New Member of the Fur-Gang!!

You're hearing it here first, unless of course you saw it on Facebook lol. The Fur-Gang is back to 9 members. A new little girl has been added to the household. She arrived on Monday (Sept 5); followed dad right into the house, bold as brass. So far a name has not been settled on. She is mostly black but has a small white patch on her chest and 2 on her tummy. Also some white between her toes. And a single white whisker. Very cute. She is livening up the rest of the Gang as she loves to chase and jump them. Maureen's nose is seriously out of joint, as is Buddy's. I need to get the picture of her uploaded to the computer so I can put it here. That's all for now. I'll update when she has her name. Hopefully this won't be like poor James; he was nameless for 3 months!!
TTFN

Edit: Here's some pics of the new little girl

Hi!

 

I Got a Little Distracted...

So here I am, a month or so later. The birthday pressies are all well under way. Sparkle, Sparkle is a touch over half done & Shimmering is a little less than halfways. Of course, knitting presents for people you see on a regular basis leads to a problem: on the days I will see them, do I forgo knitting or have another project? I opt for the latter. My lovely decoy projects are almost always for me & sometimes take on a life of their own.
Which is the situation I find myself in now. I decided Kay Meador's "Sweet Little Nothing" (free pattern on Rav; it's really cute!) would be a perfect thing to wear when mornings are cooler & I wait for the bus. And I have some Bernat Satin in "foliage" (a bright green) that will knit up nice & be washable should some fruit get spilt on it at work. Of course, being a sweet & simple pattern, I immediately had to modify it: I added Cat's Paw motifs to it, willy-nilly. You can see the results on my project page; it's listed as "Sweet Little Cat's Paw". Here's a pic:

It needs a bit more length which I'll be using the small lace from Cherl Oberle's "Irish Diamond Shawl" to achieve. It's one of my favorite lace patterns, ever.
So my little jacket is nearly done & I've still got quite a bit of work to do on the girls' presents. And I haven't done anything overly crazy lately, so....
Go do a Rav search for "In The Pink" by Izzy ?; It's a lace shawl. It's a wow pattern. I have 2 lovely balls of Marks & Katten Fame Trend that are dying to be knit up. I started it once & then frogged it as the needle size wasn't right for the yarn. I did take a pic of that first try though. I need to get some bamboo dpns in 3.75 or 3.5; my nickel plated ones are too slippery to get it started again.

I've dubbed this one "Galaxy 660" as the colorway is 660 & the finished piece resembles a galaxy or nebula or some-such. A quick peek at the project gallery for the pattern will give you all sorts of astronomical names :)
That's all the news that's fit to print! TTFN

Fur-Gang Update!!!!

And now for the latest on the fine & funny felines that run my life:
1)July 30th saw the celebration of 6 years of Buddy living with us :)

2)As if that weren't exciting enough, August 4th we celebrated 13 years of my own messy girl, Maureen

3)But the cake was really & truly iced on August 6th. I still can't believe this. Eddie, aka King Edward the Furred, aka Shreddy-Eddie, & the rest of the family celebrated 21 years!!!!! Crazy, right? 21 years of Eddo :)

 The King in his chair :)
That's all the fur-gang news that's fit to print.
TTYL

Long Weekend

It's the August long-weekend here in Saskatchewan & I'm taking advantage of the nice weather to go camping with some friends :) But I'm not neglecting my knitting, have no fear. I have "Sparkle, Sparkle" & "Anchors & Ropes #2" all ready to go with me :)
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend & gets lots of knitting time!
TTFN

