What would the knitwits do? A post by guest blogger Kelly Lightbeam

What would you do if you had a very special skein of yarn that refused to be knit into anything???

I have tried the Ginkgo shawlette, Balm for the Soul shawlette, and the Holden shawlette.  I have ripped this out so many times...I have *almost* completed the Holden shawlette, but I don't love it. 

Would you rip out a perfectly good knit?  I am thinking I would try the Swallowtail shawl next, but am hesitant to frog this sucker, since I worked so hard on it.  Also, I hate knitting for nothing. 

The problem with this skein is that it is small, 360 yards, but it goes a lot farther than you'd think it would, since the yarn is Handmaiden silk and cashmere, and is knit on smaller needles to keep the stitches from flopping around.  After knitting the Holden shawlette, I still have half a ball of yarn!  Another problem with this yarn is that I bought it on vacation, paid a lot of money for it and it has the sweetest memories attached to it, and I cannot bring myself to give it away.  Le sigh, if my biggest problem in life is that I have an uncooperative ball of yarn, things can't be too bad, but I'd love some advice!

Loving it ~ by guest blogger Heather

I know I just added my update, but I wanted to show my Leaves of Grass again. I am halfway around the edging. It is gorgeous. As it begins to come off the circular needles I am amazed by its beauty. Only a bit more to do and then it will be finished. Thank you to everyone who has knit with this KAL and those cheering from the sides.

Chart D repeat- Do I need it? - by guest blogger Leanne

I am finally FINALLY finally at the end of my first Chart D. I feel like this is big. Like, getting heavy on my lap, kind of big. I'm working with heavier yarn than most and size 7 needles.

It's squished on those circulars so hard to tell how big it is.

I don't think I need that second Chart D.

Plus, I'm ready to be done.

What are your thoughts? Should I go to E???

-Leanne

Honoring Hope ~ By guest blogger Kelly Lightbeam

I have always known that the Universe gives you what you really need, exactly when you need it. So it comes as no surprise that I recently found a wonderful blog, Honoring Hope. In fact, I loved it so much that I named my comfort knit after it. I am gifting it to my Aunt this week, for her birthday. I hope it serves its purpose for her as well as it has for me.

Honoring Hope:  Ginkgo Shawlette in Be Sweet Bamboo.  The cup is just there because I love it.

Bittersweet:  Leaves of Grass in Jaggerspun wool & silk

Now that my hiatus is over, it's time to get back to my Leaves of Grass! I'm so excited to tackle the second repeat of Chart D, and then begin the edging. Right now, it's sort of disheartening to see my knit all jumbled up on a cable, it reminds me a bit of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, with crumpled wings that need to stretch before they soar. It will be awhile before I post again, but in the meantime here is my LoG, titled Bittersweet. More photos of both knits on my Ravelry Page.

Love to all, Kelly Lightbeam

A Workshop Day! Yeah! ~post by Kelli

An all day play date for Melissa and I, we spent learning and creating~ How fortunate we are to have Sivia Harding teach us, a thank you to Sarah Parker the shop owner of WildFibers, in Mount Vernon Washington. The day 10:00-5:00 flew by as our minds were searching and configurating lace options for our own designs. I wish I could do these workshops more often. I get to stay focused and push myself. We learned new ways about creating as we go. Sivia is so encouraging and positive, she expressed with joy over every womens design the uniquness each one brought. So stay tuned to see what new patterns could arise~

Rounding the Bend ~ guest blogger Heather

After a brief hiatus, I picked up my Leaves of Grass blanket again a little over two weeks ago. I had stopped on Chart C when I discovered I still was on my first skein of yarn. It was disheartening. How could I be knitting so much and still not even be onto my second skein! A few pairs of mittens and a hat later I had renewed energy. I have been furiously knitting on my blanket, and last night I finished Chart D. I am now on the edging, and it is flying along. I won't make any claims, but I really hope to finish it this week. I am eager to see it off the circular needles in all its glory. I am not sure I can block it until we get home, but at least it will be done! (we are living in VA for six weeks, so I won't be back home until mid-March).

it's a shawl after all, y'all ~ posted by Melissa

Dozer, Jason and I headed down to Mukilteo Lighthouse Beach this morning and hung out with the pigeons and a few people that were brave enough to venture out in the very chilly, rainy weather.

We were on a mission to get some photos of my new shawl ;) ~ yup, I'm not sure it will ever grace my table top.  I'm enamored.

I'm so glad I did take out one chart D section ~ it did make all the difference in my feeling comfortable wearing it.

And I'm glad I decided to add beads to the edging ~ I can't describe how that little bit of extra weight around the outer edge makes it lie just a little bit better.

I love my new shawl ~ you can see loads more photos here if you'd like.  Those of you that know me also know that I always get carried away with pictures when I really, truly love a finished knit.  Thanks everyone for knitting along with us this year.  I sure enjoyed all the new company and eagerly await the other 8 or so finished shawls as they appear!  Can't wait to see them all!  ~ Melissa