Handstitching, week 3 & 4

 The Lafitte Shawl (test knit for Denise) is showing off the front of my Needle card using pearl cotton and kraft paper fabric.

 Our teacher, Rachel, had us back it with felt to hold more sewing needles. for. handstitching.  The shawl just wouldn't let me take a photo without it.  :)

My sewing machine is resting during my classes but I let it help out with modeling my handstitched headband.  It's really, really cute.....I am going to make more of them.

Secluded Copse Shawl

by Lost City Knits is one stunning piece of art.  I was a lucky, lucky gal to test knit this shawl.
It's light and airy even with the jumper-weight wool I used.  I will, more than likely, knit this again using the same fiber Denise used....wool and silk.

The charts are easy to read and should you ever have any questions/comments, Denise is just an e-mail away.  So, if you would like your own copy of this non boring pattern, head on over to Lost City Knits.

I think I get along with lace knitting.  :0)

A Lace Shawl......

.....knit to perfection!
It all started out as a shawl to take with me on my plane ride.  You know how you will "hurry up and wait" at an airport...well, I remembered reading EZ saying about knitting a shawl while traveling "it is a perfect travel-knitting".  And it is.
I cast on, at home, to get a good start and to where I would be able to knit round and round on a 29" circular needle.
Only thing was the tips of the diamonds were staring at me with unhappiness.  Why?  Because they were not "centered".  Ugh!  When I got home, I ripped [also known as frogged] back and started over. 
As I got to the points....I stopped.  I took a rest and watched my newly acquired DVD called "Knitting Lace with Meg Swansen".  Ah, ha!  There it was!  Just what I needed!  A centered eyelet by Amy Detjen and demonstrated by Meg!
My fingers moved stealthily along, making all the points "perfect"! 
I am knitting and doing the Happy Dance [in my mind].  I look forward to finishing up, blocking and wearing my lovely shawl.
NOTE:  The yarn I am using is Burgandy 4-ply 70% Wool/30% Silk from Little Wool Company and made in New Zealand.  It came in 1000 yards at 200 grams.  I'm knitting with a US sz 10 circular needle.

Leaving for a week!

I hope you don't mind if I leave for a week....:)

I'm going to spend some, very much, needed time with my son and extended family in sunny Arizona...

What am I going to knit on the way there, you ask?  Why, Elizabeth Zimmermann's 72" circular shawl in New Zealand lace-weight Wool/Silk.

I look forward to posting finished items when I get back.  Until then...

Not even a bad head cold can stop me!!!!!

.....from the FIRST MMario MMystery KAL......nothing! It started yesterday!!

I am armed with Chicken Noodle soup, Merino Oro lace wool (color 030), and 3.75mm [US sz 5] AddiTurbo Lace needles. So, off to do my swatch!

Shawl KAL done....

...well...except for blocking. This was a very rewarding knit-a-long with a little crochet.

I'll get it blocked and mailed off to my mother.

No special occasion....life is too short to hold off giving something made from your own two hands.

School House Press KAL

And here is the finished Shawl from SHP KAL, posing against my loom.

I still need to block it before gifting it to my mother.

This was a very rewarding knit and it's light as a feather because I used Unspun Icelandic Wool.

An update: My mother received it and loves it! She is my biggest fan......I love you, mom.

Shawl progress...

...with US sz 9 circular needles and Unspun Icelandic I bought with Annie. We are both following Marilyn VanKeppel in this KAL.

I would probably be finished if I wasn't knitting on a couple of sweaters, too. :)

This is the first time I've knitted with the Unspun Icelandic (from SchoolHousePress). I hesitated trying it, until now, because I heard too many stories in the Con category versus the Pro category.........Here is MY thought on knitting with it.......it's very easy to knit with as a continental knitter. I really like this wool and it's going to be so nice and warm for my dear, sweet mother who appreciates all things wool. [The first thing I noticed is how wonderful it smells!]

Icelandic Lace Shawl update

I've had a little time to knit on this shawl and it's coming along nicely. I'm on Chart E and it's flowing smoothly.

I think what makes it such a nice knit is the Main Line yarn. The runner up is Andean Silk from Knitpicks.

I will definitely be wearing this and showing it off.

I am at a loss for words today. How strange for a gal whose 6th grade report card had, "She talks too much" written on it each quarter. I only mention the 6th grade because I don't remember my other report cards. You ever have one of those days?

