One

There was a plan to knit a shawl for someone.  I went through the stash.  I considered options, and finally it was the color that called to me.  After that, I searched through patterns on Ravelry, and the pattern I settled on Echo Flowers Shawl.  It had even been in my queue for a bit.  I had not been knitting for very long before I realized that the shawl I was knitting should actually go to someone else.  One evening I was knitting along and admiring the color, when my thoughts turned to my cousin.  She is getting married next month, and one of her colors for her wedding is teal.  From that moment, I knew that this shawl was meant for her.  So, I knit on, thinking good things for her and her wedding and this new chapter in her life.  My cousin has had a different and challenging life, and I have such hopes for her.  It is her turn for some good things.  

Anyway, back to the knitting.  When it came time for the nupps, I decided to substitute beads, and I am really pleased with the decision for a couple of reasons.  First, it looks so lovely.  I used the leftover beads from my Celestarium.  Second, when I finished binding off, I guessed that I would have run short if I had worked the nupps.  I only had a little bit of yarn left, and if I had worked the nupps, I might have run short.  So, it would seem it was the right decision.  Of course, once the shawl was off the needles, I was concerned that it would be a bit small, but it blocked out beautifully, and I feel like it is a nice size.  Now I just need to get an address, and then get it in the post.  

Echo Flowers Shawl (had trouble capturing true color)

 

Guidance from the Groundhog

Happy Groundhog Day!  Yeah, so that was yesterday, but considering how far out of everything I have been, one day late is practically early around here.  Anyway, my enjoyment of Groundhog Day is ignored tolerated legendary, and people look to The Groundhog and the stars for predictions of the future, so it seems like the time is right to show this.  

 
Yep, I completed my Celestarium, and it is wonderful.  I finished it last month, and then let it stay pinned out for a few days just to admire it.  I haven't managed to get better pictures of it, but I am mostly ok with that.  I have covered up with it, paraded around the house in it, and pulled it up over my head and snuggled up under it.  Now that it is done, I occasionally think about knitting Southern Skies or Equatorial Nights.  Maybe I will, but not today.  

So, as we look to the stars and The Groundhog, do we have any answers?  I kind of doubt it.  Do I have any predictions?  Nah.  I might have a few guesses, but certainty is not really happening here right now.  Maybe I will ease into things with a few posts sharing a bit about what I have done over the last few months.  I will probably pop in with some comments here and there.  I will knit.   

Stars in My Eyes

That sounds a lot nicer than saying I see the charts for Celestarium in my sleep, doesn't it?  It is also a better topic than my recent navel-gazing.  I've been trying to figure out what I want to do about blogging.  Short answer--I want the experience to be better, so I am going to work to do better.  That starts with being more active, and if that means shorter posts and more in-progress photos, so be it.  You can also look forward to the return of my reading and commenting.  I have checked in here and there and keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers.  

Anyway, we were talking about Celestarium, right?  Well, that is something nice to talk about, because I have finished the body of shawl.  That's right, I have beaded my last bead.  I got out a pile of lace books and looked at edgings until I found the one I think I want to use.  It is from Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller, and Wave Lace seems like it should be nice.    

UM...Nervous?

I suppose that might be the right word for now. Bruce is going to have surgery (paraesophageal hiatal hernia repair and maybe another bit of patchwork) this week. I am not too concerned about the procedure beyond the fact that it is surgery and thus has its associated risks. Still, that moment when I take his wedding ring, put it on a length of yarn, and slip it around my neck is always tough.

Once we make it through surgery, we have recovery, and it looks like it could be a bit bumpy. He will be on a pureed diet for four weeks after this, so the blender is in for quite a workout. There will be some other restrictions, too, but we are trying to not get ahead of ourselves. Coming up with some good recipes will be a challenge, too, but I have been looking at some possibilities. Our son is going to lend his VitaMix to us, so that will be helpful.

Anyway, this is going to keep me away from the computer for a bit. Maybe I will have some scheduled posts ready to go, but I do have a few other things I need to attend to first. I have to pack for the hospital. That means deciding on some hospital knitting. I am thinking about hats, cowls and fingerless mitts, or maybe even some plain vanilla socks, but I really have not gotten much beyond those few stray thoughts. I am trying to not think about the lace shawl I agreed to knit for a stranger. That one is still a bit of a puzzler, and perhaps a story for another day.

In the meantime, I have been knitting a cowl, ripping it out, restarting it, having a little bit of the yarndage, and finally finishing it. I had intended this to be a gift, but am afraid it might not be good enough. The pattern is Kuusk from the current Knitty. I am not quite sure what brought me to the pattern, but it was a good knit. I knew I might have yarndage issues, so I used beads instead of nupps. If I would have had (guessing here) another twenty yards, I would like this even more.

However, it is still nice, and I enjoyed knitting with my handspun. I also dyed the silk hanky before spinning it, so there's that, too. It was supposed to be purple, but the Wilton dye behaved differently than I had anticipated, so I ended up with pink. The little skein had been sitting around for months, and I am glad to have knit it into something. Since the modeled shot is a bit lacking, here is one of it blocking, and then a peak into my unconscious mutterings.

