spring is sprung

so not much knitting is done.......
my mermaid KAL. I'm almost done with clue 2, and clue 3 is waiting in the wings.
ACK! I'm behind! The trip to the beach set me back a bit as well as my painful mistake that caused me to rip it all out and start over. The next clue will be out on friday, so hopefully, I'll get caught up a bit.....











My replacement yarn arrived this week. Good to see that kelly at the unique sheep has a sense of humor!



I THOUGHT I was making progress on my eiki, until I read some nice raveler's notes.
The charts are all supposed to be done AT THE SAME TIME, not one at a time. No wonder I was quickly running out of yarn. Rip it, rip it.
I HATE when the pattern assumes that you automatically know this or that. I don't.
I'd much rather have too many directions that not nearly enough.
Onward and upward. It's raining today, so good knitting opportunities.

We're Baaaccckkk

Betcha didn't even know we were gone.
This weekend, we packed up the doggies and headed out for here....













One of my most favorite places in the world, the oregon coast, cannon beach to be specific.
On the way down, we stopped in portland at Twisted, a totally fun, cool yarn store, where THIS had to come home with me. It will be my Batik shawl.













While we were there I worked on this....
It's Eiki by Janel Laidman. A fun little knit done here in some mystery skinny bugga that is quite nice. I'm almost up to where the lace starts on the edging. I thought it would be a great beach knit, and the profits went to the japanese relief efforts. How can you go wrong?













The kitties enjoyed their moments of peace without the puppy.











A good time was had by all.

I'd like to title this work of art.....

boxer puppy meets silk lace yarn.










It WAS rolled into balls. Just too much temptation for the poor guy.
This is my Ling silk lace yarn for the little mermaid KAL. Good think it's in 4 sections, 1,2,and 3 were salvageable. 4 was a fatality. Thanks to Kelly at the Unique sheep for bailing me out and making another #4 skein for me.
Good thing I started with #1.










(and yes, they WERE put out of reach - or at least I THOUGHT so)
it's pretty hard to be mad at this face for too long, though.















I'll be digging through the stash today to find an interim project to work on between clues. I'm also waiting for some yarn I purchased from a destash on rav to make some man-socks.
Gotta have something to do while it rains!

thank goodness THAT's over......

What a difference a week makes. The snow is pretty much all gone and it's 50 degrees.
Go figure. The hummingbirds are still hanging out and feeding like crazy, though.
It's so serious that you have to be careful when you go out the door here. You're likely to get "buzzed" and cursed at a bit for interrupting their dinner.
I know it's really hard to see in this pic, but look right in the middle. They DO sit still, much more than we actually think. Most of their still time is guarding their feeders from other hummingbirds. I don't know how many there are in our yard, but yesterday, I saw 4 at once, so there's at least that many.











This week, the mailman was good to me. When I saw the blue and white knee-highs in that book, I had to have it. The chart reading one was just an add-on to make it to the amazon free shipping minimum. It DOES look extremely interesting, though, and I've taken classes from JC Briar at sock summit and found them very informative.











So, here's what I did with my snow down time. It's a lace wedding shawl for one of my clients that's getting married in august. I'm going to run out of yarn two rows short of it being complete, but I'm finishing this last row and casting off. It's been a fairly easy knit and is open and light. Perfect for an august evening wedding.
I'll block it and put it away until it's time.












I'm also still working on the endless hooded scarf from hades - no progress there..... I think it'll end up being a christmas present for my sister next year.
Next up.... The little mermaid KAL. Graience lace and beads. I can hardly wait!
As you can see, the doggies are overcome with excitement.

Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE snow??

Just had to mention that because we were up to our butts in it this week!
It totally shuts down the world here and no one knows what to do.
Haven't been out of the house for 3 days because of the snow and then major ice.











What's amazing is the hummingbirds. I've been refilling their feeders every morning because they were frozen solid. The minute the sun comes up, there's birds out there, and, man, do I get scolded when I take that feeder down. They're fascinating, though. Check out the background in this pic. Snow. 18 degrees. and hummingbirds.













I did get some knitting done.....
looopy ewe feb club scarf. It was a fun knit, and I love the colors.











I've also been working on a wedding shawl for one of my clients, no pics yet, but it's coming along.


Yogi was not quite sure what to do with himself........
















but ozzie had the right idea.....sleep unitl it's over!

I couldn't help myself.......

I know I said I wasn't going to do the loopy ewe club this year, but when I saw these awesome colors.......(the pic doesn't do it justice). This is a cute little scarf and a fun knit, pretty much my only progress last week, except a bit on the endless, being knit backwards slip stitch.














The mailman was also good to me. Cute little doggie knits book, although I could SWEAR when I first saw it, it included a boxer. The book comes, no boxer. I wouldn't have bought it otherwise, so something happened there. Good thing it was only $8. I think I can modify a couple of the patterns to make a boxer. In my spare time.











