Where's My Crafting At?

My knitting/crafting life has been very compartmentalized the past few weeks.

I started working on the Auburn Camp Shirt in Jaggerspun Zephyr (Ice Blue). I swatched on 2s but it was too loosey-goosey. I've switched to 1s. I've been working on a sleeve but only while sitting at the computer. Lace-weight yarn, size 1 needles and using the computer while knitting means I only have about an inch and a half of my sleeve done so far.



When I go out to knit I bring my Tailored Scallops. I have both sleeves and a good bit of the back done. It's a super fast knit but I don't seem to work on it while at home.



My evening sitting-front-of-the-tv project has been the ripple afghan. I don't have a photo but I've made some fair progress this week.

I've also been working on my Dear Jane blocks. These are all hand-pieced.


This one doesn't look so crooked in person. I also got gunk from my iron on the white part as I was pressing the final seam. Bah!

Not Hibernating

I have been on the run since I got back to Seattle. Yesterday was a full day of work and Purlygirls. Today was a short day of work (but I it started early) and now I'm off to a sewing machine class.

After completing my four March to the Finish projects I was left feeling a bit aimless. I really wanted to start something new but all those hibernating projects on Ravelry were making me feel guilty. I have started working again on my sock yarn blanket (I keep it in the car for when I need an easy knit), my Cormo handspun sweater and my ripple afghan. Yes, even a little crochet. It isn't very exciting or sexy to work on these projects but it feels good to get some of these older projects done. I also ripped out my argyle double-knit scarf I was working on for the shop. I knit about 5 inches in 8 months. It was not meant to be. Another project off the hibernating list.

Forward Movement

I took Delf's advice. Using a random number generator, the 9th sock in my queue was selected. Laila's socks from Folk Knitting in Estonia. I pulled out some dark chocolate Koigu and an "oops" skein of Socks That Rock. I thought they went nicely together with good contrast.



I was wrong.



I'm not discouraged at all. I'm taking the brown to work to see if I can find a better contrast color. If all else fails I have some undyed Louet Gems fingering-weight that will do just fine.

Since the sun is out today (but cold!) I finally was able to take some photos.

I've been working on and off on Tailored Scallops from the cover of Lace Style. This is my Cormo/silk that I dyed a few months ago.



And I shot my yarn from the retreat.






On a bit of a green and chocolate kick, I guess.

And then there is my door prize.



Hmm, what's inside that pretty bag?

Why it's 493 yards of ridiculously gorgeous sock yarn! The colorway is "Birches in Norway." Thanks to the Twisted Ewe and Curious Creek Fibers for donating it.

Miscellaneous Catching Up

Trying to get caught up here...
I've been working on my sock yarn leftovers blanket. I keep it in the car and knit on it at meetings, standing on the playground, in line at the grocery store, etc. This weekend I transferred it to a longer needle.



So far I've used Lorna's Laces in Black Purl, Vera, Mineshaft (I think) and have just started with the Fortissima I overdyed last fall. The colors are a lot more subtle in real life.

I just finished the gusset decreases on the second Dalarna sock. Should finish those up in a few days. I also got my yarn for the Katharine Hepburn Cardigan from Lace Style. I picked up the swatch cap I was working on for Am Kamin and realized I did the last few rows wrong. I need to rip it out and get going again but my attention has drifted back away from that project.

In completely different news, I finally used my little pink Laptop Lunchbox.



I packed pot roast (very tasty with tomatoes and mushrooms), whole wheat couscous, carrots with salad dressing for dipping and beets with balsamic vinegar, blue cheese and pecans. I did put some plastic wrap around the container with the beets to keep everything from getting stained pink. It was all very delicious, nutritious and the most adult lunch I've had in a long time despite the pink lunchbox. It was actually more food than I could eat. Two thumbs up.

Lace Style

I like it. It has Evelyn Clark, Nancy Bush and this pretty little vintage-inpsired cardigan by Kathy Zimmerman. I don't usually like her work as it leans toward chunky and slouchy but this cardi (the long version not--dear God--the short one) is delicate and feminine.



I do think it's kind of hinky that Interweave is hosting the knitalong for the book. And all their other new books too.