KNITTING PROJECTS

Two projects on the needles--February Lady Sweater worked in handspun CrossPatch Lemon/Lime. The picture is very fuzzy and does not do much for the work, but the color/texture is very nice at least in the garter stitch part. When I get to the lace body it may be another matter. Right now I am enjoying watching it develop. It is also the perfect project to drag along to knit groups as it is fairly mindless.

My other project is an alpaca scarf by Ann Hanson. She calls this one Alhambra and the yarn is from an indy dyer Dicentra (sp?) in her Calendual colorway. It is not a difficult pattern but requires simple counting on every row and at times is too much for my limited brain. It isn't going to be a very large scarf. The pattern called for 350 yards and I have 500 that I will knit up. A note on the pattern said that this would require vigorous blocking which I hope will help correct the various sizes of holes and make them more uniform.

LAST DAY OF SPRING FOR ME

It was a gorgeous Easter afternoon here. My sister hosted a lovely luncheon and egg hunt with family and friends. The temperature was in the low 90's and the sky clear and blue. Did I remember the camera to take pictures of the lovely Zora in her pretty pink Easter frock--not I. I will probably lose my card in the Grandma club. This was her first intro to candy and am sure that it will not be her last. They were able to spend most of the afternoon with us before heading off to his family's gathering.

Pictures of the finally finished shrug and jacket, note the buttons from Shelia Ernst. The Shrug was knit in handspun CrossPatch in a pattern from Garter Belt Designs and the jacket is my take on the Sally Melville Faith Jacket. I forgot the Noro scarf also recently finished. Next time.

The thornless rose is in full bloom and lovely. This year it has the nicest fragrance something I don't remember from years past. By the time I return from the freezing wilds of Minneapolis it will not be as lovely and I am sorry to miss it. Even though this is a work trip and these conferences are always major work it will be nice to escape reality here (which has been much too real) and hopefully forget things for the week. It is scheduled to snow while I am there so maybe the brain will freeze enough to cause amnesia.

NOT MUCH LONGER

Pal Janel Laidman's book is almost here! As a devoted member of the now finished Sock Club I am anxious to see the book as well. I knit most of the patterns and they were fun, lovely and fit well but did miss a couple that I hope to pick up in the book. No exact publication date as yet but I will keep checking.

On the knitting front I have finished two big projects but haven't been home in the daylight to take pictures (those new energy saving bulbs cast such a yellow light). I finished the shrug that was knit out of handspun CrossPatch and trimmed with lovely glass buttons from Shelia Ernst and (a big TA-DAH) my version of Sally Melville's Faith Jacket done in Noro. Pictures to be forthcoming!

FAR BEHIND BUT FORAGING AHEAD ANYWAY

No new FO's for the year since the last post but lots on the needles to report.

Discovered a yarn vendor just up the street who has good prices on cashmere yarn. I purchased some lovely teal two-ply last month and have finally started the Starlight Shawl. The yarn is soft and luscious and the pattern within reason. I hope to persevere and have this finished by June for Lace in the Woods since the designer is one of the scheduled teachers.

The second item on the needles in a shrug from Garter Belt Knitting that like the cashmere was a Ravelry discovery. This is being knit up in some handspun, my first attempt with CrossPatch and maybe the first spun totally on my then new Fricke wheel. It has a plain body and some lovely lacy sleeves adapted from a Barbara Walker pattern.

The last project on the needles is one of last summer's STR and is mentioned only to keep me OT with my New Year's resolutions of finishing the UFO's. I have managed to keep the exercise resolution going, only missed three days last month and have stepped it up this month, so hope for the same success with the UFO's.

Finally the best is that it is almost D-day for Madrona. Just one day at work this week and I am a free woman. We arrive early enough in the day before the conference starts that I hope to make it to the glass bridge and the glass museum. Other than that I will be spending my days immersed in fiber. I am beside myself!

SPINNING FOR SANITY

This is the first batch of 28 ounces of Crosspatch Lemon and Lime that I am spinning up for a weaving project. I have some tencel in colors from this yarn to warp the loom with and plan to do a three panel ruana. Right now it's still in my head and needs to progress to sketching and planning the warp. I would like to use the week that I will have off between Christmas and New Year's to get this on the loom but good intentions...

This is also my project to get used to the Joy which I am liking with the exception of the hooks. My Fricke, which I really have to try and sell this year, has a Wooly Winder and the Lendrum a slider bar both of which are much nicer to use than the hook system. All I need is some more practice and time and I am sure that I will get used to them.

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY

After almost reducing the Lendrum to kindling this summer while traveling I decided that a wheel that could travel was a must. When I saw the ad on Ravelry for an Ashford DT knew that the time was right. I can't take pictures of the actual beauty due to some camera battery issues, but the likeness is the same. She arrived in perfect condition due to the excellent packing of her previous owner "Bluejinx" and spins nicely. I had never spun on a Joy before and was a bit nervous but the transition is very smooth. I managed to fill a bobbin with the pictured crosspatch lemon and lime colorway that I purchased from Nancy at the Handweaver's sale last Sunday. The big problem now is that all I want to do is sit and spin and there are things such as work, chores, and Christmas knitting that require my attention. Oh to be retired and have time that is actually my own! I can hardly wait until the One City/One Glendale program is finally over next week and there is more time to breathe.