Just popping in to say hi

Some of may have wondered what my total silence over the weekend actually means. Did I make the dress fit? Was the shawl finished and blocked in time? Well, both were a resounding success - despite my "add darts", "change darts", "remove darts", "remove zipper partway at the top - re-sew", "remove zipper partway at the bottom - resew", "completely remove zipper, re-press, re-sew", I ended up with a dress I was pretty much happy with. Although I did have to make an emergency stop at the drugstore on the way to the wedding for safety pins when Mr B kindly pointed out that I revealed a lot more of myself than I would want to, to anyone stood on my left, and I didn't feel like pulling a Janet Jackson in the church.

My ability to wear a cashmere/merino shawl was somewhat hindered by the 85+ degree weather on Saturday. The wedding itself was beautiful and touching, and the celebration afterwards was an incredible amount of fun (it helps that the groom is a bar owner in his real life). Sadly a picture of the dress in action has not been forthcoming - unless you count the picture of me and a bunch of drunken friends in the back of a limo at some ungodly hour, no. I won't be sharing that. Hopefully I will have a photo this weekend, in daylight.

In the meantime, here is a shawl teaser.

FO-licious.

EDIT: I just added new, better pics of the socks and shawl.

Man alive I've been busy, and I have lots to show for it too. Last night was the weekly meet with the spiders, at my favorite coffee shop, which is always a pleasure. And a double pleasure it was, as we got to meet both Colleen, who's in visiting from Boston, and Neoknits Melissa, who's a total sweetheart.

I had to dash off to get changed and off out again to The Rodeo Bar to meet up with Sharon, her hubby and friends to see some some live music (thanks so much for the magazine Sharon). Much fun was had my all, a little too much for Mr. B. who was bouncing off the ceilings after 3 of their famous Margaritas.

Okay, on to the real stuff. I promised FO's and here I am delivering. First of all we have the Wyvern socks:

Pattern: Wyvern Socks by Marnie Maclean
Yarn: This was knitpicks superwash - hand-dyed by yours truly.
Needles: Pony Pearls US#2
Adaptations: None

Next up with have the swallowtail shawl which I started last Friday at the Point (and re-started on Friday), was finished on Thursday - 5 days to knit, now that is a quick knit, I guess it helps that I was home sick on Monday, I found knitting to be very soothing :)



Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl from the Fall issue of Interweave Knits 2006
Yarn: Yummy Baby Cashmere from elann.com - 3 1/3 balls.
Needles: Denises US #7.
Adaptations: I did one less repeat of the Budding Lace 2 since I thought I was going to run out of yarn - ha!

I'm not sure I'm that into shawls, I don't know if I'm really a shawl kind of girl - I think I will stick with rectangular shapes if I'm to make any more. One more thing to show you. The spun and plyed Sage Merino from Carolina Homespun.


I love the subtle colors in this yarn. I'm just not convinced that I should have plyed it - I guess I got Katie's advice too late. I'm still pretty happy with it though.

One last picture (assuming I haven't completely bored you to tears). This is progress so far on the Ripple Weave socks from this years fall issue of Vogue Knitting. I love the yarn, and the pattern (it is so much like Cookie's Pomotamus socks). I like the Addis, except my toxic sweat is already getting to them - GAH!

Rhinebeck

Okay, there's a gazillion posts just like this in blogland, but I have to say it...

I'm going to Rhinebeck and am totally excited!!! Not only is there going to be all that gorgeous yarn and fiber to touch, feel and sniff, and the cute sheep, there will be fellow blog-knitters and spinners to meet. And as an added bonus I get 2+ hours (EACH WAY) of uninterrupted knitting as the wonderful Sharon drives us up there - looks like I will be closer the second time finishing Mr. B's zipped raglan by the end of the trip (yay to elann.com who had the same dyelot left and sent it to me in superfast time). Time for me to get some yarn for a sweater all of my own.

Sadly I will miss the spiders at Rhinebeck, since they are there right now, as I type this post. But I hope to have the advantage of knowing the best stands to get too. I just hope they leave enough yarn for me (honestly, I am a little worried that there won't be anything left tomorrow - please tell me I'm being silly).



So I had to get myself a little something when I ordered more yarn for Mr. B. look below and you will see a wonderfully, soft, luscious yarn. It is called "Baby Cashmere" in Tapestry Blue, it is an elann exclusive. It's 60% baby alpaca, 30% merino wool and 10% cashmere. Isn't it so purdy?


I love it, and cast on immediately for the Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave. This is the second time casting on for the shawl, I was having so much fun listening the chatter about Rhinebeck at The Point last night, I messed up the pattern (knitting where I should have purled) in a bad way. So I started again - I'm getting good at this huh?