I’ll Need 3 Forks please

Till Death spoiler pics below!! 

It’s been quite a busy week for me at work, but I have managed to get some things done at home too!! 

I finished my Wonder Woman Cape!!! 

This is the pic of it blocking; I’ll have someone take a pic of me wearing it tomorrow. It didn’t block out quite as large as it could have - my short row wraps were a bit tight. Still, I’m chuffed af with the final result!! 

Then I finished my Till Death MKAL mittens. 

Not blocked yet, but I am thrilled with them. I wore them this morning and the beads on the palms are already driving me bonkers, so I think that I’ll be cracking them off. They do need blocking, and then I’m ready for Día de los Muertos. 

And then I made Wonder Woman cuffs. I could not be more pleased with how the colours worked out, finishing with the white/gold at the edge of the ruffle!! 

The beads are so sparkly that I imagine that I really could fend off bullets with them!! 

It also gave me the opportunity to use my tiny bead spinner - still one of the best gadgets ever!!
I popped into The Needle Emporium today (yes, when I’m in the mood for a drive, a 3 hour trip is “popping in” LOL!!) to pick up the yarn for my Throwback Cardigan  as well as yarn to knit a sweater for Julie. I haven’t knit with Rowan yarn in a while, and I’m especially happy to be able to give the felted Aran tweed a go in the Hartwist Sweater. 


I could help but grab another Cheshire Cat kit. 
I was so excited that they now came with variegated colours!! I know, it seems a bit muted, but it just called to me. It’s destined to be another Hitchiker scarf. 

Wondering Along

It’s been a great day!! 

4 loads of laundry washed, line-dried and put away (looking forward to bed tonight - sleeping on fresh, air-dried sheets is a luxury!), chicken broth made, cake baked, knitting accomplished. 

My Wonder Woman cape is progressing nicely. I do love the subtle variations in hand-dyed yarns; they're never quite solid and I adore it!! 

Not much else to share today ... back to it. 

As I was typing, Chica, who is usually not so cuddly, has climbed up into my lap. 

As she’s not one to enjoy being petted/touched much, I don’t think that this is going to last long. She and Petey will likely be switching spots. 😂🐶💞

Beyond the Wall 2

So the Super Secret Project is a fait accompli, and I jumped straight away into my Beyond the Wall shawl.

I have finished Clue 2 and am headed into 3!! I should be caught up in time for the release of Clue 4 on Sunday. Go me!! 

I made time today to bake a pie using local berries. 

It was delish - the perfect tartness, cinnamon, and sweet. It's not going to last long - it'll be breakfast and snack and lunch ... you get the idea. 

I got new glasses!! Something a little different. 

I'm also trying out multi-focal contacts. I lose some sharpness on both near & far vision, but it affords me flexibility with sunglasses and the mid-range vision is excellent. I think I'll use them for beach days and sports. 

Beyond the Wall - spoilers

I took a couple hours out of the deadline knitting and did Clue 1 of the Beyond the Wall MKAL  So glad I did! It's a nice change-up. I went with alternating balls of yarn, and the bobbles. When I do a MKAL, I like to do the pattern that the designer envisioned, so while alternating balls of yarn is not my fave thing to do, and I love letting yarn pool as it will, this is the path that I've set myself upon. 

Okay. To work, then two more days of my chosen work. 

Starting Point - spoiler pics

I really love having my two days off in a row. Day 1 is always errand day - shops, appointments, cleaning. Day 2 is my day of home, knitting, relaxing. It is my ritual, I look forward to it, I need it. 

My Starting Point shawl is done!! I finished all the ends and laid it outside to block; it fit perfectly on my little back deck. It blocked out gently to 71cm x 203cm (28" x 80"). A generous stole, and if I knit another I could join them for a blanket. I love it; I has an intriguing construction with a pleasing symmetrical geometry.

 

   

 

I also finished the 3^rd part of my Chatelaine X garden mandala. The Algerian eyelets were the finishing touch and all 4 corners are now complete.

 The charts for the 4^th part are taped together and I'm ready to make 100's of tiny x's!!  

Happy Mail Day!! Jimmy Beans pkg arrived with the Lorna's Laces Solemat  that I ordered for the Beyond the Wall MKAL  The colours are brighter and less grey than the online pic. My fingers are almost twitching with excitement!!!

 The puppies are playing outside, no rabbit-chasing whinging to be heard, while the salmon that I planked is on the grill. It's been awhile since I've made salmon, the smell of it is so enticing. 

 I've powered through OITNB today -- how am I supposed to get along until season 6!!?? I am imaging storyline after storyline in my head. 

The Handmaid's Tale will see me through my evenings stitching. 

Have I mentioned how much I love my android box? An introverts best friend this! ☺️☺️

 Oh, I found this tiny robins egg shell on my driveway this morning.  

It made me happy, like seeing deer and rainbows. I know, I'm a bit simple, but my heart is pleased. 

New Toy

I have been finding it more and more of a challenge to read my Kobo Glo at night. Maybe I'm getting old , or maybe because I'm used to my phone dimming and changing to a warmer low light, but the bright blue Glo of the Kobo is noticeably disturbing my sleep. So I did my research and I went and bought an Aura One today.  

It has a warmer light conducive to night reading, its waterproof, and it also allows for direct downloads from the library without a sideways device! I have already borrowed a book!! 

