April PS project 2 is done!

Lucy is contentedly blocking, resting in her done-ness. I'm not entirely happy with the seaming job - I'll have to see what she looks like blocked out.

And the knitting bag is packed for our whirlwind tour to PA this weekend. All the PS June projects are making the journey - I'll be singing "Am I Blue" as we wend our way through VT, NY, and the flooded roads of PA (it's OK, the Toyota Echo is small enough to float).

May PS project 1 done!

A scarf in teal green Kidsilk Crack...er Haze, trimmed in ecru. Started over a year ago, stuffed in a drawer to be ignored until Project Spectrum came along to encourage me. Done on #2 Brittanys, the stitch pattern long forgotten.

Closeup of the picot lace trim. The pattern is a four row repeat I learned over 20 years ago when I started knitting. I needed over 8' of picot lace to trim the scarf. Why yes, I am insane.

Today's Lakescape

is brought to you by the color blue and Project Spectrum.

"Not some backpacker's hovel"

The title of this post is one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies - French Kiss (you get the humor when you hear it spoken with a French accent.) It was also the mantra I kept repeating to myself this weekend as I ignored the growing scariness of the ho-val in the attempts to make in-roads on the WIP list.

I'm excited to find I only need to finish Lucy's second sleeve and sew it on, the drop stitch scarf is long enough to wrap around my neck once, and the Kidsilk scarf's lace edging is 16" from completion.

At the risk of falling short yet again of deadlines, I'm hoping all three of these will be off the needles by the end of the month. This month. June 2006. Yeah, you heard me.

And since the digital has gone hiking with the CatMan, here's a treat from the archives.

Project Spectrum's April 1A is done!

Let's all heave a big sigh of relief and give homage to the completed Citrus Rib Bag as she sits on her throne. All stages of the handles wore me down and out. From finding the right handles, placing the grommets, finding a way to attach the handles, to actually attaching the handles - I was ready to toss it in the Lake by the time all was said and done. But I think I learned for the future if I do decide to "go there" again.

Here's a little look-see inside the bag: the fabric is a remnant piece of yellow cotton cut to the dimensions of the knitted pieces, fusible interfacing was ironed on, and then whole thing was handsewn by moi.

Project Specs: Orange acrylic of unknown origin, knit in 2 x 2 rib on #4 needles. The body of the bag was knit in one long strip, then side pieces were added. After bag was sewn together, a Bernat Boa cuff was knit onto the bag using #10.5 needles. Bag is lined with cotton fused with interfacing. Wood bead handles were attached using grommets and D-rings (placed only through the body of the bag, not the cuff.)

Don't blink!

You might miss the knitting progress. I've made the commitment to the WIPs to finish before I start anything new (quick and dirty pencil cup cozies do not count! Cause I said so!)

Citrus Rib is just waiting for the CatMan to help me close the D-rings that attach the handles to the bag.

Lucy Lu is getting seamed up tonight and then banded this weekend, thanks to this little gem

The drop stitch scarf continues to be the project I pick up when I have a few spare moments. (No, I can not hear you, Denim Socks...nah nah nah!)

I realized I have a Bubby and a baby hat due for the beginning of July. Luckily, it's (supposed to be) a boy, so I should get some blue knitting in the month of June.

Quick and pointless

Sometimes, a quick and pointless project is just what the knitting doctor ordered. Witness the pencil cup cozy. It serves no purpose other than to be pretty (Koigu!), fun and impractical. And it helps keep the "knitting is supposed to be fun" perspective.


Pencil cup cozy: 3" x 5"
21 stitches on #2 needles using a Koigu remnant. Pattern: 4 rows stockinette alternating with 4 rows of seed stitch. Bind off and stitch up!