Shawls vs Sweaters

Partner in Crime, GFMelissa tempted me to come out scootering with her this past week. She looked much better (color cordinated!) so I used her picture instead. We puttered over to a local coffee shop and had a little knitting consult. 

You see, we had a little agreement this summer - she would knit a lace shawl and I would knit a Lopi sweater. Well, the shoe has fallen. She's started her lace shawl (the Skywalker shawl) and I am now doomed to start the Hans Lopi sweater.

I love the Lopi designs but - I'm not sure about the yarn. Let me confess, I actually bought the yarn for this sweater years ago. 

I actually dug out the box of Lopi yarn that I bought (from Webs) and I believe that it says "2007" on the label.

I only bought enough of the main yarn for a size 6 and Youngest Child now wears an 8 so I'm going to buy some two more skeins for the sleeves.

So, it's time to break out the size 6 needles and the dustbuster - Lopi yarn sheds like a son of a gun! - and get knitting.

I did finally finish up the Holden Shawlette.  I just needed to wake up and knit. The picot edging was particularly snooze inducing.

I like the floppy look of the edging but I didn't like the time it took to knit.

Besides knitting here and there during the last month, I've been sewing again. 

Holiday banners 

and gift bags.

I found this cute fabric on Spoonflower.com. Middle Daughter has a thing for elephants so I may be making something for her next package.

I've still been collecting Saturday Seven's - this week is tee shirts and sweat shirts. 

Now, on to the next set of projects!

It was a dark and stormy night . . .

on the way home from the Minnesota Knitters' Guild. It was one of those nights that you only read about - windy, dark, spitting rain and lonely.  Since I've been re-reading the various permutations of Sherlock Holmes, it was particularly apt!

As for the rest of my life, not particularly mysterious. A bit trying, though.

Our September MKG meeting is always our largest meeting with a huge number of members bringing in their State Fair submissions and presenting them along with the most humorous part - reading aloud the judges comments.

With such terrible weather, we had fewer participants but each one had several items. We provided bottled water but pots of tea or coffee - or possibly bottles of wine! -  were what we really needed to keep staff and guests from running out of steam.

 I would also not recommend starting a lace pattern late at night, whilst laying on a couch and watching television. My entire knitting this past weekend was removing the misplaced laced pattern that I added in before finishing the main body of my Holden Shawlette.

Before I went away for the weekend, I did find the time to choose a Saturday Seven - and drop them off at GFMelissa's house for her youngest child. Pants, shirts, a robe and a stuffed animal. Enjoy!

Not quite out from under the bed but . . .

close enough. Three girls go off to college and I get to clean up. And that means clean out! This collection - books, pants and sheets.

More pants (these are little boy's pants, though) clipboards, pencil cases and shoes.

More jeans and sheets.

Pants, shorts, sweaters and tee shirts.

An afghan, tee shirts, a book, a pair of kid's sunglasses and a camping table.

Socks, sewing patterns, sports bras and swimming goggles.

This little box full of . . .

toddler toys and animals. Just consider this as seven weeks of Saturday Sevens all at one time.

And back on the knitting front - still crawling along on the Holden Shawlette. One small feature I didn't quite pick up on - the lace pattern doesn't start until you work your way up to 193 stitches. Me? I'm at about 120. Ho, hum until then.

This was originally going to be a travel project and right now, I'm thinking I'd better get working on the Turn of the Glass cardigan. Next week's chilly weather speaks "cardigan" to me! The Holden can wait.

Especially as I've recently received a request. A knitting request for a Dr. Watson Sweater. This pattern for a variation on this sweater. Oh, my, it's going to be a busy autumn!

A flurry of activity . . .

turns into a swamp of very little.

Youngest Child may have found his career!

This Girl found a new friend!

I didn't make any of these but I plan on following their owners home.

And these fine items? Not mine either. I was in Maryland when entries were dropped off so, no State Fair entries for me.

These were from my fellow Textile Center enthusiasts.

Wee Folk!

This is all that This Girl left behind when she moved out. So I washed them and put them in her drawer.

