6/2/2005
It’s been nearly a month since I’ve reported on the knit-a-longs here…
Myself, I have just not been in a lace knitting mood, or at least not in a “read a chart” lace knitting mood so I’ve made NO progress whatsoever on my Shaped Triangle Shawl.
However, we’ve had several additions to the participant list for the Gathering of Lace Along in the last month, so don’t forget to check out their blogs. Not to mention, Melissa M has completed two projects, the Super Spiral Shawl and the Feather and Fan Shawl for her grandmother. She’s not stopping there, she is already working on Frost Flowers! She definitely gets the blue ribbon for most projects!
Also, don’t miss the progress photo of Amy’s Frost Flowers that will serve as a huppah for her brother’s wedding (what a cool idea)! Her blog is brand new, so stop by and say hi to her!
As far as Spearfish Madness, people are still trucking a long and we’ve even had a few recent additions over there as well. The biggest news is that Clemintine did indeed make her deadline to have them done to gift to her BF’s mother for Mother’s Day. This week we had another completed pair added to the line up, this pair of Spearfish socks are a fun “coordinating” pair from Paula.
Both of these KALs are low-key, low-pressure KALs so you are welcome to join either one. There are directions on the pages for each on how to join in.
5/4/2005
After a week or so slump, the Spearfish blog is alive and thriving this week, with Ann finishing her pair of socks, before Anita in their own private race. Paula and Clementine each have one sock completed and are on their way on the second sock. Clementine has set a goal for Sunday evening, as she is going to gift them to her BF’s mum! Good luck, Clementine!
In the Gathering of Lace Along we have some new members - some new to lace, some veterans. We’re at ten people total, including myself and my co-host, Snow. Some are still swatching and choosing yarns or patterns. Others are incredibly frustrated 
It isn’t too late to join the fun! I’ve been so focused on Skyway Scoop that I haven’t gotten any farther on my Shaped Triangle.
Speaking of Skyway Scoop - she looks the same as yesterday (just scroll down), except perhaps the stitches along the neck line are a little stretched out. I knit on the neckline (all ~45-46 inches around) only to rip it last evening. I was devastated, but I was having an incredibly crappy day. Thanks to helpful suggestions and kind words from friends I’m doing better today. Though I may leave Skyway Scoop in the time out corner for today and focus on getting the pattern written up, properly sketched electronically and extrapolated into the other sizes. Just let myself calm down further. I’m still a little wound up from yesteday’s goings on…
I did take a little field trip to Target yesterday to pick up Gilmore Girls Season 3 and did a little impulse shopping/retail therapy. Spring Squatty found a friend…
It looks so good! It is smaller than my previous tri-fold wallet that was black and stuck out like a sore thumb as it sort of peaked out. This one tucks in completely and coordinates with the bag. Plus, it has a large section that has all kinds of accordioned sections so I can sort out all those frequent shopper cards etc. I also love the detail in the zipper pulls. They had a lot of really cute and compact wallets/coin purses in fun spring colors.
Also, while there, I saw that Debbie Macomber’s book, The Shop on Blossom Street was out in paperback and 25% off MSRP, so I picked that up as well. By bedtime, the day had sucked so bad that I couldn’t make myself read the book club book, so I decided I deserved reading something I enjoyed and before I knew it was 100 pages in! There will be more over in Culture Catalog in the next few days probably.
Lastly, much thanks to Margene for bestowing the honor of “Zen Blog of the Week” - my stats have gone through the roof! I some of you peeking in here will come back!
4/21/2005
Okay, I already posted easrlier that the A Gathering of Lace KAL is official. So far there are only three of us so there is plenty of room for you too!
I cast on for my Shaped Triangle on Tuesday, but yesterday had me away from home at DH’s work most of the day and not feeling real well aftwards and today has been crazy, so I’m only at row 16. But, it is a start and I can say that I am liking my Helen’s Lace and I think it will look quite lovely. So far there doesn’t appear to be much in the way of pooling, flashing or striping (crosses fingers that the trend continues). I’ll have a pic when there is more worth photographing.
I suppose now that I’m knitting a real shawl it’ll be time for me to finally purchase some blocking wires, huh? Man, this has been quite the week for becoming an adult knitter! LOL!
On the Spearfish KAL front, we have another pair of completed Spearfish in handpainted Opal, this time in a turquiose colorway. Check them out, and congratulate Azhar on her beautiful socks!
Remember, the contest portion has been won, so the pressure is off and it is now an ordinary KAL. So, if you have the Spearfish pattern join us at http://designedlykristi.typepad.com/spearfishmadness
The site for the Gathering of Lace-a-Long is set up and open! It might get tweaked a bit, but it is there! - http://designedlykristi.typepad.com/gatheringlacealong/
Sign up and grab the button (or make one specific to the project you are going to make)!
A few days ago when first contemplaing the Shaped Triangle I ran across a site that had photos of at least the majority of the projects on their site, but I can’t find it again. If you come across it, please let me know so I can add a link to it to the KAL blog for people who perhaps don’t own the book yet.
I’ll be back with more soon, but I’ve got to do some cooking for tonight’s supper…
4/20/2005
My post the other day about using my Helen’s Lace yarn from Lorna’s Laces for the Shaped Triangle Shawl (p 20) prodded Snow to also do the same with her solid colored Helen’s Lace yarn. It seems there is a fair bit of interest to knit items from this realtively new to paperback format book so I think Snow and I will be hosting a KAL.
I’ll be working on setting up the KAL blog today and hope to have it ready tomorrow. If you wish to join us in the KAL, just leave a comment here (being sure to include your e-mail addy) and I’ll get you invited to the blog as soon as I have it set up.
