Actual Knitting Content

I started the Twilight Short Sleeve sweater. Nothing to do with the book or movie, by the way. (I read the first one, and it just didn't grab me, so I think I'm in the minority). I'm using Valley Yarns Goshen in lake that I purchased at WEBS. I goofed when I bought the yarn about a year ago. I thought I'd bought 12 skeins, but eventually discovered I'd only bought 10. Of course I made this discovery just a week or so ago, and was quite concerned that I wouldn't be able to get more in the same dye lot. But WEBS had it, so I'm all set. I love this yarn. It has a great drape, it's easy to knit with, has good stitch definition, and feels good. I've used in a couple of other summer tops. Ut's a cotton, modal, and silk blend. The pattern is also a WEBS pattern.
It's knitting up quickly. I'm almost done with the back.

I have another project started also, a gift for someone, but I'm having trouble getting gauge, and it's a surprise, so that's all I'll say about it for now. I'm almost done with another jacket. All I have to do is pick up 349 stitches and knit the button band and shawl collar, but I've got that on hold til I get a longer circular needle to do that!

So that's where I am with my current knitting projects.

Trying to Ignore the Rumbling Stomach

I am on a clear liquids only diet today due to an upcoming medical procedure tomorrow - the dreaded colonoscopy. It's a routine-ish screening. I had a perfectly clear screening 6 years ago, but due to the fact that my mom died 2 years ago from colon cancer, it's not quite as routine a procedure as it might be for some folks. I think the worst part of the whole procedure is the preparation for it --- particularly the special beverage that you have to drink. At least this time I only have to force down a total of 3 oz instead of a whole jug, but still . . . It's funny all last week I had no problem ignoring breakfast. I'd be up by 7 and rarely had anything but coffee til about 9:30. Today, my stomach's been rumbling since 6 am!! I realize our meal schedule yesterday was interrupted by a 6 hour power outage but this is further proof that appetite is often a mental state too!

Anyway. We leave Thursday for our big vacation - a trip to England. We've been to Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean, but this is the first time off the continent. I'm excited to say the least. I finished knitting my 2nd Bistro Shirt yesterday, and it's being blocked as I type. I'm hoping to wear it on the trip, so I hope it dries in time! I used Goshen again, from Valley Yarns, in sage this time. I made some minor modifications - a couple of garter stitch rows at the bottom to prevent rolling, a bit longer, and I knitted it a size smaller than my first Bistro.

I wore my lace stole to a wedding on Saturday, and to church yesterday. I received LOTS of compliments on it. Here's a close up of the lace pattern. Isn't it pretty?

I started work on a baby blanket - Debbie Macomber's Baby Blocks. I'm using Plymouth Leader, in lavendar. It's an acrylic yarn with a nice feel to it. This will be a present. I've got 2 more major projects in line - as soon as my yarn order arrives. I ordered some 2/14 Hand dyed Alpaca Silk in Storm Cloud from WEBS for the Mystery Stole 3 KAL and some more Goshen, this time in red, for the Valley Yarns Green River Tunic.

And I still have LOADS of sock yarn!

Bistro Shirt

Here's the latest finished project - the Bistro Shirt by Oat Couture. I used Goshen by Valley Yarns in periwinkle on size 8 and 9 needles. It took me about 10 days (in between working full time). I wore it today for the first time and it was really comfortable. The really neat thing is that I made it 2 sizes smaller than I've been knitting and it fits well. It's nice to see what losing 33 lbs can do for one's knitting! I'm ready to order more Goshen for more summer tops. It's really soft and drapes really nicely. It's 48% cotton, 46% modal and 6% silk.

I also finished the Homespun prayer shawl and took it church for our prayer shawl ministry. Next up on the needles is another baby afghan, this time from some Leader acrylic I bought at the WEBS tent sale. I'm using another Debbie Macomber pattern, Baby Cables.

Yarn Addict's Delight

My fellow yarn addict and I ventured forth in pouring rain to the WEBS Tent Sale in Northampton, MA - about 2 hours from where we live in southwestern NH. We arrived just at opening time, and were lucky to find a parking place!

It was amazing! Kind of like being in heaven, I expect. We scooped up some great deals - 10 skeins of Noro IRO for $85, 10 skeins of Kona Pima Cotton for $20.00, 4 bags (10 skeins each) of Phildar Leader acrylic for $45.00 - baby blankets and Warm Up America squares here we come! I also found some beautiful Valley Yarn Goshen in periwinkle for a summer top.

We spent 2 glorious hours there -- would have spent more time, but I had to be back in NH for a party at 3. It was wall-to-wall yarn AND wall-to-wall people. I can't wait til next year's sale!

If you're in driving range of WEBS I wholeheartedly recommend a trip there. They have a huge inventory and variety of knitting and weaving supplies, and a VERY helpful staff. We usually head there a couple of times a year. So much yarn! So little time to knit!!

I came home and started swatching the Goshen for the Oat Couture Bistro Shirt. I love the feel of the yarn and the fabric is soft and drapy.