Whoosh... another week. Or so.

I finished the Flower Basket Shawl on a... get this... cool rainy day last week. The last rows of the shawl flew off my needles as the temperatures dropped and wool was in my hands by Friday. It's just a blob of silk though still because I'm awaiting the arrival of some blocking wires to make the blocking easier.

The lower body of Amelia is finished and I'm working on the first sleeve which seems to be taking as long as the body. I love the Miss Babs yarn I'm using but haven't had time during the day to get a picture.


Anyway, I just caught a newslcip of the ceremony in Danville welcoming home Capt. Sully. He ended what appeared to be a very brief speech with these words...

"I know I can speak for the entire crew when I tell you, we were simply doing the jobs we were trained to do."

True humility from a true hero.

Mea Culpa! Unless...

It would seem that my selfish knitting has resulted in divine intervention.

While the rest of the nation is freeeeeezing (I can't believe some of your posts!), we have been experiencing unseasonably high temperatures and, well, you just can't knit with wool when you're sweating... so that leaves me with my sister's lovely sea silk shawl. Luckily, the luxury of sea silk will not be impaired by any weather.

So how hot is it here?

See that lonely 83 over one the far left? I would be in that general vicinity.

So it's obviously either my selfish knitting... or Southern California refuses to give up on global warming.

I'm pretty sure I know the reason, but I'm gonna lie low for a bit just in case.

Progress...

As I mentioned, last week I cast on for my sister's Flower Basket Shawl. This was actually quite exciting as I had been waiting since long before Christmas to get started on her shawl. See, while she had mentioned she would love a gold shawl, she has such an incredible sense for color and style that I was way too afraid to pick a color and pattern for her on my own.

I ordered the Sea Silk about a month before Christmas in the color closest to a true gold I could find, but knew I really needed her approval on the color because I wanted her to love the finished product (and am totally lacking in the confidence to make such decisions myself). But I was dying to get started. I almost wound the yarn and started one shawl or another at least a dozen separate times... but patience won out (which just may be a first) and I waited. For Christmas I simply wrapped up the yarn and explained my intentions.

Well, she loved the yarn so I dragged her to the computer to show her a few patterns that I had picked out as possible alternatives... and she chose the Flower Basket pattern (which was just what I was hoping she'd choose). I then had to order the pattern... wait for it to arrive... at which point I cast on with fingers that had been simply itching to get started for over a month.

And now... I get to share my progress!!

First....



Amelia from the most recent Knitty (which has several great patterns btw) using Miss Babs Yowza in Obsidian (from their post-Holiday sale... great yarn!). And...



the beginnings of a Noro Silk Garden Clapotis. (I'm thinking nobody needs a link for that one.)

So, uh, yeah... that about does it. The story of my life.

To Cable or Not to Cable

As I clear off a few sets of needles and try to decide what to start next, I'm trying to look back as well and see what neglected projects may be lurking around. I assure you there are no shortage of hidden WIPs, but the decision is... frog or finish.

Well, the first decision was easy because I've promised my sister a golden silk shawl so today I cast on for Evelyn Clark's popular Flower Basket Shawl in some Handmaiden Sea Silk in the "Straw" colorway.



And... from the WIP collection (which would most likely be completely forgotten if not for Ravelry), I've pulled out the Debbie Bliss Grace cardigan that I started almost a year ago.



I actually was pretty enthusiastic about getting back to work on this as I really adore the sweater. Unfortunately, that enthusiasm wore off after about a half-dozen rows. It's possible that I'm just a bit cabled out at the moment... or it could be that it appears that I bound off the armholes an inch or so too soon (don't remember why... or if there was a why... it was most likely more of a whoops). It also seems that it will not be a loose fit like it should. Could it be that I never checked my gauge? More than likely. But Cashmerino should stretch like crazy with blocking so I could take a deep breath of hope and ignore the sizing issues and just proceed with a few dozen more hours of cabling. I could...



Or, I could hide it in the back of the linen closet again until I get in another cabling mood... or find another pattern for the yarn. I guess I'll think about it tomorrow... I'll just tuck it in the linen closet for safe keeping until I decide.

Socks and Football

Don't fall of your chair... but I have another finished knit to share.

Rattlesnake Creek Socks (how could I resist?)

Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 from The Loopy Ewe (my favorite addiction)

Fun... fun pattern! And free.

Now I must run. It's a BIG night for us. DH and a few of the boys are at the Fiesta Bowl where our wonderful nephew...

will be taking on the only college team I've ever rooted for my entire life..

I am Switzerland... and wearing blue. Well, actually I'm gonna grab my OSU sweatshirt but I'll be happy either way.

FO: Thrilled!

Actually, I finished Baby Cables and Big Ones Too... but I'm thrilled with the results. A cotton sweater that fits and that I'm sure to wear!

Knit on the round with size 6 needles and 8-9 balls of Rowan Calmer. No seams... Just fun!

My only modification was to eliminate most of the sleeve decreases so I would have a wider bell style sleeve.

Yay!