I loaded it up and ordered a case from Amazon. 

 

I have been keeping up with the Starting Point MKAL by Joji, but I've been at the back of the pack. I am enjoying the knitting of it, though I'm struggling slowly through another k/p tbl section at the mo. 

 Blogging app is being odd and won't let me right-justify pics ... it's annoying. 

So that gets you caught up ... it's been slow in my life, but I like it like that. 

I'll be getting a new project from Julie when she's back from TNNA, so I'm looking forward to that. 

I've also been on a bit of a yarn-buying spree, so I'll update you on those when they arrive. I'm excited about those!! 

Top to Toes

Born Trippy is trippin' right along! I'm on to the last colour, Coral. It still is a remarkable thing how  blocking transforms wrinkled, undefined stitches into ordered loveliness.

 

 

Another bit of knitting magic that I shall never grow weary of. 

I finished Marks first sock, but I gave it to him last night to take home and try in before I thought to take a picture. Sigh. Hopefully his narrower leg translates into as narrow a foot. 

But I had a fantastically productive night on dock last night and am to the heel flap! 

 I don't know how it happened, but I have a slight bend on the tip of one of my Signature needles!!  

The needles were in the socks, which were in my TARDIS sock bag, which was in my backpack. I certainly don't use these tools as pry bars for anything. It's really a mystery!! Fortunately it doesn't adversely impact my knitting; it's an odd feeling on the tip of my finger as I shift the stitches along, but the knitting clearly goes on. 

We celebrated Craig's birthday a week late because we were both feeling so sick the previous week. The Keg had a prohibitive wait time, so we chose Montanas. Good thing too - there's a Birthday helmet tradition there!!Craig is utterly immune to embarrassment and soaked up his moment. 

 

 

It was a lovely meal and a memorable one. 

So Not Boring

So I blocked out Born Trippy last night. OMG - the magic of blocking rivals only the magic of turning a heel on a sock!!

 

 Here it is folded upon itself to show the colour progression. I am thrilled with how it's turning out, and I rarely get so excited for a project before completion! 

While it was blocking, I got a bit more done on Marks sock. I'm loving it as well!! 

 This is the one that I had thought he would pick; there's no way this is going to be considered boring!! I'll have to hit up the stash to find a heel/toe yarn; I don't want to run short.

I had to run out, do a couple of errands today and make a Costco run. I had really been hoping for a whole weekend of couch-surfing rest, but needs must. 

I am home now, wild rice and pot barley simmering for the soup that I made yesterday. 

Ah yes, shit got real. Cold 2.0 vs Wannietta has been stepped up a notch and I brought out the big soup pot. 

Frozen chicken carcasses, celery and extra onions.  It turned out well, even without carrots, but needs the carbs, fibre and toothy bite that the wild rice and pot barley will provide. 

Okay ... now for hopefully my most difficult decision of the day; sock or scarf? 

Mama Needs a New Pair of Socks

So I totally finished Jennifer's Hitchhiker just in time! It was off the needles and blocking before bed last night and ready to wrap this morning. 

  

It was well received today. Jennifer knits so she appreciates the work that went into it and knows how to care for it. I didn't get a picture of her wearing it tonight, but I'm sure I will soon. 

I started a new sock tonight because it's easy to do whilst chatting up family.  

 It was a lovely evening, I got to know Craig's family better. Food and wine were enjoyed; I'll sleep well with a full belly tonight. 

 

Hitchhiker

Quick post - got some knitting time in at work the last couple of nights which is good since between sleep and errands, I'm not getting much done at home. I'm feeling better about being able to get this done in time now ... hopefully tonight will be a productive night as well. 

 

 

I love garter stitch - it's textured and flat and shows off all the beauty of a lovely yarn! 

The End is in Sight

I've been knitting away! This is a massive shawl. Granted, I haven't been as diligent as I could've been, but it's been quite a lot of knitting. But I'm doing the I-cord cast off today!!!

 

 I deliberated probably longer than I needed to about what colour to use; I went with Wish, colour B. 

I am excited to be finishing; not just so that I can block and wear it, but so that I can get back to Sorrento.

 

 I'm into the front ribbing shaping and it's enough to keep me knitting to the next increase. I know, but it's the simple pleasures that are truly what I enjoy in my knitting. There is a lot of "At The Same Time" going on here ... def keeps a knitter sharp. 

That's kind of it. Working, puppies, family keeping me busy. Chica really is a fan of Craig; she'll generally sidle up to him and pour on the charm (seriously - kissing on him!!) when she wants to play. 

 

 

I really do have to get back into my flute practice. I've neglected it lately, but I miss it. It gives me a singular pleasure that I need to give back to myself. 

Fait accompli

And Hitchhiker is done!

 

It's not blocked yet; I can't wait to see how much more wonderful it looks when I do block it!!

It was a great week. It would certainly have taken me longer if I hadn't known that Julie was on my heels all week. 

Still Hitching

Been a busy week - a new work schedule, battling The Allergies, sleep ... the usual. 

Fortunately, garter is a kind stitch and yields satisfyingly visible results. 

 

 

Alright then, back at it! 

Still Hitching

Been a bit busy with work, errands, and sleep, but fortunately garter stitch makes for satisfying and visible progress.