Sunday, boring Sunday

I am happy to report that the shawl was given to it's recipient and she seemed thrilled. I am very glad that it will now live it's life with someone who can love and appreciate it, as I am happy to see it go. Here is the parting pic:

Pattern: Leaf Lace Shawl by Fibertrends (large lace weight version)
Yarn: Knitpicks Gossamer in Sweat Peas
Needles: Clover bamboo size 5 circular

This pattern was good to learn lace on, but after the first gazillion repeats, I got it, and the two additional gazillion repeats were a chore. My next lace project will have to be more interesting to keep me interested. I probably won't do anymore shawls, unless they are gifts,because shawls make me look like a hoooouse. Maybe a rectangle would be better??

Next up I have three, count'em three projects going on at once. First I am making the seamless yoked baby sweater for my cousin who is due to have a girl on May 31st. I just have one arm left to go...In this pattern, you do the yoke, fronts and back all in one piece, then pick up the stitches around the arms and finish them with dpns. My tension is obviously different with the dpns...I hope that a good soaking and steaming will help make it less noticeable. But it is an adorable pattern, and I think the next time I make it I will somehow encorporate little pearly beads in the detailing.

I am also crocheting a blanket, but it's too early to show any meaningful progress. that will be my commuting project. Lastly, I have my first sets of socks for my Warm Feet Warm Hearts project. I ordered some perfect yarn from Knitpicks and I am excited to get started. I also ordered a Denise Needle set. I assumed it came with small needle sizes but the smallest size that is included is a 5. Oh well, maybe I should have bought the Needlemaster set instead?

Wow, this is a terribly boring post. Well there's not much exciting going on over here...The adoption process is at a slow but steady pace, but nothing major happening just yet. The weekend here was awesome, I got to plant some pansies in the yard today, but it's still too cold for anything else. Alright that's enough of putting you to sleep, gotta go watch Grey's Anatomy. Didja know Meredith is knitting a sweater? And how funny is it that the hunky vet is the kid from Scent of a Woman?? He's growd up purty nicely I'd say....

Shawl is Done!!

Okay so first of all, StatCounter tells me someone actually got to my blog by searching "K2, gold teeth". Ya think they were disappointed when they got here??

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for some relatively inexpensive sock yarn, but still of decent quality, please let me know. I'm gearing up for my sock project (see Warm Feet, Warm Hearts on the sidebar) and I'm thinking about materials to use.

My goodness the stupid shawl is done. I had to block it over 3 times, what a nightmare. I thought I could use this sturdy floral wire for blocking but it started bending all over the place. I also started doing it on my king size bed, but it's too high and I couldn't get to all the sections easily and then I started to sweat. So I decided to put it on the foam floor blocks I have - greatest thing ever by the way....So here's the picture...I don't know what happened, it's not long enough...it's supposed to be 45" deep and it's only like 32" or so. I don't know what the problem is, other than I didn't do a guage swatch, maybe that's it (YA THINK?). It should still be okay though, right? The recipient isn't a knitter, so she won't really know what it's supposed to look like. I am so glad it is finally done! I have one and half hanks of this yarn left, not sure what to do with it...I don't think I would make another shawl...but a lace scarf for myself might be nice.




And I have a question - I really want to make a booga bag...not only because they are cool, but because I never held an actual skein of Noro (how do they not revoke my knitting license you ask? I don't know!). Is it legal to use a knit bag during the spring and summer? Or should I just knit it and save it for the fall/winter. Thoughts?

Got sock yarn?

Check out this crazy idea I had:

Warm feet, Warm Hearts

Happy Easta!

Here is my horoscope for today:

Cancer
Sometimes the most significant changes start from the most seemingly insignificant events. It's a good time to pay attention to your intentions as well as your actions. Life-altering events are in the making.

Hmmm..sounds promising, huh? I wonder if these life-altering events involve yarn? Well I was thinking of joining Secret Pal 8 (my first real SP)...maybe it's my destiny!

Anyhoo...
I am almost. done. with the. stupid. shawl. I have resorted to taking it with me on the train to and from work. I only have the edging to go now...or again, I should say.. I was halfway through it when I decided to actually look at what I was knitting and it was all off with gapey holes and mutant motifs...not exactly ideal for gift giving. I hope that when I am done I will have the grace to wrap it nicely and hand it to it's recipient with a big smile....right now I'm thinking about plopping it on her lap and saying "Here! Good Riddance!"

I have one Hot Tamale sock done and I have a serious case of single sock syndrome. They are a little on the thick side, so I probably won't really wear them until the fall. Plus I need to get moving on my cousin's baby gift ...She's due at the end of May. I am still deciding what to make...I need something cute and relatively quick...usually those two things are hard to come by because cute is usually complicated.

I am also planning to put together a little project to knit socks for newly adopted babies. More to come on that later once I've thought it through a little more. But if you have any unloved sock yarn, keep it handy....

I'm finally over getting sick..that really sucked. Seems like every blog I read lately, the author is sick...like we're spreading germs through our comments or something. Anyone read "Cell" by Stephen King? Creepy. Been watching alot of TV too. I am really into "The Office". But let me preface that by saying I can't stand Michael. He is stupid and predictable. But I am in love with Jim, and I want him and Pam to hook up so bad. His sarcasm and blank faces have me cracking up! And American Idol...is it just me or does it kind of stink this year? I really liked Chris, but he is starting to sound the same every week. Same with Elliot. Taylor lost his mojo or something. Kelly is so annoying I want to pinch her. Ace needs a good hair washing.

Other than that, just trying to get through this very quiet Good Friday (ever notice how it's always rainy and overcast? EVERY YEAR. It's kind of creepy). Happy Easta everyone (NY accent). I hope everyone takes a few minutes to think about this time of year...Lent, Easter, Spring...what does rebirth and new beginnings mean to you? Right now it means I gotta mosey over to the yarn store (I work right next to one how dangerous is that) and get me some springy green yarn for some baby socks!