Yea, I’m addicted… it showed up at about 4pm, I just finished at 1:45 am… sniffling all the way. Loved the end, but all the sniffling has left me with a killer headache. And I’ve GOT to be up in the morning- have an interview… at least they’ll probably understand

I did it!  I took several stitches, a little bit of an antique doily pattern… and here it is!  My very first design!  I made it as a bag for my friend’s wedding, and I just love how it turned out…

Side view- spiral lace with picot bind off and crochet chain drawstring

Bottom spiral:

The pattern can be found here… let me know what you think!  This isn’t too difficult, but please let me know if you find any errors!

Not sure what’s up, but I’m just really kinda down and depressed this week.  I’ve got gorgeous new yarn that I wanna cuddle, but it’s not helping. Finding out that I spent too much running errands yesterday doesn’t help… I don’t want to have to admit I screwed up my budgeting… I don’t want to deal with work… mostly I just want the world to go away for a few days. It may be that I’m working ten straight days… I just don’t know.  I just keep feeling like I want to cry but I just don’t know why.  Oh well… I’m going to go knit some prettiness… maybe that will help…

Walmart “sold out” of the new Harry Potter book before I even got off work… hopefully, I’ll get the copy I just ordered from Amazon on Tuesday or Wednesday… and then I’m off work Thurs-Sun, so I’ve got time to read… but still– how can they not even get enough copies for the middle of nowhere Virginia????

Okie- so my yarn swap box came in today- absolutely gorgeous!  All the pictures are up at http://dragonwingarts.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=95 full size… but here are some previews and thumbnails…

The entire haul- it’s all so gorgeous I didn’t know where to start!

Hand-dyed wool in blues, greens, reds, yellows- gorgeous!

Un-dyed wool with Jacquard acid dyes

KP Andean Treasure- color Lagoon -yarndex listing

KP Andean Silk- color Pool - yarndex listing

Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy

 KP Wool of the Andes- Blueberry- Yarndex listing

I have recently learned that me and children over the age of three just do not mix.   I had a five year old staying at my house this week, and I just about lost my mind.  I can’t take the endless “Why, why, why???” I don’t do well… I was frustrated the second day, and ready to strangle something the third day.  This definately shows that I am nowhere near ready to have kids.  

Of course, then there’s the 1 month old and two year old that I’m completely in love with…. maybe because they can’t talk back yet….

I think I’m just completely insane or completely hooked… and it seems I’m not the only one.  The Knitting Daily post today mentioned knitting, the Yarn Harlot is working on the Mystery Stole…  my latest pattern I want to try is from Purlescence’s competition- What would Cinderella Knit?  (link with the progress bar, top right). It’s the Fairy Godmother scarf, and I’m using Fleece Artist Merino in the Rainforest colorway with green iridescent beads.  It’s a much heavier yarn than called for, so I’m using bigger needles, but it will work :)   Now to go dive in and try to get a little bit done so I can see how it will look!  Maybe I can use this pattern for a class this fall…

I was asked to explain the Mystery Stole… basically, a designer has come up with a new pattern that we all want to try.  To make it a little more fun, we’re not going to know what it’s going to look like, just that it is going to be a lacework stole…   we will be given the pattern in seven sections, one per week.  This just allows for more suspense!  So far, we got the first “clue” or section of the pattern last week, and I’ve gotten most of that done.  This morning, we got the second “clue” and I’ll try to take pictures once I have each one done :)  The group for the project closes to membership tonight, but it’s at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysterystole3/

I also picked up some Fleece Artist Merino in the Rainforest(?) colorway… it’s just beautiful!  I need to find a pattern that will require about 380 yds of beautiful yarn!  Gina- you’re an enabler… and I am determined to get you to knit some lace of your own someday…

I’ve been meaning to type up a post, but until today I just couldn’t get myself to care enough to write.  I’ve just been a bit tired, nothing major.  I finished Green Gable on Monday… here’s a shot of it:

I may frog the three rows of ribbing and add another inch or two because it just wants to ride up and that just annoys me…

I started the Mystery Stole 3 and I’m most of the way through clue 1.  I should be able to finish it tonight in time for clue 2 to come out tomorrow.  The way it works is that you know you’re making a stole, but you don’t know what it’s going to look like. You get a few charts at a time to work on, but you still have no idea what the final product will be.  I’m using my handdyed Kasara yarn finally, and it’s looking wonderful so far!  The pattern has the option of beads, but right now, I’m choosing not to put beads in. I may make a second one with beads, but I just didn’t feel like dragging them around with me, since most of my knitting is done on breaks at work or while I’m  not home. 

My Wyvern socks are coming along well… I’m using Trekking XXL on size 1 needles, and they are coming along wonderfully. I’m about halfway through the foot on the first sock, and it’s my first try at toe-up socks.  They’re not hard, and I love being able to try them on!  I’ve also got a Column of Leaves scarf going in my own hand-dyed yarn for my yarn swap partner, and again- it’s looking wonderful!  Finally, I’ve cast on for the Lotus Blossom tank, but haven’t gotten much farther yet.  I love the Cascade Sierra I’m working with! 

I’m also waiting for a package to show up from the KH yarn swap, and it’s driving me completely insane.  I hope the mailman doesn’t mind me watching my mailbox like a hawk… unfortunately- he arrived after I left for work today.  GRRRR!  

The blankets were on display at Cassell Coliseum today before they will be given to the families. Pictures are up here and I even found one of my squares! It was really amazing to see them all done! Thank you to all involved for letting me be a part of something so big.

A view of all the blankets….

That’s my square!!!