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When something overwhelms me or looms large, my sister Deb always says, "You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time." Perhaps that is why I love the book, BIRD BY BIRD. Same concept. I am knitting AL'slace socks in the Broadripple pattern with this in mind. My socks are broken into the following parts: The cuff bite was unsure; I had to wait to see the pattern emerge and the colors jump into line. The purling involved made it chewier, I couldn't devour the cuff in a quick few bites. The part before the heel and between the cuff was tender and mostly mindless. One row of lace, one row of knit. The heels could have used some salt and pepper, but otherwise were identical somehow. I am finished with one gusset serving and beginning the second today. This is in no way my favorite part of the elephant. Must remember the lace pattern every other row in the top of the foot part, and do decreases on both sides as well. I get a little crazy with joy when I am purel...

Another easy crochet stash buster......just in time for this weekend's nice hot weather here in Chicago. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

I love the elastic/cotton mix of Fixation by Cascade. I used it for my first pair of socks a few years ago. I want to make a summer tank with Fixation, but it has to wait in the time line.... Currently I am focused on finsihing Al's Broadripple socks. I do like side by side knitting of the socks on double points. It really does alleviate second sock syndrome. I will most definitely make socks this way again. Nothing says summer like; Barbeque a fire in our fire pit (first one last night....sorry to all of you under drought/fire danger conditions, I'll toast a marshmallow for you!) petunias garage sales the big dipper porch napping lake michigan swims for Huck the local dairy bar a pedicure rolling down the windows lemon squares grilled pineapple and, of course, fixation. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

I'm calling Al's Koigu fingerless the Frango Mint Fingerless gloves. Marshall Field's in Chicago makes Frango Mints. There is another store that bought Marshall Field's out and we are a collectively sad Chicago now, awaiting the changes to come. The mints are brown and green like these two koigu colors blended. The next sweet thing: good'n plenty candies. Well, not quite, but if you go to www.KnitandPlenty.com you will see a nice array of Knitting nice to have's. There is a Knitting Needle Pocket inventory amongst other great things. Love my Knit and Plenty's. The next sweet thing: Lynn from our Knitting Group sent me the nicest comment the other day. Lynn it is a priveledge to know you look to this little blog for some sunshine. I couldn't be happier about your kind thoughts. This is post number 474 for the blog. I think a 500th post contest is in order!

I still love knitting more, but I was able to make up this purse for my 11 year old neice's birthday, in a day. It's off to Pennsylvania now to reach her in time for her birthday. She is an everything pink, hip and feminine kind of girl. I think it fits the bill... It was all scrap yarn from the stash, too. I'm so happy with the results. The crochet-a-flower class really refreshed my crochet basics. I used the leaf pattern we were taught for the base of the bag, as I wanted a flat base to the purse. Thanks Susie my teacher. Back to knitting today! Oh, Also I won a contest that BETH held. Her lovely and SMART dog Pearl, picked my name out of a group tickets on her lawn. Go and visit, to see her really picking me! She is at CraftyCanines knit blog. Some lovely Sockatta is coming my way. Thanks PEARL you smart girl.

This lovely baby blanket to be is the work of my neighbor Abby. She just learned how to crochet. I think the yarn she picked is the key here. She is simply making single crochet squares. Because she wants to, she is going to do some blocks in double crochet. She wanted a portable project; she can work on small squares in the car, on the train, the el, you name it. I love when the yarn does beautiful work for us. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Al comes home from Mississippi and Habitat work today! I have no idea what this knitting of hers is going to be. I just needed a post and took it from her bag. I do know that she frogged last years shapeless shell and is creating this from it... We missed her in Mississippi. She reports little knitting got done....I think she'll catch up while watching all the shows I taped for her: Season Finale: Amazing Race! Prison Break! and ER. Seinfeld was very very funny. I packed my needles. I packed my yarn. I packed the parking money. I packed the binoculars. I packed my trifocals.... I thought I packed the tickets..... I couldnt find them when we got there. I am delighted to tell you that we stayed calm, hoped for the best, and the Will Call window was able to find my online order and reprint our tickets for us. Yes there really are needles with lighted tips and they are coming available soon. Other bloggers have mentioned them. My LYS is ordering them. Karen G is going to work...