Robin Blue Shawl

It has been over 6 months since I last posted but I haven't been idle. In fact I've done a ton of knitting, but then I looked at the list I made in January of all my works in progress, wow, I have a lot of work to do.

Any way here is one of my very proud accomplishments, Robin's Blue Shawl

Pattern: Star of Evening Triangle Shawl/Scarf by Anne Hanson
Yarn: I skein of Tanis Fiber Arts Pink Label Lace Weight in Peacock
Needles: 3.25 mm and 2.75 mm
Started: September 1st, 2009

Finished: June 21st, 2o1o

This is a relatively easy shawl to knit, though it can be deceiving in the beginning. The pattern is made up of 24 rows and begins in the corner, once you have around the first 9 stitches you keep repeating the 24 rows until the entire shawl is the size you wish. Then instead of a simple cast off, there is an eight row pattern to create triangles along the top edge. To keep track of where I was in the pattern, I wrote the pattern onto 12 index cards. Each card had the knit side and corresponding purl side. I also used stitch markers to note each 9 stitch cluster, this way I could immediately see if I'd missed a stitch or dropped a yarn over. I think I only made 1 error in the entire shawl.

I loved knitting this shawl.

I made this for my co-worker Robin who is finished her secondment to our consultant position and is off to even greater work helping teachers to refine their teaching. Robin has been so much more than a co-worker, she's been a sounding board, cheerleader, mother/sister/best friend all rolled into a petite little red headed body. Robin cried when I gave her the shawl, what more could you ask for in response.

Emergency Hat Knitting

I had my weekend knitting planned.

A little bit on my sisters garter stitch vest in Marble Chunky (I love this stuff),

a lot more of the Baby Surprise Jacket for my very wonderful very pregnant friend's third baby due to arrive in the next two weeks,

the heel of my second sock of my New Year's Eve cast on socks,

another swatch of my Grotto Wrap in Noro Sekku to see if I can make it work (who knew Sekku is cobweb, I thought it was just a normal lace weight),

and the second half of my Block-A-Month afghan block.

But no, I won't be working on any of these worth while projects. Instead I have emergency hat knitting to do.

When I picked up my sister this evening she did not have her hand knit ribbed hat in Marble Chunky Sand. No, instead she was wearing this monstrosity in fuchsia. Who puts a fuchsia hat on the head of a woman in a burgundy coat????? And what woman in her prime of life wants to be seen in public wearing this hat I ask you????

So, before I bring my sister back toher group home tomorrow evening I must knit her a new hat. Luckily I bought a new ball of Marble Chunky in Sand when I was at my LYS yesterday. It is suppose to be used to finish my sister's Granny Square Afghan, but you use what you have in an emergency.

Luckily, if I don't finish in time, I can send her back into the cruel world with Papa Bear hat that I made using Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop instructions. Whew!

JB's Finished Afghan

My second finished object for 2010.

Pattern: Knitted Afghan by Rosemary Drysdale
From Knit Simple Magazine: Holiday 2008
Yarn: 5 balls of James C Brett Marble Chunky, 13 Misty Brown
Needles: 8.00 mm
Started: December 7th, 2008
Finished: January 11th, 2010

Can you see me behind the afghan? I'm standing with my toes on one edge and I'm holding the other end and stretching up on my toes. It is XX large.

First FO for 2010

Here is my first finished object for 2010. I started it on Wednesday, and finished knitting it this morning. I'm blocking it now and need to sew two buttons on it when it's dry.

Pattern: Duet by Linda Wilgus from Knitty: Winter 2009
Yarn: 2 balls of Fable handknit Pure Baby Alpaca (2 stands)
Needles: 5mm
Started: Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
Finished: Saturday, January 9th, 2010

I love the feel of alpaca. I need to find a hat pattern to use up the other 2 balls of yarn I have in my stash. This is all the yarn I had left over from the two balls I used for this project.

Oh Marie, did you notice I borrowed your system for writing the important information. I follow the master.