Some like it hot

Personally, I can't stand it. It's been so hot here in the Midwest that I just have no desire to do anything including knit. I did get some knitting done yesterday afternoon however during a brief rain shower. I finally finished knitting Sophie. It was my first i-cord experience so I think it could have been better. Here's a pic before felting.



I also knitted another watering can dishcloth. It's such a quick and easy knit. I spend a lot of time reading knitting books and blogs and felt ashamed of my lack of knitting so I cast on this week and finished it up.



I've been looking through knitting books, blogs, and listening to a lot of knitting podcasts lately. I have come to the conclusion that to feel like a real knitter, I knit to make something more complex, more substantial, than washcloths, scarves, and hats. I have decided I want to make a shawl. I have a couple of patterns I really like, one is lace, the Perfect Pie Shawl in Weekend Knitting. I need to decide if I want to try the lace first or the other pattern from Knitting To Go. Of course this means a trip to the LYS to get some yarn either way. It seems like everyone is knitting lace this summer so I thought about getting on the bandwagon but at the same time, I'm afraid it might be too advanced for me right now and I really don't have someone to help me if I get stuck (I'm a visual person so I need a warm body to actually show me how something is done.) I'm also in dire need of a ballwinder (see previous posts for ballwinding disaster at home.) Our knitting group will hopefully start back up after Labor Day, I might wait to start the lace shawl then.

Ain't Nuthin' But a G-thing baby!

Graduation that is. My husband (finally!) had his graduation this week. My mom came up for the ceremony and spent the weekend with us. Alas, I got very little knitting done. I was sad when she left to today so I partook in some retail therapy. Picked up some new summer skirts in hot pink and bright blue. I am working on the I-cord straps for Sophie and then it's all over but the felting. Hopefully I'll have something new to post next weekend.

One interesting thing did happen on Friday morning. There were 3 young raccoons out in the yard. This is very odd because I live in the suburbs. We have a small wooded area nearby and have seen baby deer once but that's all. I managed to snap a few pics before they left the area.

More Yarn

Has anyone else noticed lately that I post more pics of yarn I've bought than FOs?? Here's today's purchase (it is payday and was on sale so it is justified.)

2nd Time Cotton. A recycled cotton acrylic blend. 180 yards to the skein. And very soft I might add.




But just to show I am trying to do something, here's a pic of Sophie. She is almost done. I just need to knit the icord handles. Haven't done icord before so it's been a bit tricky.





Monday is my first socks on circs class so hopefully I'll start knitting more. I need to finish my homework swatch by then anyway.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Is this Love that I'm feeling...

Is this the love that I've been searching for?

I came home today to 2, count them, 2 knitting packages. I was so excited.



The first is from my One Skein Secret Pal. Andes wool in a red, orange, yellow colorway. It is gorgeous and awesome! I now have wool from Chile and Uruguay. You don't know how much this excites the geographer in me. She also sent me a great card that I loved too. Someday I might even eat mangoes naked! Thank you Secret Pal! I am so glad that I made One Skein my first swap.



Alas I have yet to mail out my skein to my secret pal. I have picked it up but also wanted to put something a little extra in it and I'm waiting for that to arrive. Hopefully she won't be too upset that it doesn't come the first week of June but probably the second week.

What was in the second package you ask? Well let me tell you darling. It was my first sock yarn from Knit Picks. I ordered it last week because I really wanted to make some more socks and it was on sale. I'd heard great things about Knit Picks so I ordered 2 skeins of Knit Picks Dancing in Ballet and Simple Stripes in Sunset. Just in time for the socks on two circs class!



Regardless to say, it has been a happy Monday. Hope everyone else out there is having such a wonderful day.