tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26133019442323465982024-03-21T12:47:42.039-07:00Knitting ADDMy journey through miles of yarn, piles of sticky notes, pages of planned projects and oh, look! A birdy!Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-72273226659082587692009-04-21T15:50:00.000-07:002009-04-21T16:18:22.706-07:00Didn't make it...Well, I really tried. I made a real effort, gave it a good college try, but I failed. <br /><br />I tried to make it a whole year without posting to this blog, and with mere weeks to go, I'm blowing it. Breaking the silence.<br /><br />Why, you may ask? Oh, no reason. Not really. I've been knitting, of course. Do I have the photos to prove it, and to entertain you and hold your interest? No. Silly of you to ask. I did move, and perhaps that whole "new beginnings" thing has urged me to return to my blog. <br /><br />So... some of my FOs over the last year: <br />a baby blanket (carseat style, about 2'x3') and an Elefante to match for my new cousin, Jeremy. <br />crocheted snowflake ornaments that were attached to Christmas/Holiday cards for my coworkers<br />a clerical stole for my brother that truly rocked, imho, made of Noro Silk Garden Sock and Kureyon Sock<br />other misc stuff I cen't remember right now<br /><br />OTN and active<br />a pair of socks that I finished, then realized were too tight over the instep/heel, despite having planned on a mod to avoid that very flaw. Ripped back to the heel, making a different mod now. We'll see<br /><br />OTN and periodically active<br />Twisted socks in Netherfield, 3x1 rib. <br />My brother's We Call Them Pirate Hat (I ripped out the old lining and am almost done with the new lining.)<br />Amy's felted purse, also nearly done. I just need to sew on the second strap and felt it. There's no excuse for these last two to not be done. Srsly.<br /><br />Hibernating<br />POTW2<br />The baby blanket I started 7 years ago.<br />The Woodland Stole that I decided should be something else.<br />Lotus Blossom Tank. I don't even know why I stopped knitting on this. I really like it. It should move to at least the "periodically active" list soon.<br />There are prolly others I can't remember<br /><br />This I should have OTN but don't yet<br />baldie bed cap (for my coworker's hubby, whose adorable bald head gets too cold at night.)<br />Baby things for my other coworker, who is having a boy in August. I'm thinking the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/super-natural-stripes">Super Natural Stripes Sweater</a> by f.pea with <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-moc-a-soc">Baby Moc-a-Socks</a> by Bekah Knits to match. I want to do a blankie, too, I think.<br /><br />Seems silly ot post with so little to write about, but as my therapist is fond of saying, "Any move in a positive direction is progress." So there ya have it.Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-28470188791974113162008-06-21T16:37:00.000-07:002008-06-21T16:41:38.443-07:00That's my boy!Okay, so my son just walks up to me and asks, "Do you wanna see a magic trick?"<br /><br />"Sure!"<br /><br />"I'm gonna make this ice disappear!" He opens his mouth to show me the ice, then closes it. I'm looking at him; he's not doind anything. "Wait." (Gulp!) "Ta Daaa!"Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-74645122300838521022008-06-08T12:33:00.000-07:002008-12-09T22:52:07.301-08:00Two FOs. UnbefreakinlievableThanks to my friend <a href="http://entrelac.meowingdog.net/">Ana</a>'s brilliant suggestion, the <a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/Baby_Surprise_Jacket">BSJ</a> that is too small for the human child <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvTqRk2gSrfzOQg9gJoCXSySLFu828Lka9mhRLGOe3WAq5kkuGC-YX__ofgGQkCkWy1BDV75Zgdd0n96PwdudcorlCUKBOEiwpchWyooZVtY-KQyNlofh6lPiX54E8e4j08yGhzmNmi05/s1600-h/P6040239.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvTqRk2gSrfzOQg9gJoCXSySLFu828Lka9mhRLGOe3WAq5kkuGC-YX__ofgGQkCkWy1BDV75Zgdd0n96PwdudcorlCUKBOEiwpchWyooZVtY-KQyNlofh6lPiX54E8e4j08yGhzmNmi05/s320/P6040239.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div>is now happily clothing a teddy bear <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1DTOncrUcGfsVO8YYxeVfbE9wFTH2K9EqeDwMBtk0brgwz3R_q8vfqSXIOTmltedVhm6S6FhRbWk5H70Pl2pTGo_bz9djq_unPZPShm-UEhZh7Kye0GE86eyqGjv9guL3dcGkBpf3jQV/s1600-h/P6040246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1DTOncrUcGfsVO8YYxeVfbE9wFTH2K9EqeDwMBtk0brgwz3R_q8vfqSXIOTmltedVhm6S6FhRbWk5H70Pl2pTGo_bz9djq_unPZPShm-UEhZh7Kye0GE86eyqGjv9guL3dcGkBpf3jQV/s320/P6040246.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209680925098955266" /></a>for darling Isaac. Jessica loved it, and that makes me a happy girl. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxACqjsxlKHuDypNvOZR2doC8-kG1mlf-nxE8SUR_MtkkNfC8adQK8P2ElNU6uFpx8s2zjtWAfxeJ_DtCKxNoJj6yvYNV07MHaJT3EgjY6VqBSLrEpyEPedN5lOP0ssxnPUeUyzwbYAwJ/s1600-h/P6040289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxACqjsxlKHuDypNvOZR2doC8-kG1mlf-nxE8SUR_MtkkNfC8adQK8P2ElNU6uFpx8s2zjtWAfxeJ_DtCKxNoJj6yvYNV07MHaJT3EgjY6VqBSLrEpyEPedN5lOP0ssxnPUeUyzwbYAwJ/s320/P6040289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209680943186515330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15ZSqZTtuclZuVCfKOPAMabDUBpVeJq-xcRAMAE_6lxZyu8hax2reI0xAaAIX5dAh00D1MHJ38GD_W-4Z8TtbZ3QKi-N8cGtuHkc1KO2QjcRdqjYz_uMfYJrPcMLYN7ZHewsJWm2w-PpL/s1600-h/P6040293.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15ZSqZTtuclZuVCfKOPAMabDUBpVeJq-xcRAMAE_6lxZyu8hax2reI0xAaAIX5dAh00D1MHJ38GD_W-4Z8TtbZ3QKi-N8cGtuHkc1KO2QjcRdqjYz_uMfYJrPcMLYN7ZHewsJWm2w-PpL/s320/P6040293.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209680966849881250" /></a><br /><br />This was the first piece of knitting I finished since the accident, and it felt so good to finish something that I took all of my WIPs to a LLM in Temple to <s>shame me into</s> encourage me to finish some of them. <br />Well, I have been working on the <a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/shawls-shrugs/feather-and-fan-comfort-shawl.htm">Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl</a> with the recycled Sari Silk for literally over a year now. I had it practically finished, but I thought it needed to be longer. And, well, if it was going to be longer, I wanted some skeins with a darker overall tone to make it more stripy, so I ordered more yarn. By the time the yarn came, I had moved on and it languished for ages. After all of that, the gals helped me decide that it didn't really need to be longer anyway, so I borrowed a hook from CJ and CO, adding a chain for every 2 CO sts on the fan part, hoping it would make for a nice curve without making it ruffle. <br /><br />Well, here it is, and I'm in love!!! Front<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-NTI4JTGWogha5UvRuJoNr08EbVPWUkshwYLmO1Bss6B45MZlgS2qdarV8RD6z4lpKWHj22ObexMEmfpkqh8Z5gVPhC1xdP0CMfNdK0U7DtznIvPmCqpYxHowCpSc2MW00fhvcfgPMu-/s1600-h/P6080325.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-NTI4JTGWogha5UvRuJoNr08EbVPWUkshwYLmO1Bss6B45MZlgS2qdarV8RD6z4lpKWHj22ObexMEmfpkqh8Z5gVPhC1xdP0CMfNdK0U7DtznIvPmCqpYxHowCpSc2MW00fhvcfgPMu-/s320/P6080325.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div> and back<br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8J9rOM2H5tJEyiRriTTTbWM1j_oCp55aHrtilLSofeakvia9hGPWOURRkImczZdpqinZmXpf5QUQPEyt6L9ECkJkLFlcN3ahNVnGCgKsbblrdCsVP5kn2mVjOMvIfI60eYCZQqzbZidy6/s1600-h/P6080326.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8J9rOM2H5tJEyiRriTTTbWM1j_oCp55aHrtilLSofeakvia9hGPWOURRkImczZdpqinZmXpf5QUQPEyt6L9ECkJkLFlcN3ahNVnGCgKsbblrdCsVP5kn2mVjOMvIfI60eYCZQqzbZidy6/s320/P6080326.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br /><br />I still need to wash and block it (still hoping for more length) and I know a lot of knitters out there hate this yarn, but I seriously love this shawl. It's quite heavy, at least 800 grams, but it really is comforting, as the name suggests. Here are some money shots:<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLwmfftt3xhGD9KDUEJn38ePgnN0v1MHfJ1qy95VtY6yUtg9_xOeBBX0vIT8C-13fSGxcUGr8P6ghW4QzhUJH1XYk5pnJDysD69Uee5oKhrTyHWoNzst-83WKB9ojnlyckd2roUKhXlWw/s1600-h/P5180087.