Peggy Shawl - December 27, 2007

What a wonderful way to wrap up a year. Crystal Palace has posted pictures of the Peggy Shawl that I made with their Kid Merino (really luscious, luxurious yarn!!) You can see all 4 pics on the same page at http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/scarves/kidm-lace-peggy-shawl.html. Thanks, CP, for this opportunity!!!!

This is the shawl that I have made MANY times, designed by Jackie E-S of HeartStrings Fiber Arts. I have used various weights and types yarn, but the Kid Merino is the most spectacular! The Peggy Shawl is my first *real* experience with lace shawls. I was totally intimated until I found this pattern. Now it's like creating a monster. I have made other lace shawl patterns, but this remains my favorite. It is now like an old friend and when I need a "comfort knit", I pull out this pattern, whatever yarn "speaks" to me, and appropriate needles. then, VOILA! I'm one happy camper.

Another Peggy's Shawl finished! - December 15, 2007

I'm so glad I changed from Nora's shawl (Wrapped in Comfort) to Peggy's Shawl. It really seems to show off the colors better with this particular yarn. Cheri (modeling the shawl) was thrilled to get the finished shawl in time for her to present it to a dear friend for Christmas.
I have some Panda Silk from Crystal Palace in Nutmeg (#4002), one of the new colors for 2008. It is BEAUTIFUL! (check out the yarns at http://www.Straw.com) I can't wait to make a shawl with it, but can't decide on yet another Peggy's Shawl, the Nora shawl, Scotch Thistle Lace Stole (by Jackie ES of HeartStrings Fiber Arts), or Ivy Trellis Lace Stole (also by Jackie). Oh, decisions, decisions, decisions!!!!!

But first, I must finish the Merino Frappe Kimono, which Crystal Palace is featuring as one of the Ample Knits. It's beautiful, too!!!

I'm also taking time out to make a People Cozy by Lion Brand. It's a "wearable afghan." Made with size 50 needles and 4 strands of yarn - 2 different colors of Wool Ease Thick & Quick, 1 of Homespun, and 1 of Wool Ease. It's fun, and it's fast. I also need to get some socks designed. On top of all the Christmas holiday activities, taking a cake decorating class, working as a consultant with the schools, and volunteering with the schools once a week. Not to mention the heavy schedule of classes I am giving in January! My goodness, just typing all this makes me tired!
It's snowing right now, but it's supposed to turn to rain tonight, and then snow again tomorrow. I need to finish sewing the silk shirt I'm giving my Mr. Wonderful for Christmas. My son, Dean, and his fiance Mary, are going to Louisiana for Christmas with her folks, so we are celebrating tomorrow with them. The rest of the family will also gather on Christmas Eve, as usual. So now I need to get some gifts wrapped and finish decorating the tree!! It's up, with lights, but that's all!!!!!

Two More Projects! - December 01, 2007

Today's been a busy day! Went to the Mid-Ohio Knitting Guild's (MOKG) "retreat" at the Whetstone Library. I was working well on "Nina's Ann Arbor Shawl" from the book Wrapped In Comfort by Alison Jeppson Hyde. In fact, I had only two pattern repeats left and I would be done! AND THEN!!! My cable on my circular needle broke and the shawl feel off. And, of course, I didn't have a lifeline!! I couldn't get all those YO's picked up, stitches were running, and I ended up frogging the whole thing. Fortunately, I had taken another project along - the Merino Frappe Kimono from Crystal Palace - http://straw.com/cpy/patterns/merinof_kimono.html. I'm making it out of Merino Stripes with Merino Frappe for the front/collar band. As you can see, I got a lot down in just a few hours. It goes quickly!!!!!

However, the Nina shawl is for a friend at church. I called her and told her the bad news, but she was quite philosophical about it. I told her I was going to start again today, but that it would be a totally different shawl. That was fine with her. And, of course, you should be able to guess what I've started (2nd picture) - OF COURSE!! PEGGY'S SHAWL. I think this is number 5 off that pattern. Or is it number 6?????

