Mom's Christmas Present 2012

Every year, I always contemplate if I am going to make Christmas presents and every year, I decide at the last minute I want to do so which means scramble knitting for most of November-December.  I've been fortunate in I normally get most of it done. This is the first year I actually didn't finish EVERYTHING in time but part of that is because I fell and messed up my hand pretty bad at beginning of December.  So, I learned if I am going to do Christmas knitting, I should probably start in October. (grin)

A couple of years ago at Maryland Sheep & Wool, I bought some beautiful tonal brown yarn for my mother.    I really loved this yarn and plan to buy more.  It felt like glass going through my hands and the colors are not justified in pictures.  It's Miss Babs Northumbria Fingering BFL (Blue-Faced Leicester, a breed of sheep) in this gorgeous color called Winter Forest. You can find her yarn here:  http://www.missbabs.com/

I had originally thought to make a pair of socks, but after decided this yarn is way way too beautiful and luxurious to be put into a pair of shoes.  I lucked out in finding a gorgeous and easy pattern which would show off the variations in the browns but didn't lack a lovely pattern.  Also, I was a fan of this pattern because it involves a button so it can be worn multiple ways without really trying too hard.  And, honestly, the name attracted me more than anything because it screamed "Yes! I'm great for evening knitting!" 

The pattern I chose is called Lazy Day Shawl by Mary Keenan (ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lazy-day-lace-shawl).  This pattern is very very simple, easy to remember so you don't need to look at the pattern for every row and honestly, would be a great beginner shawl.  It's smaller so you don't need a ton of yarn (I didn't even use a full skein).  I could go on and on but then, I might bore you...

So, that is one project completed in 2012!  

Catch Up!!

Hello my lovely readers!!

I did so well, reading my blogs which I love which triggered lovely thoughts into mine and caused me to rush to my computer to type. However...August proved to be much busier then I originally intended including starting back to school.

School is proving to be easier this time...at least so far. I'm not sure why. I'd like to say it's because I'm older and wiser so things are kicking in quicker....maybe? who knows. It also could be that I know I'm only 5 classes away from actually holding a degree in my capable hands that is kicking me in the butt to finish.

Anyway, so the point is to do a brief catch up!

So the vortex shawl hit the finishing deck at the end of August. It's a beautiful shawl and I surely will be doing another circular one...I already have one marked as favorites in Ravelry. One thing I will say for SURE that I learned is to read the bind off and estimate how much yarn to save back to complete it. I had to redo the bind off 3 times and thankfully, 3rd time was a charm. Yes, I know you want pictures, but I must block it because it really is quite good at rolling itself up.

2nd is that my sister's shawl has gone exceedingly well!! The pattern I picked looked much harder then I found out as I knitted. I will say that part of it was the pattern writer. She did an amazing job. This one will be posted as well!!

Anyway, I can't write too much as I'm procrastinating what I should be working on here anyway, so I must say cheers for now, but pics will follow. :)

Piece, Love and Purl,

Nicole

Vortex Shawl...update

So, my first shawl is coming along swimmingly! I use swimmingly bc it sort of reminds me of deep dark colors of the sea...the colors you don't see until you're further down into the ocean, into the habitats, into the life and depth of something that is still unknown to most of us. Scary ahd hypnotic, yet familiar and serene, because of the amount of beauty which is immersed into you. You're forced to shut everything out, the day to day, the noises, the sounds, which make land so complicated. You look around you and realize these are living creatures which have their own status, lives, deaths, triumphs and failures...they're just as alive as we are and just as blessed but we cannot wrap our heads around this blessing because it is so different from our own...and yet so the same.

I'm sorry where was I? Oh yes, shawl.

Okay, so the shawl is about 50% done. I am totally totally in love with it and cannot be happier with my choice on the first project. I like this project because one, it is very simple pattern, easy to memorize and 2, it is forcing me to learn to make sure to pay attention to repeats, use markers and also really actually READ a pattern.

(I'm definitely a 'skimmer', you know the one's that half read everything and then go back and go 'oh what did i do wrong?' only to realize they skimmed past half the instructions.)

So, I give this shawl 2 thumbs up on beginning circular shawl options. My next task is one I'm hoping to start this week as my sister has decided on her birthday gift. woohoo! another shawl, in the works.



pattern on ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vortex-shawl

Knittin' Knittin' Knittin'...get those needles Knittin'

I have been the worst knitter ever as of late. Not only have I still not finished the socks I started in April, I have only worked on them for about maybe 30 minutes a week since my trip which ended on May 13.

Hello.

I will admit, that I go through phases where I must knit 24/7/365 and then others where I'm like "ugh not tonight". It is usually influenced by the level of hot in my home and while it seemed as though spring would never show up, it's now gone to summer in 1 wk. Record level highs, ozone days, and a/c running all day long.

Have I mentioned I really can't stand summer?

However, I am still working on shawl diligently and am planning my next project to start, which I hope to be for sister or mom so I can use the beautiful yarn I bought at MDS&W. :)

We'll see how far I get!

Do you like to knit in the summer? Do you have a favorite yarn to use? Favorite projects?

First Shawl & Lace weight project

Yesterday I started my first Shawl and Lace weight project. You have no idea how excited I am about this project. I have been jonesin' to start it since February and have made multiple attempts, however this project really does require you to be extremely comfortable with dpn's. Since I hadn't really worked with them for extended periods of time...I had to put it on hold until I became more familiar with them.

Hence, why the starting of socks became such a priority. Now, I love knitting on DPN. Who would've thunk huh?? I'm a huge fan of circulars, don't get me wrong, but now DPN is one less fear on the 'knitting bucket list'.

Anyway, here is the picture for the start. The pattern is called Vortex Shawl and it's by PisceanKnits on ravelry.com.




I've accomplished more on my bucket list this year than I have in the previous 2 years. So happy!! :)

--pulling out hair--

Can anyone think of anything more frustrating than your internet going down for NO reason whatsoever!? Of course, it had to happen the weekend I had planned to update my etsy account and now...nothing. I can barely get online to open up yahoo.com.

What is more frustrating is that we have DSL and they said there is something wrong with our phone line. So what happened between Friday night and Saturday morning which caused a phone line to go bad?! any ideas?! bc I'm super irritated and I need to VENT.

okay I'm done.

A couple of good things happened (all of that aside). I finished my mom's shawl and a scarf for a present. The scarf is smaller than planned so I'll have to make it pretty and wearable with some buttons. yay for buttons! I had planned on posting a picture of my mom's shawl, but alas flickr is down today too. (what is the deal)

My next trick is to start a coffee cup cozie. I think they are super fun but I'm also secretly hoping to give out a couple for christmas. I've got some ideas so I need to write them down so I don't forget them.

Okay I'm going to go get some knitting in for lunch. Enjoy your day!