No, I Haven't Forgotten about Knitting

With all my GBS challenge posts, some of you (if there are any) might be concerned about my knitting progress. Have no fears; I'm knitting like a demon over here.
My "Dragon Wing" (Patti Winters, Knitty First Fall 2011) is on hold after completing the right wing. I've decided to get some birthday pressies done before completing it. That may seem odd but there ya go lol
Two of the gift recipients may be reading these words so I'm going to be mean & refer you to Rav ;) Heehee. The first project I've started I entitled "Sparkle, Sparkle" and it's almost to the halfway point. Lovely pattern & yarn. The yarn is Lion Brand "Vanna's Glamour", very soft with a twist of sparkle through it.
I may have to put this one up a bit to have it done in time but there's a fella I'm thinking needs a hat. And what hat would be better than my own "Anchors & Ropes"? None! lol (Shameless plug!!! Go look at it! lol)
Next up, check my queue & you'll find a pattern entitled "Dianna". Doesn't that look cool? I think it'll look neat in the yarn I've chosen.
Haven't chosen yarn or pattern for Mom's pressie yet. Thinking I may skip her knit gift this year just because of time constraints. I'll be taking 2 dance classes this fall plus work & I'm toying with ideas for a new design, possibly more lace. Stay tuned!
That's all the time I've got this morning. Got to get ready for work!
TTFN

30 Days of GBS Challenge: Days 15 - 26

Day 15 - A song you prefer live: Besides all of them?!?! Ummm, "Mari-Mac" because they always insist on the audience getting involved.
Day 16 - Favourite Itunes sessions song: I don't have iTunes so I haven't heard any of these.
Day 17 - A song that is "yours": Easy one!!! "Fast As I Can" I am a fool; I admit it freely.
Day 18 - Favorite cover song: "End of the World as We Know it" because I love how fast Alan can sing those lines!!
Day 19 - A favorite acoustic version: the "living room" version of "Sea of No Cares'
Day 20 - A song that reminds you of someone: Hmmm... this may seem odd but "Old Black Rum" reminds me of my friend Heather. That's actually the ringtone for her on my cellphone!! lol
Day 21 - A song you would like to know how to play: I'd like to actually be able to play an instrument lol Hmmm, "Dear Home Town" would be appropriate I think.
Day 22 - A song to cheer you up: Any of them, other than the noted tear-jerkers!! Ah, specifically though... ok, I never fail to smile when I hear "Ordinary Day" no matter my mood. I often hum it at work to keep calm lol
Day 23 - A song that makes you dance: This is on the list twice lol And there are so many great ones! What to choose? What to choose? What to choose?... The song I'm listening to right now!!  "Jack Hinks" lol Great song for bopping about :)
Day 24 - A song to sing in the shower: Not that I sing in the shower, mind you... but if I did I would most likely be singing "French Perfume"
Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh.: Oooh, so many to choose from... latest gut-buster though "Hit the Ground & Run"
Day 26 - A song that reminds you of somewhere: "Dear Hometown" 'nuff said

Had got a little behind here but all caught up now :) There is no video for French Perfume on youtube that has the b'ys singing :( It's on the "Sea of No Cares" album. Enjoy.

Pyewacket: a shawl

This is a top-down shawl in a sort-of half-circle shape. There is a minute amount of lace in the pattern. The pattern is written line by line to preserve the mystery of when and where Pyewacket appears. Pyewacket is the cat in the movie "Bell, Book and Candle" starring James Stewart & Kim Novack.

Materials:

2 balls of Opal Hundertwasser sock yarn (original knit in color 1434)

or

2 balls of Schoppel Wolle Zauberball sock yarn (I used color 1536)

4.5mm circular needle or size needed to get gauge

Gauge:

5sts = 1" (unblocked)

Abbreviations:

W&T (wrap & turn)- bring yarn forward, between the needles. slip next st, return yarn back between the needles. turn work. slip st to right needle. work row as described in pattern.

M1 (make1)- an increase. In the case of this pattern, using right needle, pick up strand between just worked and next st, front to back. Knit this st as it lies. DO NOT Twist this st!!

SSK (slip, slip, knit)- a right leaning decrease. There are several ways to work this abbreviation. The method I used is this: slip next st knit-wise to right needle. slip next st knit-wise to right needle. wrap yarn around right needle as if to knit and lift the 2 slipped sts off the right needle. This looks much more complicated than it is.

Pattern:

Cast on 25 sts. Knit 2 rows.

**Next Row: K23, W&T. K to end.

K21, W&T. K to end.

K19, W&T. K to end.

K17, W&T. K to end.

K15, W&T. K to end.

K13, W&T. K to end.

K11, W&T. K to end.

K9, W&T. K to end.

K7, W&T. K to end.

K5, W&T. K to end.

K3, W&T. K to end.

K1, W&T. K to end.

K25, turn. K to end.

