Knittinggarden

Here was the problem: 1) I messed up the socks I was doing two-at-a-time toe up, and have to start over. 2) I have to cut the armhole steeks on my Kauni and then pick up the stitches for the sleeves. 3) I posted the progress on my Printed Silk Cardigan to the ravelry group, so it feels like I'm done for awhile. 4) It's too hot to work on my wool throw. 6) I finished my scarf for ISE6 . 5) The basic socks I have going in Tofutsies are boring, so.... I decided to start a Pi shawl. (Link shows you Wendy's. ) I considered my lace yarns, almost started with the lovely Perchance to Knit I got at Spring Fling, but then remembered this pretty, although troublesome yarn I had in the stash. I bought this yarn when I first started to knit, off eBay, and had never managed to get it to work with any pattern. It's Madil Luna Park, made in Italy, 90% cotton and 10% polyester. It's a beautiful blue with a little bit of white and pink thrown in. It's not easy to work...

The late spring we're having means that I returned from my wild weekend in St. Louis in time to smell the roses (or ogle the tulips and cherry blossoms). Spring Fling 2008 is now a thing of the past, only living in photographs and memories. It was fabulous meeting Sheri, Janice, Wendy, Cookie, Claudia (the Woolmeise herself), the two indie dyers Allen and Stacey, Kellie from New Zealand, and all the rest of the knitters - some virtual friends from Ravelry and some brand new friends. Everyone I met was happy to be there, thrilled to visit The Loopy Ewe , and enjoying life as a knitter. Though we were from all parts of the country (and world) we had knitting in common and there was always something to learn, something to share, something to talk and laugh about. Here's the whole group: Some of us made squares for a blanket for Claudia. We chose squares from The Great American Afghan book so she could have pieces of America to take back to Germany. I made the blue one in t...

Today's blog post is weather-related. I'm having a hard time figuring things out. Tuesday we drove an hour north of Seattle to visit tulip fields, where the tulips are a little late to open, because (except for last Saturday, when it was almost 80 degrees F) we've had a cool, wet spring. The day was cloudy, cool, and we had a little rain, but we saw some pretty flowers. Here's what it looks like outside my door tonight: This is my gazing globe which I usually can't see from here because the clump of lavender (now lying down) hides it. These pink things are rhododendon buds which thought they should be opening, but instead got buried under a ton of wet snow. This is our pink dogwood tree, which appeared to be ready to blossom any day. Now I'm not so sure. At the end of this week, I'll be flying off to St. Louis to attend the first Spring Fling hosted by The Loopy Ewe . I'll be out of this weird snow and into conditions much more familiar to us west...

It's been awhile since I've posted any knitting, but I have finished a few things. Let's see, I got it into my head that I had to finish my Cozy wrap before our trip to Ireland, so I could take it on the plane as a blankie. Well, I knitted and knitted, so much so that my elbow began to hurt (ack!) but didn't finish. I decided to take it with me as airplane knitting, even though the larger, sharper Harmony needles I was using could perhaps be a problem, but they sailed through security screening each time. (I love these needles by the way, in all sizes. I haven't had any problems with them at all.) So Cozy came with me, sat on my lap, and I finally finished it halfway through the trip. Then I decided that it wasn't long enough, so I packed it into my suitcase and planned to block it out larger after returning home. Well, I blocked it and now it's really long, but I still like it and use it to throw over my shoulders as I sit and knit at home. Here...

and that's how many were reported to be lining the route of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. We were poised precariously on a second story ledge outside a window of our hotel waiting for our Princess and her high school marching band to appear in the crowded street below. They came, they played, they conquered! Here is a short clip (sorry it looks so fuzzy) of the Best Youth Band: Shorecrest High School Band, Shoreline Washington as awarded by the official St. Patrick's Festival organization. Congratulations, kids. You did a great job and we were thrilled to be able to see it. The Drummer Girl concentrating: These balloons were huge and cool, and right in front of our kids. What a crowd!

to watch the Princess/Drummer Girl's high school band march in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin. It doesn't get much better than that! See you next week.

Now that the mittens are finished, the Princess looks for the snow. Come on, bring it on! I know it's out there! No snow in Seattle today.

Not that I am... There's been a lot of knitting-related goings on lately, but I haven't gotten around to writing them down. I am determined to keep up with my FO reporting, so here goes. I finished my Moderne Baby Blanket and have it packed up to go to afghans for Afghans . I also made two tiny pairs of socks out of leftover yarn and will tuck them into the box, too. It makes me happy to think about little Afghan babies wearing the same socks that I am. I hope they'll keep someone warm on a cold day. I also finished my Flower Basket shawl today. I'll have to take a better picture, but couldn't wait to get it documented. The colorful beach towel doesn't add to the look of the shawl, but it works for the blocking. The Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist (purchased at The Loopy Ewe ) was great to work with, and I got through this pattern pretty easily. (I still have to concentrate pretty hard to keep my place in the chart no matter what tricks or markings I emp...

not to be sad when the kids leave for college. One day you will realize that there must be some extra shelves in someone's former closet that can, with some judicious rearranging of abandoned junk important stuff that might be needed someday, be used for yarn storage.

It is very heartwarming to belong to such a generous group as the Knitters. As I cruise blogland, I find more and more opportunities to be of help to others. I intersperse knitting for self and family with charity knitting and feel good about providing some warmth to someone in need as I learn new skills. I'd like to mention my Dishrag Tag teammate and blog buddy, Sarah-Hope, who is holding a raffle and giving away some great prizes to raise money for animal causes, something near and dear to her heart. Check out her blog and make a donation, if you can. Just a chance to look at her lovely Swallowtail Shawl makes the trip worthwhile! I've also recently heard about The Make it Right project and specifically The House that Yarn Built. If you can give up a skein of yarn or two, consider donating the money here and help build a house for Katrina victims. There's also a drawing going on for some cool yarny prizes. I finished my second pair of Fingerless Mitts for niece #2...

Since I'm determined to keep track of what I knit this year, I will post photos when I finish something and also add it to my Flickr set of 2008 knitting. How's that for organization? Now if I could just make a schedule of what's next and stick to it.....The bags of projects are piling up around my knitting chair again. Here are the fingerless mitts I made for a niece's birthday. I used Cascade 220 Superwash and a size 6 needle; Addi Turbos 32" cable for Magic Loop. I started them two-at-a-time but made a mistake in one so had to separate them, rip one back and then finish. The pattern is Cableback Gloves by A. Karen Alfke. I also finished a pair of baby socks to send to afghans for Afghans . I used some leftover Regia tweed sock yarn and the Infant Socks pattern by Judy Ellis. These are quick and so cute! I did make both of these at the same time - I started with two circs, got mixed up with the cables, put them on Magic Loop (after separating them to do...

Okay, okay, I know my oldest is 20, but how can it be possible that my baby is 17? Wasn't it just yesterday when I looked like this and then you looked like this? You always had the most amazing hair. You had more hair than most babies, more hair than most two year olds, and lots more hair than most three year olds. And then there was the talent! The lovely bunny ballerina who decided that dancing wasn't her thing; the little girl who played the huge piano (and who still plays very well, even after deciding not to pursue it seriously.) The sports have always been important. Soccer from first grade, basketball from second grade. We went to a lot of games! It's been great fun watching you play, grow, and change. Buddy was mascot for awhile. You and your "twin" had lots of fun playing last year. And we can't forget the year of the track champions. You girls were fast! Marching band has taken you around Seattle, to Victoria, BC and this year will be Ir...