Yes ... Another shawl!!

I can't resist a really nice yarn or a really nice shawl pattern ...



This pattern is the Stacy Shawl by Wendy D. Johnson from her new book "Wendy Knits Lace." It's a wonderful book and I highly recommend it to either new lace knitters or experienced ones. I already have the book because the publisher asked me to write a review. I first knit a couple of projects so I can get the feel of the way the patterns are written. In this case, I am very very happy with all aspects of this book. I'm working on the review now and I'm giving Wendy high marks on this one. There's at least a half dozen more knits in this book I want to do!

This shawlette was a pleasure to knit and only took 6 days including the day & a half to do the knitted on boarder. Another day to block ... and I'm "In Love" once again.

Just look at the detail. Of course, I had a lovely yarn to work with too ... Dream in Color Everlasting.



The next picture shows a closer likeness to what this color looks like in person ...



From the same book, I also knit up the lace cowl that is easy enough for a beginner lace knitter to do ... and came out so lovely using the Madeline Tosh DK yarn.





So what's next ... more lace?? You bet!!

Baby needs a blanket ... Updated

Modification made ...

Note: a few days after blocking the baby blanket the boarder started to curl again so I did a crochet crab stitch edge. I like it better and it gives the edge a little more weight.

A Slip Stitch Baby Blanket

Pattern:

Slip Stitch Blanket by Linda Medina Craft
Needle size used: US 7 - 4.5 mm

Yarn:
Cascade Yarns Pacific

How much?
3 skeins = 639.0 yards (584.3m)

Colorway: beige

and 1 skein each:
Yellow

Orange

Turquoise

Purchased at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem, Massachusetts

I was worried about the curling in the border at the beginning but DON’t worry, it does block out in the end. Although, the borders aren’t as nice & thick as the rest of the blanket so if I do this one again I think I’d double up on the yarn for the border and just drop the extra strand when continuing on the body of the blanket, reattach for the end borders.

It felt like it was taking me FOREVER to finish this blanket but it was very easy and has a nice feel to it.

Okay, I'm just an "Instant Gratification" kind of person and anything that takes more than 2 weeks to knit doesn't fall in that catagory of "instant".

But happy!

My Seaweed on the Beach is finished ...

It's a shawlette rather than a full size shawl because I used fingering weight yarn instead of lace weight and didn't change the size of the needle because I wanted the shawlette size and fingered this is how I could do it. Then I discovered that I loved this pattern called StellaLuna so much, I've decided I want to make it full size in a lace weight yarn as well. Can't say I repeat too many patterns more than once but on occasion I come across one that I will (such as the Budding Shawlette and the Boneyard).

Of course the yarn I used for the Seaweed has something to do with how much I love this little shawl ...







Something about the color appeals to me as well ... hence the name,
Seaweed on the Beach. And that's with a smile on my face ...

Knitting with seaweed ...

The beads are pale blue ... like water droplets. The yarn is the color of sun bleached seaweed on the beach. It might be the Stella Luna pattern but I think I'll call it ...

"Seaweed on the Beach". Why I might even take it down to the beach with me today.


That's right ... take it with me and get a little sand in it!!

Has it been a week already? Two??

My how time flies when you're knitting up a storm or doing ... yard work!

Now that Summer is here if it isn't raining I'm mowing the lawn, edging, weeding, and trimming evergreens and hedges. It's never ending ...BUT, I do get some knitting in there. Even a little crochet!

So I finished a Red, White and Blue Garland for Seed Stitch's Fourth of July window display. I have it here in my living room before I took it down to Courtney.
They're crocheted and the details on Ravelry.

I also went to the baby shower and brought the gift I showed you last time. The Mom was delighted! Her reaction was well worth all the work put into it. But of course, us knitters love giving away our stuff anyway don't we? I know I do.



Her Mother-in-law told me that at this point the mother-to-be was trying to hold back the tears and said to her "Oh my, this is something really special."

This baby will probably get more knitty gifts from me I bet.

And then I finished the month up with another shawl ...



Once again you should be on Ravelry and that's where you'll find the knitting details.





I'm still not quite sure if I'll keep it or give it as a gift.



But there's plenty of time for me to decide.

And now that I see these pictures ... I see I really need a haircut!

A Nautical Theme for a baby ...

Finished and ready for a baby shower.

I tried to use every bit of the yarn up that I could. Not my original plan but I just kept adding to it. So of course there has to be booties.


A hat of course.


And before you ask about the book ... well the guests invited to the shower had been asked to each bring a book since the Mom is a school teacher and believes in reading to children every day. (which I agree with) So we're starting her out with her baby's first books. Of course I looked for something about knitting!!

Yes, there's a sweater ...


With buttons that go with the nautical theme ...


You see, Mom & Dad don't want to know if their baby is a boy or girl until after he/she is born. So they're decorating in Navy blue and Pink whales since they live only a few streets from the ocean. I love pink whales!

Here's the blanket that started it all ...


No you're not seeing things either. There's a little more pink left over to make a toy ...


A pink whale!!

What a fun set it was to knit.


I used Cascade Ultra Pima for the yarn and all the details are on my Ravelry pages if you want to know what patterns I used.



Now I'm on to other things ...

Another shawl anyone??

And the magic has happened ...

my spaghetti knitting has turned into a Summit Summer Wrap.



Here are the pertinent details ...

Name: Summit Summer Wrap

Pattern : Summit by Mandie Harrington

Needle: US 4 - 3.5 mm

Yarn: Lion Brand LB 1878
In my Stash: 2045.0 yards in stash on a Spool skein

How much used? 0.5 skeins = 1022.5 yards (935.0m)

Colorway: natural white

Purchased at: Amazon.com

Started April 14 2011

Completed May 31 2011
Measurement: 29” x 68”

No modifications were made except I did do 17 repeats of the right + left curves instead of 13 sets.

It was worth the long wait of a month and a half. Oh ya, it wasn't difficult but a lot of faithful daily knitting went into it. But from the moment I picked this up from the blocking board I was ...

"In Love".

I am so ready ....

to rest my feet after a busy Memorial Day Weekend.

Believe me, my youngest grand daughter, JD kept me on my feet most of the time.






And of course she was a big help with my garden.

But now I am really ...

ready to put the spaghetti on the blocking board!


Now which shawl should I finish next?

Building Blocks for Baby ...

In Blanket form.

Using Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton. Such light, soft, cool yarn!!

Now that the squares are knit it's time to block. And if I can get this done soon, maybe I'll also get one shawl done for the month of May. The spaghetti I'm knitting comes to mind. But I'm only half way done and it needs to be at least 64" long.

We'll see. Another baby gift to cast on soon also. But I need SOCKS!!!

Just not enough time in a day wouldn't you say?

Did you know about this drawing below?

From AllFreeKnitting:


Enter to win a Ch'i Recycled Silk Ribbon Kimono Jacket Kit
at
http://www.allfreeknitting.com/sweeps/chi-recycled-silk-ribbon-kimono-jacket-kit-s-l

I want all of my friends to enter!