mermaid mitts

I am currently working on a pair of fingerless gloves . The is pattern is pomatomas mitts and is available on Ravelry. I added a few more repeats of pattern stitch to the wrist and hand sections. I loved working in this pattern and will probably make another adapted version of this pattern , maybe gloves , fingers and all, next time.

Liz's socks finished

I have finally finished my second pair of floral lace anklets. Even though I liked this pattern I think I will make it a policy not to knit two pairs of socks in the same pattern back to back. It was difficult to stay interested by the fourth sock.

I am relieved to be done and they look terrific. I was a bit concerned that I would not have enough yarn to complete both socks but I did. One skein of jitterbug will make a pair of socks. The clerk at LYS did not seem to believe that the label was correct. It was close.

I will gift the socks tonight and hope they will be a hit.

I think the next project started will be a pair of mermaid mitts.

why you should pay attention

Here is a photo of my most recent yarn purchase. I thought I was buying a wool and silk blend only to find , away from the intoxication of all that beautiful colored fiber in one place, that my new yarn is silk with a baby bit of seashells. Here is where the need to pay attention part really comes in, it was twice the price I thought it was. How, you ask, could that happen ? It happens when you are distracted by a great scarf pin at register (that you must have) . It also helps to really check the price , not assume because it is near the sock yarn that it is a silk blend with wool.

Now despite the sticker shock, I am excited about this new project of working with silk and making a lacy shawl, which I have never done before. The really nice thing is it will be a summer weight project and it will probably take me that long to get it done. Plus, I have friends in warm places.

The pattern that came along with the yarn looks very nice . I checked it out on Ravelry and the projects posted there with this pattern and yarn were beautiful.

trip to LYS

I was knitting along last night on my trusty #1 dpn's and heard a snap. Apparently I have used and abused the poor things so much that one of them snapped. So I was off at lunch today to buy more dpn's. I bought an entire assortment of Cystal palace double points. Seems now all my future projects are gloves or socks . I promised myself that I would just buy the needles and split before something caught my eye. I was unsucessful and now have yet another project. Also purchased was a great pewter sweater pin of a sea serpant or some sea creature.

The yarn will be good for a lace weight scarf from my new knitting book (Christmas gift from Nancy). Beautiful colored yarn of wool , soy and silk.

Rebirth

I love Orchids. It is always joyous when an orchid that I have been faithfully watering, watching and waiting over surprises me with the gift of rebloom. Some never do grant me this gift. Those orchids are like ungrateful children. Others are so gracious; they bloom and rebloom, with nothing but a weekly watering.
This orchid surprised me this week by blooming after 3 years of dormancy. Maybe it was because I kept watering and kept the faith or possibly I finally have the light and heat requirements right. Either way it was a nice Christmas gift.

linen tube clutch

I am knitting on two projects right now, a pair of socks from lace style book and the linen tube clutch from bag style . I 've made the socks before and they are pretty and comfy to wear. The purse is a first for me and proved to be a challenging stitch. I have completed the front but have put the rest of the bag on hold until I have my Christmas shopping done and mailed, and my holiday party is over. Here is the bag front.

Back to decorating for party....

red and black charade socks

I have finished another pair of socks. The yarn was Lorna's Laces sheperd sock superwash wool , color 66 embers. I would like to thank Sandra at http://www.imaybeknittingaranchhouse.com/ for her charade socks pattern. Her herringbone stitch was a fun knit and fast. I love knitting socks because you can take them with you easily, to the airport, on the plane, at the dentist's office, any place where you can get in a few rows.