I RIP - a lot

So mon ami - here is my walk of shame...that's right...I rip - a lot! I get "YOU rip" with this incredulous look. I get the same look when I say I'm taking a class, but that will be another post. I must stick to the "shame"...so here's a brief look...

This is Estonian PotPourrie - it got fragged not once but three times while I was searching for the right fiber....then I found the mistake in block 4 - which even though the picture doesn't reflect it I was on block 10 at the time so - I rippped - collective gasp please!

then there are these mittens - the chart turns out to not be the same stitch as the finished mitten - so I bodgered it and the front looked like the picture - but then I noticed the back was also off - so it sat in a basket for a month - when I realized who the heck was I trying to fool - so I ripped!

Then there's this delightful little sweater/jacket that Brooke designed - that I knew I was never going to be happy with it in this fabric and really I wanted to add some extra ruffles to the back, and lengthen the sleeves with huge bell ruffles at the cuff - so I RIPPED again!

And finally there's this absolutely lovely shawl in my favorite fiber combo (cashmere with a hint of silk) It's Sharon Miller's Print of the Wave...and after completing 7 repeats (tedious but pretty) I notice a "non-recoverable" error and frog back to the first repeat.

So if you're keeping count dear friends I frogged 4 projects (some of them multiple times but who's counting) in the month of May alone! I RIP a lot - so do most of the experienced knitters I know (Hi Brooke)! So knit on, and all that other stuff you tell people in similar straits! Personally I reach for chocolate and knit a quick hat for charity - then I start again.

Legends of the Shetland Seas

Well - it's true I'm a lace tart and my drug of choice is ColourMart Cashmere - which would make me a tart and a fiber snob...

TwinToes came to me exactly one month ago and asked for something fabulous for an auction to benefit Breast Cancer Research at St. Alban's Country Club - stress the fabulous. They were looking for something light and girly and Richard was nice enough to help out by throwing this up on his website...so from the runways of Milan to the shop in the UK to a pattern stop in Wisconsin to the event in Missouri here's what I knitted....

And for the technical stuff -ColourMart 2/28 cashmere -75 grams or approximately 1120 yards
US size 3 needle; Pattern by Hazel Carter - Legends of the Shetland Seas and it took about 3 weeks of work (on and off). Finished dimensions 26 inches by 72 inches blocked. And in case you're interested here are a couple of pictures I took while working.

And just a note - Hazel Carter is really one of my favorite designers! I've had the pleasure of attending a couple of her classes, and what a wicked sense of humor. I will only say that I have seen her in a hand knit Carmen Miranda outfit complete with knitted fruit head dress! Everytime I use one of her patterns I smile from beginning to end! I must say that I always get homesick - because Blackberry Ridge was my LYS...but now it's one of several really great ones here in St. Louis...but there's something about Blackberry Ridge that will remain forever special in my heart.

last photo of the lerwick

So Brooke and Suzi over at the Knittery let me use their dress form to take this picture! Final note to self - when wet blocking something this big call for reinforcements - my back ached for 3 days after this one! Still torn about having substituted the "leg" thing - I think I should have added another half tree to fill up the "hole". Still really digging on the 2/28 cashmere - so much that I went and ordered some of the 2/36 cash silk in lilac, and opal, and meadowlark...Sometimes I really hate Richard! Now if I only had somewhere to wear this really extravagant shawl....the hubby suggests the beastchild's hockey game on Saturday -such a class act!!!

LERWICK DONE!!!!!

I have finally finished my Lerwick by Sharon Miller - YEAH - Happy Dance - Yikers it's big....


So it weighs in at 165 grams - I used ColourMart 2/28 Cashmere - and a size 3 needle. Finished dimensions are 67 inches square - I blocked using a king size bed - and it probably could have been a bit bigger but I was afraid of running out of bed! The color is hard to photograph - but it's actually a dark chocolate brown!

Used the washing technique described on the ColourMart Yahoo List - Washed the first time using Dawn - the water looked pretty Yucky - so I did it again - looked better but not clear yet so then used Pantene and the water finally rinsed clear! Wrapped it in a towel (or three) and stomped the final rinse water out of it and threw it in the dryer (I know I can't believe I did it either) and left it on high for 3 minutes. Loved the results! It's so soft - and the cashmere really bloomed! It's a great pattern - wonderful yarn and a totally fun knit!

Lerwick on the home stretch

I've been working on and off on this shawl since the 1rst of the year (mostly off) and I'm starting to see the end...I've learned alot by working this pattern! First off - it's 4 techniques in one! I ended up going with the mitered corner so of course it took me extra time. Now I'm stuck at the edging. I need to reread the instructions - is there any ease to go around the corners? Until I get going again here's some pictures - cause as Robyn says - I don't care about the words - just the eye candy...

spiderweb with bird's eye insert

wide border

In praise of simple things

This is Babies and Bear's by Cottage Creations and it's sized by using different yarn weights and needle sizes. Here's the joy in it...it has really deep arm holes so it's not a fight to get your little squirmer into it, it has a garter stitch hood which means it's like ribbing and it grows with the baby and it stays on their head, it fits for a long time since it has all that garter stitch near the tummy area and best of all...it's fast! And to date myself - that pattern has been in my arsenal since the boybeast was born - 14 years ago. It is the first thing I ever made him, and I've been making them ever since. It is unisex, comfy, quick and definitely appreciated at baby showers! Since most of my friend are past having babies, but we're too young to be doing the grandma thing I thought I'd make a few for Pat and BRO. Not to mention that I need to use up more of my stash, because I am quickly approaching the new word of the day SABLE - stash acquisition beyond life expectancy!

And just in case you're still wondering about karma...wouldn't you know that I stopped in at the Kirkwood Knittery for Thursday Nite - and she had buttons on sale!!! Not to mention an unannounced 75% OFF the sale bin!

Mystery SOLVED!!!

Well it's finally done - and it's true - I am a one project woman! Can't cope with doing more than one lace piece at a time. I need to develop a new strategy for KAL's. Don't get me wrong - I liked the KAL experience! But in the future I need to hoard the clues and then knit it all at once - with no layovers!!! By the way this thing is big - 75" across the top with 51" on a side! Off it goes to Tulsa to two that need a big ol' Missouri hug! (and just incase you want to know - 2.5 balls of knitpicks shadow - color sunset I got on sale - so you sick six sigma fiends - that's more stash reduction - and reusing size 4 needle!!! TAKE THAT YOU MASTER BLACKBELT - you've been had by a novice!)