WIP Wednesday 135: Octo-Tumnus

Shadowscapes Tarot

Just popping in quickly to show you my progress on the Mrs.Tumnus Shawl KAL, created by my friend Mimi.

Do you see how I make that sound like I have a busy busy busy real life ? 

I don't - today involves blogging, walking the dog and a snooze before getting Destructo Boy from gym club after school. But just for a moment, I had you fooled - admit it, you thought I was normal and just cramming wads of activities into my crowded schedule and simply making everything sound very organized and smooth, as opposed to dwelling in lethargy.

Oh well. That would take way more energy and enthusiasm than I have.

Back to Mrs.Tumnus: I am well along into the short row stockinette section, and I love how clever this way of shaping a crescent shawl is. I've used 4.5mm needles throughout, even though it is 4ply/fingering weight yarn, which gives a fairly loose knit, but I think blocking will allow the lace section to really blossom.

Unfortunately, in the meanwhile it looks like some kind of sick octopus.

I doubt you will find any sick seafood over at Tami's Amis .....

Captain Oates

Housewives Tarot

Like the good Captain, ''I am just going outside, and I may be some time''. 

I just popped in to quickly let you know that it is half-term, and because I know no fear, not only is Mini Diva's BFF here for the day and to sleep over, this afternoon we are going to collect one of Destructo Boy's friends and his little sister, and all head over to the park.

Wednesday the children are going out with Belo for the day, Thursday Mini Diva is out at a friend's house, Friday Destructo Boy is at a 5 hour football coaching session, during which time I have Secret Plans for Mini Diva before she goes to a friend's disco party in the evening.

How this all fits in with MIL's (so far) present-less birthday tomorrow, I don't know  - I have the pattern, the yarn and, to DH's utter disbelief, some new circular knitting needles. 

What he didn't believe was that I have so many pairs already yet still lacked this particular size (3.50mm). All I have to do is sit down with no other distractions and nothing else to do and knit like a fiend. Uh-huh, that's so gonna happen.

Oh, and I have signed up for a KAL for eskimimi's latest pattern, Mrs.Tumnus; fortunately, that won't start until half-term is over, thus giving me time not only to wind the yarn, but to catch my breath ....

Pop by later in the week and see how - or if - I'm surviving ....

Next, Please !

Hanson-Roberts Tarot

So today I had a To Do list with 10 items on it, and I have already completed 8 of them - without having to cheat: I didn't even put 'eat lunch' on there. And number 9 is to blog, which I'm doing right this minute.

One of the items on my list was to wash and block the 'Summer Flies Shawl', which I finished yesterday; I still love the yarn, and the pattern is a nice quick knit, but it would not have been as successful or enjoyable without thetanull's modifications to make it larger. 

As it goes, I added the extra section of butteflies and eyelets, but only 10 rows of the Knotted Openwork section, and 8 rows of the ruffle before I did the Picot Edge bind-off. And that left me with this:

Which is some tiny amount that most definitely would not have stretched to one more row. This is what's known as 'cutting it fine'. But anyway, it is washed and blocking as we speak, so there might be FO pictures come Friday.

Of course, although I finished knitting that yesterday evening, I couldn't cast on my next project right away, as first I had to squirm and suffer through England's penalty shootout defeat to Italy, and then console a very upset Destructo Boy. 

But as all my chores for today are done, I have printed out the beginning instructions for Wendy Johnson's Mystery Summer Solstice Shawl KAL - although I am not certain of which yarn I'll use yet - and also found a nice semi-circle shawl pattern called 'Celestial Shawl' that I think the 'Cloud 7' Crazy Zauberball will be just right for. So I'll be casting on at least one of these tonight when I watch the new episode of 'Grimm'.

WIP Wednesday 88: Slow Progress

Fenestra Tarot

So my Slice of Lily's Pi Shawl has not been coming along very quickly, mainly because I had to get something else finished - one of only one or two things that I shall make this year that actually have a deadline, but an important one. And then I wanted something smaller, quicker and less slippy to knit and not on circulars; but I had nothing, so did nothing for some few days. I know, sacrilege ! 

