Checking In

I've missed blogging.  Work has been consuming my time for the past month and a half.  I think maybe my head may stay above water for a while now.  I have lots to share with you.

Lets start with a picture of my 3rd project for my Camp Loopy.  I had the most difficulty getting this one completed in the time allotted, but I did and it turned out pretty.  It now lives at my Mom's house.  It seems a lot of things I knit end up at her house.  I may have to spread the love a bit more.  :-)

Ravelry Link



















 

So that's that one.  I have started on one Christmas gift, but it is slow going and I'm not sure I actually want to give it as a gift at Christmas.  I'm also working on my own pattern for an ear warmer,  I'm about 75% done so that will come along shortly.

Alaska was wonderful.  Here is the first picture.  Taken on Friday at Earthquake park. May I present my dad, the grump.  :-)

 

There were a TON of different mushrooms growing around the park.  I liked these mushrooms!

FO: Knotted gloves and other things.

1. I finished the 2nd project for my Camp Loopy challenge. Ravelry Link.   I had fun with the project, I've not done a lot of cable work so this was a nice introduction. The yarn is wonderfully sparkly, but you cannot tell in the pictures!



And a close up of the cable:




Next is onto project three and it is another shawl, but with a lot more yardage.  The challenge is to use over 800 yards of yarn.  Good thing I'll have plenty of knitting time on the plane.

2.  Michael Buble has never been on my ipod, or in my music scene, but I ended up going to his concert a couple of evenings ago and I LOVED it.  I knew I'd like the music, I love big band and Sinatra and all that, but he was so stinking funny.  I don't think I've ever laughed so hard at a music concert.  I would definitely pay to see him again.  His opening act was Naturally 7, a group of 7 guys that do not use any instruments, only their voices and the music they create is phenomenal.  Seriously, check them out.

3.  Soon I'll be headed to Alaska and I'm hoping to get some wonderful pictures while I'm up there to share.  If I get some good ones I want to blow them up and use them to decorate my living room and/or bedroom.  Plus I get to see one of my most wonderfulest friends while I'm there. Win-win I say.

FO: Cladonia Shawl

Instead of just having pictures of the finished object (FO), I thought I'd take you on a journey what goes into it.

First of course is the knitting (WIP):



This is right before I started on the lacey party of the shawl.  After you've finished knitting and weaving in all the loose ends you wash it.  I use a product called Soak, it is a non-rinsing detergent that you just let the item soak in for 15 minutes. 

After a quick spin in the washer to get as much of the water out you block the item.  Not all things require blocking, but items with lace work in them really pop after they've been blocked.

before:





during:



and after:





And that is the process of making a pretty FO.

I really liked this pattern and want to make it again, it went quickly.  Until I had to take out 5 rows at the end, but that was a learning experience and it made it prettier.

My next Camp Loopy project is Knotty Gloves, and the yarn is pink & cream with sparkles.  :-)

A Teaser

I have finished my first project for my summery camp.  You can have a small peak:



I have an idea of the blog for that project, coming in the next few days (cross your fingers, but don't hold your breath!)

I did want to share one more picture with you. It was taken a couple of nights ago and the sky was just lovely.  Enjoy...

Camp Loopy 2011

So one of my favorite on-line yarn stores is holding the 2011 Camp Loopy for the next three months.  There is a challenge each month and if you participate and complete the three challenges you get free yarn.  I love free yarn.  ♥ 

The time frames are tight, but I'm hoping that this will kick my knitting butt in gear.  The past couple of months have been light on the desire to knit.  Of course that could be due to the fact that I've been devouring books on my Nook.  :-)

The first challenge requires you to make a shawl (or something that you could throw around your shoulders while sitting around the camp fire) that uses two or more colors.  I've decided on the following pattern designed by Kristen Kapur (Through the Loops one of my favorite designers!!)  Cladonia with a 100% superwash marino wool in pink & brown.  If you are looking at the picture of the shawl the green will be brown & the blue will be pink. 

I'd like to do a picture once a week to see the progress that I get done.  This challenge runs from 06/15 to 07/15.  I have four days off for the 4th of July so I see extreme knitting being done those days.  :-)

Not a great picture of the yarn colors, but you at least get an idea.