In Which Laminaria Gets Wrapped Up

So these photos have been up on flickr for... two weeks. Oops. I shall keep the words in check on this one, because really, I feel that visuals are far more exciting.



Pattern: Laminaria - Larger size, but smaller needles
Yarn: Fleece Artist Suri Blue - Under 2 skeins
Needles: 3.5mm Addi Lace
Start: April 29, 2008
End: June 11, 2008
For: Ms Happy
Modifications: Knit one extra repeat of Blossom Chart
Verdict: Yes. I kind of love it. And thankfully, I think Ms Happy does too. (And she blogged about it!)

Thank you all for the comments on the last post, both about the shawl and my... truck incident. I am almost back to normal, have a few remaining scrapes and my arm is still sore sometimes, but last night... I knit for the first time in two weeks! Yes! So what have I been doing for two weeks? I will show you next time. It involves stash.

In which our hero has a cameo

Hallo folks and folkses.
Today is the thirteenth day of the sixth month of the year (ooh, and it's a Friday, too, spoooooky), which can only mean one thing., and that is that it is the (second) blogiversary of this here blog.

I had wanted to maybe hold a big giveaway/contest, but alas, I have nothing to give. Or perhaps I could have unveiled some shiny new blog layout, but no new layout is to be found.
Instead, I think a few 'thank yous' are in order.
Let me say first and foremost, thank you for reading and commenting and generally being all kinds of awesome (yes, you). Keep up the awesome, too.
Um, actually, that was sort of the big major one, but I've got on slightly smaller thanks as well.
Thanks to the wonderful Miss Happy for giving me an excuse to knit this. If I could make like a hobbit and provide gifts for you all on anniversaries (yes, I know a blogiversary isn't a birthday, but it's close enough), I would most gladly do so. For now, however, I must simply leave you with photos and good wishes.

Be well, everyone! I shall attempt to make a return to semi-regular posting in due time.
Oh, and Mademoiselle Happy, We had better see some shawl action shots, providing it is in fact to your liking (because people, the thing was entirely knit to my whim, she has just been the unwitting bystander in all this).

Last minute edit!
I am so glad I typed that all last night because after taking tonnes of photos, I went and got winged by a truck door on my home from lunch. I am bruised and battered and the radiologist says my arm is not broken (though from the outside, it looks like it could have been fractured), and I am in general, quite ok, if tender. Also, my right wrist is very unhappy, so I will have to leave uploading photos until at least tomorrow. But I can give you these two pictures for now, with a promise of more to come.

In which I am such a poser

Hmmm.
Today is the twenty-eighth day of May.
I last updated on the sixteenth day of May.
I am seeing a sparse posting schedule here.
Hmmm indeed.

I have not had much to post about either, though I have finished one extra repeat on Laminaria, and am debating adding more (I have *tonnes* of yarn left, but the stitch count grows ever greater), it still looks about the same as the last picture of it.

Ditto on the socks: not much more interesting.

I have been low on energy during my personal (knitting) time lately, partly due to being fairly busy with other things. I have found it more relaxing to spend my time drawing or reading. That is not to say that I am not knitting, it is just going slowly.
I do not wish to be vague with you wonderful people, as I do know where my energy and zest has gone, but if you are desperately in need of an answer feel free to give me a shout (I don't feel like divulging to the general public at this point, sorry).

Again, sorry, but unless anyone wants to see some of my doodles and such this might continue to be a little quiet, but I have definitely not abandoned ship!

In which there is both progress and news. And PURPLE.

"Damnit Martha, I said no! Absolutely not!"



"But Joe, honey, it'd only be for a few days."



"I can't hear you, I'm reading the paper..."
"I don't complain when *your* in laws come to town!"


Well, i think we can leave them be.


"Nice day, mister."



"Sure is, kid. What do I owe yah?"



"A big shiny dollar sir. Enjoy the sun!"




Hey, we have SUN, actual nice SUN! But wow, look at that yarn! Talk about PURPLE! Koigu KPM in colour 3000. It is destined for a pair of socks soon.

Also, Laminaria!
I've gotten though 6 of the 8 blossom repeats, but I think I will likely add a few more repeats to add size, since I'm using smaller needles than I should have.