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLwmfftt3xhGD9KDUEJn38ePgnN0v1MHfJ1qy95VtY6yUtg9_xOeBBX0vIT8C-13fSGxcUGr8P6ghW4QzhUJH1XYk5pnJDysD69Uee5oKhrTyHWoNzst-83WKB9ojnlyckd2roUKhXlWw/s320/P5180087.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEtXhq4obMDGQe0h3KnR02-s9fHezfQHSqlag9vuK5cgDrJssQ6zwrnwbegyNX1Mj_j7W86009KLoX4gTp8biLvssPgpnG4F3HXizVPlKfeZ2PPHZ_L-tjmDREjojbStOVTbjznuF-lMM/s1600-h/P5180089.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEtXhq4obMDGQe0h3KnR02-s9fHezfQHSqlag9vuK5cgDrJssQ6zwrnwbegyNX1Mj_j7W86009KLoX4gTp8biLvssPgpnG4F3HXizVPlKfeZ2PPHZ_L-tjmDREjojbStOVTbjznuF-lMM/s320/P5180089.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br /><br />Since I'm on a WIP kick, here goes:<br /><br />Skull Cap (aka <a href="http://www.helloyarn.com/wecallthempirates.htm">We Call Them Pirates</a>), a Christmas present for my brudder, which only needed the lining when I was in the accident. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetNDMvzWFCzDmF63sXAyxdyd-Z1YNka375FXttuAnvZAY9ZftVidziKysPbuSpe11-eO2yIwxk8X54hWP-c_7IUSrv281xqcuniLveaNe_WXifNnEel5F04gD3BDzHEYWdxf9bFz2DAap/s1600-h/P6080331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetNDMvzWFCzDmF63sXAyxdyd-Z1YNka375FXttuAnvZAY9ZftVidziKysPbuSpe11-eO2yIwxk8X54hWP-c_7IUSrv281xqcuniLveaNe_WXifNnEel5F04gD3BDzHEYWdxf9bFz2DAap/s320/P6080331.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209695858015149634" /></a>I decided, for some crazy reason, to knit the lining in cotton (thinking it would be more comfy??). Of course this threw my gauge way off and I stayed in knitting denial about it for a while. It's way too tight, and there's no way this will squeeze onto his head without major dain bramage. I need to rip out the cotton lining and knit it in the same <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/Telemark+Yarn_YD5420152.html">Telemark</a> as the hat (unfortunately, the Black Telemark flew out of the car in the accident, so it'll have to be white).<br /><br /><a href="http://thriftyknitter.com/?p=219">The Woodland Shawl, by Thrifty Knitter</a>. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2Drc8Sa_r5f7EvxhbizgN5qFA2gZKsy3BEgT_LcrvmuIWLLBzW86gD-6W7aoqo_Rsh2UG4-OZazGRkNBGTeX-Rpy_nduyvkzAXBwA8CizcM3d7XcjIIj3UGd6EkYt1lwi-kbx1cYcWX6/s1600-h/P5180091.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2Drc8Sa_r5f7EvxhbizgN5qFA2gZKsy3BEgT_LcrvmuIWLLBzW86gD-6W7aoqo_Rsh2UG4-OZazGRkNBGTeX-Rpy_nduyvkzAXBwA8CizcM3d7XcjIIj3UGd6EkYt1lwi-kbx1cYcWX6/s320/P5180091.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div>I stalled on this because I was afraid it wouldn't block out wide enough for a shawl/stole. Again, the knitting gals at the LLM assured me that it would be fine. However, now I wonder if it could be transformed into a shrug. Hmmm...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.eunnyjang.com/images/knit/0511joycesscarf/stole_print_o_the_wave.pdf">Print O the Wave</a> 2. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDrvH_vkEPCNQRr3aq1fNgxufrG-cOLor7HvXfIshC2PtTXhqdLNZfSwPS6gBwWrtrwYuuKQ4674IyhGn6le8kUONXs1DZb7vVx11gfu1KYRKwxgwZF5GCPxnDU00E2pAmm85YujzkyCN/s1600-h/P6080332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDrvH_vkEPCNQRr3aq1fNgxufrG-cOLor7HvXfIshC2PtTXhqdLNZfSwPS6gBwWrtrwYuuKQ4674IyhGn6le8kUONXs1DZb7vVx11gfu1KYRKwxgwZF5GCPxnDU00E2pAmm85YujzkyCN/s320/P6080332.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209697941371839538" /></a><br />I haven't knit on this in a long long time, but it is so pretty, I'm not sure why I let it languish. I've got 23 of 33 repeats done on the main piece, so I have 10 more to go before adding the edging. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMBVeicY3nJS3pSCk5xd6EcZ7yDHGRGhIwBtRkhYT9PaJsrSvvczOyBPTIt7pVET8IhWUcXaVhqwalHS1_3MaEcNdAOeWxX7WlykOsYhy9edzUbk7gsjEKkkhKuk6ZR-YJmdkrLiBuwzL/s1600-h/P6080333.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMBVeicY3nJS3pSCk5xd6EcZ7yDHGRGhIwBtRkhYT9PaJsrSvvczOyBPTIt7pVET8IhWUcXaVhqwalHS1_3MaEcNdAOeWxX7WlykOsYhy9edzUbk7gsjEKkkhKuk6ZR-YJmdkrLiBuwzL/s320/P6080333.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209697952446394578" /></a><br /><br />Howie's Knit to fit. For one of my brother and SIL's chihuahuas. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gn8uR_AnNTi_leMaSqDhbNZwU20jp4HzEnUQVlktkrjvxOS-XtX1cm79veQZnZVlOpcKbt5s6VC8rgrzP3gJ1OZoBMDZwNwKSvRIkqzPido3_oe-hYoEAiheuiXnfglTDmOAYGjvkOTR/s1600-h/P5180092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gn8uR_AnNTi_leMaSqDhbNZwU20jp4HzEnUQVlktkrjvxOS-XtX1cm79veQZnZVlOpcKbt5s6VC8rgrzP3gJ1OZoBMDZwNwKSvRIkqzPido3_oe-hYoEAiheuiXnfglTDmOAYGjvkOTR/s320/P5180092.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209695886659754818" /></a><br />Thing is, I have startitis, and I'm trying to force myself into having some finishitis first. I'd love to start a summer knit (maybe the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lotus-blossom-tank">Lotus Blossom</a>?) I'm also dying to start at least one of about 10 sock patterns. I've never made the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jaywalker">Jaywalker </a>socks, so maybe it's about time. I need to find some good summer sock yarn in my stash. <br /><br />I got my splint off this week, and though my PT has clearly, unrelentingly unleashed her frustration on my wrist (read: ow!), I am so thrilled to have my arm back! My index finger will still not straighten and my thumb will not bend (though they will both get there in time), but I can grasp a knitting needle with my left hand and I think I might be able to get back to Continental knitting fairly soon. It's a long road, but at least I get to travel it ♥<br /><br />How crazy, I don't blog in ages, don't post pics when I do (BORing!) and all of a sudden, just like that, I have a post WITH tons of pics. Yay me. (Well, maybe I should wait to celebrate. Let's hope for a repeat performance.)Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-50456768509138451472008-05-28T21:28:00.000-07:002008-05-28T22:56:38.786-07:00BSJ nearing completion!Ah, how I long for the good ol' days when I could crank out the knitting, lickety split. On the other hand, since it's hard to knit for long stretches at a time and I am forced to slow down, it has even more of that contemplative thing going on.<br /><br />I feel like I've been knitting the BSJ, which is really pretty simple, forever and a day. Now I'm three rows from being done, and I'm pretty darn sure it's going to be way too small.<br /><br />I wonder if adding a garter stitch strip (say that three times fast) across the shoulders would be enough to make it wearable. I don't even know if it is too small, but it sure looks that way to me.<br /><br />I do take photos occasionally. I never seem to post them, but I do take them :)<br /><br />Though I don't have a pic of the Baby surprise, I do have a pic of the yarn. Yeah, I know. But it's better than nothin'.<br /><div align="center"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/issmayonglay/SDiApArXyxI/AAAAAAAAAls/2KByk9QMN8U/s400/PB200233.JPG" /></div>Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-843619130889521192008-05-07T10:05:00.000-07:002008-05-07T11:10:19.617-07:00So where were we? Oh, yes, for some reason, trying to go back to the accident and work my way back to the present.<br /><br />I left off just as I realized that although my bone(s) were coming out of my arm, I was not bleeding profusely and would not "bleed out" before the ambulance arrived. This is a good thing. It was then that I kept insisting on seeing Ethan. A teenager, the only one in the group who spoke English, was keeping him company and, on her mother's orders, keeping him away from the car. The lady kept saying that my son shouldn't see me like that (with my bones jutting out of my arm), and finally, a man <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pulled</span> his shirt off, covered my arm with it and his wife <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">immediately</span> said "There. Now he won't see it. Go get him." I tried to follow her with my eyes, but I saw something that distracted me. Yarn. No joke.