Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Flower Basket Shawl

I have only been knitting for just over one year. I adore all the challenges that knitting affords me. I love each and every new technique that I can learn... from cables to lace. This one was my first major lace project. It was my Olympic challenge. I used Mountain Colors, Mountain Goat, 2 skeins in the colorways Silverbow. I loved it so much, I made another. So, here is my second attempt that is hot off the needles as of this morning. It was a stash-buster, using some Sinfonia Omega, 100% cotton that I had on hand. I used 3 1/2 skeins.
Now, to pick my next project...... Making my decision will be a tough one.....seeing all the gorgeous shawls that you all have displayed... drool... drool.....

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Back to My Lace Adamas Shawl



I had to set this aside for just over a week while I whipped out a project for my oldest son. (See my blog http://caffinnascreations.blogspot.com/ for the story.) I was able to get back it to it yesturday and took this picture then. I have finished two more repeats since this was taken. I should have no problem getting the knitting finished by the May 7th deadline, althought the blocking will have to wait until I can go by the LYS to help with it.


UPDATE 4-24-06
Okay it's going to be an Adamas Scarf instead of a fullsized shawl. My grandma's birthday was a week ago today. It would otherwise be almost two months before I could get something made and into the mail to her. Since I had planned to make grandma an Adamas Scarf out of purple lace weight wool, this isn't much of a change. It's Zephyr 50/50% tussah silk/merino wool, so the fabric is more wonderful for a scarf for an 84 yr old woman living near Dallas, Texas who's favorite color just happens to be purple! (I'll still have enought of the zephyr left to make an Adamas Shawl for me as planned!)

Friday, April 07, 2006

Mom's Stole...an update


This is the "Hanging Garden" stole from Knit Picks dot com that I making for my Mom. Rather, it's my progress as of 3 days ago. I have added another 3-4 inches on since then.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Checking In ... One Year Later + Knitting Podcasts

Has it been that long? How embarrassing!

My Russian shawl lace knitting project (see March 21, 2005) went so far ... and then sat. No fun working with that yarn, even as thin as it is, when it is hot or you are traveling and get hysterical thinking about what might happen if a needle got pulled out. The shawl was worked on "some" over Xmas, but it's one of those projects that you just can't "put" down in the middle of a section -- or I can't, anyway.

I set up a great Moleskine gridded notebook written pattern - by sections and rows -- so I can keep up with the different "sections" of the lace pattern. Have found it to be a great help rather than squinting at the copied pattern and wondering where I was. Those Moleskine notebooks are wonderful, and Molsekine fans even have those own website.
http://www.moleskinerie.com/

How do the rest of you keep track of complicated patterns?

Am determined to work on the shawl more: I am on row 107 with about 300 more rows to go. Yikes - sounds like I'll be doing this until WAY old age , but lest you think I'm a total dolt each row has 7 sections to keep track of, and with all those yarn overs not to drop on the row back, it's slow sometimes.

My major problem though is that I love doing a lot of other things when I'm not working. Have "found" podcasts, and have found kntting podcasts to download, so sitting and listening to those will hopefully help me get more kntting done! You can download the podcasts to load to your IPod (even if you have a PC) or you can listen to them on your computer.

Here's one podcast site URL to wet your appetitie (and forgive me if this is old news to this group)
http://www.cast-on.com/

Otherwise, I see you all are very busy knitting beautiful beautiful things. What a talented group of people!
Maryjo

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Appoligies

I appoligize if this is a No No. If it is please feel free to throw countless balls of lace weight yarn at me! (VBG)

I am hosting a KAL for the very lacey "Tissue Tunic". Please check it out and if interested in joining in email me (Caffinna at brightok dot net) for an official invitation. http://tissuetunic.blogspot.com/