Update....

So last night I put away the Highland Shawl, pulled out a mohair/silk scarf and put in "Capote". I just couldn't get into the movie. One, because he won the Oscar and I really believe Heath should have and Two, I kept trying to figure out how they were making him look short. The movie also brought back a high school memory of a girl that had a major crush on Perry, the killer. She gave me the book and told me I too would fall in love with him. I don't remember finishing it. And no, Perry did nothing for me.

This morning I pulled out all of the skeins and the labels used. And I put on my glasses. All but 1 of the skeins have the same dye lot! So last night I was wrong. Note to self: reading glasses do have a purpose.

And the one with the wrong dye lot has not been used.

Sooooo, I have a feeling, since I pulled skeins off the shelf that were disheveled, ball bands were not returned to the correct skein.

I could go into a rant about customers sampling yarn but I won't.

And no, kemtee, I'm not tinking. Besides, sometimes I can't see the difference.

What does a picture say?

That the naked eye can't see everything!

I pulled a skein of Lane Borgosesia Merino Otto Shadow in Rose Blossom a pretty tan with redish highlights off the shelf last week at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn to swatch for the Highland Triangle Shawl from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls. I liked the swatch (which became the beginning of the shawl) so pulled more off the shelf on Tuesday. I looked at the dye lot numbers and pulled the ones ending in a 9 or so I thought. Seems when you blur a 3 it sorta looks like a 9.

But I didn't notice the difference until I downloaded this picture just now

initial triangle

So I thought it was the camera/light because what is that yellow around the closet door? But no, the second picture taken on the kitchen floor shows the same.

stitches pickedup and 2nd edging begun

Now I'm afraid to go and look. That's 2 days work. 2 days sitting watching tv while Case Handyman Darin did this

I can reach the chains flatfooted!!!!!

Okay I looked. I can see it in some light. What to do what to do?????

I'm going to think about it. I'll let you know. Moral of the story: double check dye lots!

Thank You!

A big thank you to the knitters who purchased my patterns from The Knitting Vault.

My Favorite Shawl

Mary


"Mary" and "My Favorite Shawl" are also available at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn along with
George

Clarine

End of sales pitch!

My life since May 31

It's been a while since I've posted. Here are the reasons.

1. I lost my secure access so wasn't taking any chances. After trying to figure out on my own I called Geek Squad. After almost 2 hours with Gallagher he cried "uncle" and ordered a home visit. Special Agent John shows up, looks at my pc, looks at the modem, mumbles something about the telephone guys and fixes the problem in 2 minutes. Seems the modem went haywire and kicked my pc off. (I have no idea if I'm explaining the exact problem. I just know my secure network was gone and I wasn't taking any chances)

2. My kitchen ceiling 2:00 am Tuesday

Before Jack the Plumber

My kitchen ceiling 9:30 am Tuesday

After Jack the Plumber

Seems that when the refill line in the upstairs bathroom, you know, the one I NEVER use, breaks, it gives no warning. Two BIG BOX Plumbing Companies couldn't come out. Jack the Plumber came within an hour. I heart Jack the Plumber. Of course my deductable is more than what it will cost to fix. So after considering hanging a picture of the sky over the hole and telling everyone it's a skylight....I hired Case Handyman to fix the hole, move the light fixture over so they can install a ceiling fan, and paint the kitchen. (I'll be shopping from my stash)

3. Finishing while holding my breath that they wouldn't change his name the baby blanket for my soon to be new great nephen Evan.

A close up of his name

The entire blanket

Sorry about picture quality. Hard to get a clear picture.

4. Arlyn

aka Tripe

This is my newest Pi. It is named after the woman who gave me the yarn. Lace weight. The other night at Guild meeting there was a discussion amongst several ladies. One finally asked if I was knitting tripe. Meh!

5. World Wide Knit In Public Day

We organized some fun sales and drawings for everyone. Do you think we had fun? (click on the picture to enlarge)


Terry & Trink

Andrea & Dona

Allison


Debbie& Annette


5:00 the sun had made it's way around to the front of the building


Bobbie & Kiki inside
Ewe Knit Kits


6. Douceur et Soie

Notice a theme to my color choices lately?



Bobbie just got back from TNNA. We're going to be swamped with deliveries over the next few months. Already arrived are the new Noni patterns. Coming soon are the HiyaHiya needles. And sock yarn from everywhere!

Next on my knitting list is to finish the D&S scarf, test 2 patterns for
The Purled Llama, and continue work on Arlyn. Of course I signed up for the latest Mystery knit-a-longs.

Oh, and I've been invited to speak to a group of Girl Scouts on "Making your hobby your job". Hahahahaha! I'll open with "work 35 years and contribute to a retirement fund....."

My afghan needs to cuddle someone. ...a request from Bobbie

Right after the shootings on the Va Tech campus, Bobbie Reich, owner of Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn order 100 skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash in Va Tech colors with the intention of knitting "something". Her something is complete. Here's her request and her pattern:



If you know a Virginia Tech student who lives in the Hampton Roads area and who you think needs to be cuddled, please write a paragraph explaining why and we will be happy to present the afghan to the needy sophomore, junior or senior.

All entries need to be in on or before June 15, 2007. A selection committee will be
appointed to choose one of the students.

We strongly suggest that you consider knitting or crocheting an afghan so that ALL
Virginia Tech students can be cuddled and we can show our support for the harrowing
experience they have had to endure.



Virginia Tech Afghan


Approximately 48”X60”

Yarn: Double strand worsted weight yarn. I used Cascade Superwash in both the VT colors.. 7 skeins each.
Needles: Any size from 10.5 to 13 (40" or higher circular needle). I used 10.75 (because they were handy. The blanket is very dense).