<br /><br />There was yarn everywhere, wrapped around the car, dangling from the rear-view mirror. I actually smiled for a second. And then Ethan was beside me.<br /><br />He was crying, understandably, and after asking him if he was okay, I tried to explain to him that I couldn't hug him because my arm was hurt very badly. I felt terrible that I couldn't do more, but I was also still in shock. Once I saw that he was really okay, I tried to just focus on remaining conscious. Soon someone found my cell phone and I tried to call my Dad's cell number in Mexico. It didn't go through. We were between two mountains. I didn't know it then, but everyone was having a hard time getting a call to go through. That's why it took the ambulance so long to get there.<br /><br />I was having a hard time explaining to the man helping me how to use my phone, so I tried to give the simplest <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">instructions</span> possible. He read me the first number in my address book, which was my brother and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">SIL's</span> number here in Austin. I told him to try it. It rang. They're never home, and hardly ever answer the phone, but my brother was there. He did answer. I tried with all my might to sound fine; I didn't want to scare him. I told him that there has been an accident, that Ethan and I were okay, that my arm was broken, that we were waiting for the ambulance and could he please call Mom and Dad at home on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Vonage</span> phone and have them call me. He was like a champ. Made sure we were okay, and asked about Lucy (someone had told me earlier when I asked that she had died. It was the first moment I cried during the entire event.). Dad called a few minutes later and things get blurry at this point, but I think there was more than one call and the shock was wearing off and my arm was really starting to hurt.<br /><br />Then the ambulance arrived. I know that someone took the phone and told Mom and Dad that we were going to be taken to the <em>Hospital <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Universitaro</span></em>. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">EMTs</span> checked us both, and the lady taking care of me tried to get me to let go of my wrist. I was terrified. I asked her to be patient with me; she was. I lifted one finger at a time, waiting for the pain, scared to death my arm was just going to fall and dangle there, but it didn't. She gently guided my arm toward her and poured what I thought was alcohol on my arm. Again, I waited for the pain, but it was just water. She was just trying to get some of the contamination clear. The other EMT handed her something dark blue, and I realized that it was to put around my arm to immobilize it. She wrapped it around my arm and the pain finally came. I told her that it hurt, and she was empathetic, explaining that it was necessary to keep the bones from moving in the ambulance. They brought a bed board over and I kind of walked my feet down the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">length</span> of it, shimmying my way down until I was lying on it. I guess I'm just now realizing that I didn't stand up after the accident until a few days later at the hospital.<br /><br />They brought over a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">gurney</span> and strapped me to it. Ethan was next to me and had to be transported on a bed board as well, just in case he had internal <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">injuries</span>. He had seemed fairly okay until then. He freaked out after they put the device on his head to immobilize it. I was trying to explain to him what was happening and why, but he couldn't hear me.<br /><br />He started screaming when they strapped him down. Not crying, not whimpering. Screaming. In sheer terror. I hope I never hear that sound again.<br /><br />I was trying desperately to get him to focus on my voice, but he still couldn't hear me. They got him on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">gurney</span> and lifted him up and I was able to shout his name and get his attention. I told him that everything was going to be okay and that they were trying to protect him. He started to calm down and asked why they had to do that if he wasn't hurt. I explained it as best I could and though he didn't like it, he seemed to accept it. I told him that we were going to the hospital in the ambulance and assured him that I would be right there with him.<br /><br />Ethan's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">gurney</span> went in first and then they came for me. I was just waiting to get in there to continue to reassure Ethan when WHAM! The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">gurney</span> slammed into the back of the ambulance and I felt <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">shock waves</span> through every nerve in my arm. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">EMTs</span> seemed confused and WHAM! Again, and again the screaming pain. They apologized, but all I could do was concentrate on not yelling out in pain, because I didn't want to scare Ethan. They slammed me into the back of the ambulance one more time, then lowered the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">gurney</span>. The angels who had stopped to help us were still there (most of them; it took so long that some had to get back on the road). Someone joked that I was too heavy for the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">gurney</span>. I said something like "Hey! I'm not that fat!" and tried to laugh. They raised it back up and wheeled me over to the grass and lowered it again. They took my bed board off of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">gurney</span> and laid it on the grass. I could feel the blades poking through the holes in the board.<br /><br />I could hear my angels yelling at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">EMTs</span>, asking how it could be possible to have defective equipment on an ambulance and shouting "Here she is with her bones on the outside and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">there</span> are germs everywhere and you can't get her to the hospital? That's when I realized what was going on. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">gurney</span> couldn't fit in the slots on the ambulance and there was no other way to safely transport me. I called one of the angels, Maria, over and tried to tell her that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">EMTs</span> were doing their best to try to help, and that I wanted everyone to stop yelling at them. It wasn't their fault that the equipment wasn't working. She went back over, and the yelling quickly became hushed accusations. I wondered how they were going to get me to the Hospital after all.<br /><br />I need to take a break.<br /><br />But on the knitting front: I'm trying to go to my groups again, and it feels wonderful to see old/new friends and share that time, that passion, that whatever it is that makes knitting so much more than one loop pulled through another. I doubt I will finish Baby Isaac's sweater before he will have grown out of it, but I am still knitting away. I need to remember that it takes me much much longer to knit these days and that I can't knit for very long at a stretch. Even if it takes 6 months to knit this thing, maybe I can block the hell out of it and make it fit. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Hmmm</span>.Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-20629230228016534882008-05-02T07:01:00.000-07:002008-05-02T14:54:50.329-07:00Time flies...Blogging may not be my forte...<br /><br />Maybe some day I'll get into the groove of blogging with something resembling regularity, but for now I'll just blog when I can and feel okay about that.<br /><br />I meant to keep this as a blog of my post-accident progress, and I've slacked in the telling, but I am happy to say that I have indeed been making strides., Though I have "miles to go before I sleep," at least I've come a ways on my journey.