Yesterday, we went to Madrona, a fun local knittting conference. Beware! Rant coming.
2 actually......
Rant #1
There was one booth there that was completely empty. Not a thing to sell, with people sitting there saying they were "sold out". I totally understand the fine line between too much and not enough, but these folks sold out on thursday, the first day of a 4 day conference. Frustrating. I MIGHT have bought something, but........
They operate here locally and possibly could have re-stocked, or saved one of each skein to show folks and take orders. It was a waste of space.

Rant #2
I saw this cute little vest pattern. When I asked about it, I was told that I could only "buy the kit". $120 for a vest....A little steep. Gee, they weren't selling too many.
There's only one person on rav who's actually done this pattern, wonder why.
Shame on you trendsetter yarns. I get the whole "we need to sell OUR yarn", but, if you'd sold me the pattern, I might have bought the yarn later. It's OK. There's about 800 cabled vest patterns on rav. I'll find another. In both cases, you snooze, you lose.

Rant over.....

Let's leave on a positive note! (check out who he's using for his pillow)

It was yarn score saturday!

Saturday was a great yarn score day here......
A knitpicks order including the yarn to make the blue sipalu bag, some white alpaca lace for a wedding shawl, and some needles to replace the ones that had a "cough" Puppy accident......













Included here is also the newest interweave knits, and the feb. loopy ewe kit. I know, I said I wasn't going to join the club, and I didn't, but when I saw the beautiful green and white, just my colors, I HAD to have it. I deserve it, right?
So when the individual kits went up, I went and snagged one. Suppose I can resist the march and april ones?











The moonstruck sweater is finally done and it matches pretty well. It could have been bigger, it's a bit tight in the armpits, but I'm loving it and I can't imagine....it would have taken yet another skein. Something wrong there. Now it just needs some buttons. I know it's not a good pic, but look at that cute (knitting needle-eating) puppy. (in his defense, Ozzie started it)











The colorwork scarf has entered the land of mindless knitting. Tons and tons of mindless knitting. There's 10" of this slip stitch to make the hood and it's taking forever. This will probably be my 10 minute mindless project for quite a while. I'm moving on to that beautiful loopy ewe kit, and making the scarf.












Next week, the first installment of Janel Laidman's pattern club and Madrona!

well, now, that was better.......

This week actually brought on some knitting progress.......
My orchid thief shawl. The pattern is "the riddle of the orchid thief" by ysolda, from the book "brave new knits". In the book, it says it's advanced. Honestly, the only thing advanced about it is trying to figure out what the author had in mind. It has limited directions, and charts, neither of which bothered me, but, it assumes that the knitter will also make the SAME assumptions....confused? so was I. Thanks to the lovely knitters at Rav. that have gone before me, I was able to make it past the dreaded row 86 after only 3 tries. The yarn is "nightfall" by fibro fibers. I love how it slowly turns to black.














I got my new fixed skein of Gaea for my moonstruck sweater. It's still a bit light, even after sending a sample, but it'll work. I finished the other front last night while watching movies and it's off to be blocked today. I'll be working on the luanaria scarf while that dries.


We also went to the grand opening of a new LYS yesterday. It was about a 30 minute drive, but worth it. Yellow House Yarns in puyallup is going to be a really fun place. I love the old house, the selection of yarns was good, and I think once they get up and running, they'll probably have some fun classes too.
Ozzie and the troublepuss are admiring the cascade heritage I bought there. Had to support them, right? I am thinking colorwork socks, this being the year of colorwork and all.













Speaking of classes. Our little obedience school dropout graduated yesterday. Don't get too excited. His graduation cap should have been a dunce cap. He starts again monday night for another round of basic. How can you resist that cute face???

knitting slowdown

well, the second half of the colorwork scarf is blocking, and the Moonstruck is dead in the water waiting for different yarn. (the folks at blue moon were very helpful),
so, I decided to cast on a new project. Why not?
This is the orchid thief shawl from brave new knits, the yarn is fibro fibers nightfall. After knitting bee fields, this is a piece of cake. The charts were quite a bear to work out, but thanks to my friends on ravelry, I found out there was errata and got some tips to figure it out. I'm almost to the dreaded "row 86", though, so we'll see what happens. The color will become darker until it eventually turns to black. I think it's beautiful, so much so I might just have to have some more. It's only available to order once per month, though, on the first........













Up this week.....I'll try to finish the lunaria scarf and work on the orchid thief shawl. I think I'm going to have to help myself to some of those bon-bons from the sanguine gryphon too. The weather is supposed to be kind of nice though, so I may just go outside and play.

The critters will all be resting up, just in case......



devil cat.




unsuspecting victim...

knitting frustration!!!!!

