Summer Braids Done!

I finally finished the white Summer Braids I was knitting for my sister. She finished quilting my project ages ago. Although I had some concerns about how it was going to fit I think it looks great. What do you think?

Back on Track

I'm feeling a little better about my knitting today. A couple of days ago I was feeling like my knitting hobby was a burden. I just spent the last two days lost without direction or focus. I guess I have a "normal" project queue that includes some projects in the fantasy dreaming planning phase, some projects in the knitting phase (one of which I consider my "current" project) and I always have something smallish that I can grab and go. Lately, I've had many projects in the planning phase and none in the knitting phase. I was knitting a sweater for my sister that stalled months ago when I realized I knit too far without shaping the front neck. Last night, during a late night of catching up on laundry, I finally sat down and ripped back the 7 lousy little rows that have caused me to delay this project for so long. Here's what it looked like earlier today after ripping back but before I put the front nect stitches on hold.

During my knitting paralysis I almost ordered new yarn to make a jacket I've had swirling around in my brain. Getting the Braids UFO back on track inspired me to resolve another old UFO. I decided that although it's not the color I would have ordered if I had ordered new yarn I'm going to rip and reclaim the yarn from this long abandoned project to use for my jacket idea. I'll keep you posted on details about that.

I know I promised pictures of my little periwinkle swatches. I haven't worked on them much at all either. I'm no farther along in planning my sleeveless top than I was when I wrote my last post. Since then Michelle emailed the group to inform us that she's already knitted up to the bust and is ready for the next class.

I better go. I have a lot of catching up to do...

Template, Braids, To Go, Sleep Over

Template

I've been working on my blog template lately. For the amount of time I've devoted to it there are precious few changes. I added lists on my sidebar for projects that I'm currently working and projects that I'm dreaming about while I knit the current projects.


Most of my trouble with my template comes from knowing just enough HTML to be dangerous but not enough to actual figure out how to do the things I want to do. For example, I'd like to:

• make my blog have three columns instead of two
• change the color scheme
• change the blog banner
• include project pages that I can link to my sidebar lists
• include expandable summaries for longer posts
• group posts by categories

I'm sure I've made a complete mess of my template. I know what I've done but I'm sure that someone who knows how to use HTML and style sheets would cringe at my lack of adherence to common practices. If you know how to do any or all of this would you please consider sharing your wisdom?

Summer Braids

I'm still working on the Summer Braids Cardigan for my sister. I'm very close to completing the 13" I need for the body before splitting for the arm holes. Woo Hoo! I smell progress!

I'm about at the point where I start to panic about buttons. I could go with plain white and keep it a simple, versatile sweater or I could go with something fancier. Or I could just ask my sister what she prefers. M, if you read this feel free to leave a comment with your preference!

I also took a picture of my new stitch markers but the picture was too blurry. I'll try again later. I was so enamored with the dangley stitch markers that Kimberly gave me that I bought some more. I never appreciated the appeal of these stitch markers until I started using them. They feel like jewelry for my knitting! I don't wear much jewelry on my person but I'm thoroughly enjoying it on my knitting. I got my markers from Yarngirl's Etsy shop. I got them almost immediately after ordering them. Can't ask for better than that.

"To Go" Knitting

I started a new project for my "on the go" knitting. Sometimes I'll just work on one project at a time, taking it with me when I'm out and about but the white braids just doesn't make for practical portable knitting. I started the Regia Silk socks I'm making for DH. His birthday is in early autumn so I have a deadline. I'm almost done with the 1x1 ribbing for the cuff. If I had given it a little more thought before I started I would have done a 2x2 ribbing because there is a lot of 2x2 in the leg pattern. I charted out this little pattern (chart shows half of the leg) which incorporates a tree motif that I got from one of my Gansey books, some ribs and crossed stitches. The trees will travel down the leg at the sides. I'm still debating whether to continue the foot with the ribbing pattern or just do a plain stockinette foot.

"Almost" Sleep Over

My kids invited our neighbors to an "almost" sleep over last night. They watched movies, played music and danced around the family room with the disco ball shining. They also indulged in some special treats, one of which included thisand thisand this
Mmmmm S'Mores!!!!

Knitting, buying and swimming

So, I really have been knitting. I started a Summer Braids for my sister shortly after I ripped out J's socks. I'm using a discontinued yarn called Time from Adriafil. It's a cotton/rayon tubular ribbon yarn, DK weight. It's soft and silky to work with and has great drape. I made A a short sleeve bolero type sweater out of it a year or so ago.

I'm knitting this sweater for my sister in exchange for her quilting talents. Many years ago I took an introductory quilting class. I learned all about different ways to piece a quilt. The project for the class was a sampler quilt of nine 12" squares. I got all the squares pieced, the quilt top assembled with sashing and filler triangles. I even got the layers basted with safety pins and the quilting lines stenciled on the top. I just didn't like doing the actual quilting. So I talked my sister into doing it for me. She enjoys it and she's really good at it.

Here is a close up of the sweater. Can you see the cute stitch markers that I'm using. They were a gift from Kimberly. Go see what she's up to. All three of my kids have seperately asked me what the cute little food things are for. I have explained to each of them that they are to help me know when to change the stitch pattern so I make fewer mistakes. I really like the way they dangle off my needle too. They're so cute. I've never used fancy stitch markers before.

I went to the TKGA and CGA convention last weekend. I seem to be in stash acquisition mode lately. I bought more stuff. This is some beautiful tencel lace weight yarn. It's 1000 yards. I also found some beads that match. I don't yet know what I'm going to make of this but I like it just the same.

Ah! Luxury. This is 500 yards of pure softness. Red Cashmere. Does it get any better than that? I think this will be a lace stole. I have a Fiber Trends pattern that I think will work. When I will get to this I have no idea.

I woke up early the other day. I couldn't sleep so I sat down to read my email. I got a message from the nice folks at Knitpicks that they were having a sale. They have their Main Line yarn (cotton/wool blend) on sale. I had to have it. I bought enoughof the color "Red Velvet Cake" to make a sweater for DH. He's gone neglected for too long. I can't wait for it to get here.

We just finished our swim team season. This was A's second year on the local team and J's first. They had lots of fun with their team and they did great with their individual swimming. The team ended up tied for second place in the league. Here are some pictures from the last meet.

I think, perhaps, this last photo needs a little explanation. The name of the pool complex we join is Fanny Chapman Memorial Swimming Pool and A and J swim on the Fanny Chapman Swim Team. There is a swim team logo on the front hem of the left leg.