I love Monday

Yesterday was the Cincinati Feis and I did well (2 first place, one second place, and one fifth). Then today I got to work only half a day then spend the rest with a child who couldn't go to school today. He is no longer ill, just annoying. I haven't gotten much knitting done. I am really trying to get the Icarus shawl done before the Mystery Stole starts. We leave on vacation on thursday for a camping trip then visit my sister. I should be able to get knitting done on vacation. My sister is also doing the mystery stole, so we will cast on together with the first clue. Maybe we will get our mom started as well.

Sock Knitting

Here is the photo for Kish of how I hold the socks while knitting.
Note how the previous needle is surrounded by my fingers as I knit the next one. This keeps the space between the 2 needles small and therefore smaller ladders.
Here is what my Dancing Jig socks look like now. I started the second one before teaching Kish how to do socks and since I am also working on the Icarus shawl and working 8 hours a day in the labs I haven't gotten as much work done on the sock as she has.

Lazy Weekend

My goal for this weekend was to knit, shop for yarn, nap, get some sun, and grocery shop. I got it all done. Well I didn't buy any yarn, but I pet some and my friend bought some. I got the swatch for the Mystery Stole done in Mushroom Zephyr:
I really liked working with it and can't wait until the first clue. Until then I am working on the Icarus shawl in Iris Alpaca Cloud from KnitPicks:This is also very nice to work with and I have (since the picture was taken) finished the second repeat of chart 1.

My cats were very interested in a chipmunk the other day:

I also finished the first of the dancing jig socks and started the second one as I was teaching a friend how to knit socks. I think that was lots to do in one weekend. Now I get to relax by going to work tomorrow morning.

Celtic Dreams is finished

I finished the Celtic Dreams sweater with some modifications.

Pattern: Celtic Dreams by Beth Brown-Reinsel
Pattern Source: Black Water Abby Yarns
Yarn: Jacob Wool Yarn, about 12 oz or 900 yds
Yarn Source: Ohio Valley Natural Fibers
Knitting time: about 6 months
Modifications: I shortened the sweater and the sleeves and made the skirt pattern continuous on the body and repeated on the sleeves.

Since I finished an item I got to start something else. I have chosen the Icarus Shawl from Interweave knits to keep me busy until the Mystery Stole 2 starts in July. I am using KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud for the Icarus shawl and it is wonderful to knit with. For the Mystery Stole I ordered Zephyr in a mushroom color from WEBS (www.yarn.com).

Not much knitting

This past week has been busy with not very much knitting. Last sunday was the Cleveland Feis (my group got 14 medals total). Yesterday was taken up with dancing, not a competition, but a dress rehersal for a recital. I am doing both Irish and Ballet so I had to be at the theater 2 different times. This morning was a trip to the Zoo followed by a much needed nap.

On the knitting front: I got the new Interweave Knits magazine and love the Icarus Shawl pattern. I will have to finish the Celtic dreams sweater, suede shawl and baby blanket before I start that. I have spent most of my knitting time this past week working on the Dancing Jig sock since most of the knitting time has been away from home. I have also given in and placed an order with Heirloom Knitting. My sister wanted the Wedding Ring shawl for her birthday present and since I was placing an order I ordered myself the Rosebud Shawl, why pay twice for shipping.

And now on to sleeve island.

After a week of tons of knitting, I have finished the body of the celtic dreams sweater. I modified the pattern a bit to make it shorter. I will post a picture this weekend. Now I have to write out the pattern for the sleeves and get started. There might be a few problems since the pattern says the sleeves are 19 inches long from the shoulder. Either I have freeky long arms or I am measuring and counting wrong- 19" from my should is only a 3/4 length sleeve. The sleeves are knit from the top down, so I will need to get everything written out to verify length before starting. I am not a fan of doing that much math before knitting something. Maybe I will just stop and call it a sweater vest instead.

Wonderful Weekend

This weekend has been very good. First on satuday at the Queen City Feis in Cincinnati I won second place in the Reel and third place in the Slip Jig. The final medal count for my teacher was 11 medals for 5 dancers in 4 dances. Then for Mother's day I got a Dyson DC14 vacuum, a Calphalon One 12" pan, a 5 1/4" Henckels Santoku knife, a bag of jelly beans, and a card. What a wonderful time. Now time for monday and work.

Record time

I just finished the second sock. It was a record time of 9 days from cast-on to sewing in the ends. Now that pair is done, I have to work on a pair for my son with some crazy striped yarn. Good thing small socks don't take long to knit (if you actually work on them).

No new pictures, but the sock foot is all done and I am working on the leg part. This week starts the weekends of tons to things to do. Irish dance competition season has started.

Thursday

I am a weak person. The sock yarn was calling to me, so I cast on for the second sock last night. I get some extra knitting time today since I came home early with a sick child. I wonder how much knitting will occur tomorrow while I watch Noggin all day.

Slowly, but Surely

I have no new photos to post. I have been working on the garter stitch triangle shawl, but it doesn't show the progress as other shawls do. I have also done more on the baby blanket, but once again the progress doesn't show. I am fighting the urge to start the other sock until I have one of those 2 projects at least half done. We will see how that goes. Today is knitting day at work so I get an extra hour of knitting time.

Currently on the needles and just finished works

One sock done, one more to go:
Celtic Dreams sweater for me:

The owl babies sweater for my sister's comming baby:
Baby blocks blankie for my sister's comming baby:

Suede shawl for my Aunt:

Farose style shawl for my Aunt from Stahman's shawls and Scarves:

Now I just have to finish the started work so I can get to other planned projects.

My new BLOG

Well here I go starting a blog.