FO Friday!

Dear blog friends....I feel I owe you an explanation for my quietness this week.  School/work got a little overwhelming this week so something had to suffer....so the blog was quiet. I think things are better now!   I so enjoy blogging and sharing what I'm working on with you all...you encourage me, inspire me, and welcome me to your world with such open arms.  But I also chose not to feel guilty if the blogging doesn't happen....so without further ado let me tell you about what I've been working on!

Old Shale Lace Triangle Shawl is done!!!

Needles: US 8

Yarn: 4 oz of handspun done on my spindle! about 350yds...color: Cocoa

Mods:  I didn't end on the row they told me to, but it worked out just fine.

Made for:  Mamie (DH's grandma)

The ladies at knit night think I give too much of my knitting away, but I think that is half the fun.  Thinking about someone I don't see very often and making them something special so they can think about me in the year ahead.  Oh well, I'll do what I want!

Close up of the lace!

Back view!

Lindy and I are still doing well and we've been busy, look to see what we've been doing on Monday!  Enjoy the weekend, I know I will!

Old Shale

First off....I voted, did you?  whatever your opinion, please go vote!  We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the right to voice our opinions!  (The lines weren't so bad at my polling place)

With the socks finished a new project was needed!  I started Evelyn Clark's Old Shale Lace Triangle Shawl (it is published in Spinoff...which one of my knitting friends gave me)

 

The pattern is really simple but well suited for handspun yarn and interesting enough to not be boring!  Yes I'm using my second skein of handspun on the project.  It looks super, but as with all lace the true transformation will come with the blocking.  I'm just going to knit until I run out of yarn and then call it good!  Hopefully it will be big enough.

Knox wanted to help take the picture!  :)  She has been so cuddly since the weather turned cooler and I'm enjoying every minute of it!   Spinning wheel update:  Fedex says it will be here tomorrow!!! Talk about fast.  I must hurry and get all these Christmas projects finished!!!  I got a good suggestion on a name for my spinning wheel yesterday and I'm definitely mulling it over. 

The Finish Line!

Last night I crossed the finish line in the Shawl Relay!  I couldn't have done it without all your cheering....after a night of blocking here she is:

Pattern:  Swallowtail by Evelyn Clark

Yarn: Knitpicks Bare Lace weight (about 1/2 of the skein...don't have a scale to know for sure)

Needles: US 4 (everyone at knit night were perplexed that I used straight needles, but I did)

Modifications:  Make a little bigger by doing 5 extra repeats of the budding lace pattern.  I thought that would be it until row 3 of chart 4.  I must have ripped it out 5 times.  Pepperknit details the extra mod that needs to be made here!  Then all was well!

Knitted for:  Well originally I thought this was for me, but I have another shawl in mind for myself so this will be gifted.  Who will be the lucky one?

This shawl doesn't have the shine that the last one does (no silk in this yarn) but I still couldn't be happier with it for a small shawl/scarf!

And the week wouldn't be complete without a picture of Knox!

Shawl Relay Update

Oh my...I had every intention of posting these pics yesterday, but well the day got away from me!  Yesterday I gave two math talks to incoming grad students (remember I knitted a pseudosphere for one of the talks)  They went well, but they sort of consumed my day...especially with prepping for the class I'm teaching in the fall too.  No complaints mind you, just reasoning for neglecting the blog.

So without further ado...here are the progress reports on the swallowtail shawl:  

I'm almost done with the Lily of the Valley border (those are my favorite flowers)  In fact I just have one purl row left.  Then the lace border and I'm done (less than 20 rows left).   The numbs in the border look nice and aren't too bad, but these last 20 rows will go faster because there aren't any numbs!

Spinning Book Reviews:

Last week I checked out 2 spinning books and some of you wanted my opinion.  I feel like there should be some sort of disclaimer here because I'm a novice and may not know enough to give a good opinion, but.....here goes.  My thoughts:

1. The Complete Spinning Book by Candace Crockett.  The book was chocked full of history of the art of spinning and wool.  It didn't offer much practical advice about how to actually spin, so it wasn't what I was after.
2. The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning.  This book had some strengths and weaknesses.  I felt the strengths were in how to prepare wool to spin (if you don't buy it already prepped)  It also did a good just explaining some of the common terms used in the spinning world.  It definitely favored spinning with a wheel (I haven't done this and really just skimmed those sections)  The weakness was on this books attitude towards spinning on a spindle.  At one point they said they won't even speak about how to ply on a spindle because who would do that?  I'm paraphrasing of course, but...anyway this wouldn't be a book I would buy but it was nice to have a better understanding of the fiber I will use.
3. On Ravelry the book Spindle Spinning: From Novice to Expert by Connie Delaney was highly recommended.  It is currently checked out of my library, but I will get my hands on it soon and let you know what I think.

This and That

1. I have started the Lily of the Valley Border chart on my shawl! (yeah!)  I had hoped to be a little further along, but....had to do some school work and visit the pastor's new little baby, and special time with DH who came home early yesterday!  (definitely worth being a little behind)  There still should be no problem finishing in time, so no worries!
2. Last night DH and I tried a new restaurant....standard Louisiana fare.  Our favorite such restaurant has been the Chimes (close to campus, affordable, and very yummy)  It was the first such restaurant we had been to and while we've sampled many it has still come out on top....until now.  Now we say they are tied...each has their strengths.  The new restaurant we heard about during a guest preacher's sermon a church (another reason to pay attention during church!)  It is called Kevin's Cajun Cafe'.  It is a little bit of a drive, but yummy!  I've never liked catfish before....now I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
3. Thanks for thinking about Knox....she was doing the same whining/looking at the ceiling thing to DH later that night, but is now back to normal....enjoying my lap while I'm knitting.

