Friday, May 30, 2008

No Birds--Just Knitting

Back in February, I showed you the new shawl project I had just started knitting with some beautiful silk and alpaca yarn, and I've finally finished it. This afternoon I gave it a little bath and pinned it out on the bed to dry.

As soon as I laid it out, I immediately noticed something was wrong....can you see it? Towards the upper left edge? Here's a closer look at the huge freakin' hole!
Curses! I must have dropped a stitch in one of the last rows before I started knitting on the lace edging. I'll have to wait for it to finish drying and see if I can get this straightened out, because this is the shawl I'm planning to donate to the Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival next week for their silent auction.

I've also been working on some hats. Here are a couple of the completed ones for Kristy's Hat Quest.
In the picture below, the striped one on the right is going for Kristy's Hat Quest too. For the light green one with cables (left), I'm using a fabulous yarn that is 70% baby alpaca and 30% cashmere. I just love knitting with this yarn! I keep having to stop and fondle the hat or hold it up against my face because it's just so soft. I hope the special friend I'm knitting this for isn't allergic to these fibers......
I bought this alpaca/cashmere yarn on a clearance sale and only purchased 4 balls. I wish now I had gotten bunches of it. I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep the last 3 balls all for myself!

16 comments:

Dave Dorsey said...

You're a bizzy lady. I like your new profile pix!

Anonymous said...

I thought you had given up knitting since I haven't seen you knitting when we have been together. You always have a yarn bag with needles sticking out and in a spare moment it would be pulled out, BOY WAS I WRONG, you've been working overtime. Those projects are awesome and all for good causes.
MOM

Beth said...

you do really nice work. The shawl is beautiful and the hats are adorable. I like working with soft fibers too, it adds to the enjoyment of working with them. Good luck with teh auction, I'd certainly be bidding on that shawl.

Mary said...

I love the little beads on the edges. You REALLY know your stuff, Ruthie. It's beautiful! How in the world can you fix a hole like that is beyond me.

Your hats are great, too. You choose colors that go together so well.

Good luck with that repair!

Mary

Jayne said...

With or without repair, that shawl is simply beautiful Ruthie, and anyone would be lucky to be the high bidder. You are so very talented!

Marsha said...

What a beautiful shawl! I am sure no one but you would have noticed the little mistake but I also know you will be able to fix it! All of your creations are wonderful...when do you find the time with work, gardening, birdwatching & cycling??

entoto said...

Your hats are so cute! I am sticking with simple. I've done one cabled one, I really love it! Who makes that lovely green yarn?

Also, have you been able to repair that hole? Darn!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What a beautiful shawl. I wish I could help you. My MIL could tell you how to pick it up and fix it. I can't knit or pearl. UGH...

Anonymous said...

Ruthie were you able to fix the shawl? I almost cried when I saw that "oops" in your work. Is that what happens when you drop just one stitch?
MOM

RuthieJ said...

Hi Dave,
That's what happens when you're a knitting addict!

Hi Mom,
Most of my knitting is just laying around at home--where I can pick it up and do a few rows when I have a chance to sit down. BTW, I did get the hole repaired--almost as good as new!

Thanks Beth, I've knitted with angora before and really liked that also. Too bad the really soft fibers are soo pricey.

Hi Mary,
I wish those were little beads (something to think about adding next time). They're the pins I used to stretch out (block) the shawl after I've washed it. Otherwise it would just stay curled up in a little ball and you wouldn't be able to see all the details of that lace edging.

Thanks Jayne, I really like trying new patterns and seldom make the same one twice.

Hi Marsha,
At the beginning of the year, I started keeping a record of projects I start and finish--I started 10 new things in January (finished 7). The numbers are declining as I start spending more time outside--I'm down to about 4 new projects a month in April and May, so my priorities have shifted a little to maximize my outdoor projects.

Hi Trixie,
I like the multi-color projects because it's a good way to use of those leftover skeins of yarn I have all over.
The soft yarn is Ambrosia and it was something KnitPicks was clearancing last fall. I think I only paid $5.95 for each ball (what a bargain!)
P.S. The hole is fixed!

Hi Lisa,
If I showed you pictures of my perennial garden right now you would weep--I can knit, but my gardens look disgusting compared to yours!

Herci said...

Amazing work Ruthie! I love that shawl-- what beautiful shades ;) I'm so glad you were able to fix the oops. Although... you could barely see it in the first place.
I'm sure it'll be a great hit at the silent auction. Keep us posted.
Herci

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous knitting! I think I have that cable pattern - love knitting cables.

Anonymous said...

Very nice, O Great Knitter! You know I can't knit but I'm great at injections and I start a mean I.V.!!!
No new birds to report at my house but lots of activity around the mealworms. My project under the bay window is done. You'll have to stop by sometime and see it. Unfortunately, I'd much rather spend time working outside than inside and the house shows it :( But the gardens look great so I just never invite anyone in the house :o
On the lighter side, Ethan seems to really like watching the birds. He gets especially excited when the robin comes for worms and he LOVES to watch the woodpeckers at the suet log. Perhaps he'll become a naturalist when he grows up!! Is it too early to start planning for that?? LOL
Your Sissy

Mary C said...

Beautiful knitting projects, Ruthie. I sure am sorry I won't be attending the Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival. It sure sounds like fun, and to think you are contributing to a worthy cause, too. You go, girl!

Susan Gets Native said...

That kind of looks like that *thing* the girls found at Trixie's mom's place when we all got together. We didn't know what it was, so we called it a Knitted Stripper's Thong.

: )

A big freakin' hole? Are you serious?
But thinking of my uber-cute mittens, I realize that you are a perfectionist. And we can all live with that.

RuthieJ said...

Thanks Herci. If you're interested in trying this pattern, here's the link at Knitting Pattern Central: http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/shawls_stoles.php. Choose "Sweet Alyssum Shawl." The lace edging I used is from another shawl pattern, but I would be happy to share it with you also.

Thanks April. That cable hat pattern is also from Knitting Pattern Central: http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory.php
(I love that website)

Hi Sissy,
I guess we're both handy with needles in our own special way!
P.S. It's never too early to start naturalist training!

Hi Mary C,
I'm sorry you won't be able to attend the festival either. Hopefully we can get something planned for next year so more of us can plan to attend.

Hi Susan,
I saw that knitted stripper's thong thingy! Mine is the full-figured woman's version!