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.