Life LackaDaisiCal

I don't believe it -- with a basement still full (well not totally full) of yarn....I am running out of two shades. Checking my inventory sheets, yup, I am indeed in need of ordering MORE YARN!!!  (Hubby doesn't totally believe this LOL!) So I've just ordered 6 balls (3 each of 2 shades) from Camilla Valley Farm - Nina HELP!!!  I hope she has these shades in stock and can get them out to me quickly (fingers crossed). In the meantime, I think I have enough to finish the body of my Lindisfarne.....and if necessary, while I'm waiting, I'll do that bottom facing....... Right now I have finished the underarm shaping, and I'm just about to start the neckline shaping.  I wanted to show you the underarm shaping - here's a photo. The red lines show the added "underarm section" - partial repeats of this large motif. I did do some side "seam" shaping - and where these two motifs meet make a unique design. As someone who used to sew, I know that the...

I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for a good pattern.  With the new instant gratification available with "buy now" buttons on Ravelry , at Twist Collective and at various indie designer web sites, well, it's really easy to get a pattern fix when you need it. So I've bought and downloaded all of these patterns - what's a knitter to do? Well, print them silly.... All nicely colour printed, in clear plastic sleeve protectors - LOVELY! Then match them up with the yarn you select from your stash... Lovely Quartz Jamieson's Shetland Heather to make Hallett's Ledge from Twist Collective combine yarn and pattern together in those zippered storage bags, and voila.....all nicely organized with pattern and yarn together. Oops - the Seaweed Scarf isn't a pdf download - it was just something that I chose to put in a plastic bag today - when things are tucked in boxes, it's easy to forget about them! The scary thing about this is that I have just...

When I think of colourful Fair Isle........I think of Mary Jane - coming in October!  Click on the photo to go to Amazon to pre-order!  (no affiliation, just happy to see this book) I've admired Mary Jane's work for a long time - ever since I knit her Fair Isle Sampler Hat.  I don't wear it often, but when I do I really enjoy it! For more information on Mary Jane - visit her web site Mary Jane Mucklestone Hand Knitting

After the Striped Surprise Jacket, well, I still have a bucket of KSH -  and so I've decided to make a scarf. I have to admit it - I am ADDICTED to Rowan's Kidsilk Haze.....do you think it could be hereditary? My Mother loved Mohair.......she knit everyone in the family one of those Mary Maxim picture type sweaters ( sort of like thi s) - My Dad's had a pattern edging, my Uncle's had a pheasant on it (he was a hunter at the time), mine had a skater on it - can't remember what was on my Sister's sweater - I must phone and ask LOL! But after that, it was Mohair all the way -- she knit herself a beautiful Mohair cardigan - a soft grey - it looked lovely with her silvery hair.......and then she quit knitting.....except to finish off things that I occasionally started.... When I finally got into knitting myself (there was a time that she despaired that I'd never finish anything) I knit her a cream mohair cardigan.  This was before I found Rowan Kidsilk Haze!!! I ...

Kidsilk Surprise Applöse Finished the edging - tucked in any loose ends, and it's finally done  and I'm so happy - it's like a huge hug! For the full story - go to my Ravelry project page .

Favourite Blog Feature........... I found "needled" just a few months ago, via Ravelry somehow......and now I check every day in anticipation of  a new post.  I love Kate's knitting, and I appreciate her story. If you're like me, you'll go back and read Kate's blog from the beginning..... Right now I'm going to go check my stash of Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift to pick out some shades for my own "Christie Johnstone".....click on the clip below to go direct to needled Happy Knitting and Happy Valentines Day!

I've reached the spot where I need to divide for the armholes - I shaped the body a bit and I think that I need set-in sleeves too! I've also taken my Stilettos out for a spin - swatching for my Tara (Rowan 48)

So I'm playing around with the new camera (my Christmas pressie) and through talking to Renee, the photography student, I'm learning a lot through photographic osmosis LOL! For example, I took a photo and cropped this part out of it.... I thought it looked pretty good, and then I tweaked it in iPhoto, and this is what I got! (Not that I KNOW what I'm doing, I just play with the adjust sliders LOL!) This Chickadee posed for me so nicely - he was busy eating a sunflower seed from the feeder! So Renee sends me an e-mail with some "constructive criticism" LOL! and this is what I got! You are right - even better! (I think LOL!) Oh dear, constructive criticism - now she thinks it's too WARM!  How can a poor little shivering Chickadee be too warm LOL! ok, one last go - what about this one???? It is toooo HOT?  Is it toooo COLD? or is it JUST RIGHT? LOL You know what?  I like the original the best - go figure!

Well, just when you think you have EVERY shade of Rowan Kidsilk Haze......  you find out you don't have THE shade that you need want for a project!  How annoying! So thank goodness for the Ravelry option of searching for yarns that are for trade or sale...or even just for a particular yarn, in a particular shade.  When you look around you might just find someone who is willing to do a trade with you........of course, you have to give up some of your precious stash, in exchange for some of their precious stash LOL! Thank you Terry (knittingtheblues) for agreeing to trade your lovely "Nightly" Rowan Kidsilk Haze (shade 585 - now discontinued).  This was the only shade of Kidsilk Haze that matched my new tartan silk evening skirt!   Happy Knitting!

At 5'10, I've never ever even contemplated Stilettos!  until now...... When Signature Needle Arts announced that they were going to be doing 3.25, 3.5, 3.75 and 4mm circular needles... well I just had to have some - these are the 3.5 mm (purple) needles - 47" - the cable is so soft.... and the stiletto points, are well, pointy! I can't wait to try these out!