Why Can't I Just Knit From a Pattern

This past Thursday at Market Street DayKnitters, our knit group, I started a simple shawl in Fiesta's Starburst La Boheme (Aster 22107). I have had 3 skeins of this yarn stashed since 2006 thinking I would find something I would like to knit with it. With no new flash of inspiration coming, I started Fiesta's Fabulous Shawl pattern, to have something beautiful to knit on Thursdays where there is too much conversation and fun going on to focus on much of anything at all. It's a good thing Borders serves coffee and tea instead of margaritas or we would be kicked out! After seeing how beautifully La Boheme knits up, that flash of inspiration hit me between the eyes and I have frogged the shawl. After sketching out a shape of an idea, I have cast on and started again. I will still be knitting and probably frogging, at times, the pattern in my head and scribbled on paper as I knit along. Isn't this absolutely gorgeous?

It knits up light as a cloud but yet holds the shape of each stitch beautifully. I want to be wrapped up in this yarn. Therefore, the inspiration.

Breaking for a Shrug

Alexis is going to her FIRST Homecoming in October. She has her dress; it is a beautiful garnet red satin with spaghetti straps. Deciding to use silver as an accent; she and her Mom have put together a beautiful ensemble. I think she may need a little something for her shoulders. So, taking a break from my serious knitting, I am going to knit up a quick shrug. I just happened to have some Crystal Palace Yarn Soiree in silver stashed (imagine that). It is truly gorgeous and even more so when knitted. It knits up very soft even though it has a metallic thread running through it. It is truly like liquid silver; so much so, that you should contain it as you knit as it falls away from itself. Seriously.

Initially, I tried the Love Knot Stitch but it looked very ornate; too much I think for a teenager. So I tried for something simpler. This is just a knotted stitch that opens up when it's stretched a bit.

You can get a better look at it here. There is garter stitch at each sleeve edging which will be above the elbow making a nice evening shrug.

I will post a finished shrug picture later.

Update on Ryan's Socks

I have been working on Ryan's socks for a while now. I made the leg ribbing extra long (9") since he is quite tall. The foot portion of the sock is a total of 10.5 inches long. At the toe decrease of the second sock, I RAN OUT OF YARN. Determined not to panic, I called Twisted Yarns, my LYS where I bought the yarn. They were out and did not plan to reorder that particular yarn. Near panic now, I turn to Google! After Googling the yarn manufacturer and name; only ONE place came up that had a skein. One skein! I am so thankful to be living my perfect life! Now to knit one toe and kitchener two socks!

Blogger has turned my picture AGAIN but you can still see how big these socks are.

In the Garden at Dusk

When we moved into our house, we had an acre of yard that had been bulldozed. After nearly a year of construction, the yard had become very overgrown. It was pretty awful. Weeds were shoulder high hiding, at times, the local wild life in the yard. The second night we were here, I walked out onto the porch late at night. It was, and still is, beyond dark since there are no street lights. Hearing heavy breathing nearby, I realized there was a large animal very close. Screaming and running into the house, Joe informed me I had scared the hell out of a deer. It has been two years this month, since we moved in. Joe and I have worked in the yard Spring, Summer and Fall of both years. There is still so much yet to be done. It is amazing how an acre can soak up several hundred dollars in plants leaving you wondering where it all went. Kim and Todd, with their children, visited a couple of weeks ago. Grandson, Matthew, paid us a great compliment not knowing it would mean so much. While sitting on the back porch early one morning, he told his Dad how much he enjoyed being outside here as it was so pretty. I am going to show a tiny bit of our yard. On the right/east side of our back porch, the morning sun welcomes whoever is sitting out there having coffee by shining blindingly into their face. So, Joe put up a trellis and we planted Moon Vine early in Spring. The Moon Vine has covered the trellis and has been thinned out twice! Next year, we are going to try Morning Glory Vine and decide which we like best.

This is Coral Impatiens planted in the flower bed that the trellis is grounded in. They are beautiful. Keep in mind, I am taking these pictures in deep dusk one evening.

This is our Moon Vine trellis at dusk. Moon Vine blooms in the late evening. The large white flowers are gorgeous and fragrant making it most enjoyable to sit on the porch in the evenings (if it isn't still sweltering hot).

Multiple flowers on the vine are truly beautiful but you must come out in the evening to see them!

Moon Vine flowers - a close up view.

Yard work is almost as gratifying as knitting. There's a whole lot less sweating with knitting.

A Bit of Halloween Fun This Morning

We have a new baby in our extended family! Manny and Jennifer have a new son - Landon Cole! He is so handsome; just like his brothers. Yes, for all of you who are counting, Alexis now has 5 brothers! Whoa! I have been knitting a few of the Perfect Baby Bibs (in Fixation) to go into Cole's gift box. This morning, as I sat tucking in the yarn ends while enjoying a large mug of Snickernut coffee, I saw fun Halloween potential. Looking at the purple and orange bibs, I knew they needed spiders and pumpkins. I realized that with a little black yarn and some outline stitching, these would be so cute! After Halloween, Jennifer can snip the yarn , pull out the outline stitches and still use the bibs. Having already made a Target shopping trip for cute baby stuff; his box is ready to go! I have included a Halloween Onsie and matching socks - really cute!

These were so simple and quick. A little free-style embroidery and viola!

A close up of the Pumpkin face so you can see how simple these stitches are. You also get a good look at the Fixation that is slightly variegated.

I tried to upload the close up pics of the purple bib but Blogger kept turning them sideways. I finally gave up. You can view them in my Ravelry notebook in the Perfect Baby Bib pattern. I am going there next to upload the pictures.