We're back from Florida. Wow what a long drive that was!
I started and almost finished one sock while I was gone. Now, I've started the Old Way Gansey from IK Winter 2004. Tomorrow will be my knitting marathon while DH goes to his brother's house to watch football all day.

This is the Backyard Leaves scarf from Scarf Style


This is made with a sport weight acrylic yarn. I used one less repeat of the pattern because I wasn't sure if I would have enough yarn. Still, it's long enough--about 72 inches.

I should look back in my archives and see what knitting resolutions I made and didn't keep, then I won't have to think of any new ones.

I finished the Backyard Leaves scarf from the Scarf Style book. I don't like the way the two strips are joined together, but I'm going to have to live with it. If the lighting had been better today I would have posted a photo.

Tomorrow we leave for Florida for two weeks--I have 12 hours to decide what project I will take with me.

Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller is a terrific book for lace knitting. I received mine yesterday and it is loaded with lace patterns, projects and general information. I ordered mine through Sandy Terp at Moonrise, but it can also be ordered through the author in the UK.

Finally, the finished Cherry Blossom Shawl...



I haven't pinned it down yet. I don't have blocking wires or anything that I could use to make a perfect circle so I hope it doesn't turn out too lopsided. I'm relieved that it is finished, but I am somewhat disappointed in that the outer edges seem too tight to stretch out the way it should. Maybe after I work on it, it will be okay.

I've been trying to find the right scarf pattern for my MIL and it seems to be more work than I'm willing to put into it. Unless I find something soon, I won't have time to make it anyway. There are a number of other projects I would like to make. The Tilted Jacket in the Winter 04 IK is intriguing. I would need 2000 yards of yarn though, but I don't have that much of one color in my stash--and I really want to use up some of my stash. I guess I'll spend the afternoon deciding what I would love to knit next.

I bought some variegated sock yarn to make a scarf for my DS girlfriend, but I didn't like the looks of it so I ripped it out. Now I'm thinking about making a pair of socks with it. I haven't made any socks for a couple of years. I just joined a sock knitalong and am hoping to hear from some knitters who have knit pretty socks with variegated yarn. I don't want a boring stockinette sock or I probably won't finish it.

On another note, my three sisters and I took the train to Chicago Friday and returned Saturday night. We didn't have enough time to do the things we wanted to do and since I'm the only knitter we didn't go to any yarn shops--not that I need any more yarn anyway.

Knitter's Mag Winter 04 is supposed to be in the mail. I saw a photo of a lace scarf on their website that I hope will be a future knitting project--maybe the scarf I wanted to make for my MIL. If I'm going to make any Christmas presents, I will have to set aside everything I'm working on now or it won't be done in time.

Progress!


Finally, picked up the Cherry Blossom shawl again and have started on the edging. There is about 12 inches completed with a lot more to do. I should know better than put myself on a schedule to complete a project, I never get them done according to plan.

I'm doing some decluttering and I need a better system for organzing my knitting magazines. Right now they are in piles on the book shelf and I flip through them whenever I'm looking for a pattern. Because there are so many of them, I'm thinking about taking the oldest ones and putting them in a box in the closet. If I don't use them after one year then I will either sell them or give them away. My sister is a beginner knitter and I think she might like my old Family Circle Easy Knitting magazines.

I'm still working on my two shawls and haven't started any new projects. I'm starting to get itchy fingers though. Next month my three sisters and me are going to Chicago and I think I've talked them into going to a yarn store. I'll need to do a little research to find one that isn't too pricey and also has a good selection of books.

If you're still undecided about who to vote for in the Presidential election, Peaches has recently announced her candidacy. I can't imagine we'll ever have a better candidate to represent our fiber interests.

I have to confess, I've been reading rather than knitting. Well, I've been knitting a little, but not enough to show any progress. I just came back from the library with two more books, so it looks like the shawl and all my other projects waiting to be finished or started will have to wait a little longer

This is an unfinished sweater from last winter, it's the one that I really don't like the color. It's so close to completion that I really want to finish it--and who knows I might actually wear it. BUT there's one little problem...

