KnittingNutter

Five nights in a row I have worked my fingers 'til they're raw to finish this:

FINALLY, IT'S DONE! The pattern was chosen by a lady whose brother bid the highest for me to knit any sweater she wanted, and the money goes to charity.

Basically, one of my clients roped me into helping out to raise money for a local charity, but rather than give out of our own pocket, they hosted an auction. People donated weekends away at their cabins, golf lessons and two of the sales guys offered to dress up in drag for one day in the office (we're still to experience that "treat").

I racked my brain for days over what I should donate and then it came to me - I would knit a sweater - any sweater - to the highest bidder. Between you and me (and the Internet), I'm glad the sweater is completed...

The cardigan is coming along nicely. We went back up to Kamloops this weekend (still in the process of buying the cabin), which meant lots of hours in the car - knitting. I've finished the main body piece:

I've started on the arm, which calls for knitting in the round on dp needles. I find dp needles so frustrating, because I don't think I've ever learned how to knit with them properly. Here's my problem. I always seem to extend the last stitch on the needle, so that the loop becomes larger than the rest of them. I've tried to take a picture of my failings:

How do I fix this? Help.

The Barefoot Cobbler gave me the final push that I needed to jump into the unkown world of lace knitting. She suggested a Summer shawl KAL. We'll see if this is such a good idea....

I already have the yarn, which I picked up at the Abbotsford Fibrefest. It's made by a woman from Vancouver Island: Judy Maclean and I'm very excited at the prospect of knitting with wool dyed by a local.

I've been enthusiastically surfing around the web looking at the most beautiful lace patterns. Lace knitters are so talented and I'm feeling a bit awestruck and daunted by the task ahead. So, after much deliberating, I have settled on Yarnharlot's 'Snowdrop Shawl'. It's simply beautiful. So Stephanie, if you're out there, wish me luck. I'm trying out your pattern.

If there are any more who'd like to join us, The Barefoot Cobbler is organizing the group.

I started the shawl last night and two frustrating/exhilarating hours later I have the beginnings of the tip of the Snowdrop Shawl.

It's official, I'm hooked, lined and sinkered. I frogged a couple of lines twice and had to go back. This really takes a lot of concentration. This is strictly no TV/no kids knitting. Thanks again Barefoot Cobbler for initiating the group. I will need the whole summer to finish this baby.

Feeling completely wiped after two hours of lace knitting, I turned to the much easier cardigan for my daughter. The yarn suddenly felt very thick.

Thank you all for your advice on the dp needles, I have taken it all in and transferred the sleeve to two circular needles. Much better:

I love knitting sweaters, I adore socks and I have fun knitting soft toys, but lace knitting is beating them all at the moment. I have put my daughter's cardigan, my first design sock and a soft fish to the side for this:

I'm starting to get the hang of the pattern. I'm seeing the rhythm of the pattern in the design and am getting more confident by the row. I've stopped counting stitches on every row and am now looking at the design - are the snowdrops coming out correct?

I highly recommend Yarnharlot's Snowdrop shawl for any of you that are contemplating that first shawl project. It fit my novice lace knitting skills perfect.

Hey Shawl KAL? How are the rest of you coming along?

Once a year my daughter's daycare arranges a day out for all the kids and parents to the local petting zoo. Today was that day.

This little "collection" of farm animals is in Vancouver's downtown park - Stanley Park. We had a great time - glorious sunshine, the kids were very funny and the animals were accepting of little patting hands.

Only a knitter can get excited about this picture - check out the freshly sheared llama. Where's the wool?

In knitting news, I've been knitting away like a fiend on the cardigan for my daughter. I got so caught up in the shawl I completely forgot about time flying by. It's her birthday on July 5 and I want to finish the cardigan in time to give it to her for her big day.

And I have one more birthday in July - hubby's. He wants a pair of hiking socks. Can you suggest any good patterns for heavier socks? And what yarn would I use?

Exciting news - we closed on the cabin today. It's ours, it's all ours! We were all dancing round the house yesterday when the confirmation fax came in.

It's paradise - set on one of British Columbia's hundreds of lakes.

Doesn't this view just make you want to slow down and enjoy? And now the fun begins.

Wow, I'm overwhelmed, the congratulatory comments are pouring in. Thank you all for your kind words about our cabin. We're leaving next Thursday to spend the long Canada Day weekend up there and I can't wait to get in the car.

And thank you all for the recommendations for hubby's socks. I am following popular opinion and will knit 2x2 rib socks. And I'm going to use this yarn and 3.5 mm needles.

So, with that, I thought I had my projects in order and then my mother threw a wrench in the works. She called this morning and with no prompting said she'd like me to knit her a poncho for her birthday. I had sort of planned to give her the Snowdrop Shawl that I'm knitting as part of the Barefoot Cobbler's informal KAL. Now the shawl will have to find a new home.

So I went online to see what patterns are out there. There are thousands upon thousands of patterns - way to many for my short attention span and little patience to look through. Would you happen to have any favourites?

I thought I'd spice up the middle of the week with a yarn contest. This is my first contest, so forgive me if I'm not doing this quite the right way. I wanted to make this a little more quirky. So I thought about a little informal research into one of the most divise habits people have - coffee drinkers versus tea drinkers. I'm curious what knitters lean towards? Yes, there are lots of useless thoughts rattling around in my brain. Just humour me.

So, here goes. I'm giving away a beautiful lace yarn in beige colours, hand-dyed by a local Vancouver Island woman, Judy Maclean. It's called Island Hues, 100% Merino wool lace weight.

It's the yarn on the right in the below picture.

I'm currently knitting YarnHarlot's Snowdrop Shawl in the blue yarn on the left and it is exquisite.

So, just leave your preference, coffee or tea in the comments (and if you have any funny coffee/tea stories or preferences do share), and I will draw a winner at random on July 4. You have a week to enter.