Lace Abounds

Finally! We have shawl photos.

I’ll start by showing you Lexi’s Spider’s Web Shawl.

The kid is 18 years old and her knitting is incredible. If she is as good at college as she is at knitting, we’re going to have a brainiac on our hands!

She used JaggerSpun Zephyr in laceweight. She had one of those 5,000 yard cones, so we have no idea how many yards she used.

Isn’t it fabulous? I think I’ll keep it! Just kidding, Lexi. It would help if she had a better model.  I look like a dork.

Also completed is my Koigu Shawl.

I used the Kerry Blue Square Shawl by Martha Waterman. It’s in the Traditional Lace Knit Shawls book.  Thank you to my 14 year old blonde for modeling.

Instead of making the shawl square, I left one side open to make it a wrap. And I didn’t like the last repeat in the pattern so I changed that too.

I also finished my Forest Canopy Shawl. I haven’t blocked it yet, so no photo shoot. And I’m almost done with my Noro Striped Scarf. I’ll have more things off my WIP list.

Ok, and I got sucked into a KAL.  It’s using Dream in Colors Classy, put together by The Loopy Ewe.  I’m making the CeCe cardigan in purple.  I started something new.  So there!!!

I’m ditching my family tomorrow and going off to quilt with friends until Saturday. I’m deserting my family. Actually, I have a sitter lined up for when Honey has to work. I’m making chili for dinner one night and I got groceries. And tomorrow before I go, I’m doing a gazillion loads of laundry. Then I’m leaving!

The next post will be fun. A shawl, a scarf, and some quilting! See ya!

Who Needs A Coat?

Um…maybe me. I live in Minnesota and it’s cold! I almost never wear a coat. I just run. So I bought a coat on sale.

I now have a use for the Noro Striped Scarf. I should finish it.

Shawl photos are coming.  We haven’t had a camera person and a model home at the same time during daylight hours this week.

I’m a Blockhead

Does blocking two large shawls in less than 18 hours make you a blockhead?

Guess what’s on my guest room floor? My second Koigu Shawl.

I added a bunch of yarnovers in the bind off and it still could have been looser. I was hoping the edges would end up pointed, but they’re not. Oh, well. I had to guess on where to start the neck, as this was a pattern for a square shawl. I’m probably going to do a single crochet just to tighten the neck up a bit.

I’m loving the colors, especially with the sun shining on it. Don’t be too envious of our sunshine though, because it’s only about 2 degrees. The wind chill is -30.

And now for a couple of puppy shots. We got this dog in June of last year, and before that I always thought that people that put puppy shots on their blogs were a little…off. Yeah, and what’s your point?

It’s a green photo. Her dog bed is from Christmas, my knitting tools bag is green, and my current knitting project is green. She’s also lying on my wallet. She growls every time I try to get my credit card to order yarn. I have my credit card number memorized, so there!!!

She does love yarn.

I’ll give you a little bit more of a peep at the current project. It’s the Forest Canopy Shawl. The yarn is from Twisted. She’s doing a shop update tomorrow. The Yarn is called Shiny. It’s a 50/50 Superwash Merino/Tencel. The colorway is Karma and it’s a mutating stripe. It’s got a really nice sheen to it. I expected it to be a bit softer, but it almost has a linen feel to it. It will be interesting to see what it does when it’s blocked. I’ve already done way more repeats than the pattern specifies. I want it to be big. Why? Because bigger is better, right? And I’m not out of yarn.

Stay tuned for photos of two finished shawls. Lexi’s is absolutely gorgeous and so lightweight. I threatened to wear it once before sending it to her, but I won’t.

I need to go hand out ice cream bars. There’s a Rock Band party in my basement, and all that rockin’ is making those boys hungry.

Am I a Great Mom, Or What?

My Koigu shawl is finished. So is Lexi’s Spider’s Web shawl. Guess what is blocked and drying? Yup, my darling daughter’s shawl.

First I soaked it in Soak. And it bled, a lot!

Then I started blocking. At first I felt bad for Lexi. All that knitting. It was at about 1,200 stitches per row at the end! She did all the work and I got to block it. Part way through, I decided she owes me. Big. Here it is with the blocking wires woven through all six sides, but not pulled tight.

Then I started pulling each side tight and pinning it down. As I’d get one side nice and tight, the pins would start to pop on an already completed side. I finally got out the big dog T pins.

Here it is, Lexi! Do you love your mommy??? It’s 72 inches from point to point. And she was worried that it was going to be too small!

Tomorrow, I’m blocking my Koigu.

I’ll leave you with a sneak shot of some lace I started in Florida. No, it’s not on my WIP list, because it’s going to be finished soon. I’m not working on anything else until it’s done.

There’s a possibility that I may be blocking three lace things in one week. I think I’ll have lace out of my system for a while!