What I do during my lunch half hour... over a couple of months!

Sheep Tea Cozy

Here is my sheep shaped tea cozy. I got the kit from Blackberry Ridge. They really have nice yarns. They come to Allegan County's Fiber Fest, and it is a treat to squeeze their yarns and check out all their kits. They have lovely wool/silk yarns too. This sheep was easy to make. His head is sort of down because he is on a small-er tea pot, he really could use a bigger one, but this is what I use for my morning tea.


Beaded Necklace

This is my knitted beaded necklace that I finished today too. I got this kit from the beadedknitting yahoo group. It was the June kit. I put the beads on the thread right away, but once I started knitting it, it just didn't look right, so I frogged and frogged, and then, yup, put it away to mature some more. Then I went back to it this week, and it knitted up like a song! Go figure! I guess it (or me?) just wasn't ready back then.

Beaded Eyeglass Don't-Loose-'em Cord

For those of us who use bifocals, a cord holding them around your neck is essential to keeping them from becoming misplaced, or lost. My old one gave up the crimp on one side, so I got another Mill Hill kit at Hobby Lobby. My eyeglass' lifesavers!

My Clapotini is Finished!

Here she is lying in the hallway, a full 90" by 12." I haven't run the stitches out yet.


Clapotini, unfurled but not undone 



Clapotini Unfurled Closeup 

Now, the stitches are all run...


Clapotini, Unfurled and Stitches Run 


Clapotini Closeup 

I like it I like it! It has a nice spongy feel to it. This scarf will definitely be a warm cuddly one this winter.

Clapotis Again...

Clapotis Redo 

Well, I am in the home stretch with my clapotis scarf. I didn't have enough of the yarn that I wanted to use (an alpaca/wool blend in a fall colorway from Over the Rainbow Yarns, an eBay seller). So, I only have 10 repeats (does that make it a clapotini?), and it is still plenty wide. What I am a little piqued about is the difference of color in the 2 skeins of yarn. It was not apparent in the skeins, or when it was balled up. However, once knitted, there is a significant color change. I am knitting on, hoping to finish this week. I have 4 more repeats to do, and then I can start the decreases (the beginning of the end). It's almost 6 feet long, and I like that.

Magli, no longer UFO, but done!

Magli, completed and wet blocked on the couch! 

Yes, that is Magli lying on the couch... Drying from a hasty wet block. I am so happy to have her done. 31 pattern repeats... And the final border had to be kitchnered on (101 stitches)! I don't claim that she's perfect, but she's perfect enough for me.

Now, the age old question, what's next? I suppose I should get back to Clapotis.


Magli, closeup1 


Magli closeup2 


Magli, closeup3 

Magli, a UFO!

To recover, and sustain my bruised muse, I picked up the Magli Shawl, by Nancy Bush. I had started it last summer, and put it away about a third of the way done. I found the lace knitting to be unsettling... the stitch count changed throughout the pattern, and the markers needed to be moved. I lacked confidence in my knitting and couldn't read the stitches clearly. And then there were those dang nupps where I had to drop my knitting and take a crochet hook to pull the yarn through... pita!

Well, I can now! Am having fun again, and now have 22 repeats out of 31 done! It's lovely lace, and even though the lace weight yarn is a dark burgandy from Elann, I can read the knitting just fine now. I have come to a new understanding!


IK Summer 2004 Magli, by Nancy Bush 


Magli closeup 

After awhile of rest...

I have to admit that after I completed my Crochet Shopper, I was completely exhusted. My muse was drained. For one week, I did nothing... Well, I did think about what I wanted to do next. It took me awhile to decide.

I really want to do the Kerry Blue shawl in Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls by Martha Waterman, using my blue/gray Shetland handspun, but there are errors in the printing, and I have to re-write the pattern in Word... So that didn't happen. I picked up some wool/alpaca from an eBay seller, Over the Rainbow yarns... And away I went, working on KnitPicks Clapotis: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html


My Clapotis 

About done with one of the two balls of yarn that I had, I realized that I didn't have enough yardage... So I need to make it narrower... So...


My Clapotis Un-done! 

To the Frog Pond we went. I put it back in my knitting basket. Now I need to decide just how narrower to make it... Perhaps by a third?

Crochet Shopper Stylin'

Crochet Shopper Completed

It turned out to be quite a bit larger than what I had imagined. But that just means that more will fit in it...



Crochet liner, interfacing and handles attached

This is what it looked like before the crochet squares were attached. I used plastic cross stitch material. It was an ordeal to assemble; I crocheted the parts together, and they were not always willing! But it is attached securely, and I am confident, will not come undone anytime soon.

Crochet Shopper Progress

Crochet Shopper Blocking

Well, I'm this far-- the 27 squares are assembled, and are now drying. I need to start on the lining. I have some lavender two tone silk dupion from another project that I will be using. I am a little anxious about it... the directions aren't very detailed, and this is my first go 'round with this. Still, hoping for the best!

Beaded Bag(s) Progress

My Beaded Bag 

I finished my Beaded Bag from Beaded Knitting last night. It looks great! I am very happy with the yarn and beads. A lovely confidence building project.


Progress on my Crochet Shopper 

Here is the status of the Crochet Shopper. I am enjoying taking my time, slowly tucking in the ends and sewwing all the blocks together.

Beaded Bag from Beaded Knitting KAL

So this is what I started on last night... the KAL from Beaded Knitting. This is the flap and it will be a simple beaded bag! It's a great pattern (thanks Laura!). I know I have the beaded crochet squares to sew up and finish, but I wanted to pick up something quick and fun before I did the (dreaded) finishing of that bag. I just want to have some knitting fun!

Color on Color Scarf Completed!

I know that this is what you have been waiting for! Yeaaa, I have finally finished all the I-Cords, buttons and end-tucking-in! Whoo-hoo! I believe I started this project in earlier April... so almost 2 months. I spent more time than I like to admit on the color blocks. I didn't like how the twisting of the yarn showed. Finally I accepted it as a design element so that I could go on and finish.

My Front Yard Rhodys

Rhododendrums in the front yard

This is the first year my Rhododendrums bloomed in the front yard, and they certainly went all out! They are really prettier than this picture shows. Maybe a drooping cherry tree would complete the picture???

Knitting Update, Color on Color Scarf

Color on Color Progress

Just want to show how it is going. I must admit that some nights I get mixed up with the directions, and have to stop for the day. This is not to be knit absentmindedly! I just completed knitting section 16, and have attached section 12 to the rest of the scarf. Onwards!

My Crochet Shopper's progress is that I am at square number 21. Only 8 more to go, and then I get to sew them all together... Remember I only work on this project during my lunch half hour. Slowly but steadily.