<br /><br />Today:<br />My wrist is immobilized in a splint after my third surgery on the 11th of April. Dr. Carter was able to do the bone graft this time, so I traded the stapler-like external fixator (with the pins in my arm) for a seven-inch incision in my hip (the site from which they harvested bone). I am hobbling around, using a cane most of the time, and the pain is getting much easier to handle.<br /><br />I had been told that the pain in my hip would far outshine the pain in my arm. I thought "Maybe they don't quite get the level of pain I'm in." But nooooo. As is usually the case, the experts actually did know what they were talking about. Go figure. It is hard to describe the pain from a bone graft. It is different from the pain in my wrist. It's more. . . surreal. I don't know how else to describe it. The skin around the area is a bit numb, but still oddly sensetive (I can't stand the feel of the fabric of most of my pants, for example). The strangest things cause ripples of muscle pain, like belly-laughs. And God forbid I have to sneeze. Hoo, boy! But the bone pain itself is just this deep, dull, ache. If it were a feeling, I think it would be most akin to longing.<br /><br />I am returning to work half-time on Monday, which is also Ethan's 6th birthday. 6 years. Crazy. Mom and I are picking him up from school today to take him to an appointment with his new therapist. I am so happy that he's got someone to talk to about all this. It's been hard: the loss of dear Lucy (our Beagle), the hospital stay, having a Mommy who can't do all the stuff she used to, Gran living in the house (and getting used to a different style of communication with her), having to be careful not to hurt me . . . It's all so much, yet he is handling it all. And is still his funny, bright, curious, creative self. But there is a shadow there, a fearfulness and sadness that creep in at times. It's understandable, normal, to be expected, etc. But no one said he had to weather the storm alone. Hence the therapist. Ethan is so cool. His therapist has a fairly complicated last name, so he said that Ethan could call him "whatever he wants." Ethan promptly said that he wanted to call him (with the best pirate accent) <em>Captain Jack Sparrow</em>! How cool is that? We decided that maybe he needs some limits there (hee hee). He loves the idea that he can choose to NOT tell me about his sessions. Secrets from Mommy, I mean, what could be cooler?<br /><br />Okay. Shall we go back to the past? Pick up from where we left off, just before the ambulance arrived? Yes. But I need to shower, get dressed, etc, and that takes much longer than it used to, so I'd better be off to do that. I do want to come back and tell the tale. But this blog isn't called Knitting <strong><em>ADD</em></strong> for nothing, and sometimes I just don't get to things. So though I want to get back to tell the story, I have to own up to the possibility that I may not come back for months. Then again, I may come back later this evening. We'll see.<br /><br />Oh, yeah. It IS called <em><strong>Knitting</strong></em> ADD. So:<br /><br />WIPs:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/shawls-shrugs/feather-and-fan-comfort-shawl.htm">Feather & Fan Comfort Shawl</a>, in Sari Silk, on KP Options (metal) 8s. I was able to do some work on this until the cable pulled out of the needle. About 95% done. Status: On hold until I get a new, longer cable (from <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/">Knit Picks</a>) .<br /><br /><a href="http://thriftyknitter.com/?p=219">Woodland Shawl</a>, in Noro Silk Garden Lite (lovely greys, browns, greens and orandes), on KP Options (metal) 10s? 33% done. Status: I need to put this on a scrap of cotton and block it. I'm afraid it won't be quite large enough. I like the pattern very much, though.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.eunnyjang.com/images/knit/0511joycesscarf/stole_print_o_the_wave.pdf">Print O' the Wave</a>, in Karabella Lace Mohair (light seafoam green), on metal KPO 4s. 2/3 done with center panel. Status: lingering. I love the pattern, but I just haven't picked it up much lately.<br /><br />Ben's Skull Cap (<a href="http://www.helloyarn.com/wecallthempirates.htm">We Call Them Pirates</a>), in KP Telemark, on wood KP circs 2. About 98% done, but I'm afraid the cotton lining is too tight, so I'll likely have to rip it. I think I'll redo it in the black telemark. This was an Xmas gift. Maybe it'll be done by the time it gets cold again.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.helloyarn.com/bigskulltote.htm">Skull Tote</a> in KP WOTA, Magenta on Black, metal KPO 15s. 98% done, just needs to have straps sewn on and felted. Also an XMAS gift. For shame.<br /><br />FOs:<br /><br />Velvet's Skull Sweater, my design. I made a sweater for my brother and SIL's new chihuahua, Velvet. They already had 3 boys who all had black and white Skull Sweaters, so I made one for her in pink and black. I hope to get a photo soon.<br /><br />Lisa's Necklace, my design. I made my Physical Therapist a crocheted wire necklace with beads in shades of green (on silver Artistic Wire) for her birthday. She loved the necklace and was so proud that I had made enough progress to complete it. ...and no, I didn't get a photo of it before it was gifted. Yeah, I know. (BUT...)<br /><br />My necklace! I made one for myself in forest shades on gold Artistic Wire. I really love these and am planning on making some with semi-precious stones and sterling or fine silver and gold filled wire. I hope to sell some down the road, as I really need to make a dent in the medical bills! Maybe I'll even take some pics soon<br /><br />CO:<br /><br />Shawl Pin. Crocheted in Copper wire. I can't decide if this is done or if it needs another round of sc. I need to make the actual pin part for it as well. 90% done.<br /><br />Garnet and Pearl Bracelet, my design. 28 gauge silver craft wire and garnet chips and 4mm round garnet beads and freshwater pearls (peach and white). It's looking lovely so far, though my jewelry teacher from way back when would kill me for using a base metal. I haven't placed my order for the sterling and fine silver and other goodies yet. It takes me forever to knit or crochet wire (my wrist complains rather loudly after a while), but I do love it. This is about 50% done.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/Baby_Surprise_Jacket">Baby Surprise Jacket</a>, in Lang Aktion in blues, browns and greens, on metal KP circs, size 2. 10% done? For Ethan's teacher's new baby. I wanted to get it done before the baby arrived, but Isaac was born last night (Healthy and happy-yay!) and I've only gotten maybe two inches done. sigh. Maybe it'll be an FO before he's grown out of it.<br /><br /><br />Yes, this means I actually have 8 WIPs. But 4 of those are really nearly done. And 2 are fairly quick (well, none of my knitting is exactly "quick" these days, but you get the idea).<br /><br />There has also been some stash enhancement (I mean c'mon, if I can't knit like the wind, at least let me get my thrills somehow!) More on that later.<br /><br />I do hope it's not another month before I post. We'll see.Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-9045730521559363492008-01-29T08:35:00.000-08:002008-01-29T09:49:22.456-08:00Will soon feel well enough to continue bloggingI do intend to blog my memories of the accident and its aftermath, accounts of how things are going now and how knitting is helping me on my road to full recovery.<br /><br />I've just been set back a wee bit; on Sunday, I woke up with that unmistakeable pain that screams "STREP THROAT!!" I thought I could make it through the day so I could go to my doctor on Monday(read: $30 dollar co-pay instead of $150 at the ER, but when my fever got to 103.5 and I hadn't been able to eat all day, Mom felt very strongly that I needed to get to the ER. (Mom and Dad were both here for 2 weeks after the accident to help out, then Dad had to get back. I'm so grateful to have Mom here.) I'm a pretty stubborn gal, and I really didn't want to go to the ER, but I called the doc on call and told him the situation, and he didn't hesitate. He said to get to the ER asap. We got there around 9:00 PM, and waited and waited. They had me come in to check blood pressure, etc, and then a few hours later to do the streb swab and a nasty test for the flu.