They're Coming!

Hey! Are you ready?! They're coming! Tuxedo Kitty! Can you see them?!
"I can see everything from my post! What's coming? If it's Rocky and Adrienne Raccoon, I'm outta here! Who you calling a gargoyle?!"

The spider has spun his web for big event... we're all anxiously awaiting their arrival!

What?! You thought I was talking about Trick-or-Treaters?! LOL! HAHAH!
Okay, they're coming too...

I'm talking about my PACKAGES full of YARNY GOODNESS from lands far, far away!
My credit card is smoking!! Can't wait!! Are they here yet?!

In the meantime,

Honeybee is off the needles awaiting blocking. Wooly decided it's not for me after all, but for his mother for Christmas. Yep! It's NOT all about me... AGAIN!

Fulmar - I still enjoy seeing the cables develop and am on the 6th repeat. I'm thinking of stopping at 8 repeats.

Think Pink! I started something that's pink, lacy and shiny. We will talk about that when I have something to show. Don't you hate it when designers don't name their creations?! What's up with that?! Guess I'll have to name it!

Happy Halloween! They're coming! m :)

Let it Bee

Tuxedo Kitty with green eyes,

How I would love to make you mine!

"Let me be! I'm wild and free!"

Quick! Take a picture of me!" This is Tuxedo Kitty, aka Two Socks, aka Smudge. He's a feral cat that hangs out in our backyard. I worry about him and always look for him. Isn't he cute?

Honey Bee is on the needles.

I should have the first half done tonight. I've heard it said that making this is 'acrobatic.' That's a nice word to use! I find myself holding my breath, especially on the last section (bee & honeycomb). I ask you, how healthy is that? No oxygen to the brain! No wonder I'm feeling irritated while working on it! (Or is it because I'm still not over Unst knocking me down?) I'm making it into a scarf. I need a scarf. It's getting windy and cold outside. Poor Tuxedo Kitty!

What will be, will be...
Fulmar is slowing growing. I'm at 2 repeats = 8.25" or 21cm. I'm 5'2" (short) and planning on having it hip length. It's interesting to see what others in the group are doing! Great help too!

I'm going to start a Fair Isle sweater after the scarf is done. I'm not sure which one, but no more acrobatics for me... or purling... or YO's! I want to be able to see what I creating - instant gratification please!

Be kind to your furry friends... stay warm... and remember to breathe! m :)

Yarn NOW!

My yarn finally arrived! YAY! I hugged one ball, then handed it over to Wooly who sniffed it, twisted a strand through his fingers, and said, "Gansey... true navy... nice hard twist to this yarn... it will make a fabulous sweater!" Then casually turned back to his computer. I walked away grinning... yep, this is why I love him! :)

So here it is! Scottish Fleet 5 ply gansey in Navy from Virtual Yarns
For what you ask? I'm making Fulmar! Thanks to Brigitte and Lorri, I joined the Fulmar KAL! This is my first KAL and I'm so excited! I got a late start since I was waiting for my yarn, but that's okay, I'm not in a hurry.

I'm making the small size. I used 2.5mm for the rib, increasing on row 32 because I think it makes for an even rib design. Changed to 3mm for the pattern and am at row 4. Yes, the pattern doesn't line up with the rib, but I figure the rib is it's own pattern, so it doesn't bother me. I wish you could see this in person, the photo doesn't do it justice. I'm thinking this will be the female equivalent of O'Shaughnessy - my favorite male Aran - see previous post.

Okay, I'm off to do a few more rows! I want to see the cables develop!

May all your projects be in gauge! m :)

Egan

Egan - Clan Aran

Irish Ewe Aran - Nep - Wool

4mm (us5) & 5mm (us7) Denise Circular Needles

For Wooly

Wooly requested that the neck be the satin stitch roll to compliment the nautical theme - Crab Stitch Cable and Trinity Stitch which looks like barnacles. I changed the Long Cable (10 sts) to 'cross' on the 7th of 12 rows, instead of the 1st, so it wouldn't bulk at the rib.