Bells :: Warning

Germs :: Warfare
Athlete :: Feet
Voice :: Concerns
Diamonds :: Cut
Hoarse :: Throat
Tempest :: Teacup
Hurricane :: Irene
Bumps :: Goose
Jazz :: Hands

Challenging

Knitting the second Emily2 was more challenging than knitting the first. To begin with, there was the issue of locating a steel crochet hook small enough to add the size 11/0 seed beads. It also took some time to get used the unusual yarn I chose. I decided to use the copper/bamboo yarn I got at Habu Textiles last year. It is so very fine and light that it almost seems to be floating away while you knit with it. Not only is the yarn itself very thin, but the ply of copper makes for a very different knitting experience. Now, none of this is bad. I loved knitting this, and each of the challenging elements added to my enjoyment.

There are only two more challenges remaining. The first, I do not believe I can conquer with my current skills--getting a decent photo. That did not stop me from trying time after time.

The last challenge is deciding whose this is. Last month I met with other spinners at the lys. Someone mentioned a shawl I had once knit, and someone else asked what my current shawl project was. I got out the Emily2 in progress and handed it to her. Other people were interested to see it and feel the unusual yarn, so it made its way around the room. I said to the woman sitting next to me that I was not sure whether I was giving it away or keeping it for myself. She stated that no mortal alive was worthy of this shawl. I guess that disqualifies me, too.

Tales from the Tour

There is so much to love about spinning. It is more than just the creation of yarn; that is only part of the story. There are so many opportunities for memories along the way. From fiber acquisition, to the time the yarn (in whatever form it might be at that time) has completed its journey, much can happen.

I remember when I bought this alpaca/silk blend. It was a few years ago at a tiny fiber festival in Tennessee. A group of us had gone up together, though I think I was the only spinner amongst us at that time. Some were there just for the trip, others were just on the lookout for bargains, I think there was a reluctant knitter, and a couple more curious about spinning. I mostly wandered on my own, finding little gems along the way, including this big bag of fluff.

Then it sat and waited. I admired it, but did not think I was good enough at spinning to use it, and I wanted to wait until my spinning skills were worthy. Fast-forward to Le Tour de Fleece 2009, and I was ready to challenge myself. One day, a friend invited me to her home to spin and watch the cyclists on television. We chatted, I spun, she took pictures, and she pointed out places in France from her past. When I left, I began to formulate a plan--I wanted to turn this fluff into yarn and then knit it into something for her.

I began thinking of the right pattern, and I found one I would like to knit for her. Then it was time to check the yardage, and I was short by a lot, so the yarn sat. My friend moved away, and it sat some more. Then, there was a knitalong, and the pattern brought the alpaca/silk yarn to memory, but before starting, I checked yardage again, as I have been burned in the past.

I was so pleased to see that I had enough yarn, and I began knitting Emily2. It was odd to be participating in an online knitalong while needing to keep the project private, but I was just glad to be knitting for my friend. The only stumbling block that remained was getting it in the mail, and that took months, but I finally did, and now it is with my friend.

Try-a Hiya!

The HiyaHiya people were able to help me out, and I felt a bit stupid for not having thought of them in the first place. My friend was able to bring me this 0.5mm steel crochet hook, and it works with my beads. I am now making wonderful progress on the second Emily2 while my other lace cries for attention.

Speaking of HiyaHiya, when I got my new hook, I was also able to see a set of the new bamboo interchangeable needles. I think I know what I want for my birthday this year!

Heart-to-Heart

I finished this almost three months ago, but only now am I free to show it. It was a birthday gift for my friend, Helen. Her birthday was in December, but travel, holidays, and weather kept us from getting together, until last week when I was finally able to give this to her.

I knit the Heart to Heart Beaded Scarf for her in Misti Alpaca Lace in this beautiful blue. I was quite pleased by how well it suited her when she put it on, but in a fit of camnesia, I forgot to take a picture. You will just have to settle for its January snow photo shoot.

Never Let Bitterness Take Root

The name, Bitterroot, has always bothered me. In fact, I almost would not knit it because of the name. Bitterness is such an unfortunate condition, and once it takes root it is even more difficult to remove. Still, it is such a pretty shawl, it did inspire me to reflect on the condition of my heart, and that is good. Also, it was an enjoyable knit, and the experience increased my confidence in my spinning. While I was a bit disappointed to run out of yarn, I was quite pleased to be able to spin more and have it match what I had done months ago.


So, I am sure you are all wondering who will get this shawl. Well, since no one guessed that planting marigolds makes either, "All I Need is a Miracle" (just substitute marigold for miracle) by Mike + the Mechanics, or "Marigolds" by Glen Phillips play in my head, I needed to find someone else. Then, on Mother's Day, I was talking to my grandma, and when I described what I had been knitting, she asked that I not give it away before she can see it when she visits next month. Clearly, this means that the shawl should be for her. If I had known that it was going to be hers, I would have knit the smaller version, as she is tiny, and this shawl is huge. Still, it will keep her warm, and I am so excited to give it to her.

