Summer dreams produce lovely shaws for the Winter.

Another Madelinetosh luxurious creation. This time I used Madelinetosh Pashmina. I love that yarn so much! In fact, I have loved any Madelinetosh yarn I've used so far and I can see that there's more to try. Oh my goodness! Thankfully, they'll be even more to pick from down at my favorite LYS, Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem.

I had to knit another Summer Mystery Shawlette by Wendy D. Johnson. Only this time I wanted it to be shawl size.  So I cast on 96 more stitches with the colorway Forest and here is my creation ...

I call it Summer Dream Shawl and you can see more pictures on Ravelry.
It felt so good to put on that I had to wear it going out to my DH's birthday dinner at a fine restaurant.

It suited the occasion wonderfully!

The lure of knitted lace ...

Is there joy in knitting lace? Will the process of working magic with yarn overs and ssk or k2tog to create what looks like a complex design or perhaps the end results after the blocking process is complete put a smile on your face? Is there a song in your heart when you knit lace? Perhaps the look on my face is the answer to those questions.



Does it call to you as it does me?

As you see, I just completed the largest shawl I've ever knit. It's called the Lotus Blossom by Dorothy Siemens and from Fiddlesticks Knitting. A beautiful well designed and written pattern.

Something for the Holidays ... for ME!

Of course part of the joy comes from the fact that I knit it for myself. A gift to the StitchingNut, I guess you could say. Oh how I love it. But the real enjoyment all started with the casting on and the process of knitting the lace. Seriously ... it really was.



It starts very small at the neckline and grows as you go with every other row increasing 4 more stitches. Although, I can't knit a project like this and visit with family or friends while I do it. It becomes all consuming. Each right side row became a row of concentration while the wrong side row was a few minutes of meditation or reflection. That's why I limited my time on Blogging or Facebook comments for the past few weeks. I was deeply involved ...



That's right ... involved with my knitting. As I finished each row and moved up my marker tape to the next row on the chart [there are 6 charts for this pattern] I got more excited each time.



The excitement to getting to the finish line was there but,
it was also in the details ...



The stems lead to the Lotus flower and petals at the bottom and the anticipation grew as I completed each one. It got so that I didn't want to do anything else. No housework kept me away for very long. No chore remained in my way. Dinner was quickly planned, cooked and eaten while the lure of lace called to me each day.



Until finally I got to the Cast Off ... and then I had to stop and practice on scrap yarn a new process I had never done before. The bobble ball cast off was a threat to the final results of this lace that called to me for 3 weeks. Was I going to be able to do it? Even though I had my doubts ... and I took ALL day to complete it ...



Whew, I succeeded!! I now have a lovely, soft, warm and glorious shawl for the Holidays.



Can you tell I'm pleased as punch with myself?

Holes in my knitting ...

are showing up in everything these days.

I still haven't got the pictures of my last two scarves out of the old camera, but here's a hint of what just came off my needles. [Pictures taken with my new camera actually]

It's a swatch for the Mystic Ice KAL that's starting on November 17.



And on my needles right now?



The Juliet Scarf by Louisa Harding. That's yummy yarn there ... specs to come when I'm finished.

This weekend I might even finish the Mystic Meadows Stole still sitting on my dining room table ...



Do you think I might finish at least one or two lace projects this weekend?

Why not, huh?
Not that I don't have Christmas gifts still to make but ...

I've got plenty of time to get back to my Christmas knitting don't I?

Into ... Lace big time!

No doubt you're wondering about the Mystic Meadows Stole that I've been working on all Summer. Right? Did you think it's been hibernating? Well it isn't in a basket marinading at all. It's right on my dinning room table getting 2 to 4 rows knit on at a time sometimes. But last Saturday and Sunday I mainly knit on it to get somewhat caught up. [edited to add: And I accomplished more than usual simply because I listened to one of those books on CD's. Which one? Why The Lace Reader, of course!] Well ... I now actually have 4 pages of Charts left. At this rate tho, it's going to take me another 2 or 3 weeks to complete. Good thing I don't plan to put on a dinner party anytime soon.

I'm trying really hard not to start another one until it's finished. Swatches don't count do they? So I signed up for two more lace knitting KALs and finally did some swatches. The Mystery Stole 4 KAL has already started and I'm feeling the pressure to get working on it ... especially since I've got the yarn, beads and swatched for needle size. Size 6 was used and I liked it. No need to do another one right.





Yup, I like the flow of the fabric. So I'm itching to start.