Ravelympics...day 5

The shawl is going well!  I have done 15 of the 19 repeats of the budding lace pattern....then I get to change charts :)  

I think I have a total of 60 rows left!  I'm not letting myself get too relaxed about it though because each row gets longer.  It has been fun to knit on it while watching the games....I love the gymnastics!!  Our men's team did awesome last night....ladies tonight!

Here is Knox looking content and relaxed last night!

But this morning she is intent on something.  She keeps looking up and for the life of me and I don't what she is looking at....normally I find some minuscule bug, but who knows today.  Further she is whining while watching which is totally uncharacteristic.  Oh well...she'll get tired and take a nap and forget about it! :)  Happy knitting!

Let the games begin!

At 7:00 am this morning the Ravelympics began!  I got my cup of coffee and started my shawl!  Here it is after the first chart.....it makes you feel like you are making great progress to be finished with a chart, but I know....lots more to go.  In fact I've done the 2nd chart 2 times (out of 19) and each time it gets longer.  But I'm confidant that it will be done in no time!

So how did I do on my goals for yesterday?

1. Socks--finished!!! Even blocked!
2. Skirt--almost done...just have to hand stitch (yuck)  the yoke lining on the inside.  I tried it on last night (and it looks all finished on the right side)  I couldn't be happier!  DH wants me to wear it to church on Sunday and he said he would take pics of it then....so Monday it should debut on the blog (I guess I have to do that hand stitching) :)
3. Other goodies for swap....I started one of them (they should be a good diversion when I'm tired of the shawl)

So not bad!

Okay....have to stay focus on the games!  GEAUX BRRS!!!!

Ravelympics 2008

How could I have forgotten?  In yesterday's post I showed you all my lovely knitpicks goodies and forgot one!!!

Here is it:

Some white/cream (I don't know the color...it's called bare) laceweight to make my own swallowtail!  If you remember I made one in a lovely gray that my mom is in love with....I think I will make mine a little bit bigger too (do 5 extra repeats of the budding lace part)  Anyway, I decide this project would be the perfect project for Ravelympics 2008!

The idea is you cast on during the opening ceremonies and must cast off by the closing ceremonies!  (oh and it should be a challenge!) It was hard to pick from so many fun categories!

Events:

Afghan Marathon
Amigurumi-n-Toys Toss
Baby Dressage
Bag-n-Tote Backstroke
Cable Steeplechase
Colorwork Cross-Country
Cowl Jump
Designers Discus
Fantasy DecKnitathalon
Felted Freestyle
Free-For-All Freestyle
Fleece to Finished Fencing
Glove Decathlon
Gift Knits Pentathlon
Hand-Dyed Hurdles
Handspun Heptathalon
Hat Dash
Holiday Handball
Home-Stuff Hammerthrow
Itsy Bitsy Bikini Breaststroke
Laceweight Long Jump
Mitten Medley
Scarf Stroke
Shawl Relay
Sock Put
Sweater Sprint
Synchronized Flirty Skirts
Stitching Springboard
Vest Vault
WIPs Wrestling

While I debated long and hard between the Sock Put and the Shawl Relay, I've decided to sign up under Team Baton Rouge Red Sticks for the Shawl Relay!  Let the training begin!!!

My Story:

So let's see where we left off....God worked mightily in my life 8 years ago....I had seizures....was diagnosed with an AVM....learned to really depend on God....went to see the neurosurgeon....okay I think that is where we are!   

I desperately wanted this AVM to miraculously disappear!  I prayed that when the final test to decide if surgery was safe happened, they wouldn't see anything.  That didn't happen!  At first I was crestfallen!  Had my faith not been good enough?  had I not really been believing?  Then God showed me that while His Word has many promises of healing (some I shared yesterday) He doesn't promise how or when that healing will occur!  

The doctors concluded that surgery was a safe option (Praise the Lord!) With my age and the size of the AVM it seemed the better option than radiation!  So I prepared for brain surgery on July 26th!   At first glance this doesn't seem good.  Who wants brain surgery?  But in reality many people with AVM's have no warning signs....eventually they have an aneurysm (bleeding in the brain) and die!  I'm very thankful the seizures alerted doctors to this situation so it could be dealt with!!!

Yarn!

Thank you all for the lovely comments on the swallowtail shawl.  I mentioned that it might be screaming to go "live" with someone else.  Well last night I talked with my mom about the shawl:

Leah: Have you seen the finished shawl?

Mom:  Yes

L: Well I was kinda thinking it was screaming you.  Have you seen it blocked?

M: no, but you should keep some things for yourself! 

(mom gets on computer)

M: OH!!!!  That definitely screams me!  How did you ever doubt that?  We could "share" it.  (ie-I use it and when I die you could inherit it)

M: (laugh)

I proceeded to tell her we would see.  I might wear it a couple of times and see what I think.  I also think I have some cream lace yarn in my stash and I could make one for myself.  The cream would be a better color for me (and I would make it a little bigger by doing 5 extra repeats of the budding lace part).  Plus gray is my mom's color!  

I picked up some new yarn at Discontinued Brand Name Yarn and it came!  Here are some pics:

Cherry tree Hill Supersock in Island Red.  (a nice red that isn't too bright, nice and subdued)

Cherry tree Hill Supersock in Dove (almost grey, but has some green tones in it too...a hard color to describe, but very nice)

Cherry tree Hill Supersock DK in a purple blend (so I love this color and this was the reason I really placed the order, but I didn't notice the DK, so it is a little thicker than I thought, but I saw on Ravelry that many people have made lovely socks out of this yarn)

Louet Gems fingering weight (this yarn is to dye myself...I think I'm going to use Koolaid....I used this base for my May socks and really liked it, so this should be a fun project!)

Pictures

I think I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves! (They aren't too bad considering I took them all myself)