Finished!!!

I finally finished the center of the test shawl. Yay!!!! I did bind it off but wasn't happy with it (used the elastic bind off but it was way too loose and sloppy looking). So I undid the bind off and decided to leave the live stitches on the cable ....and continue on with the pattern. Up next....borders! I have four to knit. Once they are done then everything will be sewn together. So while I finished one part there is still lots to be done.

2013 Buggy Barn Show - Part 2 (lots of photos!)

This is the outside portion of the craft vendors. The rest of the vendors were inside the large building.

2013 Buggy Barn Quilt Show - Part 1 (very photo intense)

Last weekend I was able to spend a glorious afternoon outside enjoying lots and lots of lovely quilts.....at the Buggy Barn's 17th annual outdoor quilt show. Instead if going on and on about how amazing the show was I will let some of my favorite photos do the talking for me.

Starting off will be photos of my two quilts that were in the show....my Dancing Sunflowers quilt......and my Foxy Doxy (weenies!) quilt. Enjoy the photos!

A Little Bit of Everything....

Been pretty busy lately. The test knit is always at the top if the list. Nearly done with the center. Love how this is looking. It's definitely not a quick knit that's for sure. I'll have at least 25 hours ( if not more) in the center alone. One of the other testers figured out that it will take a minimum of 64 hours to knit all four borders.....with no mistakes! And then there is the attaching borders to center, washing, and blocking that has to be figured in as well. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that the shawl is 100 hour project from start to finish. The designer wanted all the testers to be done with it in 3-4 weeks. I know that won't be happening here. I simply cannot devote 5-8 hours a day to knitting. It's bad enough that when I do sit down to knit I'm knitting until my eyes cross and the chart gets blurry.

Just so it doesn't look like I've neglected my CSM in favor of the test knit, here is a photo of some socks that I've done for my loving hubby. I'm currently working on some socks for gifts. I have 3 of the 4 pairs done. I will take a photo of them once they are all done. ( I know! They are all blue!!)

To enjoy a much needed break from all the knitting, I've been quilting. It's been quite some time since I've been bitten by the "quilting bug"......and I've forgotten how enjoyable it is. I've forgotten how much I love looking for that perfect piece of fabric.....and how much I love watching a quilt come together. I've also forgotten how much fun it is to snuggle under a new quilt.....something I hope to do in the very near future.

Test Knit Progress

I never really realized how slow of a knitter I am....comparatively speaking....until I started this test knit. Do you know there were test knitters totally done within a week and a half of starting? Oh my gosh!! Makes you wonder if they did anything other than knit ( like sleep). Here I am two weeks into my shawl and I've just now hit the halfway point of the shawl center. I've seen photos of a finished shawl and it was stunning! Definitely motivation for picking up the pace on mine. I can't wait to see it completely done. 

As for the knit itself....it's going very well. I'm in love with the shawl. Love the pattern, the yarn, the color. It's knitting up beautifully even with the few errors I've found in the chart. I have had to "tink" back twice but that was me. Never work on lace when you are feeling tired or distracted.  :)

Here are a few "in-progress" shots of my shawl.

Wish I would have thought about labeling the photos with rows completed earlier. It's kind neat being able to see the shawl progress via photos. Would make a great scrap book page.   :)

Test knit - Lelya Orenburg Lace Shawl

I have always wanted to knit a traditional Orenburg shawl but was too intimidated to simply jump right in. So when the opportunity to test knit a pattern for one presented itself I simply couldn't refuse. I mean, after all, the designer is there to help when it's needed. It's almost the perfect situation in which to try something new.

I'm using a lace weight 60/40 cashmere/wool blend with a thin thread of shimmer in it. It's soft pink variegated in color. Needle size is US 2 or 2.75mm. This has been an amazing knit so far. I love watching the lace pattern emerge. It's hard to put down and I find myself knitting a row here and there whenever I have a few spare moments in between other things ( like household chores). The yarn has been a dream to work with and I'm totally in love with the color. This may end up being one of my favorite lace pieces when all is said and done.

Here are the progress photos.... From start to today (70 rows in). Enjoy!

More Socks

Over the last few days I have completed 4 more pairs of socks.....two of which are pictured below. The other two are gifts (x-mas). To date I have made 16 complete pairs of socks....with a few spares. I'm much more comfortable with my CSM. Mock rib, which I was struggling with a short time ago, I now enjoy doing. Kitchener stitch is a breeze. I've done it so much that's it's become second nature. I've even developed my own way of doing it so there is no "dog ear" on either side of the sock toe. Working with self-striping and patterned yarns has been so much fun. I find that I'm drawn to brighter colors. I've broken into my humble stash of "good" sock yarn and am discovering which ones I prefer working with over others. To date Regia Silk and Sockatta are my favorites but I'm sure that will change.  =}