Posting as a Guest Blogger ~ a post by guest blogger Kelly!

As requested by Melissa, I am going to guide some of our newest guest bloggers through the process of posting onto the Girls in Sheep Clothing Blog.

First of all, you should receive an email from Melissa, inviting you to be a guest on this blog.  From what I remember, there is a link in that email that you must click on, and it will set you up as a guest blogger.

Second, you must sign into your own blog.

Once you are signed in, you will scroll down the main page, "The Dashboard", and you will see that there are two blogs to choose from.  Click on the orange tab next to the Girls in Sheep Clothing blog that reads "Create New Post".

Voila, you are here!  You must choose a title for you post, and begin your blog entry.  You can add photos and play around with how you want the page to look.  Remember to have fun!  When your post is complete, click on the orange "Publish" tab.  If you forget to add labels to the post, Kelli or Melissa can add them for you...which has happened to me on occasion!
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A warm welcome to all of our new friends!
Kelly Lightbeam

a pesky rumor

I thought somebody told me the other day that they had finished their Bridgewater.  Patience is one of my better traits but, c'mon, throw me a bone (and maybe a picture!), Miss Kell-y!

                                      ~ Melissa

Around the World, without leaving Minnesota

hat a whirlwind weekend!  I attended the 2012 MN Yarn Shop Hop this past weekend with my friend Elisabeth.  The theme was "Around the World", and each of the 14 shops that participated chose a country to represent.  They each had a free pattern featuring a signature yarn.  It was the first time I'd been to some of the shops, and many of them were so clever with their patterns! 

April in Paris from Amazing Threads

One favorite was from Darn Knit Anyway, in Stillwater, MN, who came out with a cloche pattern.  They had the funniest captions in the directions!  After you finished, it states "Bob's your Uncle!  Well done you!  Now that you are looking dishy in your new hat, you'll want to head out to your local pub for a pint.  So don't cause a row...you have just enough yarn in this skein to make 2 hats, so make one for a chum!"

I think the United States was represented with the Apple Pie Cowl,  There were Pulse Protector Wristlets with lace edges from Poland and a beautiful openwork Lopi pillow from Iceland.  Very fun!

Signing off,
Kelly Lightbeam

Building a Bridgewater

At last, I'm finished with the Bridgewater square!  I feel like throwing a party or something!  The first half went very quickly, and the second half took twice as long.  I was sustained with healthy doses of Ginger Zinger, and it was a happy, happy knit.  I was able to use my Brittany straights throughout, which is a rare thing for me.  I'm quite taken with them, and they're a joy to knit with.  So light!  So smooth!  (except for the one that has bite marks on it from a certain little someone.) 

 

Naturally, I ran out of yarn on my first skein with 50 rows to go.  The new yarn isn't quite the same color, but I'm trying to live with it.  I have a backup plan to dye the lighter portion with chamomile tea, but I'm saving that for another day.  Although, I really hope that it won't come to that!  Any advice would be appreciated.

I've decided to go down a needle size for the lace section, but I'm taking a little break first to finish up some other projects, read a book, rest my hands, etc.  Hope you are all enjoying this as much as I am!

Happy Knitting!
Kelly

The Tale of Two Yarns

Weeks ago, I decided that I was going to be part of the Girls in Sheep Clothing KAL for Bridgewater.  I could think of nothing else I would rather be doing on New Years Day!  The very next day I headed out to Borealis Yarns where my yarn guru, Abbie, wound up 2000 yards of the most luscious baby Alpaca from Plymouth Yarns.  It was called "Dye for me" and came in a natural color, but as the name implies, you can dye it to whatever color you desire.  Now, I was happy with this choice, it was affordable and it had been calling my name for over a year, so it seemed the logical yarn for this project.

Then, after Christmas, I had this nagging feeling that the yarn was all wrong.  Why?  I'm not sure.  Deep down I knew I wanted to make Bridgewater out of a merino blend, like my Beach Glass shawl that I love so much.  I knew that if I made it out of alpaca, it would sit untouched in a drawer, and what's the point of knitting something so beautiful if it doesn't get used at all?

Out came the stash, and I found an old skein of Jaggerspun Zephyr wool silk lace.  I bought it years ago at the Textile Center Weaving Guild.  It was as though it has been waiting patiently until now, like a faithful friend.  This morning, I called the original store that supplied it and 1200 more yards are on the way to me.  The color is Vanilla...and while it seems like an unadventurous choice, I looked through all the projects on Ravelry, and there weren't any that I liked better than the natural light shades.

As for the beautiful baby alpaca, I'll quote Robert Frost: "Oh, I kept the first for another day!"  I chose the one less traveled by, and I know that it will make all the difference.

Happy New Year!
Kelly

Thanks for the Knit-a-long, it's been fun!

Hey ladies!  Thanks for allowing me to be a guest writer on your lovely blog.  This knit-a- long has been quite enjoyable and it really kept me on track to finish that edging that seemed to go on for ever and ever!   

I love seeing everyone's progress, and can't wait to see them all finished! 
Best regards, Kelly Lightbeam

The best way to knit...

This past Friday, I found myself finished with work early!  On the rare occurrence that this actually happens, I have to seize the opportunity and walk right out the door.  So I did.  But I really didn't want to go home.  Instead, I stopped by the new neighborhood restaurant and got some knitting done.  I've decided that this is the absolute best way to knit!

 

Yes, that's Chocolate coconut almond Bread Pudding!

Then I got into a hiccup...As I muddled my way through Chart 4, I found a bobble that was only half-way done in a previous row.  What?  How could that be?  I couldn't think of any way to fix it.  I couldn't just leave it, and I decided that the recipient of the shawl is worthy of perfection.  After ripping a row and a half, I had some issues.  Namely, a dropped stitch or two.  After struggling for awhile and threatening my husband's life (I was in the middle of picking up live stitches and he decided it was a good time to pester me)  I got back on track.  I'm now finished with chart 4 and have effortlessly moved onto the knitted edging.  I think before it's all finished, I'll need some more Bread Pudding!

Kelly Lightbeam

My Juneberry

The colorway of this yarn makes me think of a Robert Frost poem, Nothing Gold can Stay.  The colors remind me of leaves bursting out of buds and taking on that golden hue that is so fleeting.  I'm itchy for spring!

The project is going quite well.  I'm through the second chart now and hope to finish the third chart today.  This is my first lace project to have lacework on both sides, so I expected quite a challenge.  What I found is that it's not nearly as difficult as I had imagined, it just needs my full attention.

Kelly Lightbeam, guest blogger