The Wrap Report

I've decided to try and become better about posting pictures of projects while they are in the WIP stage. And with needing knitting to help me get through the next couple of weeks, now is the best time to start!

This is my Springtime Shawl. To make this shawl, I'm using Crystal Palace Maizy Springtime, the yarn made partly from corn fibers. It's a sock yarn, but as I don't see the need of knitting socks, I decided to make the shawl. The pattern is also a Crystal Palace pattern, the Weekender Lace Wrap. It's a very easy four row pattern repeat. I don't know why I had so many problems with it in the beginning. It just didn't want to work with me! I put in a lifeline, just incase I would somehow screw this up. I'm bound to screw up something so simple. This one will be just a bit longer than the pattern states as I have a bit more yarn than called for.

I also really like the way this pattern is showing off the colors of this yarn.

Here's a closer look at the pattern and the colors. I'm almost one fully skein into the project, and I have four skeins total.

Okay, that's it for this edition of The Wrap Report!


(OMB, I can be so cheesy sometimes.)

Anxiety and Knitting

My anxiety level is high right now. It's over something a bit silly, but understandably, anxiety provoking for myself. I'll just have to deal with this for, oh, for 16 more days (and how horribly sad is it that I've already started a countdown?).

Obviously, this means turning to two things: my journaling and my knitting. Hopefully one or the other will help my anxiety level lower a little bit. Or, I can look at it as a way to finish projects.

So, lets see what I can get done in 16 days. Maybe I'll have a rare thing called a Finished Object?

I fixed my error in my Juno Regina last night, so it's off and running with that again. What I'm knitting now is so tedious and boring, yet oddly relaxing at the same time because I don't really have to think about what it is that I'm doing. But, I know with time it will become something that people will look at and go, "Where did you get that?" or "You made that?"

I also frogged my beaded scarf again. Eventually that will turn out how I want it.

Off to do some knitting or writing. Watching cartoons sounds like a plan, too. I love cartoons!


And speaking of cartoons, I picked up the coolest book at the library today. It's about all of Nickelodeon's cartoons! The cover of the one I have looks different and isn't slime filled, as this one is. I must have this book! I must have the slime filled version! There's not a lot of reading in it, but it's filled with pictures from the shows. Storyboards, cells, production pictures among other things. If you love Nicktoons, especially some of the older ones, grab this book!


I actually blogged about something other than knitting. Wow.

Blogoversary and Four Hours of Sleep

My blog is a year old today! I should really pat myself on the back for managing to keep it going for a year, even though there was those many months that I didn't post anything. Poor little blog was abandoned. *pats blog lovingly* I thank Ravelry for helping to bring my blog back to life.

I think I've maybe gotten four hours of sleep. That's a big maybe. Although it could be closer to five. I don't know how I've managed to not crash and burn, but I'm sure that will come later. Given the time it is now though, I'm worried I'll be up all night again. Or well, there's always cartoons to watch!

I missed a YO in my Juno Regina, and I did it before I dozed off for a whole 20 minutes or so this afternoon, so I'm going to go fix that. At least YO are easy enough to fix, and it's not that far down. *note to self: do not work on Juno Regina while tired, even though you're on the easy part.*

Thanks for all the comments! Record for one day!

What Do You Do When....

It's almost five in the morning, you can't sleep, and you've been up since eleven yesterday morning?

Knitting isn't helping. Any other suggestions?

The First Appearance of Juno Regina

In April (I think), I came across lace weight Malabrigo. I didn't have anything in mind to knit with it, but it was Malabrigo, and it was lace weight, and I had just gotten into lace knitting. Surely I would find something, right? So out of Stitches and Scones I went with my Malabrigo, ready to look on Ravelry for a pattern.

I don't remember how quickly I came across this pattern, but when I found Juno Regina , I pretty much knew that was what I was going to make. It would be my first complicated lace pattern, and my first pattern were I really needed to pay attention to, and follow, a chart. Plus the fact that I could actually sit and concentrate on a pattern such as this.