Repeat from ** five times more. (6 wedges total), but on final repeat, DO NOT knit back. Instead cast off 25, keeping last st on the needle. Rotate the piece and pick-up & P 1st for each ridge around the outside of the half-circle. [77sts]

Row 1 (right side): Sl1, K2, M1, K10, *M1, K1, M1, K12; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K10, M1, K3. [89sts]

Row 2 & all even rows: Sl1, K2, P to last 3 sts: K3.

Row 3: Sl1, K2, M1, K12, *M1, K1, M1, K14; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K2, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K7, M1, K1, M1, K12, M1, K3. [101sts]

Row 5: Sl1, K2, M1, K14, *M1, K1, M1, K16; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K2, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, SSK, K7, M1, K1, M1, K14, M1, K3. [113sts]

Row 7: Sl1, K2, M1, K16, *M1, K1, M1, K18; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K5, yo, K3tog, yo, K10, M1, K1, M1, K16, M1, K3. [125sts]

Row 9: Sl1, K2, M1, K18, *M1, K1, M1, K20; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K18, M1, K3. [137sts]

Row 11: Sl1, K2, M1, (yo, K2tog) x10, *M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x11; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x5, K2, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K1, (yo, K2tog) x2, M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x10, M1, K3. [149sts]

Row 13: Sl1, K2, M1, K22, *M1, K1, M1, K24; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K12, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, SSK, K5, M1, K1, M1, K22, M1, K3. [161sts]

Row 15: Sl1, K2, M1, K24, *M1, K1, M1, K26; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K15, yo, K3tog, yo, K8, M1, K1, M1, K24, M1, K3. [173sts]

Row 17: Sl1, K2, M1, K26, *M1, K1, M1, K28; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K26, M1, K3. [185sts]

Row 19: Sl1, K2, M1, K28, *M1, K1, M1, K30; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K25, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, M1, K1, M1, K28, M1, K3. [197sts]

Row 21: Sl1, K2, M1, (yo, K2tog) x15, *M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x16; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, (yo, k2tog) x12, K1, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, SSK, M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x15, M1, K3. [209sts]

Row 23: Sl1, K2, M1, K32, *M1, K1, M1, K34; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K28, yo, K3tog, yo, K3, M1, K1, M1, K32, M1, K3. [221sts]

Row 25: Sl1, K2, M1, K34, *M1, K1, M1, K36; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K34, M1, K3. [233sts]

Row 27: Sl1, K2, M1, K36, *M1, K1, M1, K38; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K31, M1, K3. [245sts]

Row 29: Sl1, K2, M1, K38, *M1, K1, M1, K40; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, SSK, K31, M1, K3. [257sts]

Row 31: Sl1, K2, M1, (yo, K2tog) x20, *M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x21; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K3, yo, K3tog, yo, K2, (yo, K2tog) x16, M1, K3. [269sts]

Row 33: Sl1, K2, M1, K42, *M1, K1, M1, K44; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K42, M1, K3. [281sts]

Row 35: Sl1, K2, M1, K44, *M1, K1, M1, K46; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K12, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K27, M1, K3. [293sts]

Row 37: Sl1, K2, M1, K46. *M1, K1, M1, K48; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K12, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, SSK, K27, M1, K3. [305sts]

Row 39: Sl1, K2, M1, K48, *M1, K1, M1, K50; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K15, yo, K3tog, yo, K30, M1, K3. [317sts]

Row 41: Sl1, K2, M1, (yo, K2tog) x25, *M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x26; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x7, K8, (yo, K2tog) x14, M1, K3. [329sts]

Row 43: Sl1, K2, M1, K52, *M1, K1, M1, K54; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K52, M1, K3. [341sts]

Row 45: Sl1, K2, M1, K54, *M1, K1, M1, K56; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K54, M1, K3. [353sts]

Row 47: Sl1, K2, M1, K56, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K50, *M1, K1, M1, K58; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K56, M1, K3. [365sts]

Row 49: Sl1, K2, M1, K58, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, SSK, K50, *M1, K1, M1, K58; repeat from * 2 times more; M1, K1, M1, K58, M1, K3. [377sts]

Row 51: Sl1, K2, M1, (yo, K2tog) x30, M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x2, K2, yo K3tog, (yo, K2tog) x26, *M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x31; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x30, M1, K3. [389sts]