Ahhhhh.....Icelandic Lace

I finally got to start this Tuesday, even though the official start date was Monday.
My, oh, my.....the yarn feels so nice. It's JaggerSpun Main Line and feels like some of the lanolin is still in it. I got it from Sarah's Yarns and she is a wonderful person to do business with.
I am a loose knitter and I'm using Addi Lace Needles in US sz 4. So far, I like the way it looks and feels.

The pattern is from Knitting Daily or you could join the Icelandic Lace Shawl KAL. The KAL is warm and inviting with lots of help. It's kind of nice to know there are others working on the same project you are.

I've got a few toes to do the "Kitch" with on my BBS before I can resume knitting on it.

Icelandic Lace Shawl

This is one of the most beautiful shawls I have ever seen. What's even more wonderful about it ~ a KAL. There is a knit along starting late August or early September!! An exact start date hasn't been set yet, as we are all gathering our yarns. The pattern calls for a fingering weight yarn of your choice. Many are using Jaggerspun's Maine Line 2/8 in 9 different colors of browns and greys.
So what are you waiting for? Come join us for a light and friendly group! There's still time!!
Oh, yeah ~~ the pattern is FREE!

Orenburg 'Diamond Triangular Shawl' modeled by me...and not the floor

What more can I say? I think and hope the pictures say it all. :)

Click here if you want to read more about this Orenburg Shawl.

Orenburg 'Diamond Triangular Shawl'...blocked

Okay, now!! It's blocked!!
It took some doing since I've never, ever blocked a shawl. Matter-of-fact, I never even knit a shawl before this one.
I finished it up in time to wear to my son's prep-high school graduation. It was warm outside, in Arizona, but it was on the cool side in the gym.
I think he was as proud of my shawl as I was of him.

The Orenburg Diamond Triangular Shawl is completed!

This beautiful shawl is in the process of drying so this picture is of it stretched out on the carpet (pre-blocked). The points still show up pretty good.
The knitting flowed pretty smoothly. I knit on it when I could be alone without interruption.
I still came across a few more errors such as a symbol omission and misplacement of yo's and k2tog's. (those errors are not listed in the errata for the booklet.) If my dear friend, Courtney, hadn't had the keen eye to notice the first misplacement (that affected the border all the way around) I would have had to rip more.
I love the way it looks. To keep from repeating myself on the yarn, needles and pattern I used, please click on the label for Orenburg.
When I started this project, I decided to keep track of my knitting time, too. Even with the few times I had to 'knit backwards', I was able to complete it in just under 85 hours.
I'd like to start the next Galina project in her booklet.

Orenburg 'Diamond Triangular Shawl', Part 2

I'm definitely knitting along on this shawl as I am approaching Row 99. It's smooth sailing as long as the house is quiet and I count out-loud. :)

I found a symbol missing on Row 7 past the 7 repeats of the outlined-in-red box. There should be a ^ (k3tog) between the 2 yo's.

While I was knitting back on Row 66, I noticed one yo, k2tog. Just one! I think I checked and rechecked several times before I decided it was 'supposed' to be there.

Don't forget while knitting this that beginning Row 7, of the Border, with the 1st Turn (and thereafter every 16th row), the first yo, k2tog should be 'k2tog, yo'. I circled them all the way up the pattern so as not to knit as shown.

So, with that said, it's knitting up real nice.

Orenburg 'Diamond Triangular Shawl', Part 1

My friend, Courtney, and I have started a long project with this shawl. It is out of "The Gossamer Webs Design Collection". So far, I have a little over 12 hours invested. I am using a lace weight natural colored merino wool on size 1, 24" circular needles. It is knit back and forth.

Courtney has found a possible error at Row 7 when turning the 1st corner. The border pattern is correct (if you have the 3rd printing). She has e-mailed Interweave Press and is awaiting a reply.

This knitting is very fun and enjoyable.

On another note - it's been snowing on and off all day. A great day to be in and get some serious knitting done.

Other objects on the needles: socks, socks, socks; sweater for my mom; sweater for my sister-in-law; dishcloths knit in the round.

Things I want to do: sew, knit some doilies, crochet some doilies, clean fleece so I can card and spin it, knit my son another sweater and a couple of tams, write a book about knitting, have my own shop, make things for everyone I like.