I suppose my priority list should be Megan’s jacket and bonnet and booties (won’t take long) and Paco’s kiddo’s blanket. Then I can split my time between Mike’s socks and Mica’s shawl. Given how fine Mica’s shawl is, I’ll need the break. I’m making here the “Cobweb Crepe Shawl Project 5″ from Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller.  I don’t have any photos; but, when Mike gets back from Mazatlán, I’ll ask him to take some photos of the projects.

Or, I’ll see if I can get my camera in working order.  It’s being really weird, lately, and burning out batteries within minute – literally.

I really haven’t been up to a whole lot with Mike gone.  On Wednesday, I got hit with a migraine for the first time since December.  I’m 90% sure it was stress and depression combined that kicked it off.  Though I’m not sure depression is the right word.  Maybe “the mopes” would be better.

I had oral surgery on the 19th and the stitches got caught in my toothbrush on Thursday and ripped out.  It has hurt like crazy ever since.  I’m just hoping nothing gets infected.

Anyway – back to my knitting…and, I’ll work on getting those photos up!

I am going to go get a size 2 (2.75mm) set of Addi Turbo Lace needles today (or tomorrow) and start over.  I do expect this to come out smaller than the 48″ that the original calls for because I am using a smaller yarn.  However, I don’t think it will be that much smaller.  Given my concern, though, I do believe I will up the number of stitches and rows in the centre pane to give me the size I need. 

I have 100m of the silk yarn, so running out is not really something I’m horribly concerned about.  I figure between uping the needle size to 2.75mm instead of the 2.25mm I am currently using and adding a few more stitches and rows, I should be able to get the size I’m aiming for without having to change yarns.

Why am I concerned about changing yarns?  Cost for one thing.  This silk is from my stash so costs me nothing out of pocket right now.  Also, I prefer to make newborn items out of cotton or silk or some other non-allergenic fibre.  At least until I know for sure that they aren’t allergic to animal fibres.  This way, I don’t spend a lot of time and love on a project – only to have it be unusable due to allergies…and the poor tot doesn’t wind up in hives over something I’ve given them.

I decided that I would start up on the Cobweb Crepe Shawl (which will actually wind up being an heirloom quality christening blanket).  I’m using the gossamer silk that I originally intended to use for my wedding ring shawl and size one Addi Turbo lace circulars.  I’m already in love with it and I just started.  Here’s hoping it works out. 

No, I am not posting photos of the whole six rows of center pane that I got started last night.  It isn’t worth the … oh, alright.  I’ll try to remember to take a photo when I get home.  But, seriously, it’s nothing to look at, right now.

The pattern is coming from Sharon Miller’s Heirloom Knitting book.  It just dawned on me that the piece I’m working is actually the one that is displayed on the cover.  I’m a little slow like that, sometimes.

Yes, I realize that making it out of gossamer silk is a little – insane.  But, I know J & C will respect, honor and love the piece and the time and effort that went in to making it.  It will be an heirloom piece that they will give to their child on the birth of their first grandkid, etc.  It’s worth it, to my mind.  Besides, it’s a fairly simple knit so far as shetland lace is concerned – and it gets me back into the swing of gossamer knitting.  Maybe enough that I’ll start on my wedding ring shawl again………maybe.

Last week TWC kills my account for no reason – and restores it in 24 hours.

Today I come home to find a notice on my door of termination of service from the gas service. Um.

A) no previous notice that they were even considering it – just BLAM done
B) I pay my bills in full every month

I have a bank statement upon bank statement that shows quite clearly that I’ve never missed a payment.

Yeah, I’m livid. No shower tonight unless I want it ice cold. No dinner tonight unless I cook it in the microwave. Bright side – at least I just have to deal with no dinner and no shower instead of dead of winter and no heat, no dinner and no shower.

Bet your tukus I’m going to be on the phone first thing in the morning getting restitution, though.

In addition to this book, I snagged the following:

Mediterranean Knotted Lace – by Elena Dickson

and

Hispanic Lace and Lace Making – by Florence L. May

I’m working on a special project while waiting for the LSSK KAL to start, as well as tackling the Over-the-Knee socks. I’m really looking forward to how those turn out, but I’m being really sporadic about it. I’ve gotten another row or two done on my Ark vest, but I just can’t seem to bring myself to be passionate about it.

I’ve found that I love knitting, and there are some patterns out there that I really like; but, when it’s patterns that someone else has written, I tend to really, really take my time doing them. Whereas, when it’s something I’m designing or making up on the fly, I tend to be a lot more dedicated to the finish line. What’s up with that?

