Spring Fever?

I think I have Spring Fever. Does anyone know what the symptoms are? I'm busy, but I just feel so...hmmm....unfocused. I'm not doing anything I SHOULD be doing...I just feel like wandering around, doing a little bit of everything.

For instance, I have this incredibly lovely stack of fabric that I got for Christmas last year:

And this perfectly wonderful pattern to make it into:

But I don't feel like tackling a big project right now! My attention span is too short. So I do silly things like this:

I made a thrifted pillowcase into an apron. I think it came out pretty...but still...

I have an entire stack of perfectly wonderful new crisp fabric waiting for me...and I'm sewing together old sheets again. What is wrong with me??

I did finish a useful pair of socks:

These are my "Jury Duty" socks. I started them as a mindless, chartless project when I was called for jury duty...but my case got cancelled (yay!) and I was stuck with finishing the world's most boring sock pattern. I like the yarn--it's Misti Alpaca. Very warm and soft, which are my two favorite qualities in a sock.

But then I went back to sewing old dishtowels:

Can you guess what this is? Here it is, unrolled:

And unflapped:

My dpn's now have a cozy little bed to sleep in. I used two Martha Stewart dishtowels, some batting, and a bit of fabric to make the flap. Don't they look cute all tucked in?

Spring fever, I tell you.

As long as my mind is wandering, I'll tell you about my new favorite cereal:

I'm on a gluten-free diet now, just to see what happens. It's been two weeks and so far, I don't feel much different. Maybe gluten was responsible for my former longer attention span...you think? Nah. Anyway, this stuff is yummy! I think the box is happy, too. Can't you just see a quilt in all those colors?

Speaking of yummy, it's lychee time of year again:

These are so sweet and tasty. Have you ever had lychee? You peel back the red skin and eat the flesh, which tastes a bit like a grape, but more floral-tasting. These are not quite ready; they'll get redder and sweeter.

My orchids are showing off right now:

Hello, my pretties. Do you have Spring Fever, too?

While I'm wandering around the yard, this new little family crosses my path:

The yard is so lovely, I just may stay out here and wander a bit.

Is there any cure for this?

I Survived the Shawl

I survived the shawl.

I am soooo glad this project is done. Here is "Ishbel:"

The Shawl of Pure Evil.

Grrrrrr. Oh sure...in this picture, it's laying here all innocent and soft, but don't be deceived. It's a vicious little thing. Fuzz, billions of yarnovers, dropped stitches, more fuzz, multiple charts, boring stockinette with teeny tiny FUZZY yarn--it's just plain mean. See the points? Think of them as fangs with my blood dripping from them.

I only finished this shawl because it taunted me. It lay in wait for me on my recliner every night, quietly plotting how it was going to break me. And it almost succeeded! I almost gave up at least once a night.

But I survived.

And...I kind of like it! I may make another one. (Slow learner.)

Next time, I would definitely use a different yarn. This is Malabrigo Lace in "Carrot." I love the color, but oh oh oh the fuzz! The Malabrigo would be good for someone making this shawl for the second time--when one already knows what one is doing--because mistakes are impossible to fix. The more you linger over a mistake, the more fuzz is produced--kind of like trying to pet a rabid dog.

But it sure is soft on my neck! And practically weightless. Just a little whisper of a thing, really. It's lovely to wear.

Perhaps on my next attempted shawl pattern, I'll consult a shawl expert regarding suitable yarn types before I nearly commit shawlicide.

Here is the lace edge. The edges did not turn out like I thought. I think I may have bound off too tightly (I think I was trying to strangle the thing....). In addition, I don't think this yarn blocks very well. I pinned out the points, but they're just not as pointy as they should be.

See? No points at all. Smooth edges. Not enough drama for an evil shawl, I think.

This is what the edges are supposed to look like:

This is sammysmith's Ishbel. I hope she doesn't mind me using this picture; I cut and pasted it from Ravelry. Her points are lovely and stayed pointy after blocking. I can see that her bind-off was looser than mine, too.

Here is the front of my shawl:

I need a shawl pin or something. I don't think I'd ever wear it this way, though. It feels too good up against my neck. I think I'll probably wear it more like this:

Perhaps I'll try to reblock it the next time I wash it to see if I can coax some points out of the infernal thing. I just worry about more fuzz when I wash it. I do love the color though! It's exactly the color of fresh carrot juice.

In other news, my new lavender quilt won a prestigious award! It's been designated by Mr. Bigglesworth as the most desirable sleeping spot of the week.

Quite an honor.

Knitted Stuff

Wow. Spring is here. I am so busy. You are too, I think, huh? I thought so. But thanks for stopping by anyway! I'm trying to go visit all of you, but argh! Busy! I miss my bloggy friends and I'm sooo behind on my blog-reading. What are you all up to?

I've been able to knit a little bit while watching the "Deep Space Nine" series in the evenings. I love anything Star Trek, but I missed that series somehow. I don't think I had a television when it played originally, so I'm finally watching it via Netflix. No commercials and I can see every episode in order. Netflix is great.

