Thursday, October 13, 2011

Another KAL???

I thought I would get it all together for another KAL I joined the Koi Rama Mystery KAL by Kitman Fugueroa Designs. Her beautiful shawls are done in sock yarn and the lace is stunning on all her patterns. I plan to make more of them, for certain. This one has wrapped stitches which is a technique I have never done before. I will be sure to write about that when I get to that point in the pattern.

I purchased some rather inexpensive yarn for this, since my Mom and I were shopping that day in Las Vegas. We went to Michaels and I picked up this Kroy sock yarn in a charcoal grey, and since the pattern calls for beads, I bought 2 vials of some very pretty pewter color beads to use on this shawl.

Now to cast on!! This shawl is knit from the bottom up, so casting on is going to be a process! (330 stitches!!)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Done with Clue 2

Yes, Clue #2 was a quick and enjoyable knit!  I finished it this morning after a horrible night of sleep (or rather no sleep) due to a shoulder problem I have had for years. The problem, involving a station wagon, a bag of groceries and a hubby who through  no fault of his own accidentally slammed the hatchback door down on my shoulder when I was leaning in the back to pick up some more grocery bags, has left me with occasional pain in that shoulder. So last night I put the heating pad on and tried to ease the pain. It seems better today,  but have you noticed that I haven't quit knitting. hmmmmm

Ok, so this picture isn't the greatest. How can I post inferior pics on the blog? Well, the color may be off, but you can still see the pattern, and since I am certain that most readers I have had in the past have since moved on to more wooly pastures because of  my year long hiatus, I am going to post it anyway!

After doing some cleaning this afternoon, I think I will pick up one of the other KAL's I'm working on and knit some more. Maybe put on Craftlit Podcast and listen to chapter 3 of Dracula! Yaaahaahaahaaa! (insert wicked laughing sound here) Have to say, Dracula isn't exactly my usual genre of Lit, but I am enjoying it so much. You just never know about people! Even yourself! :)
~Renée

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Another View

Found another...

There she is in the middle. Enjoying her handiwork!

PS...I wonder if she used Emily Ocher's Cast On?

A Pi Shawl

Not a big post today, but I was organizing my photos on my computer and came across this beauty I took a few years back in Washington. What a work of art. I used to find these type webs in the bushes or trees around our house. Here in AZ, I haven't found this type of web anywhere. Spiders here are very different from their lacemaking cousins in WA.

Just wanted to share the beauty.

Friday, October 7, 2011

I have a clue!

The first clue, that is, of the Yarn Fairy KAL is done!
The red yarn is looking sort of a lipstick pink, rather beautiful, I think. It is beautiful yarn and so soft and lovely. I am looking forward to the next clue, which is coming tomorrow!

This was a fantastic car project. I went to Las Vegas with Hubby this week, and since this pattern is fairly simple  and involves no beading, it was lovely car knitting. We stayed at Harrahs, and had a view of the Volcanos going off at the Mirage, I believe. I don't know. We used to live in Las Vegas, so the Strip holds no real attraction for me, I just enjoy visiting Mom, who still lives there. And Danny was there on business. But here are some night photos of the lights for you!


It may be the first time we drove down the Strip in more than 20 years or more, but when you live in Vegas, you spend more time avoiding the Strip than actually going down it!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Supplies for KAL

Like I said yesterday, I have my "way" to do a KAL. This is one thing in my life that I can say I am organized about. Maybe it is only because I have so many projects going at one time and it would be complete chaos if I weren't organized. Whatever the reason, here are my supplies for the Yarn Fairy KAL, which begins today.
Notice that my folder this time is in perfect harmony with Wendy, the Yarn Fairy's chosen name!! Also, there is my yarn that she and her pixies dyed just for me. It is not exactly pink, rather a light to medium red dye. Love it!! My magnetic board complete with magnets. I will set my chart up on this and put one of the magnets over the line I am knitting. I used to do it the other way, placing the magnet beneath the current line I'm knitting from the chart. Problem was, it is easier to "read" my knitting if I can see the previous few lines of knitting as I go. That way if I encounter a problem, I can find it and correct it more quickly. Usually any problems I find in my lace knitting are due to forgetting a YO. Easily corrected without tinking back. (Get it? "Tink" back?...yeah)

My knitting needles are there, a size 4 ChiaoGoo 40 " circular. Last is the highlighting pen. I like to fill in the chart as I complete each line. That way if my magnet gets knocked out of place I still have my place marked. I learned this the hard way. But lets not talk about that! LOL

The only other thing missing is my first chart, which will fit inside my folder!

Ok, now that my organizational weirdness is out, I will get to knitting!
~Renée

edited later:
Forgot to mention my little stitch markers, I like the kind that are slim and continuous rather than the "split" kind that can catch on such thin yarn...also, I am only a few rows in, but have switched to a size 3 needle, since I like the look of the fabric much better. I am such a Loosey-Goosey knitter.