Juno Regina

Finally! I have photos of Juno Regina! I started this back before I went to Europe.  I got through the first lace section so I could just knit the miles and miles and miles of the straight middle.  Ok maybe it wasn’t that long but it sure felt like it!

It’s part of the reason it took so long.  I don’t think I’ll ever knit lace again that has a straight section like that.  But over all I love it.  I should have made it a bit longer.

I’ve worn it several times already and got loads of compliments about it! I used Lorna’s Laces thanks to my fantastic Secret Pal Past 🙂

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Tuscany Shawl

So, the Tuscany Shawl, when I was trying to decide what knits to take with me I remember this one from No Sheep For You and I just had to make it. I cast on for it in the Airport.

worked on it while in England

During my siestas in Cinque Terre

Waiting for the train

On the train

Finished it in Rome.

The pattern was easy to memorize and the shawl is beauiful. But. You knew there was a but didn’t you? I’d never knit a triangle shawl before because I suspected I wouldn’t like it. I was right. It doesn’t cover my arms enough and it makes my but look big. I want a shawl to be warm and snuggley and it might be if it were bigger. I’m not sure even how to wear it.

None of this is the fault of the shawl. Really, it’s not you, it’s me. I knew I wouldn’t like a triangle shawl so why did I knit one?

Any suggestions on how to wear it so I’ll actually wear it? It is beautiful!

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I blocked it by misting it with water, will wet blocking make it bigger? maybe I’ll like it more if it were bigger.

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We Interupt this Weekend

I’ve got to confess to you guys about something. I don’t spend a lot of time reading the Rav Forums, or the Knittyboard. When I do have some time I like to read blogs. I used to feel guilty about this,that I wasn’t spending enough time being part of the community, but I do read a lot of blogs and that’s part of the community too right? Well after reading some recent posts about the judginess going on in those place I am completely absolved of my guilt. That’s right, if that’s what’s doing down in those forums I’m glad I don’t hang out there.
I love Ravelry because it lets me organize my knitting, my projects, my stash, my queue, and that it allows me to oh so easily see what others have made with that yarn or how that sweater looks and 50 different bodies rather than the carefully posed model so I can see how it looks on me. See the theme here? I use Ravely for ME. It is about me. There is nothing wrong with that.

So if there are some people who think that my stash is about bragging rather than the damn fine organizational options of Rav, or that Yarn Pr0n Fridays is showing off instead of appreciation of some serious fiber goodness, or that my schedule of Wordless Wednesday and YPF are bad, well, frankly those people can piss off. I’ve seem some of the nicest bloggers I know fretting about this, and I seriously annoys me that these, super nice, friendly generous people are letting trolls get to them this way.

So I’m making a statement here on my blog to those people (not to you, dear readers, I know you guys are awesome!), cuz I guess I’m just not as nice as the bloggers that are worrying about it. I love YPF! Viva la Pr0n. If you can’t appreciate the yarn and instead get all bitter that I have it, go away. I don’t want you here anyway. If you think my Rav stash or anyone else’s is showing off, instead of using the fabulous tools that Rav provides, don’t be my friend. I don’t what your judgy, angry vibes anywhere my knitting anyway. I blog on a schedule cuz it works for me, do it your way on your blog, and I’ll do it mine on mine. Seriously. I don’t want pissy, bitter judgmental people reading my blog anyway. If I met them in person I probably wouldn’t like them and I don’t want people I don’t like reading my blog and being my blog friends. So there.  I just can’t understand why people would complain about all of this so much in a public place.  Just don’t read the blog and seriously don’t they have better things to do with their time, like knitting?

To my beloved readers, I know you’re not “those” people so here’s something nice for you! I cast on for two more projects. And yes, I am bragging, lace is hard, hell, so is knitting, we should all brag about it! 😉

Juno Regina

Gretel

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ChicaBean Scarf

My sister picked out this yarn a long time ago, over a year ago. It’s one Cascade 220 “Heathers” colors, green with some bright blue and yellow mixed in. I’ve been looking for the “perfect” pattern for it. I finally gave up and made one based on a stitch pattern the Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns. At first I wasn’t sure and I think this is the third attempt, but I love it! Cables and lace wow! I want to do more of this combo! It will be warm without being dense. Plus the pattern was interesting enough to keep my attention, but easy enough to memorize.