This is a photo of the two sleeves side by side. As you can see I did my increases differently on each sleeve. The pattern didn't give very clear instructions about how to do the increases, and apparently I didn't think to look at the finished sleeve to see what I did. There are only 4 or 5 inches to rip out so I might as well get it over with.

It doesn't look like I've made much progress on the Cherry Blossom, but if I knit an hour each day, it will be done in about a week.



There is about six inches folded underneath that can't be seen because of the circular needles. In the process of taking the photo I lost slipped six stitches off the needle and I'm not looking forward to fixing it.

Some progress has been made on my Cherry Blossom but not enough to see any difference in a photo.

Another shawl I've been working on doesn't look much different either, this is Crystal Blue Persuasion. Pardon the poor photo.

This is the cherry blossom shawl, it is on circular needles so I can't spread it out to it's full size. I still have quite abit to finish having just started Chart 3 and there are 12 repeats and over 300 stitches in each round.




Don't you hate it when you find a pattern and yarn that you like, put a lot of time into knitting it then try it on and it looks horrible on you? I have one sweater in an almost complete state but when I look at the color I think why in the world did I choose that color--I never wear that color. I was looking at the back cover of one of my Knitter's Magazines, I think it was a fashion show at one of their Stitches events. Anyway, some of the sweaters the knitters wore were just beautiful, but they weren't flattering to the people wearing them. I suppose that's the risk we take when we knit.

I still haven't gotten my computer fixed. I left it with my ISP in town and it was there a week but they still hadn't even looked at it, so I picked it up on Friday. Everything works fine except I can't surf the internet. In the meantime I can use AOL, so I subscribed for 3 free months, but you can use only 5 hours per month and then it's $1.95 per hour after that. I'm sure I'm over the 5 hours already just trying to find help over the internet to fix my surfing problem. Tomorrow I hope to take it to a real computer whiz to see if he can fix the problem.

I was in the JC Penney store yesterday and they had the cutest knit stole on display. It would be so easy to duplicate, I wish I would have scrutinized it a little bit more, though. I tried to find it on their website but could only find ponchos. Essentially it was knit in a bulky mohair type yarn, a short rectangle, (enough to wrap around your shoulders) then it was fastened with a buckle type fastener in front. Very cute. I have some Homespun at home and I just might give it a try.

I haven't posted in awhile, but haven't knit much either. I would post current pictures of my shawls except my computer isn't working right and I had to take it in to be looked at. It'll be a week before I get it back! If I'd known that I would have taken it somewhere else. For now I have to use the computer at the library. Maybe by the time I get my computer back I will have made some good progress to report.

Currently, I'm unsatiable when it comes to lace knitting, I want to read more about it, try more patterns, buy more yarn... I think I belong to every lace knitting list out there. Even though I rarely post, I'm learning a lot from everyone else. Wouldn't it be nice if someone put together a lace knitters gazette, something along the lines of Dawn Brocco's Heel and Toes Gazette. If I was a little more knowledgeable I would be attempting it myself.

I've been knitting the Cherry Blossom Shawl, it's an easy pattern. The Flower Basket Shawl might be next on my list, though I would like to try something more difficult--maybe the Rose of Sharon tea cloth--very pretty!

The 2nd border of Madli's shawl has to be kitchenered to the body.

I've never had to kitchener so many stitches before, it wasn't bad but probably took almost 2 hours.

After that I soaked it in water with a capful of Eucalan, spun it out in the washer, then pinned it out on the bed.

I considered keeping the sides straight rather than having the points, but I decided to try it and if I didn't like it, the next time I washed it I would leave it straight.

I weaved in the ends after I blocked it and she's ready to wear! It was a little breezy when I took the photo so I couldn't get the shawl to hang flat against the rail.



I estimated that I have over 40 hours knitting time. I used Jaggerspun Zephyr, color Admiral, knit with size 4 needle. Finished size is approximately 19 inches wide--from point to point and about 64 inches long.

Who would have thought a ball winder could be so exciting. Here's my first wound ball, some handspun Romney.



I was going to make a scarf for my MIL but this is a little too scratchy, so I've started a bobbin of Rambouillet. I really miss my sheep when I spin.

