Am I There Yet?

I'm still working on that darn shawl, and my a** is dragging. I easily get bored with what I'm working on, and it is very easy to get bored knitting up this shawl. It's a triangle shawl with a yarn over at the beginning of each row, and every row is knit. Easy, but boring. My motivation to finish it has been that I'm cold at work and need something to throw over my shoulders, but my motivation is only carrying me so far. I have about 5 or 6 more rows to do before the knitting is done. I still have to decide if I want to crochet an edging around it, or just fringe it. We'll see...

This is NOT summer knitting!

Every summer my summer wardrobe does battle with the goosebumps that inevitably appear on my arms and legs. No, I don't wear a winter coat in 90 degree weather like a crazy person. I just get cold easily in air conditioned buildings. Especially at work. But, I go through these hot and cold periods, so if I'm wearing a cardigan to keep warm, I'm constantly putting it on and taking it off. Rather than continue this on and off business with my cardigans, I decided to knit myself a shawl.



I'm using Lion Brand's Triangle Shawl Pattern with Homespun Yarn in Prairie. This should keep me nice and toasty when I'm feeling chilly, yet it's easy enough to throw off when I feel a "hot flash" coming on (no, I'm not going through "the change," it just feels like it sometimes!).

I'm Quite the Happy Hooker!

Woo hoo, it's payday! On my way into work, I stopped at Waldens and picked up Debbie Stoller's new book: Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker.



I was able to skim through it before the workbell sounded, and at first glance, I absolutely love it! Can't wait to get out of here so I can fully soak up all this book has to offer. Is it quittin' time yet?

Knit Picks Options

I've been dreaming of a knitting needle set for quite some time. I've been on the fence with both the Boye Needlemaster set and the Denise Interchangeable set. I've read reviews about both and have heard from several users the pros and cons of each.

Enter Knit Picks Options set. I read the review from Knitter's Review, and I'm just about sold on them. Knit Picks allows you to buy a pair of needles and a cable, as sold in the set, so I'll probably try it before I buy it. Hmm, now to figure out which lucky project will take the maiden voyage.

Payday's only 2 days away... I better get crackin'!

Reunited

While rummaging through my UFOs, I came across the half finished Celia pattern by Berroco. I'm knitting it in Caron Simply Soft in Rubine Red. Up close and personal, the Rubine Red looks more like a deep hot pink, almost a red-pink, if that makes any sense. Here's my progress thus far - the front:





I'm reuniting with my first love - the crochet hook. My infatuation (let's be honest, obsession) of all things yarn first started when I taught myself to crochet in 2001. I LOVE to knit, but crochet has a special place in my heart. Reunited, and it feels so good...

Waiting for Payday...

Now that I'm finished with my tank top, I'm itching to start a new project. One problem, though - short on funds to buy new yarn. So, what's a girl to do? Dig through my stash of UFOs and continue working where I left off. While going through this process, I usually end up 1) finding a few forgotten projects that I would love to finish, and 2) finding a few projects that have me saying "What was I thinking?" Today, while looking through my stash of UFOs, I'll be daydreaming of the yarns and projects to come, and biding my time till payday arrives.

Ta Da!!

The yarn gods heard my pleas and allowed me just enough yarn to complete my tank. I think I'll call her Emily.

Emily is my the first piece of clothing I've designed from scratch, and I'm darn proud of her. If I could do one thing over, I would stop the ribbing an inch below where it stops now, but hindsight is 20/20. Chock it up to experience and move on!!

As mentioned before, Emily was knit with Jo Sharp's Soho Summer. I have mixed feelings about this sport weight yarn. I love how well it drapes, however, it splits very often, to my dismay. Would I use it again? I'd probably shop around for another cotton yarn (there are TONS!) before coming back to this one.