I DO BELIEVE IT'S A FINISH!

So hard to come up with catchy blog post titles.  Drum roll please - I have a  finish - don't faint - my faithful followers know it is a momentous occasion that Mel has a finish.  I have been working on this shawl for at least 2 years maybe more.  It was my car project until it got too big and bulky to drag out in doctors offices and restaurants and on lunch hours.  I took it in the house and it sat for a long time until I started getting the itch to knit with lace weight yarn again.  I don't know about you other knitters but I have to be in the mood for lace weight - it has a different hand than heavier yarns and while I adore small needles - there is a trick to knitting with lace -I am a loose knitter anyway and i probably have less of a problem with dropped stitches than tight knitting so lace weight is fairly easy in that regard for me.  well here is my masterpiece - it is so much bigger than I expected I am not going to block it otherwise it would turn into the bat cape I'm afraid LOL - and oh horror of horrors for any knitter - I RAN OUT OF YARN -  yep - I ran out just before the picot bind off on the ruffle edge.  Oh well - not to be deterred I found some other stashed lace weight yarn in the lime green color and I just kept on trucking - I was determined to finish this thing come hell or high water.

Here is a close up of the bell ruffle and the neck edge trim which is entirely in the green - oh well - at least it matches.  For any knitters out there - it was knit out of Malabrigo lace in Hummingbird and the pattern is actually from the Victorian Lace today book but this version was published in a Knitters mag several years ago.

 
 
 
 
 
 

in my last post I mentioned DF Karen came to stay with us and we attended the annual hook in not to mention our traveling about.  I wanted to show you the awesome neck warmer she made for my birthday out of Malabrigo Rasta. I dont' remember the colorway but is it GORGEOUS and so cushy - this is their super bulky weight and I had never seen it before.  Darling buttons HUH?  go and check out Karens recent blog post and you'll see more photos of our shopping excursions and adventures while she was here.  Karen also gave me a wonderful Vera Bradley lunch tote and a note paper holder.  I screwed up the photo so there is no shot of that.
 
Speaking of wonderful birthday gifts - DF's Jackie and Teresa went to Stitches South last month and brought me a BIG SURPRISE -  Sanguine Gryphon Bugga - WHEEEE - it is a very coveted and almost impossible to buy sock weight yarn.  They sure know how to peg the MEL colors - isn't this awesome !
 

I will have to think long and hard about a special project to honor this yarn and my DF's who gifted me.

Speaking of special yarns - I wonder how many of you know who Ysolda is?  she is a hip new designer from the UK - she visited Lornas Laces in Chicago not long ago and in honor of her - LL developed a new color - Ysolda Red - WOW WOW WOW - is it ever gorgeous - I don't think my IPhone camera can show the depth of color and variations but here it isI wound one ball of the Shepherds Sock by hand last night in preparation for my cast on with friends of the Traveling Woman shawl at Knit Witz Midnight Knitting.  I am not usually a red person but here is more recently purchased red yarn.

This is Malabrigo Lace in Sealing Wax - an awesome pinky red - There is a cardigan in the newest KnitScene mag that uses this yarn and I wanted another lace weight project to replace the Ruffled Fichu I just finished.

The obsession with Malabrigo seems intense right now - I could not leave Hanks without trying the sock weight - no I am not technically a sock knitter but what does that have to do with anything ?????

Another exquisite sock weight yarn - Saki by Prism - wish the color was more true - it is just gorgeous.One last photo of my recent yarn buying excursion.  This is the Spud and Chloe sweater (worsted weight) yarn.  Purchased from Wild Fibre in Savannah - I am going to make one of their patterns called the Tea Party Cardi - darling !

Our local sampler guild is meeting tomorrow afternoon.  It's been a long time since we saw met as a group - about 2 months.  It will be fun to see everyones projects and of course I'll be sitting in the corner hanging my head in shame - again no finish in the stitching realm but there is hope.  I will be showing an updated progress pic on my folks anniversary sampler soon.  Also some rug updates - I have a big announcement coming up soon in the hooking WIP world.  Don't forget to check my previous blog post and make a comment there to enter my Memorial Day drawing for a hooking, stitching or knitting prize. 

I enjoy all of your blogs so much - they inspire me and enrich my life.  You are all so special and unique and I love what you do.  thanks for coming to visit and for leaving your comments.  Have a wonderful weekend doing what you love to do.