Madli is close to being finished, work got in the way of her completion. Plus, I misplaced the needle I was going to use to hold the stitches while I knit up the other border. I finally gave up looking and just put it on a stitch holder for now.

Today, I'm planting some strawberry plants so the border might not get finished today either.

Yesterday, I ordered a one pound cone of Zephyr Vanilla from WEBS. Apparently I will be making lots of shawls or lace! I can make approximately 4 shawls from one cone. I'm waiting for my fall issue of IK to arrive. There is a shawl in there that I would like to look at before I order another pattern. I really like the Lily of the Valley shawl in Knitters Summer 04, but I don't want to make another shawl with nupps (bobbles) right after finishing Madli, who also has nupps. Then I found another shawl called Cherry Blossom in an old IK that I would like to make.

For Christmas, I'm considering spinning some lace yarn and knitting a scarf for my MIL. I don't know if I can spin my yarn fine enough for lace, though. One more thing to put on my to do list.

I was gone all of last week so I didn't get Madli done, but I'm making good progess...



I'm on the 26th repeat--only 5 more to go then knit and kitchener the border. It doesn't look very long, but it has a lot of stretch to it. I'm wearing it to a wedding on September 4th.

While I was gone I worked on this shawl.



This is Crystal Blue Persuasion from a back issue of Knitters.
I'm using the handpainted yarn I purchased from Danette Taylor. I took this with me because the pattern was simple enough to memorize.

I'm at the point where it's time to find another shawl pattern. This morning I started going through all of my knitting magazines and have decided to make a list of all the shawl patterns I have so I don't have to leaf through every single magazine when I'm looking for a pattern.

Another project I might start is to crochet or knit edgings on hankies and give them to my nieces as part of their bridal shower gifts. I bought this from my BIL antique store.



I'm going to take the poem, Something old, something new and rework it so they know why I'm giving them a hankie.

My handpainted yarn arrived yesterday
 

 
It took me over an hour to wind this up by hand. I think there is over 1800 yards of lace weight yarn here. Maybe it's time to start thinking about a ball winder! The colors look much prettier after it is wound. I started a swatch but I didn't do something right so I have to start over.
 
Here's another photo of Madli's shawl.   
  
 

 
I stretched it out and pinned so as to get a better look at the pattern. If I knit three pattern repeats everyday it will be done in a little over a week. In reality, I know it's going to be more like 2-3 weeks before I finish it.
 
 

I haven't been posting, but I have been knitting.


This is the back of the entrelace sweater. I really like the way it's turning out. It's about 20 inches wide so I hope it isn't too large. The way the pattern is written it is difficult to change the pattern to reduce the size. I'm using size 2 needles which are smaller than those called for in the pattern.
This project was rudely interrupted when my Jaegger Zephyr came in the mail last Friday. I had to start Madli's shawl from Interweave Knits Summer 04

When stretched, it'll be about 19 inches across. The color is called Admiral,I'd call it royal blue.

Then for some reason I had the bright idea to try to handpaint some brown sheep nature spun that had been sitting around collecting dust.
It wasn't a success.

I think this will probably be socks--or felted into something.

After looking at some of the yarn on ebay, I decided to make a shawl from some handpainted yarn. I ordered this from Danette Taylor Designs.

She sells on ebay and I think her colorways are gorgeous. She'll do custom colors at your request. She says she doesn't keep her website up very well, but you can see some of her colors there, as well as her ebay store.

Add a few gray highlights and it'd be me!

I'm happy to report that my Violets by the River shawl has been completed.

It turned out as nice as I thought it would. From start to finish it took me about a week to knit. This was the only project I worked on, knitting 2-3 hours each day. As shawls go, I would say that it is small, but if someone is looking for immediate gratification this shawl is a good pattern to start with as it gives you the confidence to try something a little more challenging.

While I'm waiting for my yarn order to arrive, I've started a entrelac/lace sweater.

This is one of the sleeves, done in a mesh lace pattern. I have never done entrelac so only time will tell if I actually finish this one.

