For some reason, I feel like I am plodding through this MKAL - perhaps it is that general 'Iwishitwouldhurryupandbedonenow' thing, or maybe it is rather that I haven't had much time to dedicate to it this last week - Belo has been convalescing at my house after a minor operation. But I dodged out of attending the kids' rugby yesterday and did all my housework instead, meaning that today I can devote at least 4 hours of daylight time to getting on with this shawl ....
Here it is after Clue 3:
All I have left to do of Clue 4 is the final 2 rows and the picot bind-off, which I shall do as soon as I have been to the little park - a lady has just called to tell me where she has left Sebastian's collar for me, after it came off a couple of days ago ....
Remember I told you I had chosen to make the medium size of the Lily Go 'Lightning Thief' MKAL ? Even that involves 1242 size 8/0 beads, apparently. After Clue 2, this is what it looks like:
And a close-up, just for effect ....
And since it's Monday, I should tell you of my rookie mistake - while I wait for the next clue, I can't start on the next in my special series of 6 shawls for 2015, because like a complete dodo I forgot that I'd need to ball the skein of Drops Laceweight I bought to replace the disappointing Violet Green Merino Lace which I shuffled offdonated gifted to my Eviller Twin. Anyway, I have a ballwinder (oh yes, I've made ALL the jokes) but no swift, so I need another person to hold the skein, but there's only me and Sebastian here. I'm also on the hunt for white or ivory laceweights available without hassles in the UK; silk and alpaca and/or blends thereof are most welcome as is anything else on the luxury end of the scale - if you have any suggestions or recommendations for yarn and websites, please let me know ....
So it's another grey Monday, very blustery and somewhat mild - but heavy rain is forecast just in time for the school pick-up, and will remain right through walking to Cubs. Yaay. Instead of being miserable, let's focus on something new and interesting and mysterious instead - the Lily Go 'The Lightning Thief' MKAL, for which the first clue was released last Thursday - I had already posted about being ready here. You'll be happy to know that with age I am sometimes maybe getting a bit more cautious, which means that this morning I ordered some more of the size 6/0 silver-lined crystal beads, just to make completely sure that I shan't run out. I also ordered some more size 6/0 ivory Ceylon beads, which I definitely would run out of on another current project .... Seeing the quantities of beads required by the pattern is all well and good, but when you begin to see them actually on the knitting, and you only have 28 rows so far , it brings home how many there actually are .... a bazillion. Or so.
I like to start shawls on straight needles because I find it easier, but I'll be switching to circulars soon, not only because of the amount of stitches, but also because it's easier to see the flow of the pattern. If you're participating in a MKAL, pop the link in the comment section below ...
Just in time for the clocks to go back from British Summer Time to miserable old Greenwich Mean Time, I've completed the final clue of the SusannaIC Autumn 2014 MKAL6 .... and soaked it and blocked it. I'm really happy with the yarn (Araucania Ranco Multy in colorway 351) and the beads, gold rainbow in size 6/0 from Dawn's Bead and Button Box: the colors complement each other beautifully. I made the medium size shawl, the millions of beads version; 75 grams meant I have a few left over. I love the lace pattern, and that the shawl includes lace right from the start. The only thing I'm not overkeen on is the overall shape - I do not like shallow crescents, a new moon crescent; I need a shawl to be more of a half-moon, semi-circle shape. So something I have learned from this is to ask for very specific shape details before I commit to or start a MKAL. I think this is the 3rd MKAL of Susanna's that I've made, so the batting average is good - and after all, the problem here was not with the pattern or instructions (as usual, they were very clear and straightforward) but more that the shape is not to my personal taste. I'll definitely be back for another of her MKALs in the future .....
Having got all my chores out of the way early and quickly yesterday, I could sit down and pay attention to Clue 6 of the SusannaIC Autumn 2014 MKAL ... each row seems to take ages because there are so many stitches ... or maybe it feels like it because I have started her Oslo Walk Shawl in the meantime, which begins with casting on over 300 stitches ....