I have no knitting to show you this week and this is why.......
A LONG time ago I fell in love with the moonstruck sweater. I waited and waited for the yarn to come in and finally ordered. Blue Moon Gaea, "in the navy". The pattern and website said 3 skeins for the size I needed. I knew it would be close. It wasn't anywhere NEAR close. I ran out. With the back, one side and both sleeves done. So, I ordered more, hoping the color would be even sort of close enough to finish. It WAS NOT. Now I know, it's hand dyed and one of a kind, and TOTALLY my fault, I should have ordered that extra one to begin with.........

I have spent 2 days trying to make the colors work and the reality of it is, I just wouldn't wear it. It is SO different. Much lighter. A whole different color. I have emailed blue moon to see if I can send them a sample of the first batch to try to get even a BIT closer. For now, Moonstruck is hibernating with the back, one front, two sleeves and the other front half done. Every time I look at it, it makes me sick to my stomach. It's a beautiful sweater (almost). Keep your fingers crossed they can make a darker skein.


So..... I've just been working on the colorwork scarf. Looks just like the other side I posted last week.

Next up.......The Orchid Thief shawl with my fibro fibers nightfall. I think it's going to look great.

I also think all this knitting frustration is giving me spring fever.....my thoughts are turning to gardening.

Since there's no knitting, I thought I'd give you some critter pics. No hummingbirds, although there's been a major hummingbird war going on here, they're just too FAST.
So, here's some Ozzie and a little Yogi.

it's raining, it's pouring

The doggies are snoring!












So, my resolution for 2011 is to master colorwork. I'm not quite ready for hard core intarsia or steeks yet, but I am practicing......
This is a little colorwork scarf kit from knitpicks. I know, I don't really NEED another scarf, but the colors were right and I DO want the colorwork practice. It has 2 colorwork pockets and a hood, so something different, also matching mitts.










THIS is a sipalu bag kit, also from knitpicks. I know, I know, it's not really my colors, but again.....practice. I think it's going to be a christmas present for next christmas and I'll order the yarns to make the blue ones. Although I'm not totally sold on knitpicks yarns, I do like the palette for colorwork. Great selection of colors and it makes for a nice knit.











The loopy ewe sock club is up for renewal and I think I'm going to pass this year. Too many changes, and the first 3 kits all have bags with them. I have enough bags for an army so I guess I'll try to buy them one at a time if I like the yarn or pattern.


I'm dead in the water with the moonstruck sweater. Ran out of yarn. Got gauge, ordered what they said, should have gotten one more from the beginning, but I was trying to save money. Had to buy the extra skein anyway and now hoping it's going to even sort of match, fingers crossed, but I left off in a place where I can make it "fit in" (hopefully)

That's it for this week.....anxiously awaiting Madrona.....
Yogi says "who me? obedience school dropout???"

after knitting all that lace......

aran weight on size 9's seems pretty darned easy!
This is Moonstruck. It's blue moon's Gaea and the color is "in the navy".
I'm loving the knit. The right front, back, and half a sleeve are already done. This makes a nice, heavy fabric that's going to make a great coat-like sweater. I did have to order one more skein, though, started to get nervous there wouldn't be enough.












We're supposed to have a "major snow event" the end of the week here. (that really means more than 1", so I expect there will be a LOT of knitting accomplished.
I think my next project will be to use my nightfall yarn to make a Batik shawl, or the cloudchaser vest.

I'm anxiously awaiting Madrona - the annual knitting conference here. Mostly for the shopping opportunities, I'm not taking any classes, but it IS fun to see what's new and shop the mill ends from Blue Moon.



The doggies are not too excited about the snow.
"MOM, we need a bigger bed!"

Happy New Year!!!!

I've never really been one for new year's resolutions, but I do have some things in mind for 2011.

Knitting-wise I'd like to take some colorwork classes. I'm especially intrigued by intarsia and steeks. Hopefully they'll be a class around here somewhere. Not the LYS, though, they only offer your first sweater, sock, etc. Same-same. I'll probably have to go up to yorkshire yarns, but that's ok, they're pretty cool there.

I'll also be going to sock summit in july. The current plan is to shop a day, volunteer for a day and see what happens. I can hardly wait. It was SO MUCH fun last time.


I'd also like to do some test knitting. I'm already supposed to do a shawl soon. We'll see.

I have LOTS of projects lined up, socks, shawls, and even a sweater or two, starting with Moonstruck, just as soon as I get the yarn for it next week.

I'm still not sure about commiting to a club. I'm thinking about just making my own club with some random kits, a pattern club and my stash. I'm already in for the little mermaid kal, the Mrs. Dalloway's garden shawl from woolgirl and Janel Laidman's art and sole pattern club.

2010 did end with a bang, though, having FINALLY conqued bee fields!














The doggies were very excited.















It also brought some goodies.....
Fibro fibers nightfall. It's a long gradient that goes from black to a beautiful teal. I'm thinking it just has to be a shawl. Either traveling woman or batik.