<br /><br />Long story short (I'm getting really tired): it <em>was</em> positive for strep, they put me on an IV to pump fluids and get antibiotics in me, got a bit concerned when my fever wasn't coming down (it got up to 103.9), but they gave me motrin and it finally fell below 102 and they let me go at 5:30 AM. I am just starting to feel human again, but it's hard to believe that after IV antibiotics and 3 doses of Augmenten, I still can't swallow w/o pain, and it even hurts to talk. And I'm on major pain meds for my arm . . . I just don't understand it.<br /><br />I have been thinking that there must be a lesson I need to learn about pain. I am hoping that I can figure it out and learn it sooner rather than later.<br /><br />I feel like I need to say <em>something</em> knitting-related, so I'll share with you a gift I got with some of my Christmas money: a swift!! I already have a ball winder, so no more admittedly hilarious antics of holding the skein on my arms and winding the ball that way.Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-53210716106562047852008-01-26T00:45:00.000-08:002008-01-26T02:17:10.193-08:00Fearless Knitting, Fearless Recovery, Fearless LivingI was in a horrific car accident with my 5-year old son and my beloved canine friend, a beautiful Beagle named Lucy, on the 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> of January. I was on my way home from Christmas vacation spent with family in San Miguel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span> Allende, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Guanajuato</span>, in central Mexico. Ethan and I were singing, playing the alphabet game, really talking to each other and generally having a great trip home. We had played the traditional "Going Home" song (a great Beatles cover sung by Aimee Mann and a singer I was convinced was James Taylor for the longest time).<br /><br />We were 6.5 hours into the trip (about halfway home) on the outskirts of Monterrey when a small truck pulled out right in front of me, traveling far too slow for highway speeds. I swerved to avoid running into him, and my car overreacted, it seemed. Suddenly, I was no longer in control. I was still thinking that I'd be able to get the car under control and safely continue along when I hit the guardrail, heading toward the median. My eyes shut then, and each bash on my head and the churning of my stomach told me the car was rolling, flipping.<br /><br />When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was my darling son Ethan walking toward Lucy, roughly 100 feet away (more?) and still sitting up and staring at the road. So my boy was okay... I turned my head and saw a man (two men?) trying desperately to get the driver's side door open, prying and yelling. I hear a man yell "Est`a viva!" ("She is alive!"). I turn my head more and see a woman's face. I say "Y mi <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hijo</span>?" ("And my son?") and she says (in Spanish) that my daughter is just fine, but they need to get me out of the car now. It's on fire. I say that he has long hair, but that he is a boy. (Funny, what seems important at such a moment.)<br /><br />I see the black smoke billowing past my face. I look down and notice the blood on my khakis. I wonder where it came from. And now I see my arm, and I think to myself, "I always thought bones were white. . ." What I see is my left hand, the hand I have always been so proud to call my dominant hand, turned at an impossibly strange angle. I see bone, dark brown and mahogany, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">merlot</span>, jutting nearly three inches, maybe four, out of my wrist. I see my right hand reach over and grasp my left, holding my wrist together. There is blood, but no pain, and I'm glad to see the bright red slowly oozing, not flowing, pumping. Without thinking it, I know that I will not die before the ambulance arrives.<br /><br />I cannot write much at a time, but this will now be a place to record what happened since that truck pulled out in front of me as well as what is happening on my road to recovery. <span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">It is to be a blog about how knitting helps me heal</span> </em></span>(because I already, instinctively, know that this will surely be the case).<br /><br />I have a long road ahead, but my son is not only alive, but completely physically unscathed, having, within days, recovered from the scrape and bruise above his right eye, the only injury he sustained. Lucy, the angel that she is, waited to see Ethan, raised her head (to say goodbye?) and, as the adored, selfless, loyal dog she was, gave her life so that her humans could live. It might seem odd to attribute such an act to a dog, but I cannot explain it other than to say that we simply know it to be true. If given the choice, she gladly would have taken the place of any of us if we were to die, and we believe that she did so. We miss her terribly.<br /><br />Me? I'm alive. God is not done with me yet, so I must focus on recovery. I'm alive, so every moment in my life is a blessing, a miracle. Every single moment, every breath, every peal of my son's laughter, every stitch I can manage, every disappointment, even. . . it's all icing.Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-72007771971650390222007-10-28T17:13:00.001-07:002007-10-28T17:35:43.953-07:00Giving up hope of ever being a good bloggerWell, it's pretty clear at this point that blogging isn't exactly my forte. I'd rather be knitting than writing about knitting, I guess. I could make the time, I know, just like I could make the time to do all of the laundry or mop the bathroom floors (though, admittedly, blogging would be much more f8n than either of those)....<br /><br />...sigh.....<br /><br />I do have quite a lot to write about, actually. No pics to post (and I hardly ever read other people's posts without pics. Maybe that's why I stall so much... 'cause I know this'll be boring w/o pics.)<br /><br />Okay, 'nuff whinin'. Here goes:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">WIPs</span><br /><ul><li>Ethan's toesies socks (only 2 toes to go and they're done!)</li><li>Reycled Silk <a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/shawls-shrugs/feather-and-fan-comfort-shawl.htm">Feather and Fan Comfort shawl</a> --one or two skeins to go, then I'm done. This is reaalllly heavy, but beautiful. "Gee, Allison, can we see a photo?" "No!! Now go eat your soup!" (huh?)</li><li>A surprise for a relative (it's on <a href="http://www.helloyarn.com/freepatterns.htm">Hello Yarn</a>)--actually there are two patterns here for 2 relatives, but only one's OTN so far.</li><li>POTW2--Eunny's <a href="http://www.eunnyjang.com/images/knit/0511joycesscarf/stole_print_o_the_wave.pdf">awesome pattern</a>.</li><li><a href="http://thriftyknitter.com/?p=219">The Woodland Shawl</a>, by Thrifty Knitter I'm doing it in Silk Garden Light (greens, neutrals, orange--don't remember color#). Great pattern, and it's gorgeous.</li></ul>FOs<br /><ul><li>Grandmother's Shawl. I used the free <a href="http://www.alltangledup.com/movabletype/my_images/my_patterns/kiri.pdf">Kiri</a> pattern. I actually made it twice. Once in KSH "Ice Cream", and I thought partway through that it just wasn't jazzy enough for Grandmother's 80th birthday, so I finished that one and immediately CO another with Kid Silk Night in a deep purple. (Remember the poem that starts "When I am old, I shall wear purple"? I thought of that and knew her shawl had to be purple.) I added beads to the last repeat, and she loves it.</li><li>Apple Laine Funny Girl socks. Very plain, pretty, comfy WARM socks. Not cold enough here to appreciate them yet!</li></ul><br />I just wanted to make myself blog some, in the hopes that I can develop a habit at some point. I need to take pictures. And post them.