Anyway, a leafy pattern seems to be emerging; and the more I see of this lovely Araucania Ranco Multi yarn, the more I am pleased with my choice of rainbow gold beads ....
But right now I am itching to finish Mini Diva's hat - she's been around all weekend, so there's been no chance to do the last 8 or so rounds ....
Autumn is really here today - it's been raining hard since yesterday evening, it's grey, blustery, there are huge puddles and little floods: and it's forecast to stay this way for the next day or so. Luckily for me, all my chores are already done, so I can snuggle on the sofa with the Alibi channel and start a new project as clue 5 of the SusannaIC MKAL is only for the large size this week .... So I have the pattern and yarn ready for the Howling Wolves Beanie - Mini Diva loves wolves, and Christmas approaches stealthily. Turns out the wolf is the Native American birth totem for the time when she was born, too. So, even though I hate colorwork, I shall give this a go while I wait for the final clue .... Since it seems my Eviller Twin and I are the only bloggers in the whole world doing an MKAL or KAL, so when this current MKAL is over I probably shan't bother doing the Mr.Linky thing ...
Well, Autumn arrived all in one day today - strong winds and heavy rain; but coming after the driest September on record, I found it quite refreshing, and enjoyed the opportunity to wear my new warm jacket which I bought in a sale way back in July ..... Anyway. The weather report is not what you're here for ... this week clue 4 of the SusannaIC MKAL was released, but for many (including me) it means a week of catching up on other projects as this clue is only for those making the Large size. But I can show you mine after I had completed Clue 3:
I love the glint of the gazillion beads ... whatever you're working on, Mystery or plain KAL or CAL,. pop your link in below ....
I'm about 4 rows into Clue 3 of the SusannaIC MKAL6, but let me show you what it looks like after Clue 2:
Definitely looking like Autumny colors to me - but outside after the fog has lifted we have bright blue skies and warm sunshine ....I do love an Indian Summer. Please pop your link in below to any MKAL, KAL, or CAL that you're blogging about ....
Wow, that rolled round quickly, didn't it ? I've got a ton of ideas and a ton more of things to do. There are even some that aren't knitting or crochet related, but we'll simply ignore those - life is just too short to clean a house to your husband's standards, and
if he doesn't like it, see if he can find the Hoover for himself. Anyway. The 2nd clue for the SusannaIC Autumn MKAL was released Saturday, and what with Stuff and the children's social calendars, I haven't had a chance to get going on it yet .... but here is the beginning of Clue 1, which was all about short rows (not that you can tell from my photo):
If you are taking part in an MKAL/MCAL or just a plain ole KAL/CAL, pop your link into the box below so we can come check out what you're up to ...
Yes, a fit took me and I am feeling adventurous - so, I am seizing the moment and acting on it. See that lovely button on the top right corner of my post ? I made it. Yes, I know it looks like it, but hey, it's WAY better than any other kind of drawing I could do, believe me. I made it because I am taking part in another MKAL (Mystery Knit-A-Long) organized by SusannaIC - I think for the 3rd or maybe 4th time. I like to know how other people are getting along, and the group is certainly chatty. But then I thought, there must be tons of other MKALs or MCALs (Mystery Crochet-A-Longs) around that I simply haven't come across: and my nosiness about what other people get up to led me to the idea of hosting a blog party every Monday (who doesn't love an alliterative title ?) for anybody taking part in any kind of MKAL/MCAL. I'll start with my own pics of progress so far in the SusannaIC Autumn 2014 MKAL- I have chosen the medium size in fingering/4ply, with lots of beads:
That is Araucania Ranco Multy in the colorway '351', and I have 75g of size 6/0 rainbow gold glass beads to go with it ..... Please do take part and feel free to download the MKAL button to use on your own blog. Leaving a link should be easy - so let's try it out !
