How Frustrating

If only the damn mail basket were larger! Or I was smaller...when did this thing SHRINK!??

Dori tried for about 15 minutes to get comfortable before she gave up in frustration. I've never seen a cat with such determination though. She would get up and turn around and then try facing the other way. Wish I had thought to take more pictures of this but I didn't think she'd try more than 2 positions. This was the best she could achieve, her front legs spilling out of the front, chest looking painfully uncomfortable, and her tail hanging over the side.

First Annual Treasure Hunt - Seven Knitting Jewels of the Twin Cities

Ok...until today I wasn't really sure if I was going to do this...but I stopped at Zandy's on my way back from Chipotle at lunchtime and I got my first "jewel" and the pin and the map with my first stamp so now I have to finish this journey. Oh, I also bought a ball of that Austermann Step sock yarn "mit Aloe Vera oil und mit Jojoba oil". I'm gathering up Rina at 5:15 and away we're heading to Needlework Unlimited and then on to ColdWater Collaborative! I've never been to either of these shops. Next, if we have time, and I'm sure we will, we will head on up to Amazing Threads, by that time rush hour should be over! I don't know if we will have time tonight to get to A Sheepy Yarn Shoppe or not tonight. The shops are only open until 8PM tonight.

Then alas, I will have to take a break and won't get back to it until Sunday. But by then everything is pretty much up 35E on the east side so I'm thinking its totally doable.

Next purchase, or one of them... some solid Koigu for the Travellers' Stockings!

I'll close with this bit of eye candy and leave you to ponder what she tried to do next.

Dori Sits....everywhere

Let's Get Visual

October Monthly Dishcloth

This is the finished October Monthly Dishcloth. This one was knitted on size 6's and its quite a bit smaller than any other cloth I've knitted. Just completed last evening during the Evening News. Meow!

Christmas Stocking

The Christmas Stocking was knit flat and then seemed in the back. The yarn is Cascade 220. This isn't finished yet as it needs some knitted holly leaves and berries on the side and little bells on the points of th cuff. I really wasn't sure what I was going to do with it once it was completed but now I'm thinking this will find its way into someone's Christmas basket with a bottle of wine tucked inside during the coming season.

Pomatomous Progressing...

The Pomatomous, as pictured here on Oct 5th, is about 1.7 repeats of the pattern. Since then I've finished the 2nd repeat and have started the next one. There will be 3 repeats on the leg and then I'll start the heel flap. This is such pretty yarn and the pattern is interesting. This is my favorite project at the momentt.

Old Shale Lace Scarf

Here you see apricot mohair, which was purchased at the Shepherd's Harvest, on size 11 needles becoming a scarf; the stitch is a type of Old Shale Lace . Note: it is about twice this size this morning. Very easy to knit.

Shoalwater Shawl as of Thursday afternoon, October 5th. I'm not rushing this, as you can see.
No progress was made on it again last night. Alas, there just isn't enough time in my day!

On Feathering an Empty Nest... with Wool and Cotton

Some weeks are busier than others. This past week was one of those. Work has kept me occupied and "engaged" during the day. The evenings fly by as my needles click away on Pomatomous, Shoalwater, the latest monthly dishcloth (which I'm doing in bright orange) and a scarf which I just started this weekend. I finally wound the hank of green cascade 220 tonight that I need for the appliques for the Christmas Stocking. The Stocking is done and the tails are weaved in...all that's left are the holly leaves and the holly berries. I owe a picture here and to the Red Sock KAL!

The Scarf is a simple "old shale" lace pattern that I found somewhere on the world wide web (no clue anymore where). I'm knitting it with some mohair that I bought last spring at the Shepherd's Harvest. I started knitting it with a strand of the mohair and a strand of a complimentary wool/mohair bulky (also bought at the Harvest) but it was too tight and way too wide. So I ripped it and tried it with half the stitches...but the color of the wool/mohair blend was making it look rather drab and unhappy. I was unhappy with it. So I ripped it again and tried it with just the mohair...and voile! its awesome! Pictures will be forthcoming. I'm knitting this for a friend who says, "You never knit anything for me!" whine whine whine....but I've been planning this apricot mohair for her since I first saw it last spring....I just didn't know what I wanted to do with it exactly until I saw the pattern online. I figure I'll make a hat from the bulky for her. Its a hand-painted yarn that is sorta taupe and apricot so it will work with the scarf...At least I think it will. Hope it will.

Shoalwater (Noro Silk Garden DK) is going slowly but I try to knit at least 6 rows at a time when I pick it up. Its about 175 stitches across and growing. Pictures coming.

Pomatomous is going slowly, owing to all the other projects begging for my attention. I'm only halfway thru the 2nd repeat of the pattern on the leg. Its gorgeous! Pictures later, really...I promise.

They're a lot like children, these knitting projects. First one kid needs your attention and then the other one demands something. Hey, I wonder if this is my way of dealing with the empty nest syndrome... Not that this nest is exactly empty. There are the 2 dogs and 3 cats and one returned fledgling.

I'm a day behind on the dishcloth. We're getting 8 rows of the pattern each day so I've got 16 rows knitted. I have no idea what its going to be yet. I was working on Pomatomous earlier and now I'm here...so I guess I'll knit today's rows and tomorrow's tomorrow night and the weekly SNB.

I am behind in my photos but I'll get them up here soon. No, really! I will. Have a great week everyone!