Knitting Dragonflies

I finished my Dummy Clap Shawl during my stay with my Dad back in March, when he had colon cancer surgery. But then didn’t knit again until just recently.   I would recommend this pattern, I originally picked it because I was always attracted to the Clapotis shawl in the Knitty Fall 04 . I never knitted it, but found this pattern and decided to try it. I will say, love the pattern, knitted it with Brown Sheep single ply yarn. Love this yarn, but I knitted this over a long period of time and it started to felt, due to all the packing around I did. The night before my Dad’s surgery, I decided to unravel the laddering, it took me 8 hours to individually unpick them, but that kept me busy and my mind off of other things. I’m pleased with how it turn out, length, width, it is easy to wrap around and small enough to use as a scarf. I only used about 2/3 of the cone of the Brown Sheep yarn, I would buy it again. (although it seems hard to find, I bought it in a spinning shop) BTW, I st

In my hiatus from blogging and knitting I missed the fact that Google Reader has been retired. Yes, I guess I’ve been living under a rock. I’ve had to reset my email passwords etc.. Working on my Citron Shawl , I know! Shawls look a mess when I’m knitting them and then beautiful after blocking! So I’m left trying to figure out how to read my blogs!  I’ve looked into Blog Bridge, and Feedly, what are you using? I’ve bought several knitting magazines, and been trolling Ravelry, looking at patterns and inspiring knitters and their projects. Patterns I’m loving!! Sideways Rib/Cowl Hood from V.Vine ( rav link ) free The Lonely Tree shawl (free pattern A basic super soft merino hat from PurlBee (free pattern) Thanks to all of the great designers!

One day I was reading blogs, and saw Paul The Quilter was making The Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West (rav link, free pattern) , and decided that would be the perfect gift for a girlfriend! Off to my stash to see what yarn I had to start it! I came across my handspun, I haven’t spun in around 2 years and was lost in looking at my spun stash. I have around 17 oz. of a strange pumpkin-ish colored yarn that I spun, I even ran it back through the wheel and added a multicolored thread to make the color pop a little, because I thought it looked a bit flat. I don’t look good in that color and it would be perfect for her! Yay! My husband and I thought it would be perfect for her due to the fact that she makes persimmon bread, and especially yummy cookies this time of year. We had just been to visit her and my husbands best friend to go to a music festival. I took some photos of a backdrop on one of the venues. Seem like this color was everywhere! I got so excited I finished up some fiber t

Proof that I never know when I'll put down a knitted project, and leave it sit for  hours/days/months or years! Here is the citron shawl, I stopped knitting in the middle of a row!  Citron shawl is a great simple pattern, with rows of alternating increases & decreases along with stockingnet stitch, simple yet enough to give you some texture. How do you keep track of your progress? Coming along, only brought one skein with me! Mistake, so I'll be moving on to another project. Discovered I missed a decrease row, erg!  Think I'll just keep knitting & see how it looks!

Leaving for a music festival! Never know when some knitting time will present itself! I have 2 shawls ( lala scarf & citron shawl), packed & a possible third to start, lol. What do you like to knit on the road?

I’m coming out of a creativity slump, and thought that some hat patterns would get me going. After looking around I realized, crazy hat patterns is what I’m looking for. #1 to make the Viking hat pattern and beard, I didn’t realize these were two different patterns, the Viking hat is a pay pattern from Tara Murray. The Viking beard pattern is a free pattern.by Melissa Campbell , Links included.   I think wearing this would either invite conversation or people would cross the street to keep away from me! Either way a win. #2 The Hallowig by Megan Reardon (free pattern ) Love this, and think of the colors that it could be made in! #3 I was looking for a knitted cat scoodie pattern, and found it (by Cat Morley) , but I fell in love with the modification that a Ravelry knitter made to make into a fox scoodie! Go raverly, thanks Ficklephonebug! Cat knitted scoodie pattern here . Fox knitted scoodie pattern here.

Photo taken at Blue Grass DNR in Southern Indiana I been totally out of the knitting spirit. For way to long, I have a load of excuses. Looking back in the times of my life when I’ve not been creative, it seems the especially emotionally draining periods leave me too tired to create, or think of creating! My husband got me a new knitting bag for my birthday, I think that is a hint. LOL Knitting wife better than non-knitting wife? Bag is a Vera Bradley, tote in the Dogwood pattern, love the inside pockets! I’ve got it filled up already with two projects, which are both shawls/wraps. Simple and fast, I hope. *grin* New bag and new cover on chairs, need to replace seat foam also, hopefully before two years pass! If you struggle with lace knitting charts or have never tried them, I found this excellent blog post with videos from Emily ONeal. I have 3 lace projects going, all are out of a yarn, which I would have never bought, but I was not close to a real yarn store and needed a yar