Well, crap. - guest blogger Lesley

The good news is that I'm really, really close to finishing Girasole.  I've sucked it up and cranked out the knitted on edging as though I don't know what the word "boredom" means.

Now for the "Oh, crap" part.

I was working along yesterday afternoon, hoping to have Girasole ready for the blocking mats today, when I realized - I don't have very much yarn left at all.  In fact, I may not have enough to finish!  I got down to 22 edge stitches when the yarn ran out.  So close!!!

I'm currently waiting for Scarlet (Huckleberry Knits) and the wonderful folks at Northwest Handspun to give me a call to let me know if there's any more Merino/Yak/Silk in Browncoat in the area that I can get for love or money (preferably money).  If the answer is no, I'll need to deconstruct Girasole and re-knit her on slightly smaller needles.

I can't say that it would break my heart to have to do this.  The Girasole pattern has gone very quickly and has been fun to knit.  The yarn is lovely as well, and it certainly wouldn't qualify as torture to knit with it again.  So maybe I'm not so close to finishing, after all.

Lesson of the day:  If your pattern calls for 1200 yards, and the skein says 400 yards - you had better have more than 3 in your stash!!

To console myself while waiting for the phone to ring, I've cast on for Ludlow and worked the first 20 rows of moss stitch.  It's quite a relaxing knit so far - just back and forth, knit and purl.

Size 7 needles are giving me a fabric density that I like with the Felted Tweed, so I'll stick with that size.  The gauge is about 4.5 per inch unstretched.  It should easily give me the finished measurement without too severe a blocking.

I hope you're all enjoying this fantastic rainy Friday - perfect for knitting, hot tea, and audiobooks!

Girasole shawl - guest blogger Lesley

I am SO late to the party!  I have good reasons, but more about that later.

I'm working on the shawl version of Girasole, using Huckleberry Knits merino/yak/silk blend in the Browncoat colorway.  It's a very lively tonal brown - not "flat" at all.  It's a little redder in the picture than in real life.

I've just finished chart D, and I'm halfway through the first repeat of chart E.  The pattern is really easy to follow, and the repeats are simple to remember as you go around.  As Melissa mentioned in an earlier post, at this size, she's getting hard to photograph!  Here's one side of the shawl:

I can hardly wait to start the edging and start "freeing" the shawl from the needles!  I have a long way to go, though - I'm just past the halfway point.  Last night was the first time I had noticed how long the rounds are getting - and they'll be getting even longer.  What a fun, fun project!  :~D

But, you know, one project is never enough.  I was so impressed with Andrea's, Kelli's, and Shari's Ludlows at knitting last week that I decided to pick up some added "motivation" to finish Girasole.  Once she's done, I'll be casting on for Ludlow in Rowan Felted Tweed.  I'm thinking size 7s ought to do.  I'll start swatching there, at any rate.

Now, about those "reasons" I mentioned earlier!  TPTB at my apartment community decided that last week was the perfect time to put new carpet in my apartment.  So, I had to pack all of my things up to be moved out while the carpet was installed.  All the "fun" of moving, without moving.  The new carpet is lower maintenance and a better color, but not very comfortable underfoot.  I see rugs in my future!

After the installation on Friday, I got to spend the weekend turning this...

...into this. (Notice Girasole ready for her close-up on the sofa!)  And that's just the stitching room.

I filled up the car twice with things for Goodwill, and I've already started setting aside knitting goodies for the silent auction at this year's retreat.  Did I mention all the "fun" of moving?   :~P

That was followed by a work conference in Portland on Monday and Tuesday.  No pictures, but believe me, I'm doing you a favor in that omission!

Then the Apartment Dieties descended again yesterday with new appliances!  I have a new range/oven, refrigerator, and washer/dryer.  The washer/dryer stack has a higher capacity than my old one, and the range has two (yes, TWO) large burners, instead of one.  (If you've ever tried to cook Thanksgiving Dinner on an apartment range, you know what a big deal this is!)

I'm looking forward to taking next week off and getting in some much-needed knitting time!  Hopefully there won't be any more major events at home while I'm off.  Getting new things is very nice, but I need a break.