Friday, September 28, 2007

etsy Friday and Other Goodies

Only one etsy purchase to share this week. It's from A Sheep of a Different Color.


Blood Roses 2


1760 yards of lace weight in the colorway Blood Roses. A perfect color with a perfect name for the Halloween Mystery Shawl. The pictures really don't do the color justice -- beautiful deep reds to reds so dark they're almost black.


Blood Roses 1


I got my yarn for the Mystery Shawl from Morehouse Merino. While I was there a few other items made it into my cart...


Baby Crocodile 1


The Baby Alligator Scarf was just too cute to pass up. ;) And despite what Rose-Kim says, this scarf cracks me up.


Rat Race Scarf


Rat Race scarf -- the red beads are for the eyes! Hee!


Signature Needle Arts is looking for a tester for their new double-pointed needles. They're running it like a contest. If you're interested, let me know and I'll forward you the email. Just make sure that you mention me when you enter. (I want the extra entries.) I have to say, again, that I really like these needles. I think its worth an entry, don't you?





Thursday, September 27, 2007

What WAS on My Needles on Wednesday

Yes, Wednesday was yesterday and I did have something on my needles. I had planned on pinning out the Mystery Shawl (Clue A complete!) and taking pictures. But, I also had to go to Rally class with Bruce. So no picture.


I could've taken a picture today -- except that I decided to work on it when I got home from class and I learned a very valuable lesson:


Mystery Shawl 5 + New TV Season = FROG


I actually took it off the needles last night in frustration. Here's how I learned this very valuable lesson:


The 2nd clue was released on Saturday. I was feeling a bit behind because it took so long for me to pick a yarn. I figured I'd print out both clues on Monday at work, enlarge the charts, and cast on Monday night. It shouldn't take that long to catch-up as I've been seeing people post their completed clues within 24 hrs. My yarn arrived Saturday and the Husband was kind enough to wind it into cakes on Sunday. Printed the pattern at work. I got home and knitted up a swatch for Secret of the Stole.* Then I cast on for MS5 and that was the end of me. I became addicted to watching this thing grow. I cranked out about 20 rows without incident. I'm thrilled -- I'll catchup in no time! Woo hoo!


Then a new show started (Chuck if you're interested). Knit, knit, knit -- wait that doesn't look right -- what did I mess up? Hey wait, what just happened on TV? Rewind, watch, pause (oh how I love my TiVo), find the mistake, tink back a bit. Okay, knitting again. Going good. Huh? I'm reading the wrong row? Tink, tink, tink. Fix. Knit, knit, knit, knit -- wait this isn't garter stitch, crap -- rip back 3 rows (why does Heroes have so many subtitles?) Head up to bed, knit a few more rows. Just one more row and then I'll go to sleep. Wait -- its 1 am???!!!??? Crap.


Tuesday -- get home and start knitting again. It is basically a repeat of Monday, except with different television shows. (Journey Man on TiVo from Monday, House and Bones.) Oh - and ripping back the last four rows I knit last night. Ahhh Clue A is completely done. What? 1:30 am??? Crap.


Wednesday -- get home, do house stuff, go to rally calls, come home and start knitting again. Repeat of Monday, with different TV shows. Yes, it includes the ripping back. Head up to bed -- knit a few more rows -- find an error, tear back the 4 rows to get to where I made the mistake. Picking up the stitches, realize that there's another error, three rows down. (Of course, I didn't figure this out until I had picked up all the stitches and done one or two rows.) I did this three or four times. Seriously, I ended up working on the same rows that I was working on Monday night.


However, I cannot stop wanting to knit this thing. Look at the colors, the details...