<br /><br />This is really just for me to have a, well, ya know, <span style="font-weight: bold;">log</span> of what I've been doing. Shouldn't be a chore. Or a bore. Somehow I've turned it into both. Need to change my thinking on that.<br /><br />ok. bye.Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-1223776547376995182007-08-31T20:32:00.001-07:002008-12-09T22:52:07.527-08:00It's Crunch Time!Okay, I have abandoned all hope of finishing Stripes and Torchon Lace from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Lace-Today-Jane-Sowerby/dp/1933064072">VLT</a>. I like it, but there's something that's keeping me from enjoying this project. Slippery silk yarn, slippery needles, I dunno. I had ple-heh-henty of time to work on this when I first started it, but today I crunched the numbers on it and realized that I'm only a quarter of the way through something I am not enjoying knitting.<br /><br />Life's too short.<br /><br />So, I went stash-hunting and found some awesome stuff. I decided on the Kidsilk Haze in a lovely light pink. Almost a light pinkish mauve. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/RtjhhF5HDVI/AAAAAAAAANU/F8ggG1tEI6Y/s400/P9010152.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/RtjhhF5HDVI/AAAAAAAAANU/F8ggG1tEI6Y/s400/P9010152.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>I think it was called Ice Cream. I wanted something that won't take forever, as it's a gift that has to be ready in exactly <span style="font-weight: bold;">4 WEEKS! </span>I have wanted to knit <a href="http://www.alltangledup.com/movabletype/my_images/my_patterns/kiri.pdf">Kiri</a> for some time now, and I can't think of a better occasion. I have been hesitant to mention it, because I don't want to ruin the surprise, but this is for my Grandmother's 80th birthday. I haven't told her about the blog, becuase I knew I'd blab, so I'll just make sure not to mention the blog until after the big day. Eeek. 4 weeks. Can I do this with work and the boy, etc?<br /><br />I have no choice.<br /><br />My DS started Kindergarten this week. He is <span style="font-weight: bold;">loving</span> it. He loves Music and Science, and I am thrilled. I have been really surprised by his intense curiosity lately. About everything, really, but quite a bit about math as of late. He's been figuring out addition and subtraction problems (the other day, with sauce packets at the Chinese Restaurant). When he comes to my room after school he gets the dry erase boards and writes out a problem or two and then we figure them out with base ten blocks or toothpicks (or whatever). It's been so much fun.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm off to start a new shawl. Wish me luck!<br /><br />Oh, geez, I can't finish this post! I haven't mentioned getting <a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Pathways-Sock-Knitters-Book/dp/0970886969/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9608587-3882201?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188618931&sr=1-1">Cat Bordhi's <span class="sans">New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One.</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoJUGbkqsBg5k0vUKecp5yNi5u9ApdM9ir46mAVI8d0M2i_1WRwUakjzVrFbkUEeTKjLIqKTPTUW2SceJuB7ycfB7nF6dmxYco2xxRYiU2Kc0CIw_GLM5Qao2xBqviq391ssKlJFW1mVA/s1600-h/CatB-NPfSK-Book1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoJUGbkqsBg5k0vUKecp5yNi5u9ApdM9ir46mAVI8d0M2i_1WRwUakjzVrFbkUEeTKjLIqKTPTUW2SceJuB7ycfB7nF6dmxYco2xxRYiU2Kc0CIw_GLM5Qao2xBqviq391ssKlJFW1mVA/s320/CatB-NPfSK-Book1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105080421180706146" border="0" /></a>Oh. My.<br /></div><br />I can't sing high enough praises. I didn't know what to expect, but this book is both more ingenious and yet simpler than what I had imagined. Cat's mind mystifies me.<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Pathways-Sock-Knitters-Book/dp/0970886969/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9608587-3882201?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188618931&sr=1-1"><span class="sans"></span></a>Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-91745654567887569722007-08-24T19:59:00.000-07:002007-08-24T20:24:18.193-07:00I'm not dead, just ADDOkay... I said it would happen, but it really wasn't my intention to fall of of the edge of the blogiverse.<br /><br />ADD, indeed.<br /><br />You think if you can't ever remember to take the daily second dose of your ADD meds, that they MIGHT not be working?!!<br /><br />sheesh...<br /><br />Well, I have no pics (BOring). But I wanted to try to get back in the habit.Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-70142684571587199242007-07-14T12:49:00.000-07:002007-07-14T13:56:15.047-07:00Stash Enhancement!!Is there anything harder than waaaaaaaaaaiiiitinnnnnng for your yarn once you've pored over pages and possibilities, taken the plunge and placed a purchase order?<br /><br />The wait is ovah! In the middle of sunny Meheeco, I have finally gotten my yarn! Here's your pr0n:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Rpknjy5Ea-I/AAAAAAAAAKM/lknCFAfbDiQ/s400/P7140039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Rpknjy5Ea-I/AAAAAAAAAKM/lknCFAfbDiQ/s400/P7140039.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Whole haul: <a href="http://knitpicks.com/Fixed+Circular+Knitting+Needles%3cbr%3eUS+Sizes+0+-+11_NDKPFixedCables.html">Knit Picks circular needles</a> (sizes 0, 1 & 2, 32" second set of each for either 2 on 2 circs or Magic Loop so I can have 2 socks going at once), <a href="http://knitpicks.com/Felici_YD5420165.html">Knit Picks Felici</a> in Pebble and Arugula, <a href="http://knitpicks.com/Gloss_YD5420151.html">Knit Picks Gloss</a> in Pumpkin and... <a href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/browse/yarns/lornas-laces/shepherd-sock/ll-rainbow/">Lorna's Laces in Rainbow</a> and <a href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/browse/yarns/apple-laine/al-funny-girl/">Apple Laine Apple Pie in Funny Girl</a> from <a href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/">The Loopy Ewe</a>. Oh. My. Good. Lord.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.google.com/issmayonglay/RpknkS5EbAI/AAAAAAAAAKc/7YEE7XZ1Nko/s400/P7140041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh3.google.com/issmayonglay/RpknkS5EbAI/AAAAAAAAAKc/7YEE7XZ1Nko/s400/P7140041.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Knit Picks New Felici Sock Yarn in Pebble (not as grey as the pic, but wonderful browns)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.google.com/issmayonglay/RpkoeS5EbDI/AAAAAAAAAK0/f42WkD95C04/s400/P7140042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh3.google.com/issmayonglay/RpkoeS5EbDI/AAAAAAAAAK0/f42WkD95C04/s400/P7140042.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>...and in Arugula (yes, good enough to eat, and again, not as grey-ish as the pic).<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://picasaweb.google.com/issmayonglay/Stash/photo#5087140754296695794"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/issmayonglay/RpknkC5Ea_I/AAAAAAAAAKU/rDEMotqUCQ0/s400/P7140040.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Gloss in Pumpkin (yum-o!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Rpknky5EbBI/AAAAAAAAAKk/ohF60Ug3gQs/s400/P7140043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Rpknky5EbBI/AAAAAAAAAKk/ohF60Ug3gQs/s400/P7140043.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Apple Laine Apple Pie in Funny Girl (the pic hardly does it justice, folks)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.google.com/issmayonglay/RpknlC5EbCI/AAAAAAAAAKs/Daf8n_NyVyE/s400/P7140044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh6.google.com/issmayonglay/RpknlC5EbCI/AAAAAAAAAKs/Daf8n_NyVyE/s400/P7140044.