But after the Bank Holiday weekend was over,  I found my Big Girl Pants and got on with it, and ignored/fudged the mistakes I made, so have now completed the first repeat (out of 2) of Chart C. I have no idea how many stitches are on the needles, I just know that it's a lot.

Here is a photo in today's sliver of sunshine; the color is really amazing, I don't get bored with it:

With only 1 repeat of Chart C, 1 repeat of Chart D and the ruffle to go, it seems like I might have quite a bit of yarn left; but I know how deceptive looks can be, especially when things are all scrunched up together, as you can't truly see how big or long your work has got ...

Don't forget to check out all the WIP's at Tami's Amis ....

WIP Wednesday 85: Blue Skies

Old English Tarot

So today is the quickest of quick WIP Wednesday posts, as the sun is out, it's very mild, and I simply must go and cut down the dead perennials that I had left over winter both for practical reasons (seeds for the birds, protection for the new shoots) and aesthetic reasons (the structural plant skeletons look lovely when frost-rimed). You know, I can almost believe that myself if I try hard enough ...

As you know, I'm taking part in a KAL: Lily's Slice of Pi, designed by Chrissy. Here is what mine looks like after completing Chart B. There are supposed to be 259 stitches on the needle, but quite frankly, I'm taking Chrissy's word on that as it's way too skinny yarn and way too bendy needles for me to count: I need to use circulars because it's going to get even bigger, but I don't really like them - I can't rest them on anything like I do my straights, and they slip, and it makes me a lot slower.

Interesting arty-looking shadows provided by Genuwine Equinox Sunlight ....

Don't forget all the other beautiful WIPs over at Tami's Amis....

Late to the Table

Today is the official beginning of the Lily's Slice of Pi KAL (you can find Chrissy's blog here) and, at one stage, I thought I would be starting it today along with everyone else who is taking part. I have the yarn, the needles, and have downloaded the pattern. What could possibly go wrong ?

However. Circumstances have conspired to thwart me - at least for today, it seems.

Firstly, the yarn: you may remember I took pretty pictures of it in its skeined form:

And having splurged £15 (approx.$24) or so on a ballwinder a couple of months ago, I remembered to try it out while DH was at home so that I had a huge banana fingers on handsome gorilla hands available to act as a swift. And also just in case the technical issues were more challenging than I had anticipated (they weren't, you'll be glad to know) so that after a mere 25 minutes - yes ! I know ! the marvels of the modern age never cease to amaze and delight ! - all 1000 metres of the Yarn Addict Silk Lace in 'Jewel' was beautifully and efficiently wound into a pretty cake:

Tick one box on the checklist. Next - print out the pattern. Usually not a problem as I have an Epson that is not prone to trouble. Unless it has been switched off because Moonheart, Mini Diva's cat, (cue Villain Music) has been walking across the top of it and the 'print' button in particular, and therefore printing random pages of stuff from the interwebz. 

When I switched it back on it told me it had no magenta ink left (but it LIED - I shook the cartridge and sprayed the miscreant cat with it) and it will not work even to just print black if one of the colors is missing. Unionization and solidarity in the printer world. Who knew. But one phone call, and that was sorted - someone kindly offered to print it for me, and drop it off today. They didn't even crack a grin when I said a knitting pattern was urgent, bless their cotton socks.

OK, two down, one to go: the needles. Lovely 3.75mm Addi Turbo circulars, exactly what the pattern calls for. Except. This is what they look like at the moment:

They are 6 rows in, out of 8 in the second repeat of Chart B of the Lady Bertram Shawl. Which I should have been able to complete last night - plus another repeat of Chart A, I think. But no. It was not to be. But - 'let me tell someting to joo': I shall complete the 2nd Lady Bertram tonight and tomorrow. 

Identify the quote for Kudos points ...