I've Been Thinking

Mostly, I've been thinking about what I want to knit next. After Girasole, yes, only two days ago, I finished my Cashmere Cowl.



It's so soft and beautiful! I can't wait to wear it once summer's over.

Now, I am finishing the Spring Forward socks I started in December of '09. I'm working on these for a friend. One sock is complete and I'm working the leg of the second sock. Wow, I'm such a snore today.

A New Blanket

I DID IT. I knit a Girasole!! I can't even describe how happy this makes me. I have never, in my life, knit something that was this complicated and that took so long to complete. When I say complicated, I don't actually mean it, either. This pattern is so clearly written that the only mistakes I made were out of my own stupidity. I only THOUGHT it would be complicated.

Knitters, if you love the look of this blanket, and long to have one sitting on the back of your couch, or draped over your bed, KNIT IT. It can be done! I'm so not kidding. I thought I would, for sure, make some unfixable mistake or get stuck on the pattern and never finish it. I did finish it, and you can too!!



Please excuse the unwoven ends and my blue carpet. We need hardwood floors. Bad.




This picture shows the pattern nicely, but does not correctly reflect the color.



This shows the color perfectly! What to do next? Besides weave in those ends, I mean! I think I should finish the two WIPs I have on my project page on Ravelry. Yes, I should finish them. But will I?

Spring Girasole

It's a beautiful Friday morning. I just went outside and cut some of our Azaleas back, got out the old mason jars and made vases:



It's been a busy month and a half. I HAVE been knitting, though! I am still working on Girasole. All in all, this is a very easy knit. So far, my only obstacle has been the cast on, which I figured out using this video:



Seriously, this video is THE reason I am knitting this blanket. The other methods just didn't click.

Does anyone else find it strange that I am knitting a blanket just when the weather starts hitting the 80s? I do! But I really want to finish it. I still have quite a while to go, and 640 stitches per row. I've made a couple of "stupid" mistakes, but I've managed to get myself out of each one(so far). When I finish this, it will be my biggest knitting accomplishment thus far. Literally. BIGGEST. Here's a pic of my progress, albeit squished.



I'm actually a little bit further at this point. After this is done, I already want to knit the Hemlock Ring Blanket. There's about half the yardage needed for this little lap blanket. So want to knit it! Anyway, off to walk the dog! Enjoy this beautiful day!

New Challenge

So, about that cowl I was working on. The dog got a hold of it, tore the inside of the ball outward and made a mess of my cashmere lace. There have been numerous attempts to salvage it and keep going. There was a point where I just had to put it away until I had the patience to finish it. I only have an inch to go! I WILL get back to it at some point.

I took a wee knitting break. It was probably only about a week and a half, but a nice one at that. I decided I really wanted to knit a blanket. I mean, I wanted to knit something over the top nice and intricate. I downloaded the pattern for Girasole a while ago. Never thought I'd knit it. Always wanted to. I ordered the yarn and cast on and now I'm moving along!



I'm on Chart B. I've been part of a fabulous Knit Along (KAL) on Ravelry too, and I know if I hit any real snags they will be able to help me, which is a HUGE weight off my shoulders. I'm knitting this out of 220 Superwash in Japanese Maple. So far so good! I just have to be careful not to try to get ahead of myself. The first few charts look pretty easy, but I think it gets a lot more complicated.

Spring has sprung in Louisiana. There is pollen EVERYWHERE. I am not exaggerating. It's thick and you can't get rid of it. We need a good day of rain. Maybe then I will be able to breathe again!!

Cowl of Doom

I started knitting this cowl a little while ago. I figured it would be one of those perfect portable projects(PPP for short). UNTIL I got 5 inches into it, and the puppy had ripped the ball inside out and tangled it up! Do you know what a PITA it is to untangle cashmere lace?? blehegfdshfusfjsfosguafi!!!!!!! So, I spent about an hour trying to knit, untangle, knit and untangle. It worked for a while but there was still a massive knotted mess to get undone. I tried to work it out this evening, but my shiny scissors kept calling me. "Shauna....Shauna....Shauna...just cut it and be done. You won't lose that much yardage do it....do it....DO IT!!" So I did.



Now we're back to normal and I won't be leaving this anywhere within the puppy's reach.

I scored huge on the last Plucky Knitter update too. Got some nice goodies and I haven't decided what to use them for just yet.

More eye candy...The Plucky Knitter tote. So psyched to have one of these!!



Eh hem. Still haven't finished the second sock yet for my Spring Forward socks.

In other non-knitting related news, I have a 10 year old stepdaughter who has a 24 hour stomach virus. Can't get her to drink liquids now. Off to do my best convincing!!!

Where's the bandwagon?

I have something to admit. I totally missed the Twilight bandwagon. (Obviously, if I'm only just mentioning it now) I just saw the first movie, and surprisingly, I loved it. This is usually not my thing, but I really did like it. So I just ordered the first three books on Amazon this evening. So late, I know. Hopefully I will stay interested long enough to read them.

Tonight I cast on a Cashmere Cowl. Yet again, I'm knitting with The Plucky Knitter yarn, this time cashmere lace, in the colorway Duchy. This is a horrible bedside iphone photo, but here's a peek anyway!



I always like to have an easy knit on the needles, so this one will be it. I have been really happy with my knitting lately. This is probably because I've knit a few quickie projects! Hey, whatever works! I really have to finish those Spring Forward socks eventually. Those are a gift for a friend and I'd love to cast off and give them away!

Today was gorgeous and we tool the kids to the zoo. It was fun. Small, but fun :) A lot of the animals were napping when we got there, but the time we spent together made it all worth it!

A New FO

I finished the hat. The only problem is that I was too eager to finish and didn't read the directions properly. I accidentally repeated the same cable twice in the center. I couldn't bear to rip it out so I kept it and I still love it. How could I not? The color is faboosh!!



I still haven't untangled the dog's knitting project. What shall I knit next? I am kind of liking these instant gratification knits! Might need to do another quick one :) Off to search Ravelry!