Row 53: Sl1, K2, M1, K62, *M1, K1, M1, K64; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K62, M1, K3. [401sts]

Row 55: Sl1, K2, M1, K64, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K58, *M1, K1, M1, K66; repeat from * 2 more times: M1, K1, M1, K64, M1, K3. [413sts]

Row 57: Sl1, K2, M1, K66, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, SSK, K58, *M1, K1, M1, K68; repeat from * 2 more times: M1, K1, M1, K66, M1, K3. [425sts]

Row 59: Sl1, K2, M1, K68, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K3tog, yo, SSK, K62, *M1, K1, M1, K70; repeat from * 2 more times: M1, K1, M1, K68, M1, K3. [437sts]

Row 61: Sl1, K2, M1, (yo, K2tog) x35, M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x2, yo, SSK, K5, (K2tog, yo) x30, K2tog, *M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x 36; repeat from * 2 more times: M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x35, M1, K3. [449sts]

Row 63: Sl1, K2, M1, K72, *M1, K1, M1, K74; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K72, M1, K3. [461sts]

Row 65: Sl1, K2, M1, K74, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K68, *M1, K1, M1, K76; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K74, M1, K3. [473sts]

Row 67: Sl1, K2, M1, K76, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, SSK, K70, *M1, K1, M1, K78; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K76, M1, K3. [485sts]

Row 69: Sl1, K2, M1, K78, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K3tog, yo, SSK, K72, *M1, K1, M1, K80; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K78, M1, K3. [497sts]

Row 71: Sl1, K2, M1, (yo, K2tog) x 40, M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x3, K5, (K2tog, yo) x35, K2tog, *M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x41; repeat from * 2 times: M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x40, M1, K3. [509sts]

Row 73: Sl1, K2, M1, K82, *M1, K1, M1, K84; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K82, M1, K3. [521sts]

Row 75: Sl1, K2, M1, K84, *M1, K1, M1, K86; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K84, M1, K3. [533sts]

Row 77: Sl1, K2, M1, K86, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K80, *M1, K1, M1, K88; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K86, M1, K3. [545sts]

Row 79: Sl1, K2, M1, K88, M1, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, SSK, K80, *M1, K1, M1, K90; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, K88, M1, K3. [557sts]

Row 81: Sl1, K2, M1, (yo, K2tog) x45, M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x2, K2, yo, K3tog, yo, K3, (yo, K2tog) x40, *M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x46; repeat from * 2 times more: M1, K1, M1, (yo, K2tog) x45, M1, K3. [569sts]

Row 83: Sl1, K2, M1, K92, * M1, K1, M1, K94; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K92, M1, K3. [581sts]

Row 85: Sl1, K2, M1, K94, *M1, K1, M1, K96; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K94, M1, K3. [593sts]

Row 87: Sl1, K2, M1, K96, *M1, K1, M1, K98; repeat from * 3 times more: M1, K1, M1, K96, M1, K3. [605sts]

Row 88: Sl1, K2, P to last 3 sts: K3.

The shawl is complete, but do not break the yarn.

Edging:

CO 3 sts using the working yarn. The edging will match the edges of the shawl.

Right side rows: K2, SSK the last edging st together with the next shawl st.

Wrong side rows: K3.

When you come to the corners, to have the edge lay flat I advise working some extra rows on the edging. When the next shawl st is a st you’ve worked M1s on both sides of: work a right side row without joining. Work the wrong side row as normal. Work the next right side row as usual (joining the corner st) & the wrong side as well. Work another right side row without joining. Work the wrong side row as usual. Continue joining shawl sts & edging sts until you reach the next corner st and repeat as above.

Block the shawl using pins &/or wires as you normally would. Make sure to stretch it out to open up Pyewacket’s appearances. There are several good tutorials on shawl blocking both on Ravelry & on youtube. I don’t have a favorite to suggest so have a look at a number if you’ve never blocked a lace-ish piece.

I hope you enjoyed the knitting of it and will enjoy the wearing of it. Please leave comments here on the blog or drop me a line on Ravelry; I love comments. And this is the first shawl pattern I’m offering so any advice is more than welcome.

Sile