Finished project, well, just about!

Yea! My most recent goal was to finish Janet Szabo's Gravel Road from the Twists and Turns Spring 2003 issue by June 1st. Yeaaaa! I just have to get buttons and block it. I was able to purchase the yarn Janet used, Classic Elite's Devon Tweed, from eBay. I started this in 2007, I am a little embarrassed to admit, but life happens. Doing this project has made me realize that I don't enjoy cabling all that much. I used a size 3.5 mm needle, which I like, but the cabling was very hard on my hands. I did a lot of thumb and finger stretches, as well as not to knit when it just plain hurt. I do enjoy the results, though, so I'm a little conflicted!

This is a picture of the tools that were used for the project. Apparently, I am a bit fussy when it comes to what knitting needles are used.  I do like pointy points, though. There should be a toothpick in there. I used it as my cabling tool! It worked great, Of course, it was pointy enough, and the wood was grabby onto the yarn, so I didn't have to fiddle at all.

Next in line project...

 

My next "must do" item is to finish this Swedish cardy.  It was a kit I purchased from a local brick and mortar yarn shop, The Threadbear, located in Lansing, MI. It is by the Raumagarn yarn company. Arnhild Hillesland had a workshop at the store for it, but I missed it, and purchased the kit anyway. I enjoyed knitting every stitch, and even with all philosophies (and I emailed Arnhild too) about which yarn should be "on top" or carried over, I brought every yarn color change from underneath the last yarn. Yes, the yarn twisted like crazy, but I enjoyed the whole process. This project made me realize how much I like the fairisle knitting: the changing colors always had me wanting to knit the next stitch.  So as you can see, the body and sleeves have been completely knitted up. Now I have to steek. I have let this project sit a bit. I did steek before - it was a Philosopher's sweater, nice fat worsted yarn... but I am choking right now on this. I have told myself that I will get on with it next. 

The wonderful beautiful lovely month of May

My lovely rhodys bloomed so nicely this spring. I really couldn't believe how long they lasted. As for my neighbor's backyard, well, I really can't say. Michigan does spring so nicely. The days get longer and warmer, and everything turns to green and blooms. It's like all the flowers get the same idea, "It's my turn to bloom! And bloom I must!" 

Where have I been?

My mother had out patient surgery in late December 2006. She never recovered. Well, physically she did, but dementia descended. Here she is 5 months later on Mother's Day. My brother (center) and I decided to move her to Michigan so she could be closer to me. We moved her in July 2007. She moved into an assisted living facility which was, for me, on the way home from work. By then she was using a wheelchair. She continued to decline until she passed in November 2008. I needed those last months with her. Now they are gone forever.

The Knitty's Fetching, a pair of fingerless gloves for my mom. 

Sally Melville comes to Williamston for a weekend of workshops

Wonderful Sally Melville 

Could this get any better? Threadbear set up this wonderful weekend of workshops with Sally Melville. I couldn't resist! I signed up right away for all of the workshops. I also made reservations at a nearby Bread & Breakfast, Topliff's Tara Wonderful hosts, wonderful restoration of an old farm house; llama owners, too! Stayed with Sally and 3 other fun knitters who were from the east side of the state. Great time, went all too fast.

Workshops were:
What is creativity?Creativity Workshop--Friday, September 22nd @ 6:30 until 8 p.m.
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We all use the word "creativity", but most of us do not know what it means. It seems some ephemeral quality with only others--much loftier folks than us--have an ability to access. But the truth is that it lies within each of us to be creative and that it is a source of joy to access our own powers and abilities.

Once we understand the nature of creativity and feel encouraged to develop our own, we need to appreciate the stages we will encounter. What are they? What happens in each stage? How do we get a running start? Where might we get stuck? How do we move forward once stuck? And finally, where might we end up.


First Choices/Basic Shapes--Saturday, September 23rd @ 10 a.m. (3 hours)
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No matter how advanced and accomplished we are, we run the risk of producing garments that look awful. Why? We make a decision in the first twenty minutes of the project that dooms it to failure! What are these decisions? Yarn, color, stitch pattern, and silhouette.

This workshop explores those decisions, so you'll know which decisions are best for you. It then follows with basic pattern drafting, so even if you don't design your own garments from scratch, you'll be able to make a more flattering neckline, a sleeve the right length, and a garment that fits!

Stripes and Stripes That Aren't--Saturday, September 23rd @ 2 p.m. (3 hours)
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Stripes....oh so easy to knit! But who can wear them? The truth is that everyone can both knit and wear them. This workshop explores ways to build strips and play with simple stitch patterns so you can work easily with color and produce some of your favorite knitting and most flattering garments.

Advanced Shaping--Sunday, September 24th @ 12 noon (3 hours)
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While there's nothing wrong with basic drop shoulder pullovers (they provide a fabulous, wide-open canvas!), there are other shapes and styles to consider and master. This workshop covers the discussion, measuring, calculations, drafting, and knitting for the set-in sleeve, the saddle sleeve, the shirt-tail bottom edge, and the vest-pointed bottom edge.


Sally explaining a knitting technique 

Kerry Blue in my handspun Shetland

My Big Kerry Blue being blocked! 

I finished my Kerry Blue, from Martha Waterman's Traditional Lace Knitted Shawls. I added a different border. It is lovely. The yarn is not as soft as merino, but not scratchy at all. I love it!



Close-up view