Project Update

Greetings and Salutations!   I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving...

Here at LaCasa, Thanksgiving break brought Kelli, Robert, and LaMama, one pan of inadvertently flambeed mushrooms (Susan calls this my Seamus Finnegan moment), one crash course in fixing a garbage disposal, and, of course, lots of knitting time.

Interestingly, down in Tennessee (but up on the mountain), El Papa was busy with his own inadvertent flambee (of the cornbread) and a similar garbage disposal kafuffle.  (Fruit, tree.  Tree, fruit.)

Early November New England Fiber Extravaganza

1.  A trip to Halcyon Yarn in Bath, ME, with Susan, which yielded the Cash Iroha (was mittens [see last post]; didn't want to be mittens; now the "Weasleys Go To Maine" scarf...sometimes the yarn's gotta be what the yarn's gotta be...)  Who'dathunk that Mecca could reside behind such an unassuming door?

After thoroughly cleaning out Halcyon's supply of yarn, we took a trip up the coast, planning to go to Pine Tree Yarns in Damariscotta, but we were distracted by Pemaquid Point:

Worth the distraction, nay?  (That's Susan and Linus and Flora down there.)

After a perfectly lovely time with Susan and the furballs (not pictured:  Captain, the Maine Coon Cat), during which Susan made an outstanding hat for one of the young'uns in her family circle and there was much knitting of Christmas present shawl in front of A&E's Pride and Prejudice (the "Darcy in the Bathtub" version), we did a border exchange and I got to spend a day or so with Ann, Tom, and Eliza.

2.  Ann and I did a whirlwind tour of her yarn stores, including Yarn for Ewe (picked up some nifty stitch holders, which will feature in an upcoming photo; Ann ordered Cascade 220 to make those felted pumpkins from Knitty) and Charlotte's Web, where after much debate, consideration, and spreading out on the floor, I decided on 7 colors of Jager 4-ply (in bowl on left in pic) for Norwegian Mittens.  Still haven't decided on a pattern.  (This will be for the "Warm Hands" knitalong - I lag, I lag!)

Ann made her first Hagrid Footz (Go Ann!  No more Daniel Day Lewis socks!  Fuzzy Feet pattern from Knitty) while I fought with the mittens.

Here's the Weasleys Go To Maine scarf in progress (now finished; I've been wearing it constantly...soft!)

3.  About a mile from Ann's house, there's THIS:

So there I am, at the edge of the field, hollering "Alpaca!  Alpaca!" when a fourth comes out to see what the all fuss is about:

They're so darn cute I can't hardly stand it.  I'm so going to want to bring one home from Peru!  (If the barn's ever finished...*sigh*)

'Twas a wonderful trip and a most welcome respite from the goings-on.

Thanksgiving Knitting Break

L to R:  Kelli "She Who Knits Like the Wind"
Robert "Reading a Novel Is Too Knitting!"
and LaMama "She Who Spoils Us Rotten"

It took me most of break to complete the back of the Age of Aquarius sweater from The Knitter's Stash:

Yarn:  Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (from the Halcyon trip);
Needles: US 7. 
The stitch holders from Yarn for Ewe make their debut here :)

I couldn't resist this opportunity:

Ginny:  Mummy, have you seen my jumper? 
Mrs. Weasley:  Yes, dear.  It's on the cat.

Pseudo is very patient with me.

Lastly, it would appear that at least SOME of the leftover Cash Iroha wanted to be this:

Not every six year old girl needs a pink cashmere sweater, but clearly my goddaughter does.  D hath spoken.

The slightly more mundane update is that the Christmas shawl still needs both edgings, I've cast on Footz #1 for another Christmas present, and the Age of Aquarius sweater is not to be touched until Winter Break.  Love the pattern, love (love LOVE) the yarn, but the pattern is just too slow to satisfy during my limited end-of-semester knitting time.  I'm planning to make another pair of Lifesaver Gloves (but with fingertips this time) with the leftovers from the Weasleys Go To Maine scarf and the leftover grey yarn from the Rune Sweater, and I've gotten an idea how to make the felted mittens with the too-short-cuff a viable warmth source from reading someone's blog (I've forgotten who you are, exactly, but thank you for the inspiration).  Trellis2 is done save for weaving in - Sand, get off thy butt - and Catha's sweater is in the planning stages.

May your days be merry and bright!

~ Sand

Comments

[Jessica]

WOW that trip looks awesome and I am so jealous of the yarn trip! i also found myself calling to the alpaca through the picture!!! You are still my knitting goddess! Love ya and miss you!!!
Jess