Playing Catch Up

I only have time for a quick post because I'm busy, busy, busy! But it's been a while and I've finished a few things so I wanted to try to get back in the swing of things.

With Christmas successfully behind me (whew!), I have turned my attention to a myriad of abandoned projects and am trying to conquer a few WIPs before the year ends. What can I say... I'm definitely a wait 'til the last minute kinda gal. So with the assistance of my annual sinus infection which requires me to do lots of nothing, I've been knitting! Finally.

The pictures aren't the greatest because, well, I'm not a good photographer to begin with, but I've had problems with the lighting and I don't want to show my sick face either. But I figured if I kept waiting for great pics, I may never blog again.

First, my Wavy Feathers Wimple knit with The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga in "Horned Beetle" that I knit in just a few days last week. (It was my pre-Christmas de-stresser.)

This was a really fun knit. It was like knitting the leg of a sock without having to worry about the heel or matching sock. It's also a very warm variation on a regular scarf. I plan to carry this with me to our spring baseball games with the unpredictable evening winds.

Next up is one I started a few months ago but just pulled out to finish for the beginning of the winter Seasons of Lace KAL. It's a Finnish pattern called Hyrna Herborgar. I don't remember if I mentioned here before or not (and don't have time to look, sorry) but it was a great lace knitting experience.

I used 1 skein of Handmaiden's Mini Maiden in Cedar. I am thrilled with the results! Unfortunately, I haven't really been able to capture the color and I can't get a son to properly model it for me. (Go figure.)

I'm also determined to finish this sweater, Baby Cables and Big Ones Too (Ravelry link) before the end of the year.

I'm using the wonderful Rowan Calmer and I think I may actually get quite a bit of where out of this sweater. Unless, of course, I spill something on it right away.

Now I must go begin the sleeves. I have a pair of socks to finish this week too! Then there's the planning and sorting of what WIPs I'm going to finish and what I'm going to frog and forget... not to mention planning what I'm going to start next. Lots of plans... lots of ideas... and I promise to do better about sharing!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday!

Woe is Me. And Knitting too.

Oh friends... I have been having quite the pity party. My dear, dear friend Julie left with her family this morning for a move across the country. She is my local knitting buddy and constant source of strength and encouragement. I will miss her dearly.

I'm not much of a party person, but I must admit, I throw one heck of a pity party as evidenced by the piles of laundry surrounding me and my overflowing e-mail inbox. I have excelled at neglect and getting absolutely nothing done for several days and now I'm just partied out. So I'll move onto the good stuff...

I'll start with this yarn...



Handmaiden Mini Maiden in "Cedar". This is exactly what I was hoping for colorwise when I ordered this yarn some time ago.



I am absolutely smitten by this yarn and ordered it for a very special project. After months of longing, I finally ordered this (Ken, look! A rattlesnake behind you) ridiculously expensive book.



I ordered this book, because it became increasingly apparent that I wasn't going to be able to live a full, contented life until I was able to knit this shawl...



Hyrna Herborgar by Sigridur Halldorsdottir.

(Yes, I do already have the makings for a Finnish shawl, but of course you must know that receiving 2 packages in the mail far outweighs the excitement of having one bag in the stash.)

So great was my excitement when I received everything last week that I couldn't wait to cast on. However, since I have just a few larger projects on the needles right now it seemed prudent to wait until I had finished one of those before I started.

So I cast on for 2 socks instead.



Firestarters with Wollmeise in the very appropriate "Campari Orange" and Hedgerows with ShiBui Knits fingering. I absolutely adore the Wollmeise. It is just as nice to knit with as it is to look at. (Maria - I will be getting your Wollmeise out to you ASAP. I should've warned you that the post office is very far away from me... mentally, not physically. For some reason, going to the PO is a bit of a challenge for me.)

However, as I wrap up my pity party, I really think that starting a new lace project will do wonders for my distracted brain. So, should I persevere with the dozen projects I already have going? Or comfort myself with Handmaiden and Hyrna Herborgar?

Decisions, Decisions

So I've been sitting here with some Dream in Color Baby for the last month or so that I purchased at a discount to participate in The Loopy Ewe DIC Baby KAL. Since I've become quite the joiner... and a discount was involved... it was really a no brainer. Except for picking the color. Fortunately for me, Sheri at TLE as the patience of a saint and is as kind as can be when I change colors after placing an order. (Actually, the LYS has come to expect the same of me and has accepted my inability to make a decision with the same good humor with which they accept my husband's hard-earned money.)

But back to the DIC Baby... I finally settled on In Vino Veritas which is the most gorgeous shades of what I'd call garnet. I have absolutely, obsessively agonized over what to make with it. My preference was a rectangular wrap (since I had recently knit the Shetland Triangle in another shade of red) and I was full of visions of a glamorous winter wrapped with the rich reds tossed tossed around my neck just so.

However, such visions are really hard to live up to and all the most perfect wraps require more yardage than I have... or look to boring to knit. Then I found Aquila. (Note: I've seen some smaller versions on Ravelry that are quite stunning.) Yes it is a triangle, but I absolutely became enthralled with the idea of knitting it... a fact that I'm sure is due in no small part to the unavailability of the pattern in English. The pattern is free but from a Finnish online pattern source... and as such, is written in Finnish. Again, this only made me want it more.


So as I stewed and obsessed, it occurred to me this week that the owner of the LYS is from somewhere in that area... could it be?? So I stopped by and guess what? She is from Finland and would be able and willing to help me translate the pattern if I returned with it on Friday! Of course, it didn't seem right to ask for such a favor without making at least a small purchase so I bought this.





Actually, I bought yellow, this is the color I exchanged it for when I went back yesterday.


Anyway, when I returned with the pattern, I started admiring some new lace that she recently started carrying. It's a wool/silk blend from... Finland! Now what better to knit a Finnish shawl with than Finnish lace? Nothing, right? It was a must.






I got home and had to try it right away. Boy is laceweight yarn tiny. I find shawls completely addicting, but I need to work with this for a while to get a feel for what a finished lace shawl will look and feel like. I may want to double it.

Oh, and the DIC Baby... it's on its way to becoming a Sea & Shells Stole. I suppose it could be the coveted Aquila, but it seems to have settled it's way into something else. And peace has been restored to my world.

On a side note, I finished The Shack. I found it fascinating, although disconcerting at times, and am surprised and disheartened by some of the harsh criticism it's received. Anyway, if you've read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts!