So close. Seriously, so close to being done:
I know, it's been a while since you've seen the stole. But that's because it didn't get worked on for so long, due to distractions. But now, it's almost done. As in, I should finish it in the next couple of days. As in it should be blocked by the end of next week. O. M. G.

So most knitting was brought to a halt for all of last week, cue to a secret project. That can now be revealed.
Sunday was Miss Aubrey's birthday party. Yay for cake. She showed the restraint that her brothers did not and ate the cake from a fork. No messy cake photos this time.

So I had the brilliant idea to make her a fairy doll. Super cute pattern, she likes baby dolls, and it's not boring clothes. Awesome idea. Except that I had the stroke of brilliance exactly one week prior to the party. So from Monday on, it was kind of crazy. And with the big track meet on Saturday (for the record, I don't think that track meets should be run when it's snowing outside, it's really just not a good situation for anyone, can't tell you how many kids ran and pulled muscles, or didn't run so that they wouldn't pull muscles - makes for a really crappy meet) time was kind of short. But she got done, a little late, but done.
And she's really cute, and Miss A seemed to like her, so I count it as a win.

So, since the track meet was really cold (and I mean REALLY cold, it was snowing off and on and windy) I got nothing done. Couldn't read because of the wind, and couldn't knit because my fingers would have fallen off. But since then I've gotten a little further on my sock:
About halfway through the foot at this point, so it won't be much longer. Which is good, as I'm trying to get the pair finished up by the end of the month.

Speaking of finishing, I blocked the Caricia finally. And took some pictures yesterday.
On the pins.
Off the pins. So pretty. The crab apple is in full bloom, complete with the heady fragrance that hits you as soon as you walk outside.
I got some more prize yarn, although the one skein is out in my car, so you'll see that later.
A sweaters worth of the white Irish wool for a traditional fisherman's sweater. Can't wait for that one. And then the alpaca to go with the colored stuff I showed in the last post.

I'll leave you with spring in NE Ohio. I had some time yesterday before work, and decided to take a walk in the woods. Opted for the Wild flower path, but they're not in full bloom yet, maybe next week.
Still more brown than green, but it's getting there. And I don't know what happened to the poor tree in the last photo, but it looked cool.

Spring-like

So it really feels like spring now. Baseball has been postponed the last 2 days, it's sunny but chilly, and I've got startitis. I just can't stop myself from starting more new projects. All with the intention of getting them done by the end of April. Ha. I did finish the Laminaria, that's gotta count for something. Took it to KotS yesterday. Lots of pictures. First up, the miracle of blocking:
That's the before. A lovely blob with ruffles.
That's the after. A crookedly blocked shawl. Yeah, it got fixed after the photo shoot. I had a heck of a time blocking this thing - I did it twice because I did it wrong the first time. And then had to fix the crookedness. But it's pretty!
Close up on the first chart section.
Close up on the blossom chart section.
Blurry close up of the edging charts.
Artsy close up at an angle. Well, my attempt at that, anyway.
Modeled by Joan at KotS (thanks Joan!) So that's all done and really, I"m very happy with how it turned out. It's gorgeous. So speaking of shawls...
That's through 6 correct repeats of the Caricia shawl. It's slightly goofy how you have to follow the pattern to get it right, but now that I know it's all good. And I'll be ready the next time I come across this in a pattern.
Isn't it a great center stitch? So that should go pretty quickly now. Ha. I shouldn't make those kinds of statements, the Knitting Fates don't like it. I'm making progress on the Atlantis socks.
Most of the foot of the second one done. This will be my primary car knitting - if I get any car knitting time. I have a feeling I'll be doing most of the driving tomorrow. Yeah, Ellie and I are heading down to NC to see Tommy as he arrives. Very excited. Need to decide what else will make the trip, knitting wise. Probably the shawl, probably not this:
A new sweater, the Swan Lake Cardigan. This time a spring/summer top. I'm using Prima, a new yarn from Debbie Bliss that is 80% bamboo, 20% merino, so it's nice and light. Loving it now that I've gotten past row 13 for the third time. Really, one of these days I will learn to read the pattern correctly the first time. That's the back, so we've got a ways to go. Especially because I started this the other day at work:
A handspun scarf, pattern is Midori. One of my goals this year was to knit more of my handspun, so I thought that I should really try to get a project done. And I've been trying to find the perfect pattern for this yarn for ages, I think this is finally it. It's nice and simple, and works well with the striping of the yarn.
What do you think? Guess I'm in a pink kind of mood this week too. And speaking of handspun...
That's the progress on my "Robes of Autumn" or I'm thinking of calling it "Amazing Technicolor Dream Fiber" because that's all I think of every time I see it. My trusty Flexi-Wrap roll holding the first batt, and the spindle with not quite half of the second batt.
Trying to show you the sparkle from the copper angelina - there are parts that are super shiny, and I'm loving it. Click on the picture to make it bigger and you'll see the shiny.

See? I've got a lot going right now. And I really need to get going, lots to do to be ready to leave in the morning. Should have lots of photos and fun to share next week. Happy Easter to you all!

Filling the Void

Since there was a giant void in my knitting after finishing the Vivian, I decided that it was time for something new. Or maybe a few things new. So last Sunday night (during the Closing Ceremony in fact), I cast on for a new little shawl, the Caricia.
By one of my favorite bloggers and designers over at knitspot (might also have something to do with the fact that she's and Anne with an E too - we gotta stick together). So so pretty, and quick too.
I'm using Dream in Color Smooshy (happiness) in "Blue Lagoon" which is just gorgeous. I'm loving every minute of it. I'm about halfway done, maybe I'll finish it this week, maybe not. Gotta get going on some things for St. Patrick's Day...

So, Tuesday morning this is what I saw:
That's how you can tell your knitting is dry. The Kitty Test. If kitty is willing to settle on knitting, it's dry and able to come off the blocking pins. Maddie is so helpful.
See? She graciously agreed to be in this photo to give you a sense of scale on the Pampas stole. Which, by the way, is now through 14 repeats! Only 5 more plus the edge to go! So I guess that means the end is in sight, not close, but in sight.

Tuesday night was the first Tuesday night since January that I haven't had a basketball game, which meant that it was the first time since January that I got to go hang out with my knitting pals. And I could finally gift the Citron:
Maggie, being the awesome friend that she is, and totally wonderful unofficial "leader" of the knitting group, I felt that she deserved a bit of pretty for herself (she notoriously knits entirely too much for other people). And since she graciously gifted my the yarn that I used for it, it seemed only right that she get it. And I think it looks fantastic on her.

I started a new sock last week too. Tintagel, by Janel Laidman - who happens to be the designer of the month for the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry. Yarn has been set aside for this pattern for a while, and I even bought beads to bead it.
Opted not to do the beads because you had to cut the yarn and then string them. Would have beaded if it had been the crochet hook method. Hard to see the pattern, but it's pretty. And the best part is that it fits. It's been a while since I've attempted one of her patterns coughRivendellcough and it still needs a mate because I knit it more than twice to get it to fit.

Onto real life. Girls basketball won a close one last Thursday against VASJ (down 1 with less than 2 minutes, won by 3) which meant that it was on to evil Regina on Saturday for District Finals - they lost. I'm still trying to figure out how Regina ended up in our district this year - last year we lost to them in the Regional finals. Hmm - oh well, the school is no more after this year, here's hoping the coach ends up at a non-division 3 school.

The hockey team played the even more evil US Friday night for the regional finals. Drove down to Kent to see the game - my first hockey playoff game. I picked a good one to go to, a heartbreaking loss in double overtime. Painful. So it's all spring sports all the time now. Spring break is looming - so that means that it really must be nearly spring outside right? Please?!

PS - the Vivian fits! The sleeves are tight (with a long sleeved shirt underneath) but the right length (big sigh of relief). Just need to get a zipper.