I cast on for Juno Regina on May 1, 2008. It started out simple enough and moved quickly. I think the picture on the left is after I finished chart one. I'm not really sure though. Just a guess. After finishing each reapeat of the chart, I made sure to add my life line. It would be just like me to mess up and not have that in and have to start all over again!

Throughout the process of knitting the most complicated portion of this project, I only needed to rip out to my lifeline once. Although I only had to frog one time, I'm positive there are many mistakes throughout the first half of this stole. No project is completely perfect though, right?

I think I took this picture after completing all repeats of chart three. The design is somewhat difficult to see in this colorway right now, but that will change after blocking. I wasn't sure how this colorway would knit up anyhow, looking at the skein. For now, at least, any mistakes are hidden. Chart three and four were finished on June 5.

I'm now knitting the easiest part of the stole. I'm going to knit until I almost run out of yarn from my first skien, and that will take me awhile! Since I'm at that part though, I can take this WIP to places and not have to worry too much that I'll screw something up. Just in case, my lifeline is going to stay in place for awhile! Then I'm going to knit the second half of the stole before grafting them together.

I've got some other WIPs that I'll be blogging about soon! I finished a beaded hat, and I'm working on the matching scarf. I've also got another lace shawl in the works.

Thank You Danner's!

Yesterday was the last day Danner's was open for business. A lot of good times in the shop. I'll miss the shop dearly, but knitting circles will continue elsewhere. I'm so greatful for that!

News article here.

I stocked up on yarn during their sale, so I'm set for awhile. How about a little show of yarn? I know you all like that. :)

More From the Sale

So, I got a few more items from the sale yesterday! Maybe "few" is an overrated word right now. I got so much more! And to the right is what I got. I don't have the time right now to post individual pictures, but you can see it all in this picture.

Yummy yummy yarn! More shawls coming my way!

The Damage Has Been Done

So what do you get when your LYS has a huge sale?


You get......

ALL OF THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, all of that yarn and all of the books. I got a good bargain on all of it. Plus, for once, I actually had projects before I had the yarn. Amazing, isn't it?

I'll be using the Cotton Fine to make the Celtic Knot Stole (links to Ravelry). It will be lovely in that shade of dark green.

I'm making the same same shawl from the Panda Cotton, Panda Wool, and Maizy. I'll be making the Weekender Lace Wrap from Crystal Palace Yarns. The shawl made from the Panda Cotton will be for my mother.

The Malabrigo is a gift, and boy, did the Malabrigo go quickly yesterday.

The purple/black/white/blue Sockotta is for a holiday gift for a friend. And the holidays are going to be here before I know it!

The other colorway of Sockotta is for me, as is the Encore Worsted because I knew I'd need it for a project later on.

I'm extremely excited about the books that I got, even though I'm not really into buying knitting books. I've been wanting the Vouge Stitchionary books for ages. I called and had those held for me just so I knew I'd get them. I'm going to learn to crochet, so I got the Happy Hooker book. I know a little about crocheting, but not enough to actually do something with it, other than make a simple square. Time to build the knowledge in that area. I got the Son of Stitch'n Bitch because there are a few patterns in there I really like. I don't have a guy to knit for, but maybe I will one day. I've looked at the Vouge On-The-Go Cables book a few times and thought I would grab that too. I also got the book of pattern for Plymouth's 8 Hour Baby Blanket. I really didn't even look through it!

Overall, the sale did me well. I have some new yarns in my stash, some new books to knit things from, and the stitch dictionaries with which to design from.

The Power of Email

Okay, seriously, I need some help here. And trust me, the "shouting" is worth it.

MY LYS IS HAVING A 50% OFF YARNS, BOOKS, NEEDLES.

What am I going to do?!?!

Ideas, comments, something, anything?!

I Have Finished Objects!

*All links are to patterns today.

Okay, so I really only have one finished object. But one is better than none, right?

Just a few minutes ago I finished my Branching Out Scarf for a gift. The pattern and I didn't get along all weekend. Thankfully I had my lifeline in and could tear out to that spot. I want to make a hat and scarf for myself using this pattern, but it's time for a break from it.