Then I bought this to start the next pair.

This Holden Shawlette is still crawling about.

I am still waiting for my favorite season, Autumn, to really get started. 

The best part? No more weeding!

Frogging?

No, this is a brand new project!

"Toadaly tired?"

No, just resting.

We've been exploring nature as part of a scouting requirement. Many bug bites later, I am happy to be inside again and casting on for a) a new pair of socks: the Sailor's Delight from 2-at-a-time Socks  and b) the Holden Shawlette. No photos but simply some travel knitting for the upcoming Parental Migration.

One tiny thing . . .

Hey you!

Yes, you! What are you doing over there?

Just modeling the latest Cabled Chemo Cap!

It's been a busy summer - lots of little things means very little finished knitting. And definitely nothing for the State Fair! :(

But, I have picked up my crochet hook again - and yet another book to see if I can teach myself!

Also, this amazing little green gadget. Above, it's closed.

Here, it's open. It's an Ottlite Mini Flip! I got mine in green but there will be a pink one as a door prize at the next (August 16, 2011) Minnesota Knitters' Guild! Be there or squint . . . 

On the Saturday Seven front - things have been pretty slim pickings. Until Mr. Daisy cleaned out his closet. You just have to love a man who neatly packs up all his old dress shirts to give away!

On the non-knitting front, I've been listening to lots of "Harry Potter" audio books, sewing skirts for my daughters and getting Youngest Daughter ready to go off to college. 

I've enjoyed having them all home from college but it is definitely time for them to find their entertainment elsewhere. I just spent a raucous lunch hour with them, trying to explain the plot line of "Baby Island," This book by Carol Ryrie Brink was one of their absolute favorites when they were little but they didn't remember it at all. 

When I got to the part about milking the goats, Youngest Daughter said, "You milk my goats, I eat your baby!" Not the audience the author was looking for!

I'll be AWOL from blogging later this month when we start the Traditional Parental Migration. We are road tripping from Minnesota to Pennsylvania, visiting relatives and dropping one daughter's college gear off then taking off for Maryland for Youngest Daughter's move-in day. Then back to Pennsylvania where we bid adieu to Middle Daughter.

Then back to  Minnesota where we will welcome the Fabulous Miss H. (a longtime family friend) who is coming to Macalester College for her Freshman year. Then, our own Oldest Daughter starts her senior year (and we move her into her new dorm!) and then, finally, Youngest Child starts third grade. Whew! 

I sense a run on Vodka Tonics starting about September 6th!

Blue skies ahead . . .

watch out for the scouts!

Yep, when the rain finally cleared out this weekend, I spent Sunday biking around Minneapolis with Mr. Daisy, Youngest Child and his Bear pack or den or whatever they call it. Thankfully, everyone came home alive.

Although I've been still working on the "2-at-a-time" sleeves of my Turn of the Glass cardigan, I've progressed the most on my second Cabled Chemo Hat for the Minnesota Knitters' Guild.

Since I can't clean my children's rooms (they would notice!) or get them to clean their rooms, the Saturday Sevens have really slowed down. Just wait until they leave for college again, heh heh.

Trying something a little new is always hard!

I should have been spinning today but, really, I've been spending my last day of Youngest Child freedom walking the dog, reading a book and  - trying to make this button.

Just because. If you see it on the side of the blog, then I've succeeded. If not - the dog needed walking again on this lovely day!

From zombies to college

Any week that starts with zombies might be a bad one - unless they are made from delicious cake!

It's been a busy week at Chez Daisy - and it all started with a lovely wedding and some tasty CAKE! I didn't get a piece of this one so I'm hoping they are using it for their anniversary cake.

Then, we moved onto hockey camp.

As I am not the one at camp - I thought I would get some time off. Actually, I've reffed more home patio hockey games this week than I could have imagined. And what with moving all the patio furniture and actually making goals out of drying racks and towels - I think I've done mothers everywhere proud!

Any of my own free time has been sucked into participating in the Tour de Fleece - and you know, my rear end really appreciates a well padded bike short right now. Those spinning stools just aren't as  comfortable as they could be.

