A Nearly FO & other news

I'm very close to finishing the "Petal Shawlette" (aka Spring Shawl) :) I've completed what the pattern states to do and am well into a second rep of chart D to use up more of the yarn. It's looking really good :)
Knitty's First Fall 2011 issue is up :) I've queued a couple projects & started one: Dragon Wing Shawl by Patti Winters. There are 2 "sizes" and I have just enough Lion Brand "Vanna's Glamour" to make the small one. I have the sapphire color so I think that'll be a nice for a shimmery small shawl. Dragons & shimmer go together in my books! :)
I've been bad lately, I must confess. I've bought not only more yarn but a couple books as well. It's not my fault Sharon has started carrying some new & gorgeous yarns down at Golden Willow!! And Susie was at the KnitPicks place down in Portland & brought us back yarns. Lovely yarns :) So here's a list of the new stash acquistions:

* 2 balls (202yds each) of Lion Brand "Vanna's Glamour" in sapphire

* 6 balls (200yds each) of Bernat "Satin" in foliage
(those came from Michael's on the eastend of town)

* 1 hank (600m) of Zitron "Filigran lace no.1" in pfau (blue, green & purple laceweight merino!!!!! OMG!!! Heaven!!!)

* 5 balls (125m each) of Diamond Yarns "Luxury Collection Fine Merino Superwash DK" in 5050 (a beautiful bright blue :))
(those came from Golden Willow Natural Fibers on 13th Ave here in Regina)

* 1 ball (400?yds) of KnitPicks "Stroll Kettle Dyed" in spruce (shades of darker greens)

* 2 hanks (400?yds each) of KnitPicks "Shadow Tonal Dyed" in pacific (blue-green)
(what Susie brought and I chose)
So that's all the yarn I logged into my stash page on Rav today. A bit of a job.
And yes, I did mention books. I've got two new additions to the book shelf and I recommend them both. The new books are "Loop-d-Loop Lace" by Teva Durham and "Knits That Fit" from Potter Crafts.

"Loop-d-Loop Lace" is amazing. Teva Durham gives a fantastic overview of lace and where she drew her inspirations for the various pieces from. It's laid out in the same format as "Loop-d-Loop" was, in that there is a chapter theme (in this case Mesh, Eyelet, Samplers, Leaves & Doilies) and within that there are 6 patterns. Charts & photos for all :) I'm madly thinking of casting on "Shetland Shawl Dress" for myself. If you're on Ravelry, do search it out just to favorite it & shake your head at my lost sanity. The other pieces that leave me drooling are "Thistle Bodice" and "Hug-Me-Tight Cardigan". I've put the "H-M-T" in my queue; the other two I'm being good & only favoriting... for now ;)
"Knits That Fit" is a great book as well. It has designs by several designers (Sally Melville, Melissa Matthay, Annie Modesitt etc) as well as excerpts from some of Potter crafts other books on fit. (The 3Bs discussion is directly out of "Big Girl Knits" by Jillian Moreno & Amy Singer for example) Still, it's a great collection of tops to fit a wide range of women complete with tips on personalization. So, what's caught my eye in this one? Several as always! Melissa Matthay's "Sheila's Tank Top" is at the top of my list (and yes I find the name of this one funny!) although I'm envisioning a solid or tonal yarn for it. The "Seashell Cardi" by Berta Karapetyan is stunning & not a traditional construction, which really appeals to me. And Annie Modesitt's "Notorious Low-cut Top" I think is a must-have ;) This book isn't listed on Ravelry, but I think some if not all of the patterns are listed from being in previous Potter Craft titles. I need to do some investigating on that.
Speaking of patterns; where is the pattern for "Pyewacket"? Sorry but I've pulled a bone-head move: somehow I've misplaced the written directions for rows 57 to 74! I was in the middle of typing the darn thing in and have come to a standstill. I have everything up to there typed in & the handwritten sheet for rows 75 to 88 is sitting right here. I need to do a full-scale hunt for the missing page. I had really hoped to have it up by now. You'd almost think this project is cursed! Due to work, dance & other assorted happenings, I haven't been designing anything lately, although I'm positively itching to! I need to get organized and start working out a couple ideas floating in the ether that is my brain. ;) We'll see if anything solidifies into a pattern though.
TTFN

Done for another year

Mosaic 2011 came and went this weekend. As is usual, I spent a large portion of my time at the Irish pavilion. I danced there each of the 3 nights. If you're one of my facebook friends, I posted 3 video clips to my wall. All are from the Saturday performance. Video was shot by my good friend Lindsay; big thanks to her :) That's all my news for now on the dance front.
TTFN

Mosaic is this week!!!

