A Texan Snow Day

Pattern: Aeolian, Knitty Spring 09' Yarn: Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace Beads: Size 8

So today was a real, everything-closed-down snow day. Schools closed, the rink was closed. Texas doesn't have salt trucks, so the roads are complete sheets of ice. And this is what I have to show for the day. A beautiful red Aeolian shawl, fully beaded. I'm on the edge chart already (I cast on like maybe Friday) because I am hypnotized by the yarn, the beads, the pattern. The picture doesn't do this beautiful creation justice. The beads are brighter, the yarn redder... and yes, before you ask, it's a different red than my Juneberry and my Laminaria. I just really like red shawls. I have secret plans to wear this jewel to Cirque du Soleil's performance of OVO at the end of this month. (I have seats in the second row!! I can't wait!!) There's talk of another snow day tomorrow, so I might be done before long! Stay warm, and GO STEELERS!!

Noticing a trend?

Strago. Juneberry. Thinking about resurrecting my Green Autumn mittens from the pitiful bobbles that had them banned this fall. A coincidence? Unlikely. I think there is a definite trend. I am completely obsessed with Jared Flood right now. It might have something to do with how cold it has suddenly become in Texas. We got about an inch of snow and businesses -wait for it- lost power. My Northern soul laughs. My Texas neighbors shake their heads and steer clear of perfectly clear roads, for fear of ice. I don't think they know what it really looks like... I think the obsession with Brooklyn Tweed is due to how cozy his knits are. They are perfect for huddling up with; every one is beautifully simple to execute, the patterns never leave you scratching your chin and the end projects are effortlessly easy to wear. I particularly love his mittens. He's even made me change my mind about bobbles. Now that's something.

Halfway There (almost)

So, being stuck on the couch because of my leg/hip/groin, I have been knitting. When the doctor said "You need to rest, let your muscle heal itself," I heard: "You need to knit, finish your Christmas presents and heck, go ahead and cast on anything else that catches your fancy,". Same thing, in my opinion. I have been making headway, at least on the knitting, leg still angry. I finished Amy's Present For Being A Good Friend and it's gorgeous. It's Abrazo by Susanna IC. I really want one in a deep plum color with shiny gold beads for myself. I think Amy's going to love it. You can't really see the beads from the pictures, but they add just the right amount of twinkle and weight to keep the fluffy alpaca grounded.

I started a Daybreak for myself (I know, and in the middle of Christmas crunch, no less!) which I am highly amused by.

I only have one more gift to finish, but I can't share details on that, now can I?

New Interweave Knits Magazine!!!

Interweave Knits is one of my favorite knitting magazines and I just got the new one!!! I got an email from Shabby Sheep, here in Dallas and checked the patterns out online. I fell head over heels in love with Carol Feller's Leitmotif cardigan and couldn't click on 'bonus pictures' fast enough!!! I feel like I have been searching for exactly this pattern for a long time and now I need to find the perfect yarn. Other patterns I like in this issue are the Bavarian Tulip mittens (which I think I have yarn for, back in PA), Leyfi pullover, Peavey cardigan (who doesn't love all the color combination possibilities that the plaid offers? and, I love Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark's Girl Friday cardigan from Knitty, so I'm biased.) and last but not least I like Hoarfrost Mobius (because who can deny the urge to knit with wire and have it look that beautiful?). Another thing I really like about this issue is how pretty some of the non-knitted clothes are, the blouse shown with the Williamsburg cardigan is really pretty, the dress shown with the Sea and Sky shrug is adorable and I like the shirt shown with the Running-Stitch skirt. I give this issue an A+.

My current Artichaut shawl is going really well, I am extremely happy with the marriage between pattern and yarn, the fuzzy cashmere with the uber lacy-ness is making it come out very, very girly, but in a very, very good way. I am on the 3rd repeat and believe I will have plenty of yarn to finish 6 repeats! Almost half way there, then!

Summer Heat

Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you have all been waiting for: pictures of a finished Lilia! Shot on location at Grapevine Lake, Grapevine, Texas (just outside of Dallas). 108 degrees that day and the water was not much cooler. It was fun to sit and work on my tan though, especially with how little time I have to just chill...I need a different swimsuit though, when I untied my triangle bikini to get rid of those tan lines while maintaining modesty (at least to some degree), I swear, every boat on that lake was over to see how much of a tan I wanted! Anyway, I would have liked to take more pictures, but it was just so hot that the ones I do have barely got taken; I just didn't want to move.

I cast on for my Juneberry, got through chart 1 then hit chart 2. Chart 2's very, very complicated. You need your thinking cap on for that one, if it slips off even the smallest bit, you're doomed. Other people (including people I know) have made it through the treacherous waters of chart 2, but mentally I don't think I have it right now. I love the Juneberry shawl and will come back to it, but I need mindless, not mindful knitting...

Love Poem to Cashmere

Love poems can be
full of sappiness
but this one's for
cashmere,
and happiness.

Soft as a bunny,
lighter than air
stitch definition
so clear,
there is no compare.

Cashmere, you beauty,
you fiber queen,
I love you so much,
though you make
my wallet lean!

That is the worst poem you've ever read, right? Well, it comes from the heart, so remember that as you laugh. Most love poems are a bit painful to read anyway...I can't spend too much time being a poet, I must knit! The inspiration came from my lovely Jojoland Cashmere 2 ply, which I am using to make Juneberry Triangle, by the talented Jared Flood. So far I have only got to row 8 of chart 1, because I had to spill forth the truth my heart yearned to have the world know about my feeling for cashmere in (horrible) poem form. I am very pleased so far, but that was a somewhat obvious statement, eh?

Anticipation!

Okay, I am on the LAST wedge of my beautiful Lilia! I pinned a section out to see what it will look like blocked because I am impatient and I am terrifically excited about this one! It is the biggest piece of lace knitting I have done, and I am excited, excited, excited and can't wait to post some lovely pictures here, check back soon!

Sweet Lily Obsession

I have 8 more wedges to do on my Sweet Lily Shawl (Interweave Knits, Spring 2009)and I am super excited about this one! I am calling in 'Lilia', Russian for lily of the valley, because of the lace edging which repeats across the bottom of the shawl. The shawl is knit in wedges, using short rows, which were very confusing until I finished the 3rd wedge and wrote down how many sts remained unworked at the end of each row. After that, this project graduated from 'no talking while I count' to 'watch tv/chitter chatter' knitting.

The yarn, Madelinetosh Lace, came from my stash, it was bought in Vermont, at Kaleidoscope Yarns in Essex Junction. The shop is literally a house of yarn, with each room devoted to a different weight/fiber. I would really like to have a reason to get back there. Vermont is really far away from Plano, Texas though...Try 1 day and 5 hours away, through 8 states!

I love Mad Tosh. I love love love the colors! They are like colors straight out of a dream and they make me very happy whenever I see them at my LYS. The color I am using for Lilia is 'Thyme', though it reminded me more of parsley, like in Rapunzel. Not to brag at all, but it's the same color as my eyes! The fabric that the lace weight yarn knit on size US8s is delicate and feathery, almost like mousse. It feels delicious against my skin...sigh...

All of this writing has made me really want to get back to knitting, so I'll catch you later!

Oh, and Happy 4th!