Mailbox Mania

Trips to the mailbox have been very rewarding this week. The beads for Bitterroot showed up, and I have already been working with them, although they are very difficult to see in this photo. With only twenty-five rows remaining, I have answers about the yarndage. Yeah, I am going to need to spin some more yarn for this shawl, but I view that as more good news.


Speaking of beads, look what Our Opal sent to me. This is such a cute book, with so many different patterns. We have both been noticing how many books we have that we are yet to create from yet. Still, there's always tomorrow, and the inspiration for today, right? Did you know that Opal has a new place? Remember to update your bookmarks and feedreaders accordingly. To celebrate the move, she is having an excellent contest you will want to enter.

Speaking of winning contests, well, that will have to wait for another day.

Wrapping Up the Week--and a Gift!

This week, one special gift idea went away. I learned that someone let her ear piercings close. I had been narrowing down the choices for just the right pair of earrings from over at Opal's shop. It is not as though there are not plenty of other gift ideas for this young lady, but I had been thinking and planning this for months. I guess I am just glad I learned this now instead of later.

With my mind still full of the sparkly and shiny, I decided to see what I could create. I went with wire and bead votive sleeves. I had been having a hard time figuring out a present for someone. I was almost down to just picking up a gift card, and am quite pleased to be able to give these, instead, even if they are difficult to photograph.

Fuzzy Friday

It feels so good to have another finished knit. It feels even better that it is so soft and pretty. I like the choices I made with this hat. Now that I am done, I would say that it is only inspired by the original pattern, but it is just right. I am ready to wrap it up and give it to my sister.

The experience with this hat has given me a much-needed confidence boost. I trusted my instincts, and it worked well. I can become caught up in so much thinking, planning, and researching that it sometimes overshadows the joy available in the things I do. Knitting this hat reminded me that I have some experience and abilities, and it can be good to let them be my guide sometimes.

A Knitter's Prerogative, aka, Oooh, Shiny!

The flash of inspiration came and went quickly. The mountain of mohair appeared to be in danger. I put it back in the bag, placed it on top of the books, and brought it to the stash staging area in preparation for putting it away. Then, I did not sleep. I almost caught up on blogs and email. Then maybe there was some kind of magic that eludes recall, I had the same pile of mohair back in the living room along with beads and a different book, and I am casting on for something new.

I am knitting the Beaded Cloche from Folk Hats. I remember that my sister liked this hat, and I wanted to knit a gift for her. Well, I am actually knitting a hat that is inspired by that pattern. Of course, I am not using the recommended yarn, and I am making several other modifications, chief amongst them being the fact that I am not pre-stringing the beads. The pattern calls for 910 beads to be threaded onto the mainly mohair yarn before knitting. I knew that was not about to happen. I also figured that I was going to have different gauge, looked at the chart, reduced the initial number, and decided to see what would happen. I know that is risky business when mohair is the main fiber, but I think it is working.

Already, I find myself thinking about knitting another, all the while mentally flipping through lists of potential recipients. Wanting to be able to give the knit to several different people all at once is always a good sign.

Whose Is This?

I cannot decide if this belongs to me or someone else. I have been doing a bit of gift knitting and become confused easily. What do you think? The finished product fascinates me. The beads feel just right, and I love the way they work with the yarn. Using the whole skein was a relief. Only 20" of yarn remained after completing the piece. Perhaps that means it is just the right size. Actually, I think it might be a bit large. It was a pleasant knit, even if it needed a break for a bit. The last night of knitting was probably the best, because having the fluffy mountain of mohair on my lap was wonderfully warming.

If you know whose this is, maybe you know something else. Ice Queen makes me think of the title of two songs. Can you name them?

Losing Track of the Days

I seriously just had a brief panic when I could not remember the day of the week. Anyway, tinking back mohair is so much fun. It is almost as fun as trying to use too small beads. I have the Ice Queen back on track. It is now an enjoyable knit. I really do not feel too bad about taking out that round because it allowed me to change my beads. It was just a bit of a pain to do, but no more than fighting those little beads another two hundred times (or however many beads this thing takes). Also, I will probably be finding beads around here for years. I feel I exercised the greatest self-control in that I did not throw any of them, tempted though I was.

I have also made this much progress on weaving in ends. There are just so many of them! I estimate there are about fifty more to go. Then I can work that applied i-cord edging. This has been a great hat to knit, and I feel a little bit of anxiety about giving it to the son. Speaking of him, I need to think of one more thing to get him for Christmas.

In other news, today, I bought a Wii Fit for the Christmas Eve daughter. I was afraid we might not find one. If I had known she wanted one, I would have picked one up earlier and not had the stress. I continually change my mind about whether I will knit anything for her or not. I really think it depends on time, and whether I think she would like a Calorimetry.