progress report...

Where did June go? What have I been doing??

Bit by bit, I finished the striped hoodie for Vickie – I think that was a record for things hanging around my workroom! I started it on May 9 and just finished it up this week! Good thing I wasn’t worried about a deadline! What can I say? The weather has improved and it's nice to be outside! Now to find a box and get it to the post! ;))
Also managed to get Rhiana’s grad cardi done just in time – yesterday was the graduation - she looked lovely, so grown up! It was too hot for the cardi but it’s all good – she likes it and can wear it later with jeans and a white tank.
I changed out the original design a bit – the edgings that Ev used were really nice but a bit time-consuming, especially considering I was using the brushed mohair and there’s nothing like that type of yarn to make one feel like a newbie knitter again! The hairy bits get caught up in the brushes and when you’re shortrowing, talk about loops at the edges!! Ripping out the row carefully and pulling up on the yarn at the beginning of each row became necessity! The easiest part was the two lace panels! I started off with waste yarn, knit the two pieces of lace for the skirt, separated by waste yarn and ravel cord, and added my favourite tuck hem, #33, XOXO Trim from Band Practice and used it for all the finished edges.
Now, I’ll be back to doing something for me! Stay tuned! Happy Canada Day!

graduation alert...

or should that be ‘Grama alert’? It kind of snuck up on me! Rhiana, 12 years old (already!), is graduating from Grade 6 at the end of the month. She will be changing schools and going into a Junior High so they make a big deal out of it – there’s a fancy luncheon and ceremonies. She showed me a picture of her dress, ordered from the internet – it’s sleeveless with a white-eyelet yoke and a printed fabric skirt (large multi-blues flowers on a white background) in two layers, kind of her fanciest dress yet and I’m sure it will look great. 

Leafy Lace, KW#53

The ‘Grama (and knitter)’ in me thinks she should have a cardigan to go with just in case the weather is cool – this is Thunder Bay after all and so far our spring has been kind of miserable! I have two weeks so it’s not like panic city, but I can’t really afford to waste a lot of time.
Between us,we decide on a light blue (I have a partial cone of periwinkle blue in a fuzzy-look yarn from way back that will be enough) and I quickly come up with a plan – you know I do love lace  and it brings to mind a really cute girl’s cardigan that Ev McNabb did for our final issue of Knitwords, #53 – called "Leafy Lace", a smock-style cardy with lace skirt, made in two pieces without side seams, buttoned at centre back and front, just perfect for Rhiana's tween-age! The bodice is a raglan with vee neck in stockinette. I'm changing that to a set-in sleeve because that will be quicker to make than the full-fashioned raglan.

Swatching now so I can get started tomorrow!

a bucket list?...

I don’t really have one but if I did, at the top of the list would be a cruise to Alaska! You can imagine my excitement when I got an email from Morgan Hicks/All Points Yarn from Seattle, WA entitled ‘Cruise Alert - ALASKA 2020’!
http://www.allpointsyarn.com/events.htm
Check it out!

“Along with the great adventure of cruising, fine dining, gorgeous views, exciting ports of call, and the many ways to enjoy and relax on board, you will have the opportunity to socialize and learn with fellow knitters and crocheters.  The class schedule will follow in the coming months.

You can travel with your knitting and crochet buddies, or fiber-friendly family members and get the best of both worlds, Entertainment, and Instruction!”

I love it! But wait, how about some machine knitting? Hey Morgan! I’ll come, bring an LK150! We’ll do a bunch of basics and demo some techniques like shortrowing, neckline shaping and sleeve caps. Throw in MAO’s exciting trunk show and do some trims and edgings! Put on your joggers and we’ll talk mk-ing design as we do laps on the Lido deck – just kidding (about the jogging, but it could be an option! Work off that fabulous food!)! But really, doesn’t it sound like a great time! Call or email me or Morgan! Let’s make this happen!