MID-WEEK MEANDERING

COMING UP
My next two weekends call for just the right projects to get a lot accomplished. This weekend is the Great Lakes Folk Festival, and if the weather cooperates, I'll spend a delightful couple of days alternating between the dance tent and my chair for listening and knitting. (Susan was recently spotted listening and knitting at a folk festival near her.)

And next weekend is a huge family celebration. My parents will be celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary. Yes, you heard me. 65 years. Wow. All their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren will be on hand for this occasion (with the single exception of my Antarctica boy!). I've planned a mini-gathering beforehand of my kids and their California cousins so they can all do some bonding before we join with the bigger group. My daughter arrives tomorrow, Eleanor and Jeff a week from tomorrow, and my Josh and Amy a week from Friday. This will be a time of fun and frazzle, so I need a few choice projects to serve as instant therapy throughout next week and weekend.

With that in mind, I've spent most of this week so far pondering, swatching, searching, finishing, starting, and pondering some more.

FINISHED
1. The crocheted hobo bag. The pattern called for TWO skeins of Lion Brand Cotton at 236 yds. per skein. I used Butterfly Super 10 instead, at 251 yards per skein. I held my breath as I neared the end of the first skein and the end of the bag. Look.....

.....Then I let my breath out. I wish patterns would always indicate the total yardage needed, rather than how many skeins of a given yarn. I suppose when the pattern comes from the yarn company itself, they don't want to make substitution easy. The only reason I came in just under the one skein is because I shortened the straps. As it is, the bag is still too long; I could have shortened another couple of inches. Cotton really stretches. Let me emphasize really stretches.

2. An afghan square for John Glick's memorial afghan that Annie is collecting and putting together. I used some of Anne's (How the West Was Spun) handspun for the square. This is nice; the efforts of two people go into this square instead of just one. Thanks, Anne. This worked up beautifully.

3. The Broadripples. Except I still have to kitchener the toe. And weave in the ends. Okay, so they are almost entirely done. I'm counting them as finished, and I'm not going to mention them again. And I will cast on for a new sock. Soon.

ON THE NEEDLES
1. The Little Flowers scarf. Definitely a scarf. I took the other two skeins back to Rae's today, and traded for Pursenalities. I see a slew of felted bags in my near future.
2. Pizzazz Purse
3. Flyaway Free Jacket. This is a pattern from Just One More Row. Perhaps you remember my aborted attempt to do something wonderful with the Interlacements Seeds I bought last year at Stitches MW. I've been trying to come up with something to make with this terrific yarn. Stay tuned....I've just started, but I think it's going to be perfect for this jacket.

GETTING MENTALLY READY
Yesterday I was contemplating what I could do with this luscious bundle of Blue Heron I got at Seaport Yarns awhile back.

The total yardage is around 300 yards; not really enough for much except a scarf. A simply gorgeous and wonderful scarf, but still.....only a scarf. As my eyes wandered around to the various little piles of stash that I try to group decoratively so it won't be obvious how much stash I've actually accumulated, it occurred to me that one of my groupings had some similar colorations. I've been collecting various reds for awhile, and when I put the two groups together, this is what I have.

I'm thinking this is the beginning of my Crayon Box Jacket, yes?

SPEAKING OF ANTARCTICA
If you haven't gone to see March of the Penguins yet, I highly recommend it. Mother Nature has some strange and wondrous ways to get her various populations procreating. You wouldn't believe how fascinating penguin propinquity can be.

Comments

[Anne]

You are welcome. Only I'm obviously so senile now I don't remember that yarn at all. I'll take your word for it - but the knitted square came out VERY nicely. :)

[Sarah G.]

I should be camped out somewhere knitting socks at the Folk Festival on Saturday. Maybe I'll see you there!

[blogdog]

Wow, Sharon, you have been productive! That skein of Blue Heron is so pretty that my mouth waters just looking at the photo. Enjoy!

[Carolyn]

As always, I am amazed at the quantity and quality of beautfiul things you are always able to knit. Keep on stitchin" !

[ellen]

Wow - 65 years! And I thought my parents were doing well reaching their 50th! Congratulations to them. And congrats to you for your productivity. BTW, I'm seeing the penguin movie tonight...