Mystery Shawl 3


Mystery Shawl 4


But the poor yarn, I swear I've knitted the same yarn four or more times. It is tired. It needs to relax -- especially since my knitting tightened up A LOT while I was stressing. I've decided to frog the whole thing. I'm going to see just how kinked the yarn is -- if it is really bad, it'll be re-skeined and given a light bath. Luckily, I've got 3 other cakes to work from. But not tonight. No. I am going to wait until Saturday. The Husband is in a golf tournament -- gone all day. Bruce & I have a rally trial in the morning, but other than that -- I got nothing... except laundry. (Why is there always laundry to do? Seriously, it never seems to get done.) The Husband was also kind enough to run out during his lunch hour to get me some embroidery floss to use as a lifeline. I'm not working without a net again! I'll worry about this on Saturday...


Mystery Shawl 2


No, tonight -- I'm going to start on my Clapotis -- after all that

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How about some puppy pictures? (I have no idea why I cannot get a decent shot of Tyler & the Mastiffs together.) He was on one side and they were on the other -- the gate was open, so I don't know why they thought they had to stay in "jail".


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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Dish Rag Tag -- The Prize

I'm a bad blogger.  I received my prize from Dish Rag Tag a while ago and totally forgot to post about it...


2nd Place Dish Rag Tag


I received the official certificate and my Peace Fleece Knitting Needles.  (Size 8 -- perfect for more dishrags.)


Dish Rag Tag 6


A close up of the hand-painted tops.  I don't know why the colors are so yucky.  They really are quite beautiful. 


 Dish Rag Tag 5


Monday, September 24, 2007

What Was I Thinking???

So, I finished a bunch of stuff. Great.

I've got a bunch of stuff still in progress. The progress only tells part of the story...there's more. (Sorry -- the links are to Ravelry.)

So, what do I do? I sign-up for not one, not two, but THREE mystery shawl/stole projects.

First, the Mystery Shawl -- they're already on clue 2 and I just got my yarn. But isn't it beautiful?

Morehouse Merino


Next, the Secret of the Stole -- At least I have the yarn, but I haven't done the swatch yet. I'm only a little behind.

And finally, the Halloween Mystery Shawl -- at least this one hasn't started yet. I'm waiting for the yarn I ordered from ColorfulSheep on etsy. Its called Blood Roses. Sounds great for a Halloween-themed knit, doesn't it?

And as if that wasn't enough, I also joined the Second Wave Clapotis KAL. My yarn is wound, I've found all my stitch markers and my needles are ready. But I haven't even cast on yet. Sigh.
Brooks Farm 23


I did manage to get the Rose Garden Shawl (Ravelry) finished. Its waiting to be blocked.
Hattie's Rose Garden 4
Hattie's Rose Garden 5
Hattie's Rose Garden 6


There's also the Jute Rope Scarf on my needles too...
PICT0031_edited

What am I thinking?

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Finished Objects

FINISHED OBJECTS*

*Finished Object: ends weaved in, washed and blocked


Pattern: Besotted Scarf - Ravelry
Yarn: Brooks Farm Four Play - Ravelry
Comments: This was a lot of fun to knit up. The pattern doesn't show up as well as I would've liked due to the variegated color. It is a gift for The Husband, so I kinda like that the "hugs & kisses" don't show up so well - its my secret message to him. (Okay - so you know...just hush.)



Besotted Scarf 7
Besotted Scarf 9
Besotted Scarf 10


Pattern: Sproingy Scarf - Ravelry
Yarn: Brooks Farm Four Play - Ravelry
Comments: This pattern was very interesting but I don't know that that yarn really picked up the fun bits. It was nice yarn to work with though.


Sproingy Scarf 4
Sproingy Scarf 3


Pattern: My So-Called Scarf - Ravelry
Yarn: Brooks Farm Four Play - Ravelry
Comments: I really enjoyed this pattern. I love the stitch definition.


My So-Called Scarf 10

My So-Called Scarf 12

My So-Called Scarf 13



Pattern: Rosebud Shawl - Ravelry
Yarn: Briar Rose Fibers Fourth of July - Ravelry
Comments: This was a lot of fun to knit. Not so much fun blocking. (The husband was kind enough to pose with the shawl...)


Rosebud Shawl 10
blocking shot


Rosebud Shawl 12
Rosebud Shawl 13
Rosebud Shawl 14