The Vine Lace Shawl is Getting a Turn

I'm not sure what happened. Maybe I got just a bit burned out on socks or maybe I am just really ready to knit some lace. Whatever the case, the Vine Lace shawl has been a lot of knitting lately.

I am really enjoying it. My hands don't cramp from trying to hold the yarn tight to maintain some kind of gauge. I just knit and yarn over and purl and don't worry about it being a bit airy. I'm currently at 34" without stretch. I figure I need to be at 52"-55" in order to finisd at 88" or 90".

To determine my finished unblocked length, I measured out a 6" long unstretched section and then blocked that section out. It blocked to 10" long. This told me my unstretched measurement was 60% of the final size. If I want a stole 88" long, I need to get to 55" unstretched. Another example of how to apply math in real life.

I make no mention of the width. I figure that's pretty much set. I was happy enough with the width stretch when I blocked it. I'm good.

Guess I'll get back to knitting. I have about 20" more to go. But I'm really enjoying.

It Was a Handmade Christmas!

We had Christmas with my family in OK this weekend. As is turns out, it was a predominantly handmade Christmas. I started to say homemade, but that doesn't do justice to the wonderful works of art I received.

I put in a request with my Aunt Peggy for a painting. We have a bathroom near the pool that I want to decorate with a beach theme. I have these pictures I took on our cruise to Mexico, but alone they were not all that outstanding. I had a vision of them being combined.

Aunt Peggy did a great job of putting them together into a wonderful painting. It will definitely be the focal point of the pool bathroom. I love it.

My sister-in-law surprised me with this fantastic filet crochetted piece. B is my married family initial. Those that know me know me by my maiden name, but my married name starts with a "B." She would have done the whole name, but it's 9 letters long and she was afraid she wouldn't find a frame to fit it. I just love it.

My Mom paints these fantanstic rock animals. I asked her for a rabbit for Christmas. The rabbit will have a special place in my flower garden in the back yard. I'm going to nestle her into the mulch once the bed wakes up from winter.

My sister got me one of those LCD picture frames. So cool. I can put family pictures in it as well as pictures I've taken on trips.

It was a good Christmas. I love everything I got. Several things I could not have made for myself and one thing I would never have bought for myself.

Brigit - My First FO for 2008

These are my Gigi Silva - Brigit socks. They are my December Sockdown offering and they are finished - ends woven in and everything.

I cast on 72 followed the pattern. I wish I had made the leg longer. I had yarn leftover, kind of alot. I did the Jeri toe and stopped when I had 10 stitches on each needle to kitchner together.

Yesterday I cast on my January Sockdown socks - Cookie A's Pomatomus. I'm doing them toe up and I started with 10 stitches on each needle. I finished increasing the first toe and I thought I might cast on the second toe during the Cowboy's game today, but instead I'm going to get into the pattern and make sure it's going to work. Then if it does, I'll cast on the second sock. I'm using the Wollmeise Sockenwolle and I'm in love.

One Step Forward and Two Steps Back

I knit a lot this weekend. I finished #1 Brigit sock to the toe. I would be much further along on Brigit sock #2 if I hadn't done so much re-knitting. Twice - twice I just yanked the needles out and started frogging. This is not something you do lightly on cabled socks. But the error was so bad and so far back that was all I could do. In the end it worked out fine. Hopefully I won't make the same mistakes on sock #2.

I knit a couple of rows on the vine lace shawl. Just so it would have a turn.

I did not cast on the Clapotis even though I seriously considered it. I gave the vine lace shawl a turn instead.

I'm nothing if not faithful. I keep thinking, I don't want to give the shawl a turn right now, if I'll just knit on the socks, I can get them done. Then I'll cast on the January SKA sock. I did decide to do Pomatomus in the Wollmeise. Wollmeise is not the kind of yarn you want smoldering in your stash. It is meant to be knit.

I have a KP order coming soon. I ordered 4 new circular needles. If I can just get over this need to be faithful to one project, I might cast on two pairs (that's 4 total) of socks.

On the walking front, I've done 8.75 miles. 9% done. The challenge is about 9% of the way done so I'm on target. Wahoo. The dogs are loving this. I think Baby Girl actually smiles when we are on our walks. Niña too for that matter. They love their walks. I can't even say the word "walk" or they go crazy. I have to spell it out or risk the wrath.

Having a Hissyknit: Is Having a Contest

Having a Hissyknit: Love Knit, Love Knit, Love Knit Contest

Check our Hissyknit's contest. My favorite yarn is Blue Sky Alpaca Silk, I'm knitting the Clapotis and I got it at the Shabby Sheep.

Got the Heel Turned

Just a quick update as I try to get back into work mode after 11 days vacation. I did finish turning the heel on the second Brigit sock before I went to bed last night. Wahoo.

100 Miles in 3 Months

I signed up for the 100 Miles in 3 months Ravelry group. Figured it sounded like a good idea. I like to walk the dogs everyday (except Tuesday cause that's knit night). This way I have a group to share it with.


They mention running 3 miles 3 times a week, but I'll knock it out a day at a time, a mile at a time. I'm sure as the weather gets nicer, I'll put in some longer walks on the weekends. It's not unheard of for the dogs and I to walk for 40-60 minutes on a pretty weekend day.


Brigit update - I finished the heel on one sock and will get started on the second tonight. I think 1 more full pattern repeat for the foot and I'll be ready for the toe. It shouldn't be too long now.



I need to cast on for the January SKA challenge. I'm definitely going with a Cookie A pattern. The question is do I cast on Pomatomus with my Wollmeise Rittersporn

Or take a slightly easier route and knit Hedera with my latest acquisition Charcoal Louet Gems

I'm really leaning toward the Louet Charcoal Hedera. I've read that Hedera is a quick, easy knit. The SOWs also have a Bayerishe KAL coming up in February. So I'll need to free up some needles for that. We'll just have to see what happens.

For now I have to wait for the needles I ordered to come in before I can cast on anything. I guess I have a little time to think and knit.