All Quiet on the Knitting Front

I haven't been posting much lately ... my love of Springtime 5k races has temporarily exceeded my love of knitting. Hopefully I'll get back in the knitting groove soon! The 40th Annual Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is this weekend, that will certainly jar me back into my love of stitchery.
(But I am also signed up to run a 6k in downtown Baltimore this same weekend....)

I'm still working on the same old bunting ...

The smaller piece is one of the front panels. It's not a difficult pattern, it's just that lately I don't sit down to knit very much.


The baby is due at the end of August, so there's lots of time.









If you're interested in my 5k adventures, stop by my other blog, where I've posted some photos of some of the 5ks from the last year!





Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to visit Tamis Amis for Work in Progress Wednesday!

Baby Got (Bunting) Back

The back of the Shell Bunting.
(It's resting on empty flower pots I was too lazy to move)

And finally, Spring has come to Baltimore.

Although I could swear I planted cat nip. 


Don't forget to stop by Tamis Amis for Work in Progress Wednesday! 

I Think I've Got It Now

I think I've figured out the secret to Gail Nightsongs.

Stitch markers. A lot of them.

I've just finished four rows of leaves. 7 rows appears to be the norm, and then there is an edging. If you are interested in seeing the other 3,500 or so Nightsong projects, the link is here.  (Ravelry account needed, of course).

Persistence, stitch markers, and attention to detail. Here's hoping the rest goes well! 

Don't forget to stop by Tamis Amis for Work in Progress Wednesday!

Don't Judge Me!

Yes, I know -- 2013 was going to be the year of the destash. No new yarn. Use what I have. Be strong! Be firm!

Yeah, that lasted till March. At least it was late March. A co-worker and his wife are expecting their first baby, and it's a girl. I have been wanting to knit a bunting every since the terrible Failed Bunting Experience of 2011. So I searched all through the Ravelry archives till I found this free Shell Bunting pattern.

I didn't have 880 yards of any one type of yarn, so I waited till they knew the gender -- a girl -- and went to the yarn store to get some pink Cascade 220. I had super-wash in mind, but they had no pink on hand. Luckily, as it turned out. The day after ordering four skeins of a pretty bold pink, I overheard father-to-be saying his wife had stated emphatically that she wanted purple baby stuff, no pink! I changed the order before it went through, luckily. It is a very simple pattern. I hope I don't mess it up.

And in other news ... again, don't judge me...

I've taken up the Gail Nightsongs project again. For the fourth time. This poor Manos del Uruguay yarn is getting frayed.

Smaller needles, and with about 20 stitch markers to delineate the leafs. Every time I start the row with the new leaves, I add four more stitch markers. I don't want to think how many I'll be up to by row 7. In any case, so far I've only had to tink once. There's one row where the stems and leaves both have nine stitches, and I got a little confused. I only had to go back three rows, but it had to be tinked, not frogged, in order to preserve the YOs.

Normally, I'm not a glutton for punishment ... but 1,460 people have successfully made this shawl. I am determined to be one of them.

Hopefully the smaller needles won't make the pattern hard to see ... I sure hope I can do it this time.

Don't forget to stop by Tamis Amis for Work-in-Progress Wednesday! 

The Shawl Wins

I give. I surrender. Uncle!

You win, Gail a.k.a. Nightsongs. Well played! I am thoroughly defeated.

I'm going to frog this entire thing and start over, for the FOURTH time ... sometime soon. Maybe this summer. I think we both need some time apart. We've both said things we've regretted.

I turned to something far simpler ....

Hexipuffs.












And a Montavilla Market Tote.

This is just the base.














I leave you with Pudgy Petunia, reminding you to visit Tamis Amis for Work-in-Progress Wednesday!

Winter Storm Warning? No Problem!

Yay! I'll just stay home and knit!

After all, it won't be like this again, right?

I hope not. That really sucked. Nah, this storm won't be like the Snowpocalypse Snowmaggedon of January-February 2010.

All of you who live in cold climes, such as Hege (Cloudberry) in Norway and Andrea of Wonder Why Alpaca in Michigan, you'll probably find this funny - - the Baltimore-DC area is battening down the hatches for a huge winter storm coming our way. How much snow are we expecting? Why, a huge amount ... 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm)! Better stock up on food and water and candles! Oh noes, it's the end of the world!

Seriously, we're looking at closed schools, businesses, and a virtual shutdown all because of a half-foot of snow. It is just unbelievable! Snow is not unheard of in this area, but it causes such a stir every time. It's supposed to start after midnight and then snow all day tomorrow (Wednesday).

Anyway, I'm looking forward to a day off, hopefully, and a lot of quality knitting time. I have barely made a scratch in my destashing efforts, and I really must get to work on that.

Here is my WIP for Wednesday ... I'm muddling along, but slowly. So many mistakes to be made!

Gail, AKA Nightsongs shawl.  It's not at all looking right, so I am not sure that I'll finish it. The yo spots are way too loose, and it just looks strange. I've tried it twice now, and I think I might have to face that I'm just not a lace knitter. What do you all think? Persevere, or frog? Check out the better examples at the link.

Don't forget to stop by Tamis Amis for WIP Wednesday!

A New Coat for the Pup

One of my favorite things to knit is doggie coats. Like baby clothes, they knit up quickly.

And while my doggie Georgie Girl has very heavy fur if I don't cut it, it still gets pretty cold here in Baltimore, and I think she needs a little extra warmth on those cold winter walks we like to take.

I think she looks especially prosh in a hand-knit coat...

Here, she models the first coat I made her ... it's a simple pullover with a separate ruffled neckpiece (she looked silly in it, but it kept her warm). It's not a good picture, I don't seem to have another one. She'd just come in from a snowy walk.

My second effort was much better. This is the Basic Turtleneck Sweater from a book by Ilene Hochberg.

Here's the larger version of the same sweater.

Here is the latest -- like the first, it's a pattern I just made up. I used Lion Brand Hometown USA, a thick-n-quick yarn.

(check out the blurry tail action!)









So despite five WIPs ... that is my only FO!

But I have one more thing to share with you. I was at Books a Million the other day, and found this:

I couldn't get all of the sticker off. The title is "The Museum of Kitschy Stitches." I plan on sharing some of the more horrifying pictures with you all. Such as:

Avert your eyes! Don't look directly at the pattern!!

Okay, that's all for now ... have a great weekend, and don't forget to stop by Tamis Amis for Finished Object Friday!