But the results are coming along and I am dreaming of what I'll be knitting this fall out of the Mystery Shetland Fiber.

Youngest Daughter will going off to college in August - so there also has been a lot of college themed clothes shopping going on. It almost makes me long for the days of high school uniforms . . .

Busy, busy, busy . . . ah, summer!

A busy, busy weekend!

Well, Saturday was 96 degrees F. and humid -  but luckily that all blew in after Youngest Child's Big Day at the Lake Nokomis Miracle Kids Triathlon.

Hanging out on the beach before his wave is pretty much his speed. He loves the music, making friends with the other kids and doesn't have any problem with the training. That's really all you can ask of an 8 year old!

There he goes!

The sun finally came out afterward and we were glad to go home. This week? Hockey camp will be the perfect place to be to beat the heat.

As for me, I'm making waves, no stripes.

I'm not going to have enough Cascade Fixation in green to make a second hat so GFMelissa gave me some of her leftovers and I'm making a striped chemo hat for the MKG service committee.

And I'm spinning up a storm of "Mystery Fiber - probably Merino" for the Tour de Fleece. 

The only problem is that my spinning stool is killing me! I seriously need a cushion or something - there is a reason wooden stools went out of fashion!

Time to run the race - again!

Youngest Child is at it again - he's racing in the Miracle Kids Triathlon on this Saturday, July 16 at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, MN. 

This is a kids triathlon where he'll be swimming 100 yards, biking three miles and running 1/2 half mile. He's racing in the name of Collin, 12 year old who is in treatment for B-cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.

This race (and its sister race in August at Lake Ann) is a fundraiser for the Miracles of Mitch Foundation and its theme is: Kids Racing for Kids Who Can’t. 

One proud Dad!

Because they spent a lot of time and effort describing MoMF, we took this explanation from their website:

"Daily Miracles … in the Spirit of Mitch

 The Miracles of Mitch are the daily good works inspired by 9-year-old Mitch Chepokas to help the families of children battling cancer in Minnesota. Sealed with a pinky swear between Mitch and his father, Steve, The Miracles of Mitch Foundation (MOMF) was created to honor Mitch’s desire to support these families during a stressful time in their lives.

Before he died in 2003, Mitch Chepokas used his own money to donate to other kids with cancer and convinced his parents, MOMF founders, Becky and Steve Chepokas, to continue helping these families after he was gone, easing families' financial burden so they can enjoy their time together.

MOMF assists families of pediatric cancer patients by: making mortgage/rent and car payments, purchasing groceries, hosting a five-day summer camp for current and past pediatric cancer patients and their siblings, hosting Minnesota Miracle weekend getaways, and creating specially-tailored quality-of-life initiatives for kids with an advanced stage of cancer."

My family and I hope you will visit our MOMF fundraising page here and make a donation to help this organization.  Youngest Child is  pretty excited about this hard work - if you go to http://www.miraclekidstriathlon.org  (the Miracle Kids Triathlon website), you can see what all the excitement is about!

Time to run!

Mystery solved!

As part of the Tour de Fleece, I picked up a bag of "mystery rolags" to work on from out of my stash.

(You must admit that not knowing what kind of fleece or when, exactly, you turned it into rolags is a sign that I should be spinning more!)

After working on it for a while, I decided to run the rolags through my carder (the rolags were pretty flat by now) and, lo and behold, when I pulled out the carder, I found a large bag of shetland fleece.

Three flat batts of Shetland

Possibly the first fleece that Mr. Daisy ever bought me at Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival!

The "un-rolaged" bag is 10 ounces and the (now carded and spun up a bit) bag of rolags is 4 ounces.

Here's the former rolags carded up into batts.

So, I've pretty much got the rest of the Tour de Fleece laid out before me. Shetland fleece, good to go!

I was going to call this post "Why you shouldn't knit at the movies."

The knife is strictly for effect!

I started this on the ride home from Mount Rushmore but then, I finished it at the movies. 

Unfortunately, when I got home, I discovered that I had made a mistake. A big one so, time to frog it back.