FINISHED!!!! - November 30, 2007

As you can see, I am blocking the beautiful Peggy's Shawl (designed by Jackie E-S of HeartStrings Fiber Arts, made with Kid Merino from Crystal Palace Yarns). It is now 8:23 p.m. (EST) and the shawl is so lightweight, so gossamer, so beautiful, that I have no doubt it will be dry by morning. The picture is a little washed out - new camera, new computer, old knowledge. As I learn more, I'll be able to do better.

Progress Report! - November 25, 2007

This is a not-so-wonderful picture of a beautiful shawl. You may remember when I first started it. This is Peggy's Shawl by Jackie E-S of HeartStringsFiberArts made with Crystal Palace's Kid Merino in Strawberries and Limes. It is so light and airy, gossamer, if you will. It's nearly done and then I can block it. I'll post a pic of the finished shawl.

Kid Merino! - October 01, 2007

Crystal Palace has done it again! They're just coming out with Kid Merino (28% Kid Mohair, 28% Merino Wool, 44% Micro Nylon) - another to-die-for yarn. I'm making Peggy's Shawl (by Jackie E-S, Heart Strings Fiber Arts) with this yarn, and it's going to be like gossamer. I can only imagine how beautiful it will be when it's completed and blocked! This particular color is #432 - Strawberries and Limes.

Peggy Shawl - July 18, 2007

Some of you know that I started the Peggy Shawl during the Columbus TNNA (end of May, beginning of June). I was using Nature Spun by Brown Sheep, but didn't really like the fabric it was creating. So off to the frog pond! I started it over with Kolibri, an Egyptian cotton by Dale of Norway. Love the fabric!!!

I'm not usually a lace shawl knitter. But as the designer, Jackie E-S of HeartStrings Fiber Arts states on the pattern, the Peggy Shawl is easier than it looks! And it truly is!!!! This shawl has been a definite success story for me; fun to make and a relatively quick knit. I had to order blocking wires from KnitPicks.com so that I could successfully block it. Now it's done. I like it so much I have started another with a thin boucle. The detail/lace won't be as prominent, but it is making up nicely, too.

What is interesting to me is that I rarely make the same pattern twice. Don't know if it's ADD or what. But this is the second of Jackie's patterns that I like enough to repeat. I love her 3-to-2 sweater. I've made two from it and have a third on the needles. And I'm thinking of making a 4th one in ribbon. The premise of this pattern is that you increase 3 sts over 2 rows. It's a bias knit sweater that always gets lots of compliments. Check out Jackie's patterns at your LYS! I think you'll like them as much as I do!

Snowday #5! Beaded Mitts - February 14, 2007

3 snow days last week, 2 this week. Tomorrow I will be required to go to work, regardless of conditions. But I have been working on a mitt pattern, to help out my daughter (Tracie) on one of her exchanges. We chose a wrist-warmer pattern by Jackie E-S of HeartStringsFiberArts.com. Jackie has a way of creating something exquisitely beautiful, but deceptively easy. Pictured here are her Simple Beaded Wristlets. Tracie needed to make the mitts a little larger. Jackie's suggestion is to do another repeat of the design, but unfortunately, this would have made the mitts too big. Instead, we chose slightly larger yarn. I think the results will be perfect. After finishing the first mitt, I discovered a mistake. Rather than take it apart and frog back to the mistake, I will simply make the same mistake on the other wristlet.

Well, I better get off here and get busy on that other wristlet - I still have socks I need to finish designing for Laura Andersson's next Friendly Socks book!

"Easy" Wrist Warmers Done! - February 07, 2007 - 7:13 p.m.

As you can see from the picture, the finished product looks quite small, but as you can also see, it fits beautifully! Now I'm really into mitts all of a sudden. :) I have some patterns by Jackie E-S of Heart Strings Fiber Arts that I can't wait to make! But first, I need to make a hat of some kind for another exchange partner. I'm thinking of making a tam with the yarn that's left from Mary's mitts.