Mosaic starts this Thursday, June 2, at 5pm. I hope everyone can get out and enjoy the festival of cultures! As always, I'll be dancing at the Irish pavilion every night. It is at the Caledonian Curling Club out by the airport. We're quite close to the Italian pavilion (mmmm, good food!) & I believe the Koreans are next to us this year. I won't be living at the pavilion however. I chose not to head up displays this year. My performance schedule looks like this:

Thursday, June 2: 8:45pm

Friday, June 3: 7:45pm

Saturday, June 4: 8:10pm

If you want to come see me dance, that's when I'll be there :) I'm also really excited that the adults now have embroidery on our dresses. Prairie Gael is gonna look really snazzy this year :)
If you're in Regina during Mosaic, I encourage you to check out a pavilion or 2 and enjoy food, drinks, music & dancing.
TTFN

New things happening

So, first off, I have my own computer :) A cute little netbook, so hopefully that means I'll be updating more frequently. Don't faint on me!
With this change to my computing life, I really hope to get the pattern for "Pyewacket" up soon. And there is a new shawl pattern in the thinking stages that I may offer for sale via Ravelry. Watch this space for details!
Currently, I have only a couple things OTN: Pinwheel Sweater, Twisted socks (done sock one) & Petal Shawlette (from the book: 101 Sock Yarn One Skein wonders). I'm using some hand-dyed 80% merino/20% nylon that I bought at my LYS in March. Turning out really nice :) Pics are on Ravelry; it's listed as ''Spring Shawl''.
In fur-gang news, Eddie celebrated birthday 21 earlier this month :) Maureen will be 13 pretty soon. Ack, my baby a teenager!! Everyone is fine & furry.
In dance news, Mosaic starts on Thursday!!!! And even cooler, we have embroidery on the fronts of our dresses now :) Us are gonna look snazzy ;) I'll try to get some pics.
The birds are starting to chirp & I can see light peeping through the edge of the south curtain, so I better try to sleep some.
TTFN

I Don't Understand It: a rant

I'm sure any knitters have heard of Cookie A. She has designed countless pairs of socks over the passed few years & is now the author of two books. I can not for the life of me understand the fascination people have with her patterns!!!! They're socks!!!!! Ordinary, cuff down, square-heeled, wedge-toed socks!!! There is absolutely nothing new here!!! She has not reinvented the wheel!!! She uses some lovely stitch patterns, but that's it!! The basic construction method is just that: basic! I love to knit socks. But I like to find something different. For example, I'm currently working on a pair of "Twisted" by Jodie Gordon Lucas ( http://www.knitty.com/twisted )Pretty basic to start but the decreases that wrap around the foot are definitely something new to see. Beautiful.
Lucy Neatby has a book titled "Warm Feet, Cool Socks". In it she gives various options for toe-up & cuff-down starts, heels & toes that you could knit probably 40 pairs without duplicating the various parts! Brilliant!! This is innovation, people!!
Nancy Bush has written countless books on socks & the history of various construction details. Not really innovative but interesting when one reads the historical info she gives. Fascinating. I knit the "Gentlemen's Socks with Fluted Pattern" from "Knitting Vintage Socks" for my favorite flautist several years ago and added a note to the card saying that the original of the pattern was published in 1883; he was impressed. This is something different! This is something to get excited about!
If someone can explain this idea that Cookie A. is the queen of socks to me, please feel free to comment. I don't get it.

Knitting Update

Twisted: a new pair, a photo by Sile-Muirin on Flickr.