I was surprised when blocking made it wider and shorter, rather than wider and longer, but it’s still plenty long. See my helper while I’m blocking? That’s Simon if I sit down he’ll try to sneak on my lap. He only does this when I’m try to do something, little stinker. 🙂

I’m really happy with it and I hope the recipient loves it as much as I do!

Stats:

• Cast On: September, 2007
• Weaving In: November, 2007
• Pattern: My own based on a stitch pattern the Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns
• Needles: Size 7 Bryspun Straights
• Yarn: Cascade 220
• Modifications: N/A
• A gift for my sister – Chicabean

I made a matching hat for it that will be the feature of tomorrows post. As much as I love the scarf I think I love the hat more. I’ll be making one for me soon!

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So This is Love

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Crack that WiP

Here we have another installment of the sporadic (on my part) WiP it Wednesday. I think the idea is to shame you into finishing projects so you’re not showing the same picture every Wednesday for 6 months. Of course you could not show the picture and deny you’re working on anything. But really if you’re at the point, lying to you fellow knitters, well, I think it’s intervention time.

First up the Mini Cardi that we’ve heard so much about lately. I’m done with the arm hole shaping and working my way up. Like it? Want one of your very own? Join the KAL 🙂 Yeah Yeah I know it’s August and hot as hell and you can’t even think of wearing wool. I cast on for this on Sunday, so it’s shame free.

The Simple Throw is still on the needles, it’s too hot to have a big acyclic blanket on my lab, luckily it’s a Christmas gift so there is no hurry. The desire to not have heat stroke over rides all shame on this one.

The Lace Tank , well it’s sort of on hold because I only have one set of size 6 tips for my KnitPicks options and I took them to use in the Mini Cardi. Yes I realize with the weather and what not I should focusing on this because it’s something I can actually wear. ha ha ha. I am the Queen of Denial. If I knit for Fall, Fall will come. Right? RIGHT?!?! 😉 ok fine slight shame.

Along those same lines we have Clapotis , in which I come very late to the party. Let’s call it fashionably late, shall we? No need for even more shame. This is going to warm and lovely when done. I’m only worried it will shed on my clothes, I envision wearing it over a black top, so every little strand will show. *le sigh* I’m happy with my yarn choice (Andean Silk from KnitPicks) but a little worried I wont have enough yarn to make it as long as I’d like. How much does this stretch when blocked?

Barely started, can it really even be called a WiP? The Feather and Fan Scarf from Fashionable Projects for the New Knitter in Cascade 220

And here comes the unavoidable shame part. I still have not finished the straps for Mentionable . I should be wearing this gorgeous top. It seems ridiculous that this isn’t done jsut because of the straps. I’m going to go by Joanns to see if I can find something suitable to sew on for straps. Any suggestions?

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Scarf w/edging 21 & insertion 25 pg 100 from Victorian Lace Today

Help Wanted : Personal photographer, someone to follow me around and capture my fabulousness on film.

Taking pictures of this myself was hard, nothing was coming out. I finally resorted to asking a coworker to take pictures of me. Thanks Claudia!

My first “real” lace project done! I’ve done bits of lace here and there but this is my first 100% lace project. What I can say about it that I haven’t already said? I love it! I’ve got my next project from Victorian Lace Today picked out.

Stats :

• Cast On: June 2007
• Weaving In: July 27 th 2007
• Pattern: Scarf w/edging 21 & insertion 25 pg 100 from Victorian Lace Today
• Needles: Size 9 Knit Picks Options
• Yarn: Paton’s Grace in Tangelo
• Modifications : None, really other than it’s wider and shorter than the pattern called for.
• Blog posts

In the wild!

Close up of the center pattern

Close up of knit on border. My first! 🙂

Blocking.

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