I'm almost done knitting my shawl. The directions say to knit the neck edge in garter stitch when knitting with silk yarn, rather than knit the honeybee pattern. I'm not sure of the reasoning for this, but that's where I'm at right now. Tomorrow I should be ready to block it.

I've already ordered some Zephyr from The Knitter. This yarn received rave reviews from some of the shawl knitters at the yahoo shawlknitters group. My next shawl will be Madli's shawl from Interweave Knits.

I underestimated the time it would take to finish up my projects. I did get this one done, though.


This is the bellflower tank from an old issue of Cast On Magazine. I used Lion Brand Microspun and it worked up nicely. Microspun does split quite a bit, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Then I started my Violets by the River shawl.


The lace weight yarn that came in the kit is 100% silk. I'm barely started, but I like it. The pattern is easy and a good beginner project for someone who would like to try lace knitting.

Yesterday I went to the mall for the first time since Christmas, and I saw a lot of ponchos. Most of them were very plain in a solid color stockinette. I didn't even look at the price tag. I have no future plans for knitting one, but ya never know if the right pattern comes along.

Despite the lack of posts, I have been busy knitting. In addition to the baby sweaters for charity, I've been trying to finish up my UFOs because I've ordered this shawl, Violets by the River, from Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill. By the time it gets here I should have at least three projects finished and it will be a relief to have them done. So no photos today, but maybe tomorrow.

Can you believe that I've finished two baby surprise sweaters this week?

This pattern is terrific for using up yarn leftover from other projects. The only problem is that I don't have any yarn left for a hat or booties.

I was looking through a project bag that I haven't touched since last summer and found an unfinished baby surprise sweater. I also found a skein of Caron's Simple Soft variegated yarn that I bought for a baby sweater that was never started. Without buying any more yarn I think I have enough for at least five more baby sweaters. And that doesn't count the yarn from the unfinished baby afghan that may become sweaters instead.

That's good for the Cheyenne River Reservation, but now I have to finish up those UFOs I listed awhile back. My plan for now is to alternate UFOs with baby sweaters. Then I can satisfy my desire to start something new and still get some of my own projects completed.

Last night I started on the right front of the white cotton sweater. I hope to wear it this weekend over one of the tanks I knitted last month.

I've gotten sidetracked from my white sweater and started a baby surprise jacket. It all started when blogdogblog posted about the yahoo group knitbabysurprise.
I've made a couple of BSJs before but it's been a few years so I thought I'd use up some of my stash. Then I was wondering what I was going to do with it when it was finished and I found out about the Native American Support group. This wonderful group of people works to help the Native Americans at the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota.

I'm working on my second BSJ because the knitbabysurprise group is having a sweater drive over the next couple of months to support the Reservation and can use all the sweaters they can get. Maybe you could use up a little of your stash and send them a sweater or two.

Yesterday was a busy day. With all of the rain we had over the weekend the grass has just grown wild. I had to use the brush mower to cut some of the lawn and then rake it up and dump it on the garden. The flower beds needed weeding too, but I can only do so much of that before my hands get tired. So in between the yard work and knitting I made some soap.


I love homemade soap, but I don't make it fancy. For fragrance I used Milk Honey and Oatmeal in the first batch and Plum Spice in the second batch. It smells divine.

I'm making progress on my white sweater, too.

Yesterday, I received an email from TKGA saying that they've been contacted by CBS who is in search of a Domestic Diva. What exactly is their idea of a domestic diva? I'm not sure but I am sure that this show will be just about as ridiculous as all of the other phoney/reality shows that are on television. Isn't it amazing what some people will do for a few moments of fame and money?

I've been busy knitting the back of my white sweater. The Paradiso yarn is a thick and thin cotton, which adds some texture to the plain stockinette stitch.

I've started a very simple short sleeved cardigan using the Paradiso yarn that I bought over a year ago. Here's a pic of the sleeve.


This will be a cute little sweater to wear over the tanks that I have done (or started!) I don't know how long I will be able to keep it white.

I'm not having any trouble working with the cotton yarn. I've read a number of blogs where the knitter's hands became sore from knitting with cotton. So far so good for me.