My baby blanket was a hit at work. Everyone was commenting on it. The comments weren't really a big deal since it was so simple to knit, even though I appreciated them. The simplicity of projects don't warrant such wonderful comments in my mind I guess, even though they are nice. The baby blanket is just like a large dishcloth. The basket of goodies was taken to the recipient this weekend I believe.

Off to work on something else. My Juno Regina is coming along nicely. I'm almost finished with my Awareness Ribbon Scarf that's a gift.

Playing Hooky From Knitting Group

I played hooky from knitting group last night. I had something else that I needed to do...Like purchase a gift for my mother for Mother's Day. I had a specific gift in mind and only a handful of places to go and get it.

I wanted to get her a wallet to go with a Vera Bradley bag she had gotten last week. She got a bag in "Yellow Bird" but it didn't have much of a bird on it anywhere. The wallet HAD to have a bird on it. Luckily I found one! I also got her some sticky notes in the pattern and a new notebook for me.

All in all, it was a good change to get out and do something else instead of going to knitting. Plus, I did call to say that I wasn't going to be there and why, even though I gave warning on Tuesday before I left my LYS.

I hope everyone survived without me, but I'm sure they did! I guess I'll find out tonight and I'll take some heat next Wednesday.

I am proud of myself for not stopping at a LYS not far from the Vera Bradley store that I went to. Although I would have liked to have gone, the last thing I need right now is yarn. Yes readers, I said it was the last thing I needed - for right now.

Week One of Sock Class

Three students + one teacher + one super long needle + two skeins of yarn = an adventure.

It was an adventure! We slowly got started on our socks. A mess of yarn, a mess of needles, and mass confusion. We all got started on our socks.

Homework was to knit 1 1/2" of the cuff ribbing.

Hopefully everyone will get what to do. And hopefully we'll all have a pair of socks by the end of May!

One Class Down, One To Go

So last month, in April, I taught a class on double knitting using the Star Scarf pattern. I only had two people, so it was quite an easy class to teach and it was fun. My students both made wonderful projects. I'm so proud!

Tonight starts the second class that I will have taught. This month's class is "2-At-A-Time Socks."

Here's the irony of it all.

I have yet to knit a single, entire sock.

I don't know how many people are in this class, so I'll find that out upon arrival at my LYS tonight. I know of a few people that wanted to take it, so we'll see how many actually registered.

I know how to do the socks on Magic Loop, as I've started a pair. I just - never got around to finishing them.

We'll see how things go tonight...

Ice Cream and Knitting On a Windy Day

Yesterday my LYS was invited to have their knitting circle at Baskin Robins for 31 cent scoop night. It was a little windy, a little cold, but fun. Even though hardly anyone showed up to knit. But that's okay, because who can complain with ice cream for 31 cents?!

It was a good time. I worked on my Sunshine Bright blanket to help keep me warm. It's almost getting too big though to take anywhere. I have about a month left to finish it. I have no idea how big I'm making it, so we'll see what happens.

The Leaning Tower of Malabrigo...(And Lots of Photos!)

Okay, maybe not so much a leaning tower. It is a tower of Malabrigo though, which I wound last night at my LYS. All the pretty colors of Malabrigo, just waiting to be knitted up into something. The larger skeins are the Worsted Weight Malabrigo and the two smaller skeins at the top are Lace Weight Malabrigo. Isn't it just lovely?!

With the larger skeins I'm going to make the Booga Bag. The yellow and purple will be one bag, the green and purple another bag, and the pink/blue/purple another bag. With the lace I'm planning on making Juno Regina from Knitty. Just so that I'm not left with a bit of the pattern to go and no yarn, I'm going to knit it in two pieces and then graft them together. I was given other ideas, but I think that grafting is the way to go.






And just because I feel like it, I'm going to post all my Malabrigo pictures!

It's just lovely, isn't it. Of course, I can't get Blogger to make everything organized the way I want it. Go figure.


I got some other yarn too, that I still need to take pictures of. Eventually it'll have to be done so that I can get it up on Ravelry in my stash. At least with Ravelry my dear readers, you know that you'll eventually get pictures of my yarn and FOs...And in some cases UFOs.

Tonight's knit in is at an ice cream place! How awesome is that?!