It needs more Cow Bell!!

Not much to show for the past couple weeks. I've been knitting but sticking to just two projects which is unusual for me. Normally I'm working on four or more projects at one time; what can I say, "I just like variety."

The main project is a store sample. Since I don't get to keep them, store samples are quick projects that I enjoy knitting but I don't want to devote lots of time to BUT I've found one of those rare patterns that has a rhythm to the knitting and I can't seem to put it down. I believe I'm committed to the end of the yarn. It's the very popular Lace Ribbon Scarf on Knitty.


I'm using Ella Rae's Lace Merino (which is more of a fingering weight than lace weight) in color 110. A yellowy light green.

For true colors check out the yarn here.

I'm also still plugging away on my Barn-Raising Quilt blocks. I have 16 finished squares now; everyone a different yarn. I have two blocks that I thought were different yarns but they ended up looking very similar - not sure if I'll use the duplicate looking one or not.

I also am wondering how busy this quilt is going to look with all that changing color. Should I make a bunch of solid color squares to alternate with the more colorful ones. (That might be a problem as I don't have much solid superwash fingering weight yarn, either new or left overs.)

And I'm running out of left overs so I've started combining small bits together and coming out with some great looking squares IMHO.



That's it for knitting around here. I have been spinning but it's still that same white corriedale fleece I've posted before. Six and one-half pounds is beginning to feel like a life time's amount of fleece.

The Photographer went to the final stage of the Amgen Tour of California and has some pictures posted here if you're interested in the race.


(cowbell passed out at the beginning of the race)

Weaving Class

Weaving has been encroaching on my knitting recently. I'm attending a 4 Harness Weaving Class at The Craft Center at UCSD. Week One was how to warp our rental looms. Week Two was weaving (in my case TRYING to weave) 14 different Twill patterns with varying success.



It's amazing how easily I got confused about what pattern row I was on! Even when there were only four rows to the design!!

Week Three we finished our sampler and warped again. This time I'm doing a hounds tooth two-color pattern. Turns out for me the hardest part is counting (who would have thought). Anyway, after several mistakes, pulling warp out, string everywhere and re-doing I got the loom warped and the pattern started. If I sound surprised that's because I can't believe I got it to work.



I'm enjoying the 'learning something new' part of this class but I don't think weaving will ever replace knitting as my craft of choice; my need to do it so I don't go crazy and take everyone along with me. There really is something in my brain that is soothed with knitting; if I have to wait in line or on the phone I can remain calm if I have my knitting otherwise by the time I get to the head of the line I'm really not fit to be talking to anyone let alone trying to solve a problem.

Speaking of Knitting, only two finished objects this past week. The first is a Pinwheel pillow, a sample for the Shop. It's a pattern from the current issue of Knitscene Magazine out of Marble Chunky. (BTW this is a great 100% acrylic chunky yarn. It really sells well, everyone seems to like it as much as I did.)



And Saartje's Baby Booties made for my niece who's expecting a girl this May.


Oh - I should tell you it's been raining off and on this week and should continue through Monday and Tuesday - YEAH! It's been fun seeing the reaction to our mini-summer in winter from Bloggers talking about TNNA. (Great pictures from Anne on Knitspot. Mid-January entries)

The Photographer passed along a couple of photos of Sam and Annie from Christmas:

Sam trying out all the extra chairs around the table


Annie with her stuffed chick present. She always knows there's a present for her; we have to hide it because she can smell which one is hers out of all the other wrapped presents.