So...

I have been working on a few smaller projects the last few weeks.   I have finished two 3s shawls with one ball of Zauberball Crazy in the Purple and Blue colorway and the other from an old hank of what I think was Knit Picks Stroll.  I don't have the colorway because it was already wound from the hank in my stash.  I love being able to use stash yarn.  It feels like confirmation that it was a good purchase way back when.  I have also finished a pair of boring old black socks for my business partner.  He has some issues with his feet due to an illness and uses the socks I've knit for him at night when he sleeps.  He has to have something on his feet or they tingle as if they were asleep, but it can't be too tight or too hot.  I love when something I knit for someone serves a purpose like this. 

I'm now working on another pair of socks using the rest of the Zauberball Crazy and a mitten with this lovely string Drops Delight.  I found this on Pinterest.  It's inexpensive and I love the colorway.  I also bought it in the purple/green and olive/plum/rust mix - not too expensive and it feels pretty nice knit up.  It has a nice soft hand.  I'm making the Fiddlehead Mittens with it without the fiddlehead part.  I wanted to see how the pattern knits up before I get into the colorwork.  I also thought it would be a good way to see how the yarn drapes, etc.  So far, I like it.  I also learned the I-cord cast on which I have never done before.  I immediately starting thinking about other items I could use this technique for.

Now for my crazy -- insane idea for a new project.  I was sitting in my TV room on Sunday looking at the curtains I have hung.  I like them because they are sheer enough to keep prying eyes out, though I can see the back yard, but they are dark plum.  I was thinking it would be nice to have light linen colored lace panels up for the summer which lead to -- "wait -- I can knit lace now.  Maybe I could knit the curtains.  Wouldn't that be cool."  Then I started counting the large windows -- this room was formally a closed in porch.  Two of the four walls are all windows, and they are pretty large.  I would need 10 panels of about 60 inches each to get the right drape - that is A LOT of lace knitting.  I called my mother hoping she would be the voice of reason and talk me out of it.  Instead she thought it was a great idea!  For the last three days I've been trying to find the right yarn.  Someone please talk some sense into me!!

I Think I'm Hooked

I love the look of lace knitting. I've tried to do it in the past, but got frustrated with making mistakes and having to rip back yarn overs. The last fitted project I did was a bit of a bust so I decided to try lace again -- so far I like it. I've devised a few little tricks to keep me on point. Life lines really help too. I finished this scarf which I used Knit Picks Stroll Handpainted in the Make Believe colorway. The colors are great.

I'm now working on another scarf project - free pattern from Ravelry. I found the checkerboard design unique, and I have a sock yarn which I thought would look good. I would tell you the mfg, name and colorway of the yar, but it was in my stash already wound into a pull ball from a hank and Lord know where the label is. I must be getting old because I do not even remember winding it down. Anyway, I hope there is enough for this scarf otherwise I'm going to be in a world of trouble LOL.

I've been using lots of stash yarn lately which makes me happy because in January of 2010, after I cleaned up and organized the mess that was my knitting room (now my guest room), I vowed I would "cheeze" it on buying new yarn until I used up some of my stash. I have to say considering how much yarn I was buying back then, I'm proud of myself for the last 15 months. I have bought some yarn, but not for the stash. For the most part, I have only bought yarn that I knitted into a project right away. Even my sock yarn is down to the bottom of the bag -- the bag being the size under the largest Zip Lock you can buy - LOL.