Shawl Cast On Itis

I’ve become a casting on fool. While at my Dad’s house, I cast on the LaLa Shawl by Laura Linneman (free pattern) with the yarn I had at hand which was a multicolor yarn by Paton's Lace. I wasn’t sure if I would like the color changes, but I turned out to really like the look of it and the yarn.

I’m still working on my Dummy Clap Shawl, I just keep knitting, and thinking it is not long enough, I am knitting it in a fingering weight and it is never ending. I’m trying to decide if I should just cast off and be done with it. *grin* Love the pattern, but it is a little to mindless, after a bit, if I had made it with worsted weight (I believe it calls for that) I would be done by now.

My Dad lives 4 hours away from me, so I had picked up a skein of Paton Lace from JoAnn’s, not being close to any real yarn stores, It is described by Paton's as a Soft lace weight with a beautiful halo. Beautiful range of gently shifting colors. The fiber content is 80% acrylic (I know, this made me nervous), 10% Wool, 10% Mohair. I must say I really like working with it, it feels nice, and does have a slight halo on it, Not too much. I don’t know how this will block up? Anyone tried it? But I’m enjoying knitting with it, and would recommend it so far.

In fact I bought more yarn to start the Citron Shawl pattern (free pattern) by Hillary Smith Callis, published in Knitty Winter 2009. I know many people have made this pattern and I love the look of it. It looks fast and easy. I’m going to use more of the Paton's Lace

In a green/dark purple/white color variation called Sachet. Well will see how it goes. I need something to keep me busy while visiting my Dad again as he has colon cancer and is having surgery. Need some knitting that doesn’t require much brain power.

If you need info about colon cancer, staging and treatments, the best online source to help you understand it is at Cancer.gov, the National Cancer Institute, it explains the staging, treatments etc…. This is an excellent site for many types of cancer info that you are looking for help in understanding.

I’m also casting on a 3rd shawl made with Vickie Howell Caron Sheep(ish) 70% Acrylic, 30% Wool in the color Plum(ish), I haven’t decided what pattern to use on this yet I have 4 balls, which is about 640 yards.

The shawls I’m considering are the Oaklet Shawl by Megan Goodacre (free pattern)
The Schieffelin Point Shawl by Kate Gagnon Osborn (free pattern)
The Crow Waltz Shawl by Juju Vail (free pattern)

Which now that I look at them all together are very similar, back to the Ravelry pattern search I want something simple but with a little more lace pattern. Any suggestions??

Fibonacci and Knitting

Some time ago I learned that Fibonacci can be applied to knitting. If you are not familiar with Fibonacci, he was a mathematician from the middle ages. He figured out the relationship of proportions, now known as the golden ratio (or number), Fibonacci sequence or 1.618 or Phi. This sequence is seen in practically everything. I’ll link to several articles if you wish to learn more. From reproducing animals, to sea shells and galaxies, the human form and sunflowers. (Mona Lisa, Parthenon, and the pyramids of Egypt, just to name a few). This ratio is present in many, many more surprising things. The first time I used this was in my felted bag. I loved the random look of it. This pattern is The Big Bag Pattern (free on Ravelry) by Maia Discoe (link ) Below are a couple of links if you wish to learn more.. Fibonacci Numbers and Nature The Wiki and Fibonacci Mona Lisa -- Da Vinci's Use of Sacred Geometry (you tube link) In mathematics, the Fibonacci numbers or Fibonacci...

Hills and Valleys Cowl/Hood (free pattern)

I was searching for the perfect cowl that I had in my mind to knit. Trawling on Ravelry, I wanted one, just the right size around, only once around my neck and not too tight, loose enough to pull up around my face and tall enough to get it around my ears during a windy dog walk, but able to squish it down into my collar of my coat and not be too thick and bulky. About a third of the way into the pattern I decided to make it long enough to pull up as a hood also. I finally just un-vented this one, as Elizabeth Zimmerman would say. Add caption This is a simple stitch textured cowl/hood (you decide the length). Suitable for beginning knitters. Purl ridges make the cowl easy to scrunchy down or pull up. You can wear the ribbed end on top if you are wearing it as a cowl to make it snuggie around your neck or, wear the purl ridges on top if you are pulling it up as a hood. If you have any questions or find an error please let me know so I can correct it! I’ve added some tuto...

Review of a Kick Spindles Or Mother Marion to spin

When I made the decision to buy a Kick spindle I could find very little info on it, anywhere. Below is what I gathered, bought and my experience with mine. I could only find two being marketed, since I purchased mine I have found a third. Below is my views on the Kick spindle I purchased (Little Meggie from Heavenly Handspinning), and some info on all of the other Kick Spindles that I could locate. Links and costs are included. Review: Things I like about my Kick Spindle. 1. Long spin time, I like the addition of the ball bearing. 2. Leaves both hands free to draft 3. It's my "wheel" 4. I like using my foot, I am moving around and don't get stiff from one position. It's a very "active" type, rhythmic motion. 5. You can actually stand and use it also. 6. Great price point. 7. I have never spun on a wheel and when I sat down at one the first time, I could actually spin (some) I think this action of foot/hand coordination helped. 8. ...

Knitting Dragonflies

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