knittinggenes.blogspot.com

Lynn asked about the yarns I'm using. This reminded me of my own BLOG rule about coming clean on the costs. Ouch, this one is not for the frugal. Potpourri Shawl Pattern, (chris bylsma designs) 5.50 Addi Turbo's US #15s 32" 23.75 (ouch) ONline(MC) Linie 116 Spirit 8.50/skein 42.50 Ironstone Yarns Eyelash 12.50 Mohair (can't find label, will f/u later) 12.50 so far, I think I'll need more. The rest of the yarns are stash leftovers, and they, of course, weren't free So I'll lump them around 10.00. So its running over a hundred dollars easy for this shawl. The following is the rationalization ...... Itwas my birthday weekend when I fell in love with the pattern at Stitches. The original purchase of MC online yarn was made over a year ago, and was from a gift certificate. Originally worked for St. Seraphina Knits lace shawl pattern which I completed half of and frogged immediately and deliciously when I saw this shawl worn by a vendor at Stitches. I'...

This is the shawl I am loving. It is fast and fun. What keeps me from getting bored are: the yarn changes, the things I can watch while I make this without making a mistake, and how fast it is coming along. Ahhhh big needles. Ahhhh loving it without it even being finished. The Hungarian side of my family had our reunion on Sunday. My 80 year old Auntie Elanore who crochets, has just bought a loom. The night before the picnic, she was a little overzealous with some Chocolate Martinis. My kids found this very amusing. I did too! Hmmmm, looms and chocolate martinis at 80. Something to look forward to.

Its blurry, but the color showed up best in this snapshot. This is the Double Rolled Storm hat again, this time made with 6 more stitches and an added decrease row. The fit is much better. The yarn is as soft as Alyssa, Maureen, Al and Lynn all said it would be. Hope my sister's friend wears it Cancerfree evermore.

Frogs aren't all bad. Isn't this one cute? He's a candle. P. Allen Smith Gardening website has a feature on making Rose-Petal beads. I don't think I have the patience to do it. Has anyone ever tried this? I know of Nuns who make rosary beads out of funeral spray roses.....

New shrug! I need to put an edge on it, but I am delighted with this very easy shrug. Total cost.....around 60.00 with Kathmandu Dk. This is such a joy for me because I finished something, put it on and LOVED it.

Al's been charity knitting. She wips up these Last Minute Gifts hats fast. Made a trade with Pixiestix for some yarn. One woman's stash ....is another's treasure. All my Harry P. friends: Al came across some buttons that just looked like lion door knockers to me. She said you'd love them. Now if I can just locate the card I took from that booth for you! I was thinking especially of Alyssa and Jennifer. I'll find it....

Just some snuggly booties left by the bootie fairy in my coleus. I THINK she used Fixation white with Sidar Snuggly in neon pink. Enjoyed Stitches. Barry Klein teaches a great seamless sweater class. Lots of focus on perfect fit for your body measurements. Recommend it to finishing rebels one an all. No intention of buying it but when I saw a shop owner wearing the Potpourri Shawl designed by Chris Bylsma Designs, I was transfixed. It speaks to my Hungarian gypsy genes, and I must make it. So guess what I will frog b/c I have the perfect MC in another UFO. ????? Something I've photo'd this summer....... Be the first correct guesser and I'll send you a PRIZE.

Here is Bobby's shop in Boulder Junction Wisconsin. Cute sign I thought. Jen at 3 Bags Full taught a great baby bootie class last Friday. Except she burst out laughing everytime she called it Bootie class. She focused on embellishments and how to vary the basic pattern she provided. One bootie done.......Knitting the second. Countdown to Stitches Midwest for the Irisheyesknitters. We don't have time to get together often enough. I'm dragging them all down River Road to the Paradise Pup in Des Plaines. Incredible burgers with Merktz cheese melted over top. Its a many napkin meal. If you go, you'll love it. Just remember only about 5 people can be inside the PUP at once. Outside seating is limited but available. MMMMMMMMMM.

FO: First fingerless glove for my sister Patti Ann for Christmas. Al modified a cable design she found for socks and wrote me a little pattern. The cabling was very fun and not difficult at all. So I have one and a half Christmas gifts made. When I knit there are usually mistakes. Mistakes take time to repair. This is why I started Christmas in July. Thank you Melinda, from 3 Bags, for reminding me that everything I knit doesn't have to be perfect. "Knitting isn't medicine," she gently reminded me. I don't have to get it perfect. No one's life is on the line. Hey, maybe that is why I love to knit!

The teeny tiny crochet clothed German dolls are on display in Oak Park's Library. Aren't they cute? I guess it's my true Hungarian coming out, but I cannot imagine having the patience to crochet something so incredibly tiny. The Oak Park library is beautiful no doubt, but at a cost of 40 Million dollars a local merchant disclosed. They second Doll we met in Oak Park was at Tangled Web Fibers: Sheryl. (I hope I'm spelling it correctly.) She chatted with Al and I. Beautiful lady who preferred not to be photo'd for the blog. I took a pretty photo of the shop window but I am afraid it wouldn't be fair to post it; it has gorgeous designs. So you'll just have to go visit Sheryl and enjoy her shop in a fantastic location. Stop down the street at Madly Popin and try some Oreo cookie popcorn. Unbelieveably good. Hemmingway's birthplace and musuem are just down the road a piece. Of course, the Frank Lloyd tour is said to be great. Maybe I'll hav...

Knitting at Ravinia 

Tonight I was knitting in public----at Ravinia while listening to the beautiful flute music of Sir James Galway. My daughter, Becky, her friend, Christine, and I enjoyed the concert thanks to Kathy, who gave us these tickets. Becky and Christine are both flute players, so they really appreciated the music. It was great, and I got a lot of knitting done! Thanks, Kath!

Clearly our deaf cat, Radar, has compensated by learning to read and type! They say deaf cats are the pinnacle of feline intelligence, I guess he wanted to prove it when he started watching the laptop! He is, as you can see, very visual. Hence his name, Radar. I once delighted in watching him swipe at dust particles in a sunlight beam on a very cold winter day. I should make him a kitty bed don't you think? I want to answer Beth's question regarding Al's shawl that we shared in November. The pattern is on the cover of THE BEST OF KNITTER's MAGAZINE, Shawls and Scarves Book. ISBN 0-9646391-6-5. It was a gift from Jan. Such a wonderful book. The photos are so beautiful. The Pattern is Lotus Blossom Lace by Joan Schrouder. It takes 1100 yards of fingering lace yarn and is described as an Advanced Experience Level. Al took a class from Martha at 3 Bags Full tonight. It was a finishing class and Al's lucky sweater is nearing FO land. So is the darling cab...