So my socks are going quite well, as you can see. Love this pattern as it's not hard but you do have to pay attention so it doesn't become boring. Unlike another WIP I can name... stupid Pinwheel.
It's a lovely, bright sunshiney day here today :) Great day to get out & do... anything really :) I love days like this.
This is just a quick note while updating my Ravelry projects/pictures. Enjoy the weekend!
TTFN

Via Flickr:
So I've decided to take the Fibranatura "Yummy" from the frogged "Eire" socks & turn it into my own pair of "Twisted" (knitty.com, Spring+Summer 2010). Loved making this pattern for Mom so I deserve a pair ;)

Trips to the Frogpond & other Adventures

To start off, I don't recall making an announcement about this. CaoraCniotala on Ravelry, is no more. I changed my RavID to knit-dance-repeat in January. Now everyone can say & spell my name :) I'd like to thank sheepwokking ie Lindsay from knit-night, for uploading a pic for my Ravatar. Cathleen the (knitted) Irish dancer now smiles at everyone. Quite appropriate with the new name, don't you think?
I've been doing some traveling this year; to the Frogpond :p I had started "Eire" by Renee Leverington (Goddess Knits) last June. I was using Fibranatura's "Yummy" in lagoon (shades of green). Love the pattern. Love the yarn. The two have very seperate destinies. Frogged! I have started "Twisted" by Jodie Gordon Lucas (Knitty.com spring&summer 2010) with the "Yummy" and am soooo happy with the results :) I knit a pair of these for Mom's birthday using Punta Yarns' "Merisock Hand Painted" in shades of purple and they turned out fabulous! ("Twisted Grapes" in my Rav notebook) This is an awesome pattern & I encourage you to check it out if you enjoy sock knitting.
The Spring 2011 issue of InterweaveKnits has a number of must makes in it. Topping my list is the "Diminishing Gore Skirt" by Gwen Bortner. I cast-on using Bernat "Satin" in sultana (reddy-purple) Got nearly done the first tier of rectangles (it's done in entrelac), when I decided to try it on. Oh. My. Goodness!!!It was at least 10" too large! And I had gone down a pattern size to accomodate the heavier weight yarn :( Frogpond!
I acquired a Namaste Hip Holster a few weeks ago :) Love it!!! It's become my purse! I have id, debit card, keys & phone in the front pocket & a WIP in the larger section; perfect!
Speaking of WIPs, I've got a few ;) In addition to "Twisted", I'm working on "Ardrum" by Aisling M. Doonan; check her out on Ravelry. She designs gorgeous lace shawls. This is the 2nd of her designs I've done. Am using Fiddlesticks Knitting "Exquisite" in sapphire & this yarn is definitely that! It's a silk/merino blend in lace weight & is absolute heaven to work with :) I do recommend bamboo or other "sticky" needles. Also started "Abotanicity" by Cassie Rovitti (knitty.com winter 2007) for myself. Using some merino/nylon hand-dyed at my LYS. It's knitting up well :) Last active WIP is my Pinwheel Sweater (Shelley Mackie, Elann.com) which is also part of a KAL with my knit-night bunch. I'm using 5 shades of blue + charcoal & black in Briggs & Little "Heritage" & "Regal". This ones not going so well; I'm completely bored by it. Can't even force myself to pick it up. I'm about half through the second last color for the body & still have to go back & do the sleeves. Love the way it looks; just can't take the never ending plain rnds. I've got close to 500 sts in a rnd now, so a single rnd takes forever :P
My other adventures include walking over to Chapter's to check out the new books & magazines. In the past few weeks, I've added the following: "Entree to Entrelac" by Gwen Bortner, "A Knitting Wrapsody" by Kristin Omdahl & (last night) "Knitting Knee-Highs: Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary" by Barb Brown. I love entrelac knitting, so it was only natural To get "Entree to Entrelac". I fell in love with 4 or 5 patterns in "Knitting Wrapsody"; the "Infinity Cardi-Wrap" in particular. And I needed a new sock book ;) This one is cool in that all the patterns are for knee-highs & she's included adaptations for nearly all the patterns to make them standard or ankle length; that triples the number of patterns!!! Yay!!! More socks!!!
Speaking of more socks, there are several in the Spring + Summer 2011 Knitty.com. It went up earlier this week :) I need to check that out further...
There we go; now you know what's going on knit-wise with me. Off for more adventures, hopefully avoiding the Frogpond!
TTFN