Finally! A knitting post from Margaret

So, it's been awhile since I last blogged about actual knitting . . . but I finally have some items to talk about!

Please excuse the poor quality of the photos - my camera is crapping out.

I FINALLY finished the Dimple Shale Lace Scarf (Ravelry Link). I started this back in November with Bristol Yarn Gallery Buckingham yarn so it seems I'm averaging about 7 months to complete a scarf . . . awesome. This yarn is absolutely amazing - and I loved every moment of knitting with it.

I knit weekly with Gail who inspired me to finally try knitting toe-up socks. For some reason the cast on always made me nervous but I finally sat down with some double pointed needles and a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock Yarn Multi and gave it a go. I actually got it on my first try! I used Wendy's Generic Toe-Up Sock Pattern with a Figure Eight Cast On. I used Hello Yarn's tutorial as well as Knitty's tutorial.

Ugh, crappy photo does not do my sock justice!!

And finally I'm working on Lace Ribbon Scarf from the Spring 08 Knitty. I've been having a little bit of trouble with the pattern - I have to really pay attention or I get thrown off and end up with too many stitches or not enough stitches at the end of a row. This is definitely not the project to work on while watch Lost.

Awhile ago, Gail tagged me for a survey and I'm finally getting around to doing it. Eeep! Thanks G!

Here are the rules for this meme:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.
2) Post the rules.
3) Share six non-important things / habits / quirks about yourself.
4) Tag at least three people.
5) Be sure the people you tagged KNOW you tagged them by commenting what you did.

So… Here goes.

-I played the Clarinet in grades 6-9. I was in band for one year in high school until I decided that I'd rather do sports (X-country & Track).
-I love cream cheese and black olives on whole wheat English muffins.
-I talk to my cat like she can understand me. I also give her lots of nicknames like: Bear, Lu Lu, Fluffy Bunny Feat, and Feather Pants
-I drink a Tall, Non-Fat, triple shot Latte almost every morning. I have a 40 minute commute to work so it helps me perk up for the drive.
-Ever since I moved in with Ron (aka Mr. Clean) I make the bed EVERY morning. I never used to do that but it's really nice to come home to a made bed every evening. It makes a big difference in the overall look of the bedroom.
-I am BEYOND excited about the remake of Beverly Hills 90210. I really hope it's not lame. It probably will be but I can hope.

So, I tag:

My co-blogger Anna
Rose
and anyone else that feels like doing this!

Heavenly Haven

Dear Margaret,

I am saddened to hear of your recent unfortunate knitting woes. You've sufficiently scared me out of starting a sweater anytime soon. Fortunately for me, in that respect, I have miles and miles of lace shawl that needs to be finished by August in order to be ready for my sister-in-law's wedding. The bride's shawl is complete but the bridesmaids? Well, I feel like I've been knitting the Forest Canopy Shawl for years. I can do the pattern in my sleep (well actually, I don't even trust myself to work on it early in the morning or late at night because it is SO EASY to screw up lace). But you know what I mean.

I enjoy making them and I'm happy to do it... but laceweight is just so LACEY. Oy. It's like knitting with dental floss. Thankfully the Malabrigo is heaven once it's knitted up (duh. when is Malabrigo NOT heaven? I'm considering naming my first born Malabrigo in tribute) but still. I have a side project to keep me sane, which are those Thuja socks from knitty, but once those are done I think I'll get started on the Koolhaases.



Know what else is heavenly? Rowan. Why did no one tell me?! When Rose gave me Heartfelt for Birthmas last year I was stoked, since it's such a pain in the booty to order the thing and have it sent over from the UK, but WHOA I love it! The yarn is superb, the models in the book are fantastically over the top and the patterns are lovely. I can’t wait to make more Rowan patterns!



Don't I look all introspective and Rowan-esque? No? Do I just look really mad at the photographer? He wasn't supposed to take a picture of my FACE! But hey, so what if all my pics aren't super happy? I can be pensive sometimes, can't I?! Sheesh. I only did 26 repeats instead of the 27 called for, but it blocked out super LONG (please see above photographic evidence) I think I’ll be alright. I have almost an entire skein left over so I’ll probably make a matching hat or some such.

I hope you're enjoying your camping weekend (you do realize Rose is living it up on a cruise ship right now, headed for our northernmost state, and schmoozing with Brenda Dayne and Amy Singer, right)? Not to make you all depressed or anything. Tent camping with beer is almost the same. Except I doubt anyone is teaching sock classes... but if they ARE give me a call because I am so there.

No knitting but NKOTB!

For some reason I've been on a bit of a knitting hiatus. I think Wicked sucked the knitting mojo out of me. All that stockinette and for what!? My knitting heart will go on but sometimes a little break is good.

As a result I don't have much of a knitting update. I'm working on my Dimple Lace scarf and hope to be done with it by the weekend after next. It's an extremely late Christmas Gift for my step-mom. I'll also be giving my dad his Christmas scarf as well . . . I've gotten a lot of use out of it over the winter so I'll be sad to see it go. We're going to see the Pompeii exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.

This weekend, Ronaldo and I are going camping for 5 days/4 nights so I'm sure some knitting will get done then.

The highlight of my day was listening to a radio interview with none other than Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block!! They also played their new single "Summertime" which is pretty darn horrible but hey, it's the New Kids! It's a walk down memory lane to when I wore my Jordan Knight pin on my jean jacket every day . . . coveted my best friends NKOTB sleeping bag because my parents wouldn't buy me one . . . and watched the cartoon every Saturday morning.

They've released tour dates for the East Coast but not the West . . . YET. You better believe I'll be there . . . whose with me!?

And now back to your regularly scheduled knitting content . . .