Almost there...

Phoenix Shawl

Check out the Phoenix Shawl in all its glory.   This baby has been in the works for years (literally).   There was the idea, which became the charts, which became what you see above.    Then came the fire, the loss of the shawl, the laptop with the charts (backup, backup, backup!), and the preliminary pattern.  

From my written notes came new charts, and new samples, and a rewritten pattern.   I've got three test knitters working on it as we "speak".    One, is three rows from being done.   One has put it aside to work on Xmas gifts, and one is waiting for a meet-up with me.

First known as the Old City Shawl (we live in St. Augustine, FL), then the Simply Exquisite Shawl (thus dubbed by a LYS owner), it is now, finally, the Phoenix Shawl (because it rose out of the ashes).
I used Colinette's Jitterbug for the lost one. Two of the test knitters are using Knit Picks Stroll Tonal (Canopy & Thunderhead).   It occurs to me that I have no idea what my third knitter is using.   I've got three samples on the needles, one of Knit Picks Stroll Tonal  (Pearlescent), one in Malabrigo Lace, and one in Ella Rae Lace Merino.   It is not so much that I don't have a favorite, but that each one is my favorite when I am working on it.

If you would like for me to drop you a line when the pattern is good to go,  just follow the link to Ravelry and leave a comment.   I am hoping (but not promising) to have it up and available for sale before the end of the year.

The Sock That Never Ends

Look at this sock.   It looks pretty innocent doesn't it?   Well, as all knitters know, looks can be deceiving.   I first cast on Hubby's socks in October at our church's Zombie party thinking I would just whip them out in no time.   Ha!   The lies we tell ourselves.   In order to stave off boredom and balance the less than colorful yarn that Hubby prefers, I chose a more challenging sock pattern.   Hated that.   Turns out that a combination of lace and cables, does not make for good Zen knitting.   Besides, I started to worry that Hubby would find them too busy.   So, I ripped them out and cast on for my favorite simple sock pattern (SK-020 Basic Toe-up Sock), just wider to accommodate Hubby's manly feet.   I was almost done with them when I realized that I had made them an inch narrower rather than an inch wider.  I suppose I could have given them to someone else but Hubby likes the grey yarn and I like Hubby.   So, I ripped them out again.   This time I decided to try casting on the same number of stitches that I usually do for myself and the boys, but using bigger needles.   Rather than my usual 2.25mm needles I cast one sock on with 2.5mm and one with 2.75mm needles.  I knit each toe plus two inches, tried them both on Hubby's feet, and (YAY!) the 2.5mm ones fit beautifully.   Amazing what a small change can make.

As you can see I am pretty far along on the first sock (I will have to rip out and restart the second one).   The photo above makes it look like I am further along than I really am.   I have only just begun to turn the heel.   T2, whose foot is shorter than his father's, was kind enough to model for me.  I like him too.

Say it isn't so....

Summer Open Cardigan

Here I am happily working on my top down cardi and I hit a snag.   When I tried this baby on after finishing the body, it fit like a dream and I knew (knew!) that the rest was going to be a cake walk.   As instructed, I used a smaller needle to pick-up and knit the ribbed button band.    I could tell that something was not right as I was casting off but it was not until I tried it on again that I realized that the smaller needle size brought up the front by quite a bit.   In fact, it changed the whole shape of the cardi and not in a flattering way either.   The only hope is to rip out the button band and do it all over with a bigger needle.   Man...I hate it when that happens!