Fleece Artist, Suri Blue. Mrowr. So soft.



Yum, unblocked lace.

Have a good day, and I hope spring has arrived wherever you are!

In which you should look over there, quick!

So, latest guilty pleasure... PLease don't judge me, the album was under ten dollars! And it is officially my new favourite driving music, for now. (mostly though, I wish there were a club under *my* desk)



So, did I distract you from lack of knitting? I will post pictures when the shawl looks a little more interesting... honest!

In which I am far too easily amused

I would just like to say that it is a ridiculous amount of fun watching people try to fold a pre-seamed BSJ into a jacket.
Substance to come in a future post, because I am going to enjoy our first perfect spring day!


Oh, here's another lovely springish tune from another Canadian musician. (song starts about 45 seconds in, if you want to skip the preamble. This has had my toes tapping for a few weeks now.

In which our hero regresses. Roar!

So I knit a Baby Surprise Jacket. Uh, forgot to mention that, surprise? Really it took all of four days, most of which were not spent knitting, so it could have gone much quicker.



I haven't seamed the sleeves because I know some folks here who want to see it (and I like watching people trying to figure out how to fold it into a jacket). It will probably hang out as a store sample, since I'm not aware of any upcoming babies.



I used just under 2 balls of Regia 6-ply 'Square Color' (colourway 1126) on 3.5mm needles, and ended up with basically a newborn size, it is quite wee (and as everyone else knows, ohmywordsocute). Hey look, my needle storage system! (circulars hang on my wall elsewhere).



In other news, MALABRGIO LACEWEIGHT. I believe the proper term is 'fall down. Go boom'.



Colour number VAA 51. Descriptive, nu?



It's this wonderful swampy green mix.



The pictures don't really do it justice, it have more olive tones to it.



For some reason this colour makes me think of dinosaurs...



I have no idea why.



I'm also thinking Laminaria for this stuff. Mmm.



And finally, thank you ALL for the wonderful comments on my vest. it has been getting plenty of wear in this transitional season.

Have a good one, peoples!

In which there is Springtime

Forgot to show y'all these yesterday. The buttons I used for reinforcement each match a colour present in the tweedy-ness of the yarn (if you look hard enough). There is black, red, orange, green, pink, blue, yellow and purple.





Also, to me, this is perfect spring music.

Manipulative Vest, FO

I just had to get the action shots up yesterday. I totally have no self-control some times.




Pattern: Meg Swansen's Saddle Shouldered Aran Cardigan (available from Wool Gathering(63) or Spun Out(49), via Schoolhouse Press)
Yarn: Donegal Tweed Homepsun (Tahki), colourway 863, 7 skeins (well, just over 6, but you know)
Needles: Assorted 4.5 mm and 4.0mm(for the garter bands) circulars
Start: April 1, 2008
End: April 19, 2008
Mods: Well! I saw this FABULOUS vest, and decided I must have! However, I didn't want to order a pattern (I know that if I start buying knitting stuff online, I would never stop). So I looked at pictures (of both the best and other people's cardigans), and read their comments and mods and ideas and sort of cooked it up from those as I went along.

Verdict: I do like of love it a little bit. The body is a bit long (you can see in yesterdays photos that it kind of bunches up over my belt if I'm bending over or climbing trees or something), but given that I cycle around a fair bit, I think it's a fair trade off to keep my back properly covered. Only other downside is I am not 100% thrilled with the fabric. I think were I to recreate this, I would likely use a smaller needle to get a denser material with some more body to it (I have this weird phobia of loosely knit items). But I can mostly ignore that, especially since it was such a case of instant gratification.

So! a few more photos.

Oh, sweet miters...





Shoulder detail (fishbone/antler/whatever it's called cable)...



A good shot of all the cables I used (quail, sheepfold, fishbone/antler...)



And I am in love with these buttons I scored.

In which there is a pseudo-FO

I'll give some details and photos of the interesting bits tomorrow probably. But for now, some pictures from todays walk.


Getting my bearings


I figured letting go would not be prudent (I am so going back tomorrow and practicing hanging upside down)




"I feel very 'king of the jungle'-ish"