Nothing To Show - Yet!

I hate writing posts when I have no photo's but will do it anyway, this time. I bought a new book, Debbie Bliss, Simply Baby and started a hooded jacket in a pretty lime green wool. It's on circular needles so really difficult to photograph. Maybe another couple of days or so it will start to shape up enough to take a picture. I'm also still playing around with my new camera, a Canon Powershot A550 that has way too many buttons to suit me, but that's life, I'll figure it out.

When I get tired of baby stuff I go back to my shawl and it's growing slightly. There are about 8 inches knit of what is hopefully going to be 72 inches. I bought myself some lovely rosewood needles for that project, which I have never owned before. They were incredibly expensive and I doubt that I will be able to buy too many. I need to save my pennies for a swift and maybe a ball winder.

I had intended to dye the yarn this week but I am too stressed at the moment with my Mom's health situation that I really can't concentrate on any one thing for any length of time. I decided to wait until things calm down a bit and she starts to hopefully, feel better.

I received a package today from a fellow blogger which made me smile all day. Along with a purse pattern she threw in a little gift of music on a CD. Thing is, this woman doesn't know me, we have maybe exchanged 10 emails at best, yet the selection of songs seemed to have been chosen just for me, coincidence? She has a campaign going called CAOK, Calculated Acts of Kindness, I intend to pass it on. She is very kind.

Attention Deficit Disorder - For Sure

Why, why, oh why do I do this to myself? Not enough to do in my life, not enough projects on the go? Beats me, but I did really order this stuff and it came in the post today. It's 400 grams of superwash wool and obviously very bare. There are some jars of acid dye and one sheet of weird instructions.

Now, if there is anyone out there who can tell me how to dye this in the washing machine without tangling up the yarn I would be incredibly grateful.

One the scale of 1 - 10 of the most foolish things I am about to attempt, this one rates right at the top, I mean give me a break, there are a lot of nice colored yarns to buy without having to do this, aren't there?

Works In Progress

The lace is showing some signs of growing, albeit slowly. I am now at the same stage where I was when I had to unravel the whole thing. It's slow going but I think it's a more manageable size. It's now going to be 22 inches wide and I will have enough yarn to make it 72 inches long which is what I wanted.


I also started a cardi for the baby in a pretty lime green color with a bit of navy at the hem. It has a weird cable pattern and I'm not sure how visible it is in the photo. That's the back finished. Hopefully more knitting will get done this week.

Nothing To Post

I've actually been knitting up a storm this week but haven't had good enough light for photo's. It's dark and dreary here these days, not enough sun. I have pretty much had it with winter.

I have two pair of socks on needles, am still working on the shawl and started a new baby jacket. The shawl had to be ripped back and recast much smaller but is now coming along. Hopefully something will get finished soon.

Something New - For Whom I Know Not

I have been wanting to knit something lacy for a while now and bought a book, Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby. The shawls and scarves all look really lovely and really difficult to make. I did try to start something from a chart but find myself unable to read them. That's weird actually because I can read charts when I'm doing filet crochet, which I love.

But for some unknown reason I am unable to knit from a chart. I will someday have to get over that fear, meanwhile I found a pattern on Knit Picks called Dimple Shale Lace Scarf. Because it's only 6.5 inches wide I decided to triple the stitches and it's working out for me. It's a simple four row pattern, lacy enough to satisfy me for the time being. Once it gets a little longer the pictures will be better. I'm also going camera shopping this week for my birthday present.


I have had this lovely pink alpaca/wool blend hanging around and decided I would use it for this shawl. I think it will look lovely on summer evenings with a white sundress...but oh, I have a long way to go, I'd like it to be at least 72 inches long.

The bad news for me is that my navy cardigan has been fragged. I had finished the back and one side and realized it wasn't going to be big enough. It was the second time this had been fragged and since I'm superstitious, I couldn't cast on for the third time. I need to find a new pattern.

Baking Friday

The recipe for this treat can be found on Mausis' Blog. She lives in Germany and comes up with all these neat recipes for us to try. I swear she is turning into a good German hausfrau with all that baking.


Anyway, I couldn't resist the Butterkuchen, translated means butter cake and there are real pieces of butter on top before you bake it. Oh the cholesterol...what the heck. I also didn't have the correct size pan but it still baked up really nicely.

It was just out of the oven when my sweetie came home from work and he was ever so appreciative...me too actually, I gobbled down two pieces. Oh well, I need the energy for knitting.

Okay, That's Done, Back To Socks

Since we're not sure, at least not 100 percent that this new grandbaby is actually going to be a girl this is the only pink I'm going to do.




I cast on a pair of black socks for my sweetie who has been a bit ignored (in the sock department) so it's time I knit some for him. I have enough for this winter for myself as does Mom and we really hope that spring will come momentarily. I also really want to finish my own cardi and I'm now starting the second front. There is hope yet.

Now we just have to get through the next couple of days of mega major cold, brrr...

I'm Knitting As Fast As I Can

I started the pink leggings last week to go with the little pink cardi for the new grand baby. It seems to go a little slower than I'd hoped.

For me knitting with needles larger than 2mm seems to stress my hands and elbows and I'm waking up in the night with numb hands. That's carpel tunnel I'm told, but having had one hand operated on I'm really not interested in doing the other hand. The elbow thing, well that's arthritis.

So bigger projects just take a little more time than they used to.

Trying to find a good spot to take a a good photo has also been a problem. It has been the greyest February that I can remember for some time so natural light is non-existent right now.

March is of course my favourite month but it looks like it's coming in like a lion this year. Hopefully the old saying holds and it goes out like a lamb. It's my birthday month and I try to treat myself well for the entire month and insist that everyone else in my life do the same.

I did get some more knitting done on my Vogue Cardi, I have the whole back finished and half of one front piece. I'm hoping to wear it soon.

We are awaiting another storm today, freezing rain (sleet for Americans) and up to 10 cm of the stuff. I'm pretty much tucked in for the day with no errands to run. I am out of bread and that's okay, I'm baking some today. There's nothing better than smelling fresh bread baking and knitting away.