I've taken an inventory of my UFOs
Bellflower tank need to finish from armholes up
Cabled turtleneck need to finish 2nd sleeve and sew together and knit turtleneck.
Lopi Sweater about 25% complete, probably won't work on it until fall.
Fast Florida Footies one footie 3/4 done
Baby Afghan 1/3 done, probably work on it between projects.
I think this is everything and it doesn't look as bad as I imagined it would.

I don't have any new projects on the needles right now. I've been making more scrubbies and dishcloths for Christmas 2004. I was trying a lacy cardigan pattern using Patons Paradiso 100% cotton, but I don't like the yarn. I might have to relegate it to scrubbies and dishcloths. Since it's white I could dye it with kool-aid which might be fun. It seems like a waste to use it for that, though. Hmm I wonder if I could sell it on ebay?

Have you checked out the Dishcloth Boutique? There are a lot of good patterns here to try for summer knitting including a kitchen towel pattern.

I've been reading the book The Automatic Millionaire. I have no interest in being a millionaire, but I like to read personal finance books. The premise of this book is to have your investments taken automatically out of your paycheck or bank account and over time (along with other good money management techniques) you will be able to retire early. Most of the information in the book I've read in other books. It's a worthwhile read, but I wouldn't buy it--get it at the library.

I'm up to the armholes on Bellflower.


I'm happy with the way the lace pattern turned out, except it does curl a little bit on the bottom edge.

The stockinette stitch has gotten boring, but now that I'm on the armholes, at least I have to pay closer attention to what I'm doing.

The mistake in the scrubbie pattern has been fixed. You can view it at the same address

My little green scrubbie was a quick project, but I think there is an error in the instructions so I had to improvise. Here's what it looks like after binding off.



Then you sew together the cast on and bind off edges, it will be tube shaped.



Then on the open ends you pick up the slipped stitches and pull tight to close up the hole. Here you have a cute little scrubbie.



This is made with kitchen cotton, but I'd like to try it with nylon or something more durable for scrubbing. Tonight I will give it a try on the pots and pans.

I've made some good progress on my bellflower, but no pictures today.

My next fun little project is to make the dishcloth scrubbies from the pattern at Knitting is Fun. I think this will be part of the Christmas presents I'm going to make for my mom and sisters. To go along with it I'm going to make some soap. I love homemade soap!
Did you see the photos of the scrubbies at Super Eggplant?

Yesterday, I drove almost two hours to return a skein of yarn--and buy more of course, only to find the store closed. Apparently, they thought they should have Mother's Day off. So in desperation I went to Michael's and bought some Lion Brand microspun to make this Bellflower tank from Cast On Summer 1999.


I cast on last night and had to rip it out 3 times. The first round starts K2, yo, ssk and that ssk is a pain on the first row. I tried casting on size 6 needles then transferring the stitiches to my size 4 so my stitches would be looser, but that didn't help either. So, on my last attempt for the night, I just knit the first round and started the pattern on row 2. I'm on row 7 and the small change in the pattern isn't noticeable.

Chip says don't forget to stop and smell the roses--or tulips.

Yea! A knitting webring for dog lovers


Chip is happy to hear about it, in his own aloof way.

I finished the shawl a few days ago. I like the way it turned out, but when I look at myself in mirror I feel like I should have gray hair done up in a bun.


Right now I'm working on a baby blanket that I started during the tax season. It's a patchwork design from FCEK. Rather than making individual blocks I'm making strips that I will sew together when I'm done. This was supposed to be done for a baby shower last month, but instead I gave her a gift certificate since the blanket was far from finished. I haven't decided if I will still give her the blanket or just save it for another baby.



It looks kinda funny here, but I hope once it's sewn together and blocked it will be presentable.

I've posted a couple of crochet booklets on ebay.

I have two pattern repeats left to do on the shawl, hopefully I can get those done tonight. Then I'll just have to work the edging, and I'll be done!

Now, I'm starting to look through my patterns to see what I will do next. I like a vest that's in Cast On Summer 2004. I'm still trying to find a pattern for a cardigan sweater that I can use up 7 skeins of white Patons Paradiso.

