Book Finished!

Well, it's been nearly a year since my last post! The book-on-cd is finally finished and published. Yippee!! See the post below for more information or contact your local yarn shop. I am SO excited. I received my copy and I am so proud. :-) Several of the patterns are mine, but those of the other designers are really awesome!! Absolutely beautiful! Some intricate, some simple, some lacy, some with several colors, some plain. But all are great. (can you tell I'm excited????)

Celebration! Socks

I have fallen in love with Crystal Palace’s Panda Silk, especially the variegated colorways. The Fern (#4005) reminds me of the lush, verdant greens of Spring and Summer and of the celebration of new life. What better way to celebrate my husband’s affirmation of life since the recurrence of his cancer than to create a sock that can be worn by either of us. This pattern/kit will be available in June for members of the Yahoo group, Sockathon.

Panda Silk DK!!

I love Panda Silk. I love DK. Ergo, I adore Panda Silk DK!!!! Here is a "hugger" I made - part collar, part choker. This DK is a dream to work with. Very luscious. I used Size 6 (US) needles and got a gauge of 6 sts / inch. :-)

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!!!!!

Update on Silken Ease - November 24, 2007

Here is a beautiful picture of the Silken Ease, taken by Crystal Palace Yarns. It shows the purl side of the work, which only proves that it's beautiful as a reversible scarf! (total modesty here, of course! )

Silken Ease - September 21, 2007

Last week I completed the scarf I designed with Crystal Palace's new Panda Silk. This is another luscious yarn they have created, this time with bamboo, superwash merino wool, and silk. It is lovely to work with, too! The pattern is an easy lace pattern that makes up quickly. Panda Silk is ideal for this scarf! I can see me making shawls out of this yarn, too. I know someone who is making a pair of socks from it - they must be fabalous on the feet! Soft, but sturdy. Yep! having lots of fun here!!!!!

Satisfying Day - September 01, 2007

Still working on the scarf - have about 18" or so done. Tracie and I met a couple ladies from the knitting guild for lunch at Bob Evans (Tracie was able to eat their vegetable soup - had to remove the beef). Then we went to 3 yarn shops. I was a BAD girl!!!!! But they had some sales and some yarn kept calling my name and telling me what type of sweaters I could design and make. When I got home, DH asked me if I *really* needed more yarn, and I said Yep - for the kind of sweaters I want to make. LOL

Since Tracie did the driving, I was able to knit, knit, knit (one shop is about an hour away).

Panda Silk! - August 31, 2007

Crystal Palace Yarns has done it again! A new "Panda" yarn has been hatched - Panda Silk. It has the durability of bamboo (52%), the stability of superwash Merino wool (43%), and the luxurious softness of silk (5%). A 50-gram ball has approximately 204 yards and can be machine washed (gentle) or handwashed. I'm playing with designing a pattern for a scarf out of this luscious featherweight yarn. If I had the time and the confidence, I'd design a lacy shawl. This yarn is LOVELY!