This is not the only knitting glitch I have encountered lately.    I have been, successfully, knitting these felted bags for the co-op, using  Paton's SWS and Bernat's Felting Wool.    After being asked for the pattern a couple of times, I decided to write it up and submit it to Knit Picks Independent Designer Program.   With that in mind, I gave a friend the pattern and some yarn and asked her to critique the pattern.   That went really well.   The next hurdle was figuring out how to create a PDF file.  Got that done (PDF for Dummies is a keeper).   Again, I thought the hard part was done.  All I had to do was knit up a sample in a Knit Picks yarn.  What I had not accounted for was the fact their yarn would felt differntly than the ones I had been using.   The fiber did felt in that it be came a solid piece, but shrank hardly at all which made it a much floopier bag than I am used to selling.   I have ordered more yarn and am going to try it doubled with a size bigger needle.   The other thing is that it did not felt in my new machine (a top loader) at all.   I tried it twice at home and then took it to a laundromat where the results were better but, as I said, too floopy.   With this next attempt, I will take it  straight to the laundromat in the hopes that I will get the nice firm fabric that I am used to.

Hubby and youngest are watching Gettysburg (T2 has to read Killer Angels for this summer).  I hate war movies.   Perhaps HGTV has something good to watch while I rip back that button band.

Down the rabbit hole....

 Citron

Dream in Color Baby Lace Wt.

First Tina and now Alison (both of Knit Picks) have lead me into temptation.   Have you seen Alison's post re: Citron?   Go take a look (here).   I will wait........ Do you see what I mean?   Citron, as it appeared in Knitty, is lovely, but, after seeing Alison's pink one, it really called to me.   Initially, I picked a similar pink lace wt out of my stash, but before I even finished winding it, I had changed my mind.   A citrus shaped shawl.   I live in FL.   Of course, mine should look like an orange or grapefruit.   Off to my local LYS I went, and to my delight I found something new and perfect in Dream in Color Baby.   I love, love, love how it is turning out.   I had to take a break for a few days due to Blackberry Thumb (my name is Lisa, and I am a cliche), but the pain is gone and I am back in business.   Once this shawl is done, I really, really will start on that sweater (with the pretty blue yarn at the bottom of my bag).

Baby Steps....

Usually, when I find a frog, lizard, etc. in the house, I shriek scream call hubby or the boys to come catch it and put it outside.   This morning when this baby was discovered in the guest bathroom, hubby had left for work, and Teen1 was sleeping.   Teen2 (fka Tween) was going to use Dad's method of throwing a towel over  it, but I had  a better idea.   I put a glass over it, tucked a greeting card (thanks boys) under it and just carried it out to the patio.   Yes, ladies, and gentlemen, I caught and released a frog all on my own.   I feel ridiculously  proud of myself.

Due to an unusual & persistent migraine, I never did get started on the Summer Cardigan.   I still have all the ingredients good to go, so maybe today will be the day.    What knitting I have worked on was for a organic cotton baby hat for the co-op (had some KP Simply Cotton in the stash).   I knit one with a US7 but did not like it.   Tore it out and am now working on the same basic roll brim hat with a US6.   I like the resulting  fabric much better.   I have enough for three hats.   I am waffling between ordering more Simply Cotton or switching to Comfy.  Both yarns are lovely.   Comfy has acrylic, is not organic, but is awesomely soft and comes in lots of bright colors.   Simply Cotton is organic, soft enough for a baby, but only comes in "organic" colors.  I like both, maybe the answer is to order less of each so that I can make some of each.

Knitting Olympics

www.bistrodeleon.com

This is our favorite "grown-up" restaurant, where I knit between courses at yesterday's Valentine's Day lunch. See, it is not that I am not working on my Olympic  Liesl whenever possible.  The problem is that I have ripped it out and restarted it three times!    First, I forgot the button holes.    Then I skipped the first row.   Then I did not like the placement of the button holes (and one was on the wrong side).    Despite these trials, I like the pattern (it is, despite all evidence to the contrary, easy to understand) and I LOVE the yarn (KP Comfy Bulky).    The fact is that this is not an unusual start to a project for me.    I know what I like and am not afraid to rip-out and re-start to get it.   What is different about this project is the time issue.   While I am sure that I will have a Liesl to wear this spring, I am not sure if I will have it by the finish of the Olympic Games.   I guess that is what makes it a challenge.