Sheepie Knits

Pattern: Textured Shawl Recipe by Orlane, found on Ravelry

Dates: July 5-Sept. 3, 2009

Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool, color 8906

Needles: US 10/6.0 mm

Notes:  I wanted a nice comfy, pretty and happy shawl that could be thrown around just a teeny bit. Lace shawls just seem so delicate i wanted something tougher.  Well i got that and Love it!  I am very happy with how the shawl came out and it is super cozy.

I made it bigger than the pattern so it can wrap me up nicely. I ended up using a little over 3 balls of the Cascade 220. I picked the happy color to help perk me up once winter comes and i start getting the winter blues because it’s so cold. Lol

Bring on the Fall weather.

Walking to School.

Waiting to go inside.

Big Boy inside and ready for his first day to start.

While Mommy lets a tear slip no matter how hard she tried not to and then left the class as soon as possible so she could go and cry with no one watching.

What can I say I am a huge baby! I tried really hard not to but the tears won.

Little Man did great on his first day of school.  His words were “It’s not as bad as I thought.”

He has all day school tomorrow and I know he is a bit apprehensive about being there all day but I think he will do great and I will be the one moping.  Haha. I plan on making some bread and doing some cleaning to keep my mind off missing him.

I know it will get easier.

Last Summer I joined a mystery Kal for a round shawl.   I even started a bit late but was able to catch up and be on the fourth clue when everyone else was.

The fourth clue ruined everything.

I should explain that each clue had four “clues” within it so you were kinda designing the shawl yourself as you went along. Not every-ones shawl would be the same depending on whether you picked chart A,B,C or D within each clue.  Well within Clue 4 I think B and D were 98 rows and A and C were only 50 rows. Well of course I liked D and I was worried if I did one of the shorter ones my shawl wouldn’t be big enough.

So that was 98 rows times 576 stitches per row.  I got tired of the shawl pretty quick and right around the same time last Fall my grandma was visiting so i couldn’t work on. I need 100% focus!  I picked right back up after she left but those rows were taking me painfully long and i kinda gave up on it. I had lost my will and I wasn’t having fun anymore.  Christmas was coming and then all my eye troubles came and come the new year I still wanted nothing to do with the shawl.

Then spring came and I went back to it. A row here and a row there, still not much progress. Summer came and I made finishing the shawl my one goal for the summer. There were a few hiccups, like running out of yarn!!  But…

I DID IT!  She is done and I couldn’t be happier.

Pattern: Mandala by Renee Leverington

Dates: June 24, 2008-Aug. 23, 2009

Yarn: Knit Picks Shadow in Spring Green.  Just a teeny bit over 3 balls!!

Needles: Size 4 circulars-the pattern called for size 5

Notes:  Wonderful Pattern.  I love that you are part of the design process by picking which chart you will do within each clue.

I did:  Clue 1-Chart A, Clue 2-Chart A, Clue 3-Chart A and Clue 4 Chart D.  There is only one edging to chose from for the fifth clue.

I did run out of yarn when I was doing the edging, so close to the end.  Very frustrating but I kinda saw it coming when I saw my yarn dwindling down to nothing. The yarn came quickly and you can’t even tell it’s not the same dye lot.

I am so happy that it is done.  I am still not sure what I will do with it.  I was thinking about putting it on my table.

Or letting hubby wear it

Or letting it keep me cozy.

We’ll see.