Sometimes, I swear I drive myself crazy on purpose! I bought some yarn that I now wish I hadn’t – but you know -  impulse buying…

Anyway, I now have the darn stuff and think of course that I HAVE to use it.  I have started a project 3 flicking times.  I continue to try and find a project that I like; when of course the yarn is the problem.

First a scarf: 

I started in earnest and because it was the same stitch all the time and the color repeats were exact – I thought I’d die of boredom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a shawl:

Because I was so frustrated, I just cast on again and pretty soon I had no idea what I was doing and created a thing that was large and really without shape  I tried to make it work and thought I would wear it around the house.  But, I knew that I wouldn’t because I hated it.

Now a poncho:

I think the 3rd time is the charm, I still hate the yarn, but the garment is better.  Now I just have to finish it!

The normal person wonders of course why I don’t just stop, no one is holding a gun to my head to finish.  What can I say, I admit it  - I am compulsive!  All the medication won’t change that fact .  So, I knit on!

From the zoo-  Happy Maks, sunning himself on the deck without his cone.  Whoo hoo – eye surgery successful and he is an adorable boy

Buttons can make the thing – I stacked a couple of different buttons on the Cotton Ribbon Cardi.  One is a flat matt deep coral disk and I topped it with a lavender crystal button.  They look fantastic together and match the colors of the cardi great.  The crystal didn’t photograph well, but trust me, it works!

 

The mystery continues……here is the Mystery Shawl after clue 3.  I am really liking this; I have a ton of knitting in this thing and so therefore I am highly committed now.  I am using 2 variegated yarns, so some of the detail of the construction do not show up as well as if one of the yarns was a solid.  I am stunned by how many stitches are in the thing, and it is still not finished.  People do this kind of knitting all the time – I don’t.  But the fact that it is parceled out a week at a time makes it fun.  There is one clue left and I can’t wait to see how it comes together. Will it be more of a cape like thing or will it have tapered ends……hmmm?

Two cute things.  The cotton tape cardi is finished and  it is wonderfully comfortable.  In typical fashion, I had to start it a couple of times and continually adjust where I was going because I was making it up as I go.  The cotton tape gives a really nice hand and is soft and comfortable. 

This is the cutest dog in the world, I am sure, even though he is in a cone. His eyes are healing nicely and the swelling has gone down quite a bit. Monday the cone comes off and then some good face and neck rubbing will be in order.

Clue 2 on the Mystery Shawl is now complete.  It is going really well and I am very happy with it.  I don’t know that I have ever knit anything with this small of needles and thought I would hate it.  But this is fun.  I think having the mystery component makes it a bit easier I think.  I have no idea what the next clue will be and where it will take the piece, which is also part of the fun.

After re-starting this and completely abandoning the pattern, this cardi has some distinct possibilities.  It starts with a yoke that is increased about three times and then raglan sleeves are added.  Since I abandoned the pattern, I made my best guess about how many stitches to put between the markers, but I think I did ok,  I ended up increasing under the arms about 10 stitches, but that will be ok, giving the arms ample room.  I was worried that I did not have enough yarn, but it will be short sleeved and I think I will be ok.  I can never tell until I get past the sleeves.  I really like doing these top-down pieces,  the only problem, is the strips go around.

Soft kitty, Warm kitty, Little ball of fur.
Happy kitty, Sleepy kitty, Purr, purr, purr.

Some things work out and some things don’t.  I have been working on a top called Dalyan .  Unfortunately, the pattern calls for a traditional set-in sleeve, but it is hanging so low that it looks stupid.  I love the stitch and the body is great – but the sleeves will have to be re-done.

Then I started a new top-down cardigan using Blue Heron yarns cotton tape which is just yummy.  I started with a pattern and very quickly wondered what they were thinking, the cast-on for the neckline was over 120 stitches on a size 11 needles.  Well, that is big enough for a midriff, not a neckline!  So once again, I ripped that out and started my own thing. 

It was just not a day for successful patterns, maybe its me or maybe it was the patterns, either way,  I have to improvise.  I love the colors, it is the color purple-blue that is almost impossible to photograph well.

My beautiful baby boy had to have a little eye surgery to correct something common in short nosed dogs that cause the eyelashes to rub the eye constantly and build-up of scar tissue.  So he had a little nip and tuck!

The definition of pitiful:

Here is the bright spot of the day – these daylilies are just the most beautiful color of orange.  The plant is right outside my studio window and when the sun shines on them, they just glow.

