Sweater Nearly Finished

Okay, I know it looks a little goofy now.


But it isn't quite finished and definitely needs blocking. This is what my cousin John would call my Thin, thick and thin sweater. I started it when I was thinner, then I got a bit thicker, now I'm on the road to thinner (mostly healthier too!)

Finishing

Sometimes it feels good to finish some projects. I will have some pics tomorrow, I have a sweater nearly together, dark blue and the light isn't great so I put it aside until tomorrow. It will need a different neckline and blocking, but it is in the home stretch.

There is something about finishing that just makes you feel darn good. I am mostly a process knitter taking classes, trying new things and finishing things once in awhile, but that is rarely the goal, so that when I finish something I'm always surprised. I was wearing the quartz vest last night and mentioned that I made it, and wow did that feel good.

So now on the needles are a lace scarf, a basket weave scarf, a baby blanket, a sock, a cardigan, a short row scarf and I'm sure some things I've forgotten.

Things I want to try, but haven't started are:

Socks from the toe up
Fair Isle Sweater (using one solid and one hand painted yarn)
A lace shawl (two rectangular pieces joined half-way)
A pair of lace socks
A large afghan
A throw

Is that enough?

Sheep Feet

I am wearing Sheep Feet Socks. I seem to have misplaced my camera so this picture will have to do for now.

I adjusted the pattern a bit and just barely had enough yarn, but I did have enough. On the foot I replaced the lace pattern with a knit two, purl two rib. They fit better and the holes don't make my always cold feet even colder. The yarn and pattern were given to me by Lyn when we were in the Outlandish Swap together. It was my first swap, we traded names, answered questions about Diana Galbaldon's Outlander and then sent knitting gifts to each other. It was very fun and I really enjoyed getting to know the people in the group.

Last night was the monthly evening meeting of my local guild, and we shared our adventures of Stitches West some of us stayed for a couple of days, some just came for the market, and some were there from the moment it opened until the doors closed. At our meetings we shared stories of our days at the event and of events past.

As they say, "A good time was had by all".

Vacations

See this is a vacation photo:

This is why I don't want to knit or work today, I want to be back on vacation. It was pretty there, it is pretty here too, but it is differently pretty there. Okay done whining! I'll run errands and make a fabulous dinner and then sit and knit on anything, a sweater, a scarf, a sock. It won't matter, but it will be fabulous.

What's done

I've hit the knitting doldrums so I thought to give myself a little push I would show what I've finished since I last wrote.

First John's socks, please kindly ignore the different colored toes (ran out of yarn).


Then Grandma's shrug, I hope it fits and she likes it, I think it came out quite nice.



And finally some yarn to choose the next project, maybe one of these will get me out of the doldrums.

See the problem with fabulous vacations is that you don't want to go back to your life, vacation is too much fun. Oh sure, when you are tired walking, wanting to sleep in your own bed it seems like the vacation should end. But then...then your laundry is washed, dried, folded and put away, the suitcases stored, you've slept in your bed...it too gets old and you are ready to go.

Pat's Hug and the rest that are on my needles

Well I finished a few things lately, put one aside and am nearly finished with another.

Finished:

Feather and Fan Scarf



Pat's Hug

My Socks

Set aside for a day or two...

John's Socks

Finishing (this pic is old I'm about 2/3rds done)

Gram's Shrug

The thing about finishing things that pleases me is that it is the opportunity to start something new. I've got John's socks to finish first, but they have a pattern so I need something non-counting or easy to count that will travel and I have a beaded lace scarf to start, but first the pink shrug!

Work in Progress a/k/a Whatever catches my eye

Okay, so over the weekend I worked on Pat's Hug and John's Earl Grey Socks, but Monday I got a bit sidetracked by Nirvana. No, not the metal group, but the yarn from ArtFibers in San Francisco. I love their shop and spent a happy hour there while John was teaching at Golden Gate University . They carry their own yarn and Kira manages the store with great customer service and I never feel as if I'm intruding. Hard to imagine you could feel like you are intruding when you go to a yarn shop, but there you have it.

I am going to finish Pat's Hug and post completed pictures before the weekend (note to self-actually do this!) and try to get Grandma's Shrug done before the 17th. I'd like to mail it to Michigan before she heads to Texas, so my mom and dad can see it.