More of the same

All of my knitting is looking the same as the last time you saw it. In that vein here's the only picture you will get of Flirty Ruffles until I hit charts 7 and 8. It's just going to be more Print of the Wave until I get to the zig-zag section and The (Giant) Ruffle. Rest assured that I'll be plugging along on the next 7 repeats of this until then.

Pebbles has another 40 rows, but looks pretty much the same as before despite adding another 50 rows to the body. I'm closing in on the armhole steeks so maybe I'll have a fun new picture of those soon.

Digging is waiting patiently for a zipper, but I have this sinking sensation that I'm going to have to order one on-line. Must find one fast locally before Oliver gets any bigger.

That's the knitting news this week so I'll leave you with a barbecue tip. Super-easy and tasty marinade for chicken - 3 parts dijon mustard, 1 part olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Slather on chicken and grill until done. Slice as desired, excellent warm on salads, or chilled for sandwiches.

Conwy socks are done!

I LOVE these socks. The 4 row repeat is addictive, the leg fits beautifully (once I re-started them on 2.5mm instead of the too tight 2.25mms) and it's not a bad pattern match for this old, old sock yarn.


Project specs : Conwy socks from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush.

Yarn : Fortissima Colori / Socka Color, Col. 2434

Needles : 2.5mm Regia needles

Started : week of April 23rd, 2006
Finished : May 23rd, 2006

Backtack deadline Looms!

Must work on softie...

Everything but

Knitting, spinning or any other type of activity which is done inside, in a seated position.

It's May Long Weekend (Victoria Day) in Canada and we have friends in from out of town, and good weather. This all adds up to fun times with the pressure washer, more plants and gardening, more fun times with the pressure washer, and some tidying inside the house as well.

By the time we stopped last night, my wrists hurt too much from pressure washing to knit. The Flame has taken over pressure washing for now, but I may have to resort to posting pretty pictures of my new plants.

Hope all my Canadian friends are having similarly productive/enjoyable weekends.

Kasuri

I attended a very interesting, beautifully illustrated talk on the Kasuri textile tradition of Japan. I strongly encourage you to visit the Crafthouse Gallery on Granville Island if you are in the Lower Mainland area. Chisako's work never fails to delight and amaze me and it's very interesting to see both the traditions of Kasuri and her interpretations of it.

Almost ready for class

The project is designed and test-knit, the hand-out is ready, I'm proofing the instructions (written) and I have a chart to do but I am essentially done. Yay!

The Conwy socks are progressing slowly - 2 heels turned, and I'm decreasing down the gusset.

Avoidance Knitting

I've come down with a bad case of Startitis as I avoid laying-out the class handout for the introductory lace class that I'm teaching on Thursday. Instead of a lovely hand-out I've produced

1) a swatch for the border of Sharon Miller's Princess Shawl using Infinity, a very yellow soy silk, on 2.25mm needles. I think I need to drop a needle size and over-dye the yarn. I'm going to order some super-fine merino (2/48 weight) and give that a try as well.


2) re-wound some seasilk for Megan


3) swatched (OK, so I just started the back) the cardigan from the cover of last summer's Adrienne Vittadini pattern book. I'm going to have to try and find one of those Japanese 4.8mm needles, or maybe swatch on bamboo 5mms


For this coming week I'm going to try and finish the Digging cardigan and 1 Conwy sock (my next wip wipeout project). Focus.

Shiny.

Sodalite with pearls and crystals and jade with pearls and crystals all on sterling silver findings.

MSW

Not Maryland Sheep and Wool, but Many Sheep in Washington.


Friday started with a beautiful view from the deck of Holly's house. What a great venue for spinning, knitting, a glass of wine, and enjoying the view. I was kindly taken on a yarn and yarn and bead store tour. I found some Trekking XXL, another contender for the list of Flame-approved yarns and some wonderful beads which have already become stitch markers with much gracious help from my hostess. An early bed-time was called for as the schedule called for leaving the house bright and early.


Well, it was definitely early, if not bright on Saturday morning. En-route to Whidbey to Anacortes we saw this baffling sign. It was truly early enough not to make sense to me. It still doesn't make sense. I can understand the crossing part, but the 1/4 mile part? So confused.


It was all worth it for the views from our destination and seeing the Booger again.


She'd kindly invited us up for the annual shearing of the island flock. How could I miss this?


I did get some knitting done this weekend but I'm not certain that any of it is picture worthy. Some more Conwy sock, I started the fronts of Digging and I started contemplating a really, really, big project. Knitting and stitch marker pictures tomorrow.

Blackberry yarn and backtack buttons

I admit that I am having a hard time picking fabric(s) for my backtack project. To help me along (or make it harder, I'm not sure yet) I went to my favourite button store, Button Button and found these great vintage buttons. I'd really like to find a soft alpaca felt or maybe a slightly tweedy or boucle type fabric to show these off. Instead, I had to settle for my skein of blackberry dyed yarn and a patch of sunlight at work.

I'm off to Seattle tomorrow night on the train to see Holly so I'll post when I can. To all of my friends going to Maryland Sheep and Wool have a wonderful time. I look forward to your reports in the coming week.

May Green

This month's Project Spectrum. Dyed last night, washed this morning, drafted before dinner. Now to get spinning. I'm hoping for a more colourful version of Caroline's yarn.

Oops.

I managed to start the first sleeve with 2/2 ribbing instead of 4/2. Hmmm, guess I'm knitting both sleeves at the same time. Good thing, I've got some tussah cooking.