarn to both the STR and the LL sockweight. (I loved the LL worsted) However in all fairness, I will give the LL another try as perhaps the gauge I had to use for this sock is just looser than I would like on a normal everyday sock. It's on a 2 1/2 mm needle and I usually do socks on 2 or smaller. I did the STR on 2's and liked the gauge. I like my socks tightly knitted.

I found a website the other day that gave me a pattern for a mobias cowl made with one skein of Fleece Artist cashmere. I happen to have a ball of cashmere just waiting to be made into something...so here it is. I really don't know the point of a Mobias other than to say I made one? Maybe I just haven't made enough of them to really understand how great they are. So perhaps this won't be my last. I do have both of Cat Bordi's books on Mobias's and think I may embark on one of the baskets or bowls she offers. I don't know..I hate too much stuff around cluttering up the house. So if I can justify it by having it "hold" something...I'll think about it.

Its Easter in this home and the Easter Bunny has found my stash of Easter Bunny and Chick covers. Can anyone really have too many of these? I think these ones will be going to work with me tomorrow to place on the desks of fellow employees for a little treat! I may whip up a couple more this afternoon...its hard to make just one!

Well that is said and done. I must add that I got to see an Ultra Sound picture of my new Grandbaby. Its a beauty already. 10 1/2 weeks and growing strong. Heartbeat 163 (points to girl!) and moving up a storm. Due date November 5, 2006. Count down is on!

A Month!!!! Yikes

Has it really been over a month since my last update! Yikes! Time does fly when you get older. Well where shall I start.... I guess where I last left off.

My mother received her yoga socks and says they do the job. So that is good. She was good enough to send me a pic so I could check the size etc. I think they look great. Of course I am biased as I absolutely loved working with the Lorna Laces. So much so that I purchased a couple of more balls. This time in "bittersweet" and in the sock weight.

It is lovely and pink isn't it. I don't think that I'll do socks with it though, I think it might turn into baby clothes of some type once the results of the ultrasound come back. NOT MINE! I guess I am getting ahead of myself, but I will be a grandmother in October. I can hardly wait. Of course the moment I heard the news I rushed to the stash and started knitting. This is the results so far. I never wanted to know what sex I was going to deliver however I am dying to know what Lauryn Rebecca will deliver as it will make my color choices much more fun. Since my daughter was visiting I suggested knitting a sweater or some booties but finally opted for a ripple baby blanket, yes it is crochet but its a start right? We have a long way to go. I don't think reality has set in for her yet. Just wait until she hears the heart beat for the first time.

He/She will definately get some luxury baby booties out of this fleece Artist 100% cashmere. It's fantastic. I had four balls, but two became hats and the other eludes me right now.... I'm sure it will turn up.

This Naturally Sensation - (wool and angora) will turn into the Baby Surplice by Elizabeth Zimmermann...soon.
I know these are gorgeous yarns for a baby. But hey it is my first biological grandchild. I remember when I was a new mother I bought all the kids clothes at Zellers etc. because it was inexpensive. However, my mother always sent beautiful things to the kids. Beautifully made and designed stuff. Sleepers, overalls, skirts, blouses and dresses. I loved whenever a box arrived as I knew it was something I could put on my babies and be proud. That is what I am doing for my daughter as well. It is such a good feeling to take your baby to the doctor in cashmere!

This is a picture of Lauryn Rebecca. Can't you just see her in cashmere? I think she is glowing already. Midge (the Pom)loves having Lauryn around as well and seems to prefer going to bed upstairs with lauryn at night instead of with me. Though I must say John and I aren't complaining about that at all. The cats and Sam (the lab) still love us. Unfortunately my daughter has been a little spoiled living down south and can't beleive it isn't summer here yet. I've had the fire lit everyday and her under blankets and in sweaters. And here we (John, Richard and I) were thinking it was beautiful outside. Well at least it isn't winter anymore. Handy have Bex around though as she has been winding my skeins into cakes with the new Swift. (Thanks MOM!) It too, was another lovely gift from my mother and everyone that comes to visit gets to try it. It is fun to use.

I've received my first STR package. Its going a little slowly just because I can't really get into the color. But maybe it will grow on me I made a deal with Rebecca that if she takes the socks I'll make a baby pair to match. Maybe all my STR yarn will go that route. It would be fun. Matching mother/baby socks. Even though I'm not enjoying the color. I like knitting with the yarn. I must say that my favorite still is Fleece Artist sock yarn and the Lorna Laces. But I'll keep you updated on the STR. I still have to try the Koigu. But haven't been anywhere that sells it at this point. I just can't buy my first Koigu off the internet. I MUST SEE colors.

I am still plugging away on my Mystery Shawl. I am actually on the final clue. I figure another 16 to 18 hours of straight knitting and I'll have it completed. So maybe another few weeks. Depending. I have to update my Level 3 First Aid course from the 24 of April to the 9th of May..so I know I won't be doing much knitting during that time. Of course I have to hurry as they'll be another Mystery Shawl starting in June. It will be a round shawl this time, and I'm thinking white for new baby. Round is always good for wrapping a babe. You can see where all my knitting ideas are right now.

I've also got 4 stray balls of Noro which will become a sweater of some sort. Probably toddler size. I may just create my own pattern this time.

And for myself I bought enough Peace Fleece for a simple cardigan. Although I don't know when I'll ever cast on. Once I do though it will go fairly quickly. As it is worsted weight. Something I haven't worked with in a while. I still have the Rogue Hoodie from www.girlfromauntie.com on the needles. I'm doing that in Elann 100% peruvian in a dark purple. And i don't know how many times I've started the cabled sweater for my mother just to decide I didn't like the pattern and started again. I best be careful though as I have been eyeing that red KnitPicks Wool of the Andes for something else...so I best get something started again.

And if that wasn't enough, I guess my 14 y/o was feeling left out and decided he needed a trip to Emergency. Yes here he is with a dime size hole in his skull from triping our his size 13's! (Who knew the skull could fracture so easily?) He has finished all the antibiotics now so perhaps smooth sailing. I'm a little worried over how it is healing. He still may need a trip to the plastic surgeon.

Well I guess thats a start. I am sure there is stuff I forgot. But I can't wait any longer to post. I have to knit. Its been a hectic week.