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Rainbow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now. I know that many Knitters out there have hauls like these delivered to their doorsteps on a regular basis, but although I have been knitting (get this!) for 29 years (okay, more "off" than "on"), I have been a knitter, rather than a Knitter, until just about a year ago. I never knew what I was missing. Then my dear, dear Grandmother got me a gift certificate to a real live Yarn Shop. A good one. Now I'm hooked (and enjoying getting to know all of the fab yarns that so many of you already love--getting to know it all for the first time ... *sigh*)<br /><br />Let me back up a bit. You see, I took up knitting again, like so many of us, when I was pregnant with my son, roughly 6 years ago. I was living in the middle of Mexico, where the only yarn shop in town sells only acrylic (and not the "good" kind) that they wind into cakes for you from cones or huge whe-+els. The selection was sketchy at best, but I wanted to knit, so I made do. On trips to the "city" (about an hour away) I could find better yarns at (gasp!) WalMart. Yes, my friends <span style="font-style: italic;">MUCH</span> better yarns. That should put things into perspective.<br /><br />It's not that I enjoyed knitting with that crap, but it was the only crap I had. After a while, I finally found the outskirts of the online knitting community, but I couldn't order good yarn because it was way out of my price range (I was living on a peso budget) and the shipping alone would have killed it for me.<br /><br />Long story short (read: a divorce, online classes in the middle of the night and a move to Austin later) I was finally walking in to my first real-live yarn store. I actually felt faint and giddy at the same time. I stayed until it was clear they had to close and get home to their families, and I couldn't even buy anything that first trip because I was so overwhelmed. I knew I wanted to knit a lace stole or shawl for a dear friend, and I knew I wanted a particular shade of purple (that being her signature colour). I went home and pored the internet for days, as all of the knitting books I'd accumulated over the years were in storage in Mexico (I could only bring what I could fit into a van). I found Eunny Jang's Print O' the Wave Stole and knew it was the one. On the next trip to the yarn shop I found the perfect yarn in the perfect shade: Suri Elegance in Purple Mountain Majesty. It had enough yardage in one skein, which was good, as it was the only skein they had in that colour. It was the most expensive yarn I'd ever bought. $48 dollars per skein. I found out later that the retail price for that yarn is far, far lower, but it really was worth it. That project changed me from a knitter to a Knitter.<br /><br />I knit good wishes, health and joy for my friend into every stitch. I would wake up an hour early on occasion to sit and watch the sunrise in silence to knit on it (and I am a night-owl kinda gal--I normally don't <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> mornings). I loved every minute of it. And then I got to block it.<br /><br />Seriously, if you've never knit lace, you owe it to yourself, if for nothing else, then for the blocking. You feel like a magician or a faerie. It catches your breath. You visit it in the middle of the night to pet it as it dries. It is astounding.<br /><br />I didn't realize that I was going to get into all of this in this post. In fact, it was meant to just be an update to show off the yarn and to say "Hey, I'm sewing the seams on Butterfly and she'll be done soon." Who knew all this was in there?<br /><br />Anyhoo, since I waxed poetic about my first Print O' the Wave, here she is:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Re322dJhTQI/AAAAAAAAAFU/DMMWPVdXz48/s400/Print%20o%27%20the%20Wave%20blocked.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Re322dJhTQI/AAAAAAAAAFU/DMMWPVdXz48/s400/Print%20o%27%20the%20Wave%20blocked.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Post-Block on my son's bed<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Re32_tJhTVI/AAAAAAAAAF8/uKO9g8m2DgA/s400/Print%20o%27%20the%20Wave%20obligatory-window-shot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Re32_tJhTVI/AAAAAAAAAF8/uKO9g8m2DgA/s400/Print%20o%27%20the%20Wave%20obligatory-window-shot.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Obligatory window shot.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My friend cried when she saw it. But somehow, I feel like I got the real gift.<br /></div></div><br /></div></div>Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-9753672220070613242007-07-06T12:38:00.000-07:002007-07-06T13:53:22.675-07:00I Got the Fever!!I am soooo loving the Mystery Stole 3! There are over 6,300 members and counting! Actually, in the time it took me to post this, the number jumped from 6,328 to 6,391 (Hey, gimme a break, I'm new at this!) I did have to go on digest, as there were <span style="font-style: italic;">over 1,000</span> emails in the account I created just for the MS3 (sheesh!). Anyhoo, I wanted to get started on Clue 2, but I promised AnnaMarie I would post a pic of the MS3 in Lane Borgosesia Baruffa Cashwool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6nXq9sz-I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ZU9gE1PHjoE/s400/P7060002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6nXq9sz-I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ZU9gE1PHjoE/s400/P7060002.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I tried a close-up, too.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6nX69sz_I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/XlOrwZz-PtY/s400/P7060003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh6.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6nX69sz_I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/XlOrwZz-PtY/s400/P7060003.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In other knitting news (not world-wide, big, important, earth-shattering news, but private, big, important, earth-shattering news) I blocked the back and fronts of Noro Butterfly, and it's gorgeous. I didn't even take a pic before I sewed the shoulder seams. But here she is, ready for the collar, which I will start today. (the laundry be damned).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6jVK9sz7I/AAAAAAAAAJc/pic7JgUzJiI/s400/P7060001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh3.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6jVK9sz7I/AAAAAAAAAJc/pic7JgUzJiI/s400/P7060001.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's a comparison pic of the sleeves (unblocked) and the fronts (blocked) just for you non-blocking-believers still out there.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6jVa9sz8I/AAAAAAAAAJk/Tja4zLfAXBw/s400/P7060004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6jVa9sz8I/AAAAAAAAAJk/Tja4zLfAXBw/s400/P7060004.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>It's like magic, people.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6jV69sz9I/AAAAAAAAAJs/pUDll5VdOnk/s400/P7060006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh6.google.com/issmayonglay/Ro6jV69sz9I/AAAAAAAAAJs/pUDll5VdOnk/s400/P7060006.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Hmm... my pictures are lookin' crappy in the preview. I wonder what that's about. Lemme post and see if it publishes that way. And if so, then I've got to fart around with photos instead of KNIT, which is really what I'd rather be doing. Here's hoping!<br /><br />...I FIXED IT!! And it didn't take more than 3 minutes! (How dorky is it that I'm so excited about that?)<br /></div><br /></div>Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-47569574129444012332007-07-03T21:13:00.000-07:002007-07-03T21:21:43.006-07:00Random Craziness on the HomefrontOkay, so my 5-year-old son looked at my Mom and said "Oops!!!!" He was watching TV, eating pudding and, taking after his mother, he spilled a dollop of pudding right on my Mom's dachshund, Woody's head (Yes, my mother named the wiener dog Woody). My dad caught Woody and Mom, being the quick-thinking woman that she is, called my Beagle, Lucy, to the scene. She licked the pudding off of Woody's head and all was well.<br /><br />This is how we problem-solve around here....<br /><br />...and people wonder why I have issues.Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-90978827427509838272007-07-03T14:35:00.000-07:002007-07-03T16:35:04.437-07:00Knitting in San Miguel de AllendeWell, who woulda thunk it? I was knitting at a restaurant and a lovely lady approached me and told me that there is a knitting group here in gorgeous <a href="http://www.turismosanmiguel.com.mx/">San Miguel de Allende</a>, that meets Monday nights. I went and there were a few women there that I knew from when I lived here. It was great to see them. When I took <a href="http://www.eunnyjang.com/images/knit/0511joycesscarf/stole_print_o_the_wave.pdf">Print O' the Wave</a> out of my knitting bag, they all told me that due to the amount of chatter and drinking that goes on, they only bring their mindless knitting to group. Well, all I have OTN with me are three lace stoles and my Noro Butterfly Cardigan, which I need to block before I attach the collar--but the sleeves are now done!:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Roq3Fa9sz3I/AAAAAAAAAHs/9yrgGbeKXKk/s400/P7020002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Roq3Fa9sz3I/AAAAAAAAAHs/9yrgGbeKXKk/s400/P7020002.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.eunnyjang.com/images/knit/0511joycesscarf/stole_print_o_the_wave.pdf">Print O' the Wave</a>, by <a href="http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/">Eunny Jang</a> in Karabella Lace Mohair<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.google.com/issmayonglay/Roq_G69sz6I/AAAAAAAAAJU/R5bjcTjxwJk/s400/P7030003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh6.google.com/issmayonglay/Roq_G69sz6I/AAAAAAAAAJU/R5bjcTjxwJk/s400/P7030003.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Stripes and Torchon Lace, from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Lace-Today-Jane-Sowerby/dp/1933064072">Victorian Lace Today</a> in <a href="http://www.colourmart.com/">Colourmart</a>'s 100% Silk 2/34 (Note the boo-boo on the second repeat. I'm planning on putting in a lifeline there and making that my provisional cast-on, removing the first two repeats.) This is the "secret stole" I mentioned in the previous post.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Roq_Ga9sz5I/AAAAAAAAAIA/H9-GZCLirtQ/s400/P7010002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Roq_Ga9sz5I/AAAAAAAAAIA/H9-GZCLirtQ/s400/P7010002.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Swatches for <a href="http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/2007/06/mystery-stole-3-let-madness-begin.html">Mystery Stole 3 by Melanie from Pink Lemon Knits</a>. I'm using Lane Borgosesia Cashwool in a light-ish grey. You can still join (until this Friday) <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysterystole3/">here</a> on Yahoo Groups. There are over 4000 of us now. I created an email account just for this purpose, and I'm glad I did! I'm getting tons of emails per day! Too many to read, really. I have started the stole, but I'll wait until I've finished Clue 1 to post pics.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Roqynq9szwI/AAAAAAAAAJM/0M8pbEYyA5A/s400/P6181378.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh5.google.com/issmayonglay/Roqynq9szwI/AAAAAAAAAJM/0M8pbEYyA5A/s400/P6181378.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Here's the back of Butterfly<br /></div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Roqyna9szvI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/Ph-nRyGjEhg/s400/P6231397.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh4.google.com/issmayonglay/Roqyna9szvI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/Ph-nRyGjEhg/s400/P6231397.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>And the fronts. No pics of finished sleeves yet, but I hope to block by Thursday, so I should be able to get some pics and get started on the collar by then.<br /><br />Now... did I <span style="font-style: italic;">get </span>pictures of the lovely setting where we had our group? In a stained-glass gazebo? Aw, hell, no... While I remembered the projects I meant to take and moolah for the wine, typical of my ADD-self, I forgot the camera. Well, there's always next week. Oh, I found a link to the <a href="http://www.villajacaranda.com/main.html?engsihome">La Jacaranda</a> where we had the group. We were in the restaurant of the hotel. Here's the <a href="http://www.villajacaranda.com/main.html?engsirestaurant#">gazebo</a>,where we met, which they oddly call a "Kiosk".Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613301944232346598.post-43070884723112630362007-06-30T16:24:00.000-07:002007-06-30T17:53:58.121-07:00A New Knitting Blog to Feed Your Addiction!!Hi there, ever-buddy! Welcome to my blog. Sit down, relax, have a cuppa and knit to your heart's content.<br /><br />I have no business creating a blog, really. Well... yeah, I knit.<br /><br />Compulsively.<br /><br />But I know me, and my ADD will either make me quit before I start this endeavor or will make quite public the full extent of my insanity. Then again, that might just be entertaining for you and cathartic for me, so what the hey!<br /><br />I really don't know what I'm doing yet, so bear with me. I'm willing to learn, so this might get interesting yet. You wanna come along for the ride?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My WIP?</span><br /><a href="http://www.eunnyjang.com/images/knit/0511joycesscarf/stole_print_o_the_wave.pdf">Print O' the Wave</a> Stole, by the incredible <a href="http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/">Eunny Jang</a>, the first design I have ever knit twice. Already did it in <a href="http://www.thealpacayarnco.com/Suri%20Elegance.htm">Suri Elegance</a>, Purple Mountains Majesty as a gift for a dear friend, and am now using <a href="http://www.karabellayarns.com/yarndetail.aspx?yarnID=57">Karabella Lace Mohair</a> in Pale Flannel, a very pale green, oddly not listed on the linked page. I'm about, I dunno, a third done with this. Uhh, maybe a fourth. Haven't done the math.<br /><br />Butterfly Cardigan from <a href="http://theknittinggarden.com/noro-noroknits.htm">Noro Knits</a> in Kureyon, shade 51. Lurvely greys, burgundy, greens, browns, black, oooooooooooooh. I've got the shoulder caps, collar, blocking and seaming to go.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/shawls-shrugs/feather-and-fan-comfort-shawl.htm">A Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl</a>, by Sarah Bradberry. This is a great free pattern, and I'm using some of that fabulous recycled sari silk, which I bought on eBay. I love the idea of supporting women's groups in Nepal while feeding my need for mooooore yaaaarn. I won't be working on this for at least a month, as I'm in Mexico for the summer and this project didn't make the cut.<br /><br />A secret stole in Colourmart 100% silk laceweight from Victorian Lace Today. I'll post pics if I can be sure the recipient won't be seeing this blog.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">About to be OTN<br /></span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysterystole3/">Mystery Stole 3</a>, by Melanie from <a href="http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/">Pink Lemon Twist</a>. I have decided on yarn that I happened to bring with me (ahem). It's Lane Borgosesia Cashwool in a nice grey that I got at my LYS. First time with this yarn. Need to swatch.<br /><br />SOCKS! I finished my <a href="http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer06/PATTbaudelaire.html">Baudelaire</a> socks by the incomparable Cookie A. in Knit Picks Essential, Grass, and now I have no socks OTN and I'm going slightly mad. However, a friend is going up to Austin for a week and I sent a shipment (or two) of sock yarn to her hotel so she could bring it back for me. Yeah, you could call it a slight addiction...<br /><br />I know, I know, a post without pics kinda blows, and I'll try to rectify that asap. In the meanwhile, if you manage to find me, WELCOME! I never thought I'd be doing this!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Allison L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10213716327380912982noreply@blogger.com0