Hello Again

First and foremost, my dad is finally on the road of recovery. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and well wishes. They meant a lot to me.

Finished Revontuli. Love it.



My dad has been through another surgery (unrelated to the first, but very necessary). Started a second project during that one. My second Clapotis. I made this one full size. Another ten day project for me. Using the Sea Cell, perfect yarn for this project.





Had a birthday during all this time. Received some nice additions to the knitting collection. Which in turn added many new items onto my "to do" list!



I also received a super sweet new lens for my camera, which I have only been able to play with a little. It is a super wide angle, and I am very excited to take it on our upcoming trip to Kauai. My husband and I are headed to paradise for our 5th anniversary. Can't wait!

Here is my sister and Gracie with the new lens. And another one in a local park.





And here is a last one of Gracie with her yummy plastic steak!


Gearing up for the Olympic Trials. Now that I have finished Clapotis, I am going to give my arms a break until Opening Ceremonies. Want to ensure I can complete my project without my arms causing me too much trouble! Can't wait!

Trying to Feel Normal

I am sitting here at home, trying to feel connected to some part of my normal routine. I have spent the majority of the last five days sitting at the hospital.

My father had open heart surgery on Wednesday to replace a valve and take care of a bypass. He recently took some actions to get back to a doctor and into better health (which I am so thankful for). We found out a couple weeks ago about the valve replacement, but within a day of his angiogram, surgery had been scheduled. It all happened very fast.

The day before surgery, I needed something to make me happy. What does that equate with me? Yarn shopping. Bought this rainbow Kauni to make the Northern Lights Shawl.

After 5 days, I am almost done. I keep referring to this as "Dad's Shawl" (although he won't be the one wearing it!). He really likes the colors.

Things are progressing with Dad, but there is concern over a irregular heart rate and high blood sugar.

I am struggling with it all. I have been there during the day, talking with all the nurses/doctors that come in (he is very tired after everything - very understandable) and just "being" there for whatever he needs. Also been a companion for my mom.

I have always enjoyed knitting, but never realized how helpful it could be to me. I can literally sit there for hours and just quietly knit. It keeps my hands busy (to stop the fidgeting) and keeps my mind occupied (to help control the worrying). It has been such a joy and comfort to me during these past few days.

This may sound corny, but I feel that I am knitting my prayers, hopes, fears, worries and love for my Dad into this shawl. Then I see the beautiful colors that emerge and it makes me happy and reminds me that we will get through this and he WILL be better soon.

Eeeeeeeeeee

I think the smile says it all!



Forecast is finished and I LOVE IT! The fit is perfect, thanks to a good blocking. Love how the buttons turned out. My only wish is that it were Fall and I could wear the thing. :)

I made many of the common alterations out there. 3 stitch bobble instead of 5 and started the sleeve ribbing at the elbow. Gives the sleeve a more fitted look, which I prefer. I made the body a little bit longer than called for, yet I still only used 10 buttons!





Miss Japel has a winner pattern here. I am finding that I love the top down method. It is so handy to try on as you go to ensure a good fit. Plus, there is no seaming to do at the end, which is perhaps my favorite thing about it.

Just started another one of her projects. Airy Wrap-Around Lace Sweater from Fitted Knits. Started right in, had about 6 inches done...tried it on and it was not big enough. So I ripped back and tried again. Fits much better, but I am a little sad about the lost knitting time. That was most of my day on Sunday!

No Need to Fret

It fits!




Another project that took me about 2 years to complete. This is my 3rd long term UFO that I have finished this year! Verrra nice. :)







Multi-Pattern Top from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2006
Made from Lion Brand Microspun


Sort of achieved gauge on a size 4 (this top was a one size fits all kind of deal). I left a bigger armhole opening than the pattern called for. Other than that, it is knit to pattern.


Love the feel of the microspun. Super soft and it has a nice stretch to it, without stretching out of shape.


This pattern had another first for me. I have never sewed buttons into a knitted item! Surprised I haven't come across that before.


One more project to finish by the week end. Forecast. Hehe - my slightly obsessive nature came in handy. Remember the button problem? Well we got out of work early today, so I trekked out to a third JoAnn's. And found buttons that looked liked the original! Yay! I hope to block the beast tonight and sew buttons on this weekend.

Getting Crafty!

So I went in search of additional buttons for Forecast. Visited another JoAnn's and found the same style. Brought them home...do you see the problem?

They look so different. The new ones are not quite as wide as the original ones and the coloring is slightly different. I am thinking that if I alternate them on the sweater one won't notice very much. Because I cannot find these anywhere else!!

Oooh, look at my new yarn. Joyce from elliebelly completed a trade with me on ravelry and this stuff is amazing. She hand dyes all the yarn. This is a 70% silk / 30% sea cell (a fiber made from seaweed). I cannot believe how amazingly soft this yarn is. You should definitely check her stuff out. Beautiful colors.

So I recently won a "major award" at work and got to choose a prize. Lookey!!

I have no idea how good of a machine it is, but it is better than what I have now...nothing! Very excited about this acquisition. I used to sew years ago when I was in 4-H. I just need to remember how to do everything. :)

The machine should help me to hem all those pants that need fixing. Plus make any neat things that strike my fancy. Woohoo!