I'm making good progress on my shawl from Cast On Spring 2004.


The shawl starts from the top, so I have a ways to go, I'm still on my first skein of Homespun. I've had a few problems with getting to the end of the row and having too many stitches, but I'm watching the pattern a little closer and I think I can prevent some of my goof-ups now. One night I spent about 3 hours trying to figure out what I had done wrong.

Finally, I have pictures of my almost FO, Take a Bow, designed by Linda Cyr in Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2002.


I still have to finish one of the straps in the back. I've made the straps just a bit wider than the original pattern.

Next, on the project list is this shawl from Cast On Spring 2004. I've wanted to make a shawl for quite some time, but the thought of knitting with lace weight yarn has held me back. This pattern calls for Lion Brand's Homespun, and it only takes two skeins and size 11 needles. Hopefully, it will be a quick knit and will come in handy for those cool summer nights.

My shawl will be off-white, but if I like the pattern I plan on making another one in a color appropriate for blue jeans.

I had very good intentions of posting progress pics of my tank, but the batteries were dead in my camera. I was going to list some items on ebay, too. Phooey!

I've been very busy around the house now that the tax season is over. Last spring I bought some paint for the kitchen, but never got to that miserable job. Actually, if it was just the kitchen it wouldn't be bad, but I have to paint the dining room, hallway and laundry area all the same color. I ran out of paint on Friday and picked up two more gallons today. I still have the pantry and the hall closet to paint. Then I'm going to start the family room...

I bought a carpet cleaner and I tried it out on a small area; I think it did as good of a job as the steamers that you rent from the store. I've never hired someone to clean my carpets so I don't know how it compares to the job that they would do. Of course, all this means that as soon as the painting is done, the carpets are next.

It'a a bit windy here today!

Here's my swatch of Clip. This is 100% Egyptian cotton and so far it's been a pleasure to knit. Knitter's have given it good reviews at Wise Needle I've found a tank pattern in a back issue of Vogue Knitting, though I'll be making a few changes to the straps. I don't want skinny straps because I want to be able to wear this to work. The yarn is much too nice to make a tank for everyday wear.


While I was out and about yesterday, I looked at Lions Homespun because I've thought about making a shawl using the pattern in Knitting into the Mystery. I couldn't decide on a color; I think I would prefer something neutral to wear to church or a wedding. I left empty handed, but with my current UFOs, it's probably just as well I didn't buy any yarn.

I just got back from Grandma's, two and a half hour drive one way. By the time I get there I'm ready to come back home. I picked up lunch at Boston Market, Grandma was convinced that I made it myself and it's hopeless to try to convince her otherwise. As her dementia progresses, I wonder how much longer before she no longer recognizes me. She confuses a lot of things, today she spoke of my dad (her son) as being older than herself. Sometimes I see a glimpse of Grandma pre-dementia, but that doesn't happen very often anymore.

On my way home I stopped at Crafty Lady in Macomb and bought some cotton from the Klaus Koch Kollection called Clip. They had it knit up in a cute tank which I really liked and now wish I had purchased the pattern. I'm sure though, with all of my knitting magazines I will find something similar.

Then for fun I bought a skein of Bernat cottontots that I'm going to knit into a bucket hat.

Now that the tax season is over I hope to have more time to post, more importantly I hope I have more time to knit! I have alot of others things to do here at home, including painting the kitchen and the family room. I have started the day with repairing cracks and nail pops in the drywall.

My book order from amazon came today, included was Knitting into the Mystery

I read through the book very quickly last night. Though I would never be one to start a shawl ministry, I think knitting shawls for others is a wonderful way to show people you care and are praying for them. I think I might donate this book to the local library when I am done with it.

Woo Hoo 4 days until the tax season is over! I'm trying to decide what I want to knit next. I still have to finish my cabled turtleneck. I'm 1/2 sleeve away from sewing it together.

I have a pattern for a moebius scarf from Fiber Trends. I started it once with a sport weight acrylic yarn, but made a mistake somewhere in the lace pattern and ended up frogging the whole thing. This time I think I might use a lace weight yarn.

