SEEING RED

WOW - looks like I almost let all of July slip by without another post to my blog.  I see that I have picked up another couple of followers - welcome !  

The reason I have not posted is because I really didn't have anything exciting to say or to show  you.  I have been involved this summer with Camp Loopy projects.  Camp Loopy is a summer knitting challenge run by The Loopy Ewe  - a great shop in Colorado.  Sheri  does an awesome job selling online but also has brick and mortar you can visit.  Anyway - last month I met the challenge and finished the Peak Island Hood and yesterday I finished my challenge for this month which was Stripe Study - I used Skein hand dyed yarn from Australia and I LOVE LOVE the finish.  The yarn is gorgeous to work with and the colors are warm and rich.  Stripe Study was easy but not boring.  Take a look

Stripe Study is a biggie - I used every bit of the two skeins which was over 800 yards - I CAN NOT believe I was able to knit over 800 yards in a month.

nope this is not an illusion or trick of the camera - the left side is definitely smaller stripes than the right side - this is achieved by short rows -

So - I have done very little else but KNIT KNIT KNIT this past month.  I was stitching a little on BBD Flowers for You earlier in July - I am really starting to miss my stitching especially since I have gotten some stash enhancements lately.  Last weekend I picked up the JCS Halloween issue and can't wait to start the Town of Halloween by Primitive Hare and last week I also got my order of Old Salem linen for that design from the Attic as well as the Sampler of the Month for July - the Land of the Free with some yummy lakeside linen for it.  Just can't wait to get back to stitching but alas - there is yet one more Camp Loopy project to do.

This is my exquisite Fiberphile MCN luxe sock yarn that will be used for Daybreak - The requirements for CL3 are that the design be at least 500 yards or more and be a design that is 2 colors or more and something you have never knitted before.  I have done a few of Stephen Wests' designs and am excited about finally knitting Daybreak.  Still have to wind my skeins but I'm sure I will probably start tonight or tomorrow.

Well that's about all my news - it's lean I know but aside from finishing that BIG shawl - I don't have any more news.  It's just hot as blue blazes here in NE FL just as I know it is in many areas of the country - of course it is the end of July and very typical for this time of the year.  So whether knitting, stitching or hooking (what is that?  I think I forgot how) - I hope you have a cool fun filled weekend !

BOSTON

No - I'm not talking about the fine city of Boston but the band Boston.

We attended their concert last night at the St Augustine Amphitheatre and to say they ROCKED THE HOUSE is an absolute understatement!!!!!!!!!!  They played all their great hits spanning over 30 years in the industry.  They played loud hard and steady - never slowing down one bit for one solid hour and a half.  We saw Boston in the late 90's in the Tampa/St Pete area with more of the original members however this lineup was nothing less than stellar.  The performance was AWESOME and if you are a Boston fan - get on the internet now and see if they are coming to a town near you.

 As you can see - we had great seats - front and center -The only drawback was the excessive heat - however there was a breeze off the ocean





Moving on to what else I've been doing lately.  Camp Loopy 2 with The Loopy Ewe started on 6/27.  Her requirement for this camping project is that at least one color in your project had to use a color in your nations flag and that the project be a minimum of 800yrds - WHEW - 800 + yards in a month - that is a tough challenge for me.  I chose the ever popular Stripe Study Shawl by Veera.  Lots of people have enjoyed knitting this one and I have never tried it - It is a garter stitch and the unsual shape is created by doing short rows and the striping of two colors.  I am using lovely yarn that I have never tried before by Skein - a hand-dyer in Australia - it is a fingering weight 80% merino and 20% cashmere and it is really lucious.  I am enjoying using it very much.

The dark rich red is Little Red and the other color is Sugar - I actually love the Sugar and am really liking the two together.  As of midnight last night - this is how much I have gotten done.  It's easy knitting now that I've gotten the hang of the pattern and short row shaping.

A little patriotic stashing this week when the pre-order from the Attic arrived.  This is the limited edition Star Spangled box by Kelmscott  and the July Wordplay by With They Needle and Thread

Patriotic stitching was dragged out from the bottom of the WIP/UFO pile.  America by Handwork is almost 1/2 done I would say.  It is worked on the called for treasured BOAF Sparrow linen with the designers choice of GAST threads.  I am hoping to make some progress on this over the 4th holiday.

Last thing I got a month or so ago and keep forgetting to show is another piece for my Liberty Hill collection.  The Stitchers Station sits right on my table by my stitching chair.  It has a cute rolling farm scene all around - which you can't see very well - a threadwinder and a 3" ruler was included.  I find it handy to stick my stitching glasses, my Brighton pen and I have the threadwinder loaded up with the beautiful Gloriana Florimell silk I am using for I Wait for God design by Hands to Work.  I don't have enough of this done to show you yet.  There was an awesome photo of someone who used the same color silk for the same design  I am using in the recent Attic newsletter.

Well my fine friends - I wanted to wish you all a very happy and festive 4th of July - I probably won't make it back to blog land to post this week so I'm sending you best wishes for all your favorite 4th foods and plenty of time for holding a needle in your hand.  Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your comments - I always love hearing from you.