Woolythyme

Yarn along....WIP Wednesday

 

 

 My book this week is Sunflowers by Sheramy Bundrick, an historical fiction story about the tormented life of Vincent Van Gogh during the time he painted in Arles.  It is told from the perspective of Rachel, a young prostitute, who falls madly in love with the eccentric painter. So far, I'm enjoying it very much (close to a million years ago I was an art history major, so I'm always a sucker for a good art story.)  Ms. Bundrick is an art historian and professor at the University of South Florida; the book seems to be very well documented, and there is a nice bibliography for further study at the end--as well as reading club questions.  I still have quite a ways to go...I just got to the "ear-part"! 

 On the needles...is an Alice Starmore shawl I volunteered to knit for a friend.  This was a kit her mother-in-law bought years ago, and sadly passed away before she had a chance to make it.  Carol was the most incredibly talented, generous knitter I've ever known; I'm honored to have the chance to knit this for her daughter-in-law.  The instructions (for an Alice Starmore creation) are very straightforward....but rather than saying....

"repeat pattern for xxxx inches"  

it says:    "repeat the 12 row pattern 50 times.  600 rows in total."  

I can't help myself...when the pattern has a specific row count listed, I immediately start "doing the math"...if I knit 12 rows a day, I'll be done in 50 days, BUT if I knit that repeat 2x/day, then it's done in 25 days, and figuring somewhere I'll have an extra good day, this could be finished in 3 weeks!  It really didn't take ALL THAT LONG to do the 12 row repeat...maybe I could do 4 repeats a day...then I'll be finished and have it blocked and sent off by Mother's Day---Carol was her mother-in-law---that would be cool.  

(Of course, this will never happen, mainly because I spend so much time figuring out how long it will take to finish, rather than just knit.  And I really don't get it.....I'm totally a process person--not a product person..........unless they give me a row count.)

 

Joining Ginny for yarnalong!  Hop on over for great book suggestions and knitting inspiration.

A virtual babyshower!

I just think this is the sweetest idea that Tracey had to honor the soon-to-be birth of Amanda's little "Caboose".  (Amanda hosts the weekending series that I link to every Sunday or Monday.)

When Tracey suggested this a couple weeks ago, I couldn't wait to find something to send to this young mother and new mom-to-be.  Anyone who has recently followed my ramblings knows that I've been on a finishing kick!!  I didn't have oodles of time for something, but I wanted it to be nice.  I'm going out on a limb here, because I know Amanda only through her blog posts; I know they are going to have a "surprise" and I also know some folks are pretty adamant about not having pink anywhere near a newborn son (should caboose happen to be a boy!), but.....

I started this when #1 Grandbaby was conceived.  As my kids said--there are so few surprises left in this world. It really didn't matter to them girl/boy; I loved these Amish-like colors, so started this--over 9 years ago!!  (Rach will be 9 on her next birthday.  Where does the time go???)  All my grandkids have received handknits; all have received some of my sewing attempts, but over the years this little thing never managed to get in the finish-up pile.

Amanda, my sincerest apologies.  I am not a sew-er.  I try.  I might be a tad hard on myself (living in the self-proclaimed Quilt City of America), but I know this is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  But, it was finished with love, and is most definitely made to be used and used and used up.

Sorry.  He sees a camera, and he's in front of it.  Dog not included.  (Quilt is in the washing machine--again--as I write!!!)

Here's to a happy healthy little one, Amanda!!!

PS  If pink is a problem, it will make a swell tea party blanket! 

Another dive into the UFOs...

We all know why UFOs happen...something better came along, and we had to (HAD TO!!) cast on for that new project, with that NEW yarn.  (I'm really in awe of the people who can be loyal to a project from the get-go and see it to the bitter end--through better or worse, good times and bad.  I'm just not one of them.)

What I find much more interesting than WHY they become UFOs is what draws you back to a project after it's been tossed aside.  Since I put myself on a yarn diet (just last month--it already seems like years!) in hopes of finishing a few lingering projects (which was 2011 New Years Resolution that was most likely broken by January 5th) I've actually finished a few things.  Interesting reasons, though, why things were chosen. 

Pumpkins and snowmen were a given--they were almost done.  I must have just run out of holiday last year to finish them, but I still think it's rather strange that I ran out of both fall and winter.  Anyway--they are now done.  (Winners of the snowmen--JayBob and the Candyman couldn't decide who would pull the winning name, so they both did--are listed below and have been contacted!!!  And thank you all for commenting!!!!)

I did some fingerless mitts because I had one of several designs already finished.  Why I couldn't finish a PAIR instead of starting a new pattern.....beats me.  They were  pretty easy finishes (there were 4 single mitts awaiting their mate!).  Christmas gift-giving time is always great incentive.

Irish Coffee sweater got finished because I found myself cold one morning, and instead of casting on for a new sweater--which of course, makes no sense, but I really do this --I dug this one out of the pile.  I've worn it a bunch...glad I did.

Lascala got finished because I loved the Jamieson yarn and the colors and I really was hoping to have enough leftovers to make some mittens.  (I didn't.  Saved me from starting something new. Although I could probably do some kind of random stripe thing....will mull that over....)

But the new choice was really really easy, because....

ALL my favorite small stitch markers are in it----and I WANT THEM BACK!!!

 

Congrats to the snowmen winners, autumngeisha and little macaroon.