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.