I don't want to jinx it, but...

I finally knit a section of the Lovely Lacy Shawl without having to rip back to my lifeline! Since my last post I finished the third and fourth sections of the pattern...I also realized there are actually 8 sections to the pattern, but since one section is only 2 rows, it really does not make much of a difference. I am FINALLY able to look at a previous row and realize at that moment if the next stitch is the one that fits....I am no longer blindly following the pattern, stitch by stitch, preying that I won't look down five rows and notice a mistake. That being said, I will probably have a screaming fit after making a stupid mistake the next time I pick it up. I really hope it stretches a lot during blocking 'cause it is really looking small. I mean, I am petite (realized yesterday my 10yo Girl Wonder only weighs about 15lbs less than I do) but now it looks like it might fit a child much to young to be gifted a hand-knit lace shawl...

My Somewhat Cowl is also rapidly growing. I am now half finished with the optional waist decreases. I am beginning to think I should try this one on before moving along just to make sure it is gonna fit. This is the official tv watching project, easy-peasy lemon squeesy.

I am finally to the cuff of The Gaming One's first sock. It has become the official traveling project to ensure I finish it. Since I do not drive and all my family realizes I am knitting obsessed and no longer takes offense when I knit in their company, this can be quite a chunk of time. While at my Momma's house (knitting) I realized a few things...
1. I could have realistically knit The Gaming One the cardigan that he asked for in the time it is going to take me to knit these socks. I honestly thought they would be finished by now. I mean, come on, a month!?
2. He will never wear them outside the house because well, they are green...and wool.
3. If all else fails he can use them as christmas stockings. They honestly look that big. Fr reference sake, I have almost used the entire skein (231 yds.) of KnitPicks Essential (minus the heel and toe) for the first sock on sz 1 dpn's.

Here's what's happening in the greenhouse. Angracum is finally blooming after 4-5 years of thinking it would never bloom again. Darwin made a a really astute prediction about butterflies when he first laid eyes on Angracum. (You have to scroll down the page to the pictures of the flowers to see what what he thought.)

This oncidium smells like chocolate.

and since I love haiku...

the stanhopea

hovers bird-like in hopes of

sweet pollination

It is always a treat when this blooms because besides the fact that it's pollinator in the wild are birds, (hence the bird like shape-see the little eye?) they bloom from the bottom of the basket and the flower only lasts a day.

no blogging does not mean no knitting!

I have been knitting up a storm since I last blogged. The past month has been crazy around here. We spent one week in the mountains for the Gaming One's annual family reunion. The Girl Wonder explored her thrill seeking side by jumping off a bridge into one of the local rivers! She was at least 15 feet above the water. I told her that if she jumped I would...however, I lied! That water was so cold I did not even put my toes in. She jumped with her uncle instead, twice! She was so proud of herself and immediatly wanted to do it again!
Our return home marked the official start of our school year! The kiddos are homeschooled and this year the Boy Wonder started kindergarten, so that means a bit more on my plate, teaching wise. I do not know how those ladies that have large homeschooling families do it! my hat is off to y'all. Just two weeks into our school year the in-laws invited me and the kids to spend a week with them at their beach house! One of the many perks of homeschooling...the flexibility!
The water was nice and warm, I got lots of knitting time in and the kids were well behaved! We survived the first hurricane of the season while there...it was very exciting as there was no damage just lost of wind and rain...PawPaw took the kids to the beach as the storm was approaching to check out the waves in the pouring rain, of course they thought it was cool to say they were on the beach during the hurricane! So now that we are all caught up on to the knitting!
First the FO's! First off is the Silk Corset Top. This has to be my favorite knit EVER! It is everything I hoped it would be and more! Pattern: Silk Corset Top
Size: medium-I could have knit a smaller size, I think the top lace section would be a bit more snug, but it is very comfy!
needles: size 4 circs
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted-mc= bachelor's button, cc=cloud

Pattern:Razor cami Needles:size 4 circs Yarn:Knit Picks Shine-mc=orchid, cc=cloud

mods:I wanted a more bra-friendly option, so I knit the front of the top section in stockinette stitch starting with a yo, k2tog round just below the boobline and ending with the same ribbing pattern from the bottom. On the back I continued the ribbing for the bottom. I crocheted around the arm and neck holes for a more finished look. I also crocheted a chain to thread throught the eyelets created by the yo, k2togs. However, I ran out of yarn so it is not bra-friendly at all. Now I have a sexy cami to wear around the house for The Gaming One. The straps could be a bit shorter, but there is no way in hell I am taking out all the crochet edging to fix it. All told I really like it.

Now for the UFO's
Fetching in alpaca laceweight held double.












I finished another section of the Lovely Lacy Shawl. 2 sections down, 5 to go!












Last night I cast on the Shelia Capelet...I am using much smaller needles than the pattern calls for (sz 8 instead of sz11) and did not check my gauge, so this may be frogged or I may have to add a few pattern repeats...I really just wanted to see how this yarn knit up... I knit this pattern before with a white mohair-like acrylic over a year ago. Looking at it now I can see all the mistakes I made then and how far my knitting has progressed...that was also before I realized that there was such a thing as wool that was not itchy...mmmm merino

Socks for The Gaming One using this Knitty pattern. My foot is there for reference...If these were for me they would be finished by now. Not to mention it took at least 6 hours (and three attempts) to successfully turn the heel. By the second attempt I was seriously doubting my knitting ability, then I picked up an Interweave Knits and followed their directions for short rows and all was well with the world! I am not a moron after all, I just could not wrap my brain around the knitty directions. Does anyone know if Knit Picks Essential softens up a bit in the wash?


I also started a Somewhat Cowl for myself...I plan on knitting it with shorter sleeves than the pattern calls for and less of a cowl.










I am also making another attempt in knitting a fabulous baby blanket for my newest nephew! The blanket is five months in the making and I have had many false starts, as of today I am about 15 rows into it...could it be that I just hate it because it is knit with acrylic?