Anyone else experience this same phenomenon?

This isn’t to say that I don’t use or complete patterns made by others, as several of my finished objects show. It’s just that they don’t seem to take centre stage while the ones I’m making do. Like I have to finish the project I have in mind before the creative juices stop flowing or something.

Anyway – looks like the lawn guy is going to bail again this weekend, and with all the rain we’ve had, it seems I have to go and find someone who’s lawn mower I can borrow to get the grass under control. Too bad no one in my cove has a kid and a lawnmower, I’d pay the kid what I generally pay my lawn guy….oh well, cest la vie.

In addition, I have to write a paper this weekend. It’s not like I didn’t know about this for two weeks. I’m just really, really bad about procrastination. It’s due by midnight Sunday, along with a discussion board response. **grimace** I’ll get them done, it just really cramps my knitting/crocheting time…especially because there’s a derby bout this Sunday, too. **chuckles**

If I were a type A knitter, well…the way it is now would not work. However, I’m not a type A knitter. I’m the type knitter that expects, anticpates and requires mistakes (at least one). If I want perfect, I’ll get machine knitted items, tyvm. Hanging on the back of the chair like it is, now, I can’t even see the patched area. If I looked at it to see what was done wrong, I’d find three glaring issues….a YO in the middle of SS that so totally should not be there, a missing YO in the spine causing the spine to take a jog, and the area that the cast off edge snapped and was patched.

I added the fringe to the shawl to help draw the eye away from the patched area – and wound up thinking that was a very, very good thing to do even if I hadn’t had the patch. Funny thing is that I had literally just enough yarn left on the ball to do the fringe.

		Karabella Lace Mohair Colour #: 201 Colour name: snow white Size: 50g/500m – 1.75 oz/540 yards
		Size 7 US. Rosewood Latern Moon straights.
		Kiri by Polly with fringe added. Finished size (sans fringe) is 61″x28″.

My niece’s shawl hit the mail today. It should be in her tiny hands by the end of the week. I hope.

The socks I’ve been working on are about finished, so I should be able to cast on for the new set soon. I’m really looking forward to how the mosaic pattern will play out with the yarn I’ve chosen.

Still no J&S yarn, but I’m sure it will get here soon. **positive thinking**

A bit of a poutfest is going on today. Found out that the guy I’ve been spending time with is going to be out of town to a conference and so will miss our every other Sunday night event. I’m being a brat about it. I’m gonna miss him something terrible. I’ve really gotten to where I look forward to them. Not to mention our time we spend during the week that I will miss out on. Yup. I’m pouting in a big way. It’s not attractive, but right now I’m too cranky to care. **snickers**

I will take solace in the fact that I have Friday off…I have much knitting planned for the day.

I’m thrilled that my friend, Debbie, has decided to learn to crochet and knit. I spent a couple of hours with her at Kerbey Lane on Sunday, sitting outside in 82° F weather – in January, mind you. We sat out on the patio, nashed and did our thing while chit chatting. It was a completely delightful experience. She’s going to be crocheting like a whiz in no time. I expect that she will run in to a bit of difficulty as she’s attempting to learn both at once, but she’s a talented gal and will get the gist of things very quickly. As with all new crocheters/knitters, tension is going to be her biggest obstacle. I completely enjoyed teaching, though, and am actually considering starting up a class for people on a totally adhoc basis….Just post somewhere that I’m going to be at XYZ and if you want to learn, bring yourself on by and I’ll be more than willing to help. Required items for crochet/knit listed and not supplied by yours truly.

I dunno….it just seems like it would be fun. *grins*

Unfortunately, the battery died on my camera before I could take photos of the cabled sweater I’m working on in a rather wild colorway that is going to have solid ivory cables on the sleeves….the cables kinda hide on the body, but I still think it’s interesting….once the battery is functioning again, I’ll post photos of it.

Anyway – here are my first ever WIPs posted here …

This is the close up of the Bell pattern.

This is the shawl with a CD in the photo for size. I still have quite a ways to go.

The Bell is being made with Ornaghi Filati Bamboo yarn from One Fine Yarn. The bamboo I was finding at my local LYS was just too rough. This one is silky with a nice shine.

This is the close up of the Ethereal Fichu.

This has a quarter in it so you can see the size. I’ve got a long, long way to go.

This is the yarn I’m using for the Ethereal Fichu. I discovered it at my LYS and fell in love.

The Ethereal Fichu is the first pattern I’ve ever worked from a chart only. I’ve found I’m having problems and have to contact the wonderful designer and see if she’s ok with me making copies of it so I can highlight what rows I’ve finished.