Up, Up and Away

Today I finally leave to visit my son in San Francisco. I spent more time yesterday deciding what project to take on the plane than packing. I decided on a new lace project, Backyard Leaves from Scarf Style. I had some nice soft Filatura Lanarota in a heather brown in my stash and a favorite pair of size 7 bamboo needles I like to travel with so I packed them up. I hope it works out. I haven't even had time to swatch and I'll be miserable without a plane project. I also took my hand spindle which I may learn to use if I visit Carolina Homespun while I am there. I'll let you know.
My Project Spectrum Swap Pal got her package so I'm posting a picture of what I sent her. I made the postcard out of pictures I took at Crater Lake. I included a crocheted the blue flower pin that I made a while back, some origami chrysanthemums and a few other blue goodies. Hope she liked it.

By the way, I finished my blue Sitcom Chic and it is blocking. Pictures coming.

Challege #3: The Poetry Challenge

Lace is a Poem

What is lace but a poem made of yarn
that covers and decorates and adds to our lives.

What is a poem but lace made of words
that shape a web that captures our minds.

Lace is poetry that adorns and enriches
making us joyful and keeping us warm.

Poetry is lace so difficult to create
yet echoing in our souls with triumph and grace.

I am a beginner at making lace
and I have never written a poem.
Yet here I am, doing both.

Summer of Stockinette

I started Sitcom Chic and it seems to be taking forever. I keep knitting and purling and it just doesn't get any longer. At least it is blue for Project Spectrum. Speaking of which, here is my favorite blue photo, taken at Crater Lake in Oregon a few years ago.

This weekend I went to the Renegade Craft Fair in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. What fun! I didn't buy anything much but it was so great looking at all the creative and fun things others are making, and actually selling. There was some yarn there but small amounts and mostly novelty yarn. The most exciting part was watching a woman spin on an adorable wheel. She told me it was an unknown brand but resembled a Louet S17. I couldn't wait to look it up at home but, even though it is cheap for a wheel, it is still almost $300. I'm going to look for a used one.
After the Fair I went to a yarn store nearby that sold roving. I never use my drop spindle but I thought that if I had interesting roving it would inspire me. So I bought some. Next weekend is a Spin-Out in Central Park so maybe someone there will give me some tips on using it.

Finished Shell Tank

Well, I missed Knit in Public Day on Saturday, June 10. I mean how was I supposed to get to Central Park in NYC carrying a seat either on the bus or from a parking lot? Why didn't they have it in a Starbucks? I couldn't find any events in NJ and the one in NY was the only one near me. I had good intentions but ended up visiting friends instead. I knit in front of them but that is nothing new. I tried to make up for it on Sunday though. I went to the city again and sat at the tables in Whole Foods in Union Square and knit for about an hour.
And I managed to finish the Shell Tank from Knitting Nature. There was so much seaming at the end, but it was worth it. I loved the pattern, especially the cables. It looks great on too. I didn't like the yarn though. It kept splitting and the plies even broke sometimes. I may make another one using the recommended cotton. I have a lot of projects I want to do from this book. But I have decided to stick to summer sweaters and tanks for now. I might as well make what I can wear now, right?

Challenge #2: X-treme Lace Knitting

What is more X-treme than bargain shopping? Where can you risk getting shoved and stepped on, having stitches pulled off, getting dirt and lint thrown on you and even being regarded with scorn than at a huge twice yearly bargain sale in the middle of NYC? Flower Basket Shawl (hereafter nicknamed at her request Flo) had to get up practically at dawn in order to drive from the wilderness of New Jersey to the middle of Manhattan with the goal of getting a good parking space. Arriving at 7:00 AM she joined the line, yes the line, of eager thrifty seekers of savings. Others talked on their cell phones, read or dozed, but not our Flo. She grew and gained because an hour of knitting is not to be looked down on. When the doors finally opened at 8:00 she joined the pushing throngs searching for the perfect jeans and flimsy summer shirts. What was that, a sweater? We can skip that aisle. We make our own, thank you.
I am happy to report that Flo took it all in stride. Although most of the time she hid in a purse, she loved to check out the competition. Nothing could compare, she was happy to report, with her lacy goodness. She was, however, very happy to repair to Starbucks after the sale. All that excitement, all that competition, all that sneaking peeks at new summer styles and all that seeking for the perfect color and perfect size just wore her out. A double mocha latte was definitely in order after her X-treme adventure.

Another Week

Well, it is finally June. My May Project Spectrum partner sent me a beautiful verdant green card she made and I got it today.
I finally finished the Silky Tie Wrap but I am not 100% pleased with it. The fabric is too bulky and that makes the tie too fat. The colors are great though, very flattering. If I make another one I would make the starting triangle much smaller. I also started a summer top from Knitting Nature, Shell Tank. The yarn is Filatura Lanarota Summer Soft from the Smileys sale. It is very splitty and hard to knit. I love the color though. I'll finish it by July for Project Spectrum. That will be the purple month. My next sweater will be blue I promise-Sitcom Chic. I already have the yarn.