Life has been a crazy business lately! I am also in the mid summer knitting slump, either that or I've started to despise sock knitting. I consle myself with the knowledge that in 5 glorious days I will be basking on the dock at the cottage just me and my knitting.

Like any good addict I have already started to prepare my knitting for this trip.

With me I am taking the materials to make a Talia Vest, in burgandy. Polly Jean socks, just to see if it really is me becoming bored with my Leyburn socks, or if I have lost my sock knitting mojo. I'm also taking a Gail shawl in Tanis' Royal Flush colourway. This one will be the ultimate test in deception since I am making it as a gift for my sister, who will be sharing my living space next week. If she hates the yarn at least I will know well in advance.

And finally my Love Bites scarf, because I have not been feeling the scarf love and I really would like to get it out of my wip basket. I think it will also make for good car and rest stop knitting since it's on a 16" circular and takes little space.

I have found a local yarn store I can visit, there is no internet or cell service so I won't be able to check rav or the internet if i can't figure something out. Hopefully that won't happen, but if it does I am prepared.

I haven't even figured out what clothes I'm bringing with me yet. I figure as long as I have knitting, and a bathing suit it will be fine. haha.

I got caught up last week making some a little leftovers project for a swap partner (which I will possibly post after she gets it so I don't ruin the surprise!) and some cupcake pin cushions which turned out poorly and will probably be frogged or given to the kids to play with.

Quick update

Hey everyone, just a quick update! I have been off enjoying my summer, and knitting of course. I am working on a bunch of finishing of boring projects I haven't been that interested in. I'm waiting for a stroke of genius or something to hit me so that I can begin my next project, but so far I have nothing.

I will do Saturday Leftovers this weekend if I have the time for it. I have missed two weeks and it makes me a touch sad!

What a week!

Well first off I'd like to wish everyone a happy and safe long weekend! I don't really get a long weekend, but I have Monday at home anyway because I've been sick.

So on Wednesday I started not feeling the greatest. Thinking it was just a migraine I took the day at home to work in the dark. By Thursday it was clear something was seriously wrong. I wandered into work but had to leave because I was so sick. I marched straight to the doctors where I got word that I have a kidney infection (joy of all joys). This diagnosis explains why it was taking far too long for my advil to kill off my fever. I stayed home Friday as sitting straight up for too long puts way too much pressure on that area and it makes me feel worse. I am feeling much better today (after three days of antibiotics I would hope so!) but still pretty swollen and sore.

Suffice to say I have had lots of knitting time this week. That allowed me to finish both of my major lace pieces which I am super excited about! They will both need reblocking since it was really ackward for me to do in this condition but anyway, here they are!

So here is my Juno & Regina wrap

And my Aeolian

I need to get better pictures of this one, since the current ones don't show off the beading work as much as I'd like, perhaps next weekend.

I'd also like to take this time to say that I saw Rancid and Rise Against on Friday night (thank goodness we had seats and not floor or I wouldn't have survived. It was amazing to see Rancid play again. I haven't seen them in 8 or more years.

Saturday Leftovers - Weekend edition

I've been working away on two lace shawls this week. The Juno & Regina mentioned in last weeks post, as well as an Aeolian in mohair with purple beads.

The best part about the Saturday leftovers projects is that they are fast to complete. It's a satisfying feeling to finish something.

This Saturday I tackled my first ever knitted toy and wrap and turns. I saw this Stegosaurus pattern in the Obscurity group on Ravelry and added it to my queue for my nephew.

It was an interesting knit, and took more yarn then I anticipated. It also took more than just Saturday. I finished it this afternoon during the magnificant thunderstorms that keep passing through. I have named him Franklin (as you must name all creatures right?) and took him outside for a photoshoot. I got one picture in before big fat raindrops fell on us.

It was a good one though.

Ladies and Gentleman

Franklin the steggie

The pattern is great to work with, pretty clear, the time consuming part really was all the seaming and attaching of small parts. I was done the body yesterday, but the spikes took me into today.

Saturday Leftovers!

I have proclaimed that on Saturdays as often as possible, I'm going to try to use up some of the leftovers in my stash. I have miscellaneous balls from years ago, I don't even recall what they are anymore (thank goodness I have a ravelry now to help me keep track of these things) because the ball band disappeared long ago.

So this Saturday's Leftovers project was a tea cozy. I have been wanting to make one for a while, but never found one I liked. I found this beautiful tea cozy pattern so I had little excuse. I also had just enough (literally) of this lovely soft wool i bought at the old Lewiscraft in what I think was 2003 for my first major crochet project (an afghan of crochet squares, crocheted straight across).












The button is also a left over! One of those extra buttons which comes with a new pair of pants. I'm not even sure which pair. I have a mint tin which I keep all the extra buttons in, it's getting quite full so it's good to get some use out of all those buttons!

I scored really amazing baseball tickets for tomorrow so I'm taking my niece and nephew to see the Jays game. Which will be great! I of course will take my knitting. I'm currently working away at a Juno & Regina Stole in a beautiful colourway of handpainted misti alpaca. It's so soft, but a bit warm! I hope it's not too hot tomorrow!

here it is, part way done. I've reached the halfway point. the mid section is taking quite a while.

I am on a roll

This week is turning out to be a FO week for sure.

On the heels of my Laminaria, I've also managed to finish off my travelling project.

A ribbed purple shrug out of Mirasol which is soft and bouncy.

I am going to attempt to spend the rest of my July commuting time making crocheted squares for charity, but as I am a total newb at crochet (I've learned it once from my mom and made blankets but never in the round) I expect this will be interesting. I've recruited a coworker to the cause so that means double the squares.

I have found the light at the other end of the tunnel

As mentioned in my previous post, I have been chugging away on my Laminaria for months now.

Well I am thrilled to report that it is finished!!

Here it is!!!


And finally here is a picture of me loving it.

There were times when I never thought this day would come!