Bottom border: With both colors of yarn (double stranded), cast on 160 stitches. Knit 8 ridges (16 rows).

Row 1 of pattern: Knit 10, *(Purl 20, Knit 20), repeat from *2 more times, Purl 20, Knit 10.
Row 2 of pattern: Knit 10, *(Knit 20, Purl 20), repeat from * 2 more times, Knit 20, Knit 10. Repeat rows 1 and 2 for a total of 20 rows.

Row 21 of pattern: Repeat row 2 of pattern.
Row 22 of pattern, Repeat row 1 of pattern.

Repeat rows 21 and 22 for a total of 20 rows.
Repeat both sets of blocks for a total of 13 blocks.

Top Border: Knit 8 ridges (16 rows). Bind off on the 16th row.

If desiring to change the size of the afghan, increase or decrease by 40 stitches, to retain exact pattern as written.

If using another weight yarn, please do a gauge and figure a good size: For example: If you get 4 stitches to the inch and you want 50 inches wide, that would be 200 stitches.








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10 or so things....

1. This is Nixon. Nixon stayed with us while his parents were on vacation. I guess you could say he was on vacation too.

2. Nixon and Bailey after walking 1.5 miles and then chasing each other around the sofa They were like this for almost 3 hours.

3. I bought an MP3 player. A cheap one. Lots of memory. 200 songs loaded and just 1/2 full. It's expandable too.

4. Just put a hold on 3 of the 6 Harry Potter books on CD at the Library. I'd like to reread them but need to get some knitting done for a November show.

5. 3/4 of the way finished with the blanket for my soon to be born great nephew. Pictures will come when it's complete. Right now it's a big white thing.

6. A small white thing is my summer Pi...aka Arlyn. Pictures would show a small white thing. People ask if it's a hat. I'm on the 48 rows 244 stitches section.

7. I love free breakfast. These came in the newspaper yesterday.

8. Need to purchase more memory for my MP3 player. See #4.

9. Overheard at the B&N Cafe: Mother of a 4ish year old to her friend with a toddler and infant. "He's getting a chocolate cookie and hot chocolate. I'm getting him hopped up for story time."

10. Chesapeake Jubilee is winding down. Think mini state fair. Held in the city park about a mile or so from my house. Country bands all weekend, fireworks last night.

11. Blogger auto saves now...cool!

12. Somewhere in the back of my mind I had saved the fact that senior discount at Regal Theaters was 55. I was wrong. (Pout) I could've saved some money this summer.

13. Where is the senior discount age at 55?

14. I have to renew my drivers license by this July. New picture after 10 years. How should I fix my hair? What should I wear? I mean it's gotta look undated for another 10 years!

15. This is one cool needlework book.

16. Bought Charmed Knits. Have knit both house hats from stash yarns.

Maryland Sheep & Wool May 5, 2007

The Guild sponsored a bus to MS&W and on Saturday 28 knitters left eNorfolk at 6:00 a.m. still a little sleepy. After a short stop in Newport News to pick up 2 more knitters we were off down I64. (There was another stop for biscuits and coffee at Hardee's). Arrived at the road leading to the fair grounds at 11:15 and finally parked at 11:45. We wasted no time!

The hills are alive with the promise of yaaarrnnnnn!!!!




One really nice perk in taking the bus is the parking near the entrance.


We don't have to fight this parking lot. (click on the picture to enlarge and see just a small bit of the parking lot)


The face of a first time sheep and wool festival goer as she aproaches the front gate.

I didn't get to taste Fried Twinkies, but I can tell you Ribbon Chips are fantastic!



A few animals on the hoof....


And off the hoof.....

Kiki and I shopped together. She bought Golding and Journey drop spindles and enough roving to keep her busy spinning until next year. We both bought MS&W caps. We're both short and it was a great way to find one another in the crowds.

"I must buy a broom "



A little music .........


...........and alot of yarn!

I missed lunch with the KR'ers, but caught up with Shelia From NY, Marfa and Jen at Jen's Spirit Trail Fiberworks booth. I also purchased some beautiful lace merino from Jen. And I ran into Lissa.

Stopped and spoke with Tilli Thomas. She showed us the samples of the wool/beaded yarn and a few of the pattens that will be out this fall. Wait until you see it felted!!!

My must find list had 3 items: Morehouse Farms, EZ Workshop and Spirit Trail Fiberworks.

I picked up a few lace wt kits from Morehouse Farms. Love their yarns, and buying the kits you get the pattern for free.

EZ I found at YarnBarn.

And some gorgeous lace wt Merino from Jen.

Walking to the Broom vendor we passed Tess's Designer Yarns. First time the crowd was thin enough to look. I found lace wt in 3 shades of pinks. My first thought was that it will become a wide "Mary" but now I'm not so sure. Maybe another pattern could be in the works.

At 4:00 Kiki and I went back to the bus and dropped off 4 hours of shopping, changed shoes, snacked on a few bites of Terry's Potatoes, grabbed a sweater and went back to see what we missed. The crowds had thinned a bit. Kiki purchased a bit more roving from Spirit Trail Fiberworks and I debated on the purchase of a sheep mask (decided it was just one more thing to dust).

We left the fair grounds at 6:00pm, stopped at Cracker Barrel for a quick dinner and back in the parking lot at midnight. It was a fantastic day!

My purchases: Morehouse Farms, Spirit Trail, Tess's all lace weight! and EZ's Workbook.