Written Out Forest Ridge

So it has been ages and ages since I've posted, but I will get to the things that have happened since then in another post.  Now I would like to announce that I have available a written out Forest Ridge on the site at http://knittingmaryly.blogspot.com/p/forest-ridge-line-by-line.html.  I hope that those who were unable to use the charts are now able to knit the shawlette if they like.  Happy knitting!

Back to Blogging: Evie's Baptism

Wow, it's been a while.  Guess there is no time like the present to hope back on board.

So on Easter, we got Evie baptized.  It was a lovely service, and Evie didn't cry at all, although I think she was a confused about why we were giving her a hair a rinse with all her clothes on and not in the bathtub.  It was really special to have her baptized in the same church I grew up in and the one we got married in.  It is a little daunting to be making such big promises about teaching someone else about God when you don't feel like you know nearly enough about it yourself.  We will do our best though which is all we can do.

Just before, wondering what is going on!

Do I still have to take a bath tonight?

Special words from the pastor, Ms. Mary

It was a whirlwind trip to and from NC, traveling everyday that we were gone and just having a few hours of visiting.  I wish Eric had more than 10 days vacation for the year, which is really only like five once you take out the Christmas vacation.  Maybe one day he'll have 3 weeks and we'll be able to travel more.

I have been knitting, although there is not a whole lot to show you right now.  I did finish another Huggable Hedgehog, which is my favorite baby gift.  Each one is different and they are so cute!

Another Hedgehog for a new little one arriving in May

There is going to be a wave of babies this year for a bunch of folks I used to work with.  Counting all the folks that I worked with the two years I was there, in the two years and one and a half after there will have been seven babies.  I can't wait to see pictures after the newest ones' arrival!

Where did I leave my brain?

I have done some royally stupid brainless things lately.  Other people have those days/weeks/months, too, right?  Blergh.  I'll just share a few of the many.  I totally got mixed up on proposal dates, which of course is disappointing since I won't be able to get proposals in on time.  I also thought a yarn was discontinued....and although I know it hasn't been now, it does seem to be in some sort of limbo.  Lots of other personal mistakes have been made recently as well.  I hope this is nearly the end of my idiocy for a while.

So needless to say, things are going slowly around here.  Maybe in a week or two I'll have something interesting to share again.  Maybe even pictures.

Forest Ridge

 

I am pleased to announce the release of Forest Ridge, a three-quarters square shawlette that was published in the Knitty Spring+Summer 2011 issue.

Forest Ridge was the result of many iterations of swatches; I actually got distracted from what I was originally looking to try because I liked the swatch for this one so much.  The idea of the three-quarters square shape allows the shawl to stay on your shoulders without being pinned or tied.

I hope you enjoy this shawlette as much as I have!  Happy knitting!

Baby Girl is Getting Big and a Sock Fail

So we've switched Evie from 3-6 month clothes to 6-9 month clothes, about 2 weeks after she was 6 months.  We've got a lot less of the 6-9 size, so we went shopping so I don't have to wash her clothes every third day or so.  We had enough we could get by, but as it is I feel like I'm doing laundry all the time.  Eric also wanted some zippered jammies for those middle of the night diaper changes--they're so much easier than snaps in the dark.

 And those socks I started for Eric....they've been frogged.  Again.  I don't know if something is whacked out with my tension by the time I get around to knitting the sole and connecting it to the instep, but I had extra fabric on the sole that made it look a little crazy.  So instead of doing the unusual construction called for, I'm just going to do a toe up sock with the charts.  As long as I get them done before our wool anniversary, which gives me a little over 3 years. 

Which is why I feel quite okay starting another series of projects to alternate with my next design:  a few hedgehogs for some new wee ones making their entrance this year.  Bigger needles+a familiar pattern=progress.  Yay for babies!

A Show, a Storm and a Shawl

Last weekend, we took a trip to the Knoxville Auto Show.  We have gone to the auto show every year for the last 3 years, but this was our first time in Knoxville.  It was smaller than the one in St Louis...about a third of the size actually.  But that was fine, because we just wanted to look for a few possibilities for our next vehicle since mine will be 10 years old this year.  The main thing is finding something Eric can fit in comfortably.  This can be difficult when the trend is to be streamlined--it makes the ceilings much lower.  There were a lot of families there, and someone even wanted to take a picture of Evie, which was a little odd.  She might could make it as a baby model!  :)  We forgot to bring our camera, which would have been nice to have to keep track of what we liked.  We'll know better next time, but it was still a fun little outing for us.

Monday we had a scary day weather-wise.  There was a tornado watch or warning in effect most of the day, so I was wishing we had a basement.  It was a little crowded in the first floor half bath, but we ended up all okay and better prepared in case it happens again.

On a happier note, I finally have pictures of the Swallowtail shawl I finished before Christmas.  I had more yarn than I expected near the end, so I did the next to the last chart twice.  It is a nice size and I really like the beading in place of the nupps (which is probably why I had extra yardage).

 

 Have a Happy Weekend!

Suddenly Spring

So all of a sudden it is Spring outside.  It went from being about 30-40 F to 60-70 F in about a week.  Not that I'm not happy about being able to go outside for a walk with Evie again, but I was hoping for a decently wintry photoshoot mid-March.  I guess I just forgot how much earlier it gets warm in the Southeastern US compared to the Midwest.  I'm going to have to get my project done quickly if I'm going to get any shots without everything blooming outside.


On the other hand, I'm totally psyched to get started on another lace project.  It might end up being inspired by a book I recently read: Chalice by Robin McKinley.  It is not my favorite one she has written, but it was still enjoyable.  The presence of honey was pervasive, so well see what I end up with and whether I can find some stitch patterns that will play nicely with one another.


Evie is starting to sit up on her own some.  She babbles a bunch and has started to stick out her tongue at people.  It is amazing how much she can do when she is just 6 months old!  Going from not being able to lift her head or smile at someone to sitting up and laughing at funny faces...wow.  It is amazing how fast they grow.  And isn't she sweet, sitting up on our bed?  Awwwww.  I'll leave you with that.  :)

A shawl and Evie's first Christmas

Evie's first Christmas was sweet...it even snowed for her, which is unusual at my parents house.  Next Christmas will be more fun since she'll have a better idea of what is going on.  It is hard to believe how much she has grown already.  She is my sweetheart.  :)

Well, I have at least one finished object to show for all this time.  Here is the Haruni shawl, in fingering weight Panda Silk.  I love the color...It reminds me of autumn leaves.  The drape of this yarn is great, and I have two more skeins to use for something else.

I have another shawlette, Swallowtail, that still needs blocking.  I finished it before Christmas, but didn't have time to block it before we left.  I switched out the nupps for beads, so I'll have to see how I like it.  I also started a pair of socks.  For my husband.  Who has size 15 feet.  I hope to finish before our wool anniversary in 2014, since it will be an off and on project.  That is a reasonable amount of time so long as I don't forget about it.  Anyway, I don't think they will be complete before Christmas.

I am going to work on knitting down some of my stash this year.  Last year I bought quite a bit more than I knit, and it would be super to make a little more space in the yarn chest.  I in fact got some of my laceweight yarns from Knitpicks long enough ago they only carry two of the colorways I haven't used out of eight or so.  I didn't realize they cycled through colorways as fast as they apparently do.

I'm also going to work on having at least one original design on the needles at all times.  This should get me kick started and designing like I really want to do.