GAAA #3 - Julie H. Levy

Bigger is Better?

Three-Cornered Shawl in Clover Pattern
"Victorian Lace Today"



Unblocked, the shawl measured 72" X 34"....in a very relaxed state...no pulling or stretching.



Blocked - 82" X 50"....49" if I don't count the edging....



I didn't stretch it as much as I could have....love the width...am a little concerned about the length. Will it end at my knees?

I used 2.5 balls of Jaggerspun Zephyr in the copper colorway and size 5 needles. This was an extremely easy pattern aside from a few errors in Chart E. The only difficult part was casting on 624 stitches.

Would I knit it again? Absolutely!

The Greatest Gift!



Joanie and Gregg stopped by tonight to have a few beers....and brought Bob and I the most wonderful present!



The first book is a wedding album....



And the second....a year in review....culminating with the purchase of their new home!

They are both fabulous and will be cherished forever!

(Check out www.mypublisher.com to create your own books! Now I have another project for 2008!)

GAAA - #2 - Ginette Belanger



I ended up knitting this square twice. As recommended in the pattern, I knit the square on size 6 needles. When I realized I had messed up the trinity stitch way back in the beginning, I took the square off the needles and measured. Way. Too. Small. Reknit on size 7's, it is pretty close in size to square number 1.

GAAA - #1 - Ann Strong




Now I'll go back to knitting my shawl : )

The Class.....

Patsy Z. is a fabulous spinning instructor and a pretty funny lady! (http://www.spinninguru.com/) Our class was called, "Color Options" and I had not a clue what we would be learning.



Patsy guided us through the importance of making samples....so there is no disappoinment in the final resulting yarn. I would like to think I will be a "thinking spinner" after attending her class.




I loved making the cabled yarn...the boucle....and even the faux boucle was pretty nifty.

It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday....

Can't Hardly Wait.....



The yarn and pattern arrived yesterday. The Northampton looks like a great choice and Joan will love the color. I did pick my first square, Ann Strong. It is listed as one of the easier patterns but I just love the pomegranates!

Once I finish my shawl....knit my swatch....I'll be working on square #1! Can't hardly wait!

'Till the Garden Grows.....


Bob knows me so well! I have always loved the "idea" of a garden...but hate gardening. I loved my rose garden until the month of May...it is just too buggy, hot and humid in Florida to enjoy gardening - for me anyway.....

So for Christmas, Bob gave me the Aero Garden. (I had never heard of it!) It requires 2 minutes of gardening per week in the comfort of my kitchen. Love it! I'll be harvesting some basil later on today....oregano and parsley won't be far behind....

Quick and Easy.....



Just not quick enough....I had hoped to finish the shawl in time to wear to the spinning class on Saturday....not going to happen...but...it is a very enjoyable, easy knit.

Picture Day



Aunt Shirlee sent a photo of Brogan wearing his sweater! What a cutie and only 7 months old!!!!

Do the Math.....



On Friday, I decided my shawl was looking a little small. (The pattern calls for 2200 yards and so far…I have only used one ball of Zephyr. This is definitely a red flag!) I didn’t swatch…I know I like Jaggerspun Zephyr on size 5’s….Anyway…I googled “Three Cornered Shawl” and found 2 bloggers who had finished it. Both mentioned how large it is.

I measured the one side of the triangle…45” unblocked. I asked my son how to figure out the sides of a triangle when you only know one dimension. He couldn’t remember the formula. So again, I googled it…and I did the math! According to my calculations, the top of the shawl, unblocked, will be 78”. Since I knit tight…it won’t grow by one-third when I block it. I like it! Is it correct? Not a clue!

I’ll be knitting like crazy to end the suspense ; )

Always a New Beginning.....



200 yards of beautiful fingering weight Louet/Shetland roving....Yet to spin....gray...brown....black. Hope to design my own Shetland-style socks.



New Year's Eve, I cast on the "Three Cornered Shawl." We were all so emotionally and physically exhausted from house hunting....we ate dinner...played one game...and that was that. Pretty funny.

I too have compiled a list of items completed in 2007.

Knitting
1 Sweater
2 Baby Surprise Jackets
7 Pair of Socks
2 Scarves
2 Dog Sweaters
5 Shawls/Stoles
1 Baby Blanket
1 Fingerless Mitts
1 Hat
4 Mini Christmas Ornaments
1 Cell Phone Case

Spinning
12 oz Alpaca/Merino/Silk - Oriental Poppies
1 lb Alpaca/Merino/Silk - Shades of Green
4 oz Merino/Tencel - Moonlight Serenade
12 oz Alpaca/Merino/Silk - Clematis
12 oz Seacoast Merino/Silk - Sea Pinks
4 oz Merino/Tencel - Biscotti
3 oz Merino Pencil Roving

Knitting slowly continues on Cobblestone....still up to sleeve #1....the yarn is just so hard on my hands....

One future project I am considering is "The Great American Aran Afghan." The only drawback....we live in Florida...so far, this winter, we have had 3 chilly days. Just debating if it is a waste to knit....because I can envision Dori enjoying it instead of Joanie and Gregg.