Oh there's another KAL also. The Mystic Earth Stole. I've swatched on size 6 and size 5 Addi Lace needles. But I can hardly notice a difference. I might try size 4. This Colourmart Cashmere is a very fine lace weight. Light and airy. What do you think? Should I do another swatch?





And I'm planning to knit more lace when these are done I guess ... because ... well, take a peek at what I got in the mail ...

Knitting Lace Triangles.


Guess I don't have ENOUGH to do yet, huh?

Slow but Sure ... my lace will bloom.

Clue one is done!

Not only socks are taking over my life right now.
So here is 118 rows of magic.



I'm in love with the magic of Lace!

But I do have a lot of sock knitting to do and this was ...

Only a brief Intermission.

Want to see more? Sure you do.

Now it's time to go do some real serious knitting ...

Coming into the Home Stretch ...

Finished Clue 6 on the MS3 Swan Lake stole TODAY. Now I start Clue 7. The last clue. The last 42 rows before binding off. Then the magic part of knitting lace begins. I get to block it. I am so excited ...

I want to finish it this weekend!

What's the best way to spend a day in 100 degree weather? ...
Why, at home in Centeral AC knitting of course.

So I'm off to knit the day away, Kids!

Sister, Sister ...

"And why are you taking a crooked picture, Rhonda?" "'Cause I think it's Artful" ... " And makes you look as silly as me, hehe."

This weekend was dedicated to visiting my sister, Lori from Florida. I only had 1 & 1/2 days with her, so needless to say, knitting didn't get done. I did have a good time and lots of laughs with my favorite sister. She's 13 years younger than me and the youngest of 5 of my sisters. Yup, I'm the oldest of 6 girls. Two boys did come along eventually when I was 16 and 21. But the two that I took care of were Lori and the first of my brothers, Arthur. That is until I left home when I was around 19. Lori's my favorite. Shouldn't have favorites I know, but I do. Doesn't mean I don't love the others tho. But Lori is just special to me.

Lori wanted to learn to embroider, so I started her out on the basics. She has a couple of good books to guide her now, so she can continue to learn on her own as well. But she was learning fast and I had her doing as much as she could do in one day. Before you know it ... I'll get an embroidered gift from her for Christmas. Right?

And see that little teapot in front of us? Well in our travels around Salem's shops it was found. [Ya, we found time to shop too!] Since I like teapots and bunnies remind Lori of me and Iris' are her signature flower she bought it for me so that when I have tea in it I'll be reminded of our good time together. We enjoyed "Lemon Tree Green Tea" from New Civilitea while we worked. [Hey look at the Stitchingnut, Rhonda -- what a HAM!]

And I can't forget about the teapot my Mom sent up to me from Florida with Lori. Isn't this beautiful? It sits right on top of a big cup and is just right for 2 cups of tea for just me. LOL, do you think she's trying to guarantee that I felt up a tea cozy for her? She did mention it was on her "wish list" for Christmas. M-m-m-m


I won't talk about the knitting I had planned on doing this weekend but I will show you a few things I got that is related to either sheep ... or knitting. Ha, the first one is a purchase I make on the Etsy Shop Greenwillow Crafts. Little Mini microwave potholders. I think they're a nice idea. So one pair is at home (the cherries) by my microwave and the other (sheep) is at work by my microwave for removing those reheated coffees, hot soups, or Smart Ones or Kashi TV dinners cooked up for lunch. Keeps my fingers from getting burned.

Then from Paradise Fibers, I got this Euroflax Linen Yarn to make the pullover shell pattern in the picture. I want to loose more weight tho and will probably wait to knit it up for next Summer. After all ...

There's so much more knitting to do. How about the fact that I've now fallen in love with LACE? Am I crazy or what? Look at the beautiful lace yarn I got from The Loopy Ewe. This is Lane Borgosesia Cashwool. Made of 100% Extra Fine Merino and inexpensive but SO soft, it's unbelievable! Now I'm thinking Christmas gifts here. But is it THIS Christmas I'm considering or NEXT Christmas? LOL, I'm a glutton for punishment if I think it's going to be this Christmas. After all, I'm also preparing for my next lace project after the Mystery Stole 3 ... and it's using Kid Silk Haze.


The pattern is from this book, Victorian Lace Today. What a beautiful book this is. Even my DH thumbed threw it and pointed out the beautiful scarves, shawls, and stoles in there.


So which one am I planning to undertake with the Kid Silk?

How about this one?

Yah, I know ... I'm the Nut around here!