It has become a very large prolific plant and makes me smile everyday!

Mystery – I have no idea what I am knitting and I love it. I love the colors and I love the hand of the fabric that has been created.  Each week a new clue will be released and a shawl will emerge.  I can’t wait to watch!

My chair in the studio has been commandeered by these adorable interlopers!  They are such sweet friends, it is quite wonderful.

I have heard people say that they can’t imagine how they had time to work when they retire.  I am understanding that sentiment!  I am pretty busy each day.

Yesterday, Maks and I went to visit my FIL at the senior community that he lives in and boy was he a hit.  My FIL has been wanting to bring Maks over to meet his friends and he took Maks by the lease and hauled us all over the place introducing Maks as his 4-legged grandson.  It was so wonderful to see the big smiles that Maks brought to everyone's face.  Maks was so gentle and calm.  I brought treats to give to people to feed to Maks and everyone loved that.  Maks was exhausted with a full belly when we left.  Look at those happy smiles!

I have been working on this little top for the last couple of days, it is pretty easy with yarn-overs.  I have the back done and am now working on the front.  I am making it out Interlacements yarns that I have had for years, so it is fun to finally  find a project for it.

 

These two yarns are going to be used for a fun new project.  Every summer Stephen West does a Mystery Shawl Knit-a-long on Ravelry.  You do not know what you  are knitting; each week a new clue or piece of the pattern is revealed.  Kind of fun, I think.  1500 people around the world have joined.  All we know is what type of yarn to select until tomorrow when the first clue is released. 

Noro has a new yarn called Karuta and I tried it on this little topper.  I had 2 balls and as usual cast on with no real idea of where I was going.  I really like the various shades of green. The latter stitch really looks nice, but the 2 balls really were not enough to make a full poncho.  I had some Blue Heron chenille in the color way Rainforest.  They seems to be compatible.  So, I topped the garment with the chenille and intertwined a complementary ribbon through the bottom.  I had the ribbon from a previous project that didn’t work out.  Funny how things always get used in some effective ways. 

 

Relative calm!  Zoe and Pente were actually in the same room together this morning.  I had to capture it because it hasn’t happened much.  I brought Zoe downstairs with me this morning and plopped her on a high safe place where she could observe.  Pente sat peacefully on the foot rest and there was calm in the land. Tom stayed out of the whole thing and just read his paper and drank coffee.

The temp finally came down, so I ran out to snap a few pics of the garden.  The daylilies are exploding right now.  I sure do love them.

This cardi is so not me; it is cute.  I typically don’t do things that are cute and I certainly do not work in pastels!.  But, a friend had some yarn that she didn’t think she was going to use and I thought I would try it.  It is a vintage Noro yarn called Akogare that is a wool, silk, and angora blend.  I choose  a top down cardi pattern because they go fast and this one did.  I made some slight modifications to the pattern; using bigger needles and changing the type of increase to make the sleeves.   But for the most part, I just started at the top and knit down.  I reduced the amount of white in the color sequence because I did not like it, I wanted more color.  I think it turned out well, a cute little summer night cardi!  Someday, we might actually have a cool night so that I can wear it.

This is the extent of how I will enjoy the deck this 4th of July, from inside looking out; it is so frickin’ hot.  The forecast is for 100 degrees- that is just rude.  So, I will knit amongst my critters from indoors admiring the flowers outside.

My first day of retirement looked like this; with Maks and Pente on my lap.  We hung out in the basement for the day because is was so stinking hot outside.  So, I spend the day knitting with the beasts.  We all had a very relaxing day. 

My friend Christie is clearing out some of her stash and that can be good for me.  She gave me some Noro Akogare, which is discontinued and she doesn’t think she will ever use it.  Whoo hoo for me.  I struggled with it though because it has a good deal of white in the color sequence and I am no fan of white yarn.  So, after a few tries, I am making a little top-down cardi and I am pulling some of the white out.  I think it will work out, its kind of cute.  A little pastel and cute for  me, but it is fun and easy to make.

Then there is this piece which is out of a brand new Noro yarn call Karuta which is a bulky silk/wool/cotton blend.  It comes in  monochromatic skeins of nice deep colors.  I really liked the green and one of the patterns featuring this yarn has a great lace stitch.  After several tries I finally got it, not because it was difficult, I just couldn’t understand how it was written.  Now, I am off with it and I am not sure what it will turn into yet.  Stay tuned.