I've seen a few summer tops that I like, but can't decide if I want to make something with cotton. The only cotton yarn I've ever bought is still sitting on my shelf because I don't like knitting with it.

My main project after the tax season is to start painting the interior walls of my house. I've procrastinated for a year on that job because I have some drywall repairs to do first.

There's an important trial going on right now in New York involving the constitutionality of the partial birth abortion ban. Every day the American Center for Law and Justice is giving a report of the trial. Partial birth abortion is a barbaric procedure, the details explained in the trial are gruesome to read. If you're not familiar with what happens I urge you to read it, no civilized society should allow this to happen.

I used to be a supporter of abortion, not that I would have one, because I was pregnant before I got married, so it was an option. Rather, I thought women should be able to make the choice for themselves. I must say though, that I didn't really think about abortion much, as far as what happens to the fetus or how it might affect the woman afterwards. It was only a seven years ago that my heart was changed about abortion.

Reading through the trial highlights brings to mind a situation in my family. My niece graduated a few years ago at the top of her class. She was named one of the best students in the state. She was attending college and dating a young man and became pregnant. Her parents pressured her to have an abortion, afterall she had a bright future ahead of her. Her mother especially was adament that this would be the best decision. My niece, bless her heart, was equally strong in her conviction that she would not have an abortion. Today she has a beautiful little girl, a child that has brought joy to my niece and to the child's grandparents.

I went to a baby shower today, but the baby blanket had to stay behind. I either have to tear out the edging or give it to my dog and I think my dog is going to be the lucky recipient. In the meantime, I've updated St. Francis since we finally have some crocus' in bloom.

The spring issue of knitty is online. Go check it out!

My BIL is going to allow me to try and sell some of my purses at his antique store. Most of the purses I've made so far have been copyrighted so I'll have to give those away, here is a photo of one of my own creations. I made this using Patons Classic Wool, which felts really well and doesn't show any stitches. Granted, an antique store may not be the best place to market a handcrafted purse, but this is mainly for fun and when I get tired of making purses I'm not obligated to continue to produce them.

If you're interested in checking out my auctions they have been posted here

Here's the photo of my newest felted purse.

My poor little blog just hasn't received the attention it deserves. My life is not so filled with interesting endeavors that I don't have time to post. Rather, I just haven't had any interesting knitting projects. I have knit another purse and it is in the washer being felted at this very moment. I'm using a free pattern on the net, called Alex's felted purple trapezoid clutch. I printed the pattern but I don't have the web address, so sorry. Pictures will be posted as soon as they are available. In the meantime, I have to go list some vintage knitting patterns on ebay.

I've made two more purses, I'm still looking for a button for the green one. I don't know what I'm going to do with them yet. Both of them were made with lamb's pride. The blue was one really shows the mohair.

I started the other baby blanket, but I don't have much enthusiasm for the project. I think that part of the problem is that I don't think the recipient will appreciate the work that will be going into it. She's invited 98 people to the shower and is registered at 3 different stores. She once told her mother that she didn't understand why people bought gifts that weren't listed on the registry.

Mother Nature has changed her mood. The snow has finally melted, but along with heavy rains there is a lot of flooding. This is our creek overflowing it's banks.

Thank heavens it's March! Spring is round the corner and Mother Nature is flirting with us right now. Work slows down abit this month and I can enjoy my life again.

I have almost finished the baby blanket. Now I have another baby shower coming up in April. I bought some yarn but I haven't decided on a pattern yet.

I forgot to mention this was made with Lamb's Pride in the color raspberry, The photo color is just a little brighter than the actual color.

The pattern is from Knitter's Winter 2003. I really like the purse and might actually make one for myself, except I haven't had a purse this small in ages. I normally carry my wallet, 2 checkbooks, a bottle of aspirin, a calculator, a couple of pens, two sets of keys and who knows what else and if there's any room left I use it to carry my lunch to work.

The felted purse is finished, except I haven't sewn the button on yet. I wasn't sure about using this button, for my other purse I knitted a bobble and felted it for the button.



Now I have to get back to the baby blanket, the shower is next weekend and I still want to make a hat and some booties or socks.