He loves it because it's warm and lumpy bumpy. He wanted it noted that photos add 50 pounds and that he's starting his diet immediately. LOL! ;)

Other Clan Arans I have made him include:

Mahoney

Clan Aran's yarn

This one was made from the kit. We love their yarn - thick & soft!

O'Shaughnessey - Jamieson's Aran in Navy

I did this one with the satin stitch roll neck too. This one is still my all time favorite!

Now that we're done with Egan, it's back to being all about me... until Wooly decides to order again. Did I mention he has his own yarn stash?! He needs to learn how to knit...!

Happy Knitting! Hope you're knitting for yourself! :)

Blue Blob Blunder

Kamati is showing you his tail, because this is the end of Unst.

Remember how many obstacles I faced throughout this project? and how I overcame them all and continued on? If I only stopped and asked myself, "WHY?!" I would have figured out that I bought lace weight instead of cobweb, therefore WHY I was having tension problems and ultimately ran out of yarn! I realized I was using lace weight after I completed the first edge corner and felt sick! I kept thinking I didn't have enough yarn and noticed there was no more for sale! Then I read 'lace weight' and thought, "WHAT? NO WAY!"

I kept going and told Wooly who was more upset than me until I used the term "horse blanket" because I held it up and it's huge. He laughed so hard he had a "flip back head", you know, like a PEZ! I wish I had taken a picture! Then I told my friend Tracy at work, who also laughed then said, "Hello! You're too big friend the horse is here! Give it to ME! Okay, then you have to show it to me!" She thinks it's really cool, but I'm not giving it to her since it's not perfect or finished.

I learned that weight matters. What bothers me the most is that I didn't listen to all the signs the universe was throwing at me! Usually, I'm very aware of feelings and signs. I think I was caught up in knitting something heirloom, therefore, very cool in my mind. I spent 8 weeks on this lesson, which was well learned!

There's no crying... lots of self loathing! but, no crying! I'll make a perfect one someday in cobweb! Now it's a challenge! Can I get those 8 weeks back?! ;)

Check the weight! Knit a swatch! Check your gauge! Knit on! :)

Trinity - hurts my hand

What do you think of when you hear ' Trinity?'

Holy Trinity - Father, Son & Holy Ghost?
Celtic Trinity - Earth, Water & Air?
Cooking Trinity - Onion, Celery & Bell Pepper?
Trinity Stitch - aka: Blackberry Stitch?

I'm talking about the Stitch. Making 3 out of 1 stitch and purling 3tog is hurting my hand. Egan's center panel is solid Trinity. I figured out how to lessen the pain. I use my crochet hook to make the 3rd knit stitch for the M3, and slip 1, P2tog, psso for the P3tog! Yay! :)

Wooly inspecting: "Moss.. Cable.. Crab.. *sniffs yarn*.. Cable.. Trinity.. *sniff* Yo! Is this the front or the back? Right! It doesn't matter?! The back?! Right! *snifffff* " I like the Crab Stitch. I thought those cables flanking it we're ugly/boring, but I see how it helps the design element. I love the yarn. Those flecks are navy. The knitting pops!
Kamati inspecting: "Looks like a salt-lick wall! *sniff* Is this what a sheep smells like? I'm glad I'm not a sheep! *lick* Definitely, not a salt-lick! Okay! I'm not licking!"
I decreased for the set in sleeve. It's fun using US7 and Aran yarn! Lots of gratification and feeling like I'm making progress! I forgot how fun this is!

Next time we will talk about 'blue blob' and how I'm feeling about that.
Happy Knitting!

Alpine

Alpine Scarf

Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby

Zephyr lace weight - violet - 50% merino & 50% silk

US2 or 3mm Turbo Addis (circular)

60" x 18" finished size

Made for Poohla

This was a full time love-hate relationship. I'm so glad I finished it and that it blocked beautifully! But still can't wait to give it to Poohla and get it out of the house.
Note to self: You do NOT like to P2tog, YO or YO P2tog! It occured on ALL even row for Alpine and I have a bad feeling that it's part of the pattern for most of the non-heirloom knitting lace patterns you have. You need to get over it fast!