Here are some hats I finished for Angela and Grayson:

This little cutie is called "Center Square." It's by London Nelson and the pattern is free on Ravelry. I made it using two strands of Cascade 220 in two different colors.

Grayson's hat is the "Skull Hat" pattern by Gina Doherty. It's also free on Ravelry.

Single strand, easy chart, very fun pattern. I think it's easy enough for beginning colorworkers. I used Cascade 220 for this one, too.

Unfortunately, Grayson and Angela have run out of room in their tiny dorms (and both have too much winter clothing already), so I have to find someone else to gift these hats to. That's okay, I just wanted to make them.

Here are some socks:

Aren't the colors in this yarn GORGEOUS?? Yes, it IS Wollmeise. THEEEE legendary Wollmeise. The hundred-dollar-a-skein-on-ebay Wollmeise. I'll pause for you to catch your breath before I continue.

No, I didn't get my hands on any myself, I'm not that good of a yarn huntress. Nor am I willing to pay a hundred dollars a skein for it. My intrepid yarn stalker friend Jo Anne got into the Wollmeise sock club and she KNOWS people. Who know people. Who know when the Wollmeise is available. So now YOU know someone who knows someone who can get Wollmeise.

But I can't get you any, so don't even ask. Sorry. I'm not THAT special.

Anyway, I traded Jo Anne a pan I wasn't using for this skein of Wollmeise.

Wool is much nicer than a pan, I think.

Look at how pretty that heel came out! This is the "Basketweave Rib" sock pattern from "Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. Oh boy, is that ever a good book. My favorite socks are from that book--they're all so well-constructed and the patterns are so clear and excellent! I made my very first sock from that book and I keep going back to it for patterns. Definitely my favorite sock book of all time.

At present, I'm working on this:

This is my "Shawl of Torture, Misery and Despair." It's original name was "Ishbel," but it earned the name change. When this shawl is not boring me with stockinette stitch, it's torturing me with charts, yarnovers, misplaced stitches, dropped stitches, sheer NUMBER of stitches, and impossible fuzziness. I'm using Malabrigo laceweight yarn in "Carrot." It's soft and the color is pretty, but that's all I have nice to say about it. The other things I have to say about it would involve cursing, which I try to avoid. Sometimes I curse in keyboard symbols. But I don't think they make enough keyboard symbols for my feelings about this yarn and project. But dang it, I'm gonna finish this thing. I'm stubborn and I'm not going to let a pattern or yarn beat me. I may end up at Happy Acres talking to the garden fairies, but I'm not going to let a sissy shawl make me give up.

Next post, I'll finally show you my new lavender quilt. I need to think of a name for it and take some good pictures.

Care Package

My son and his lovely girlfriend are away at college, currently in their junior year. My son Grayson has lived on Kauai most of his life and his girlfriend was born and raised on Kauai. They've known each other since they were very young and started dating when they were sophmores in high school.

It was a big surprise to us when they announced to us (as high school seniors) that their college of choice was not on nearby Oahu, but in the cold, cold Northwest! Where it snows! But they've lasted and thrived and LOVE their school, even though it's taken some effort to get used to the cold.

I occasionally send them care packages like the one below:

(Oh, how I love Flat Rate boxes, don't you?) Hot drink packets, ramen, dorm food, silly toys and games, socks, hats, scarves, etc., to keep them warm and mildly amused. My son's favorite color is green, so that's a frequent theme.

Recently, it was Angela's birthday, so I knitted her a hat. This one looked super warm:

The pattern was in Paton's "Street Smart" booklet, the same pattern book as my "Must Have Cardigan." I knitted it using two strands of super-soft Malabrigo.

This hat took almost two skeins of Malabrigo! It's quite a thick hat...and very long!

The long part folds up over ears for extra warmth.

Let me tell you, I am so in love with Malabrigo! This was my first experience with it--I mail ordered it after I heard other people extol the virtues of this stuff. I was not disappointed. I think it's my favorite yarn EVER.




See? It's so thick and lovely, it stands up by itself. I hope she likes it!

This is sweet Angela, helping me make a quilt last year:

I think it will look nice on her, don't you? She's such a lovely girl. I couldn't have chosen a better friend and girlfriend for my son. And she helps me quilt!!! I know it's a cliche, but it's like I gained a daughter. One who likes to sew! I am very lucky...oh...and I guess my son is, too.

Angela is not only a very smart girl, she's a talented one, too. She has a wonderful imagination and is an amazing artist. Here is a portrait she did of Mr. Bigglesworth:

He looks handsome in his Japanese setting and garb, don't you think?

Happy Birthday, Angie!

A Little Hawaiian Vacation, Anyone?

Ready for a field trip? I think you poor cold mid-westerners deserve a little Hawaiian sunshine. Today, we'll start on a multi-blog entry vacay to Kauai. We'll start off in sleepy old downtown Kapaa and make our way to the South Shore where sunny Poipu is our destination.

It's a chilly 71 degrees fahrenheit this morning, so we better don our heavy winter gear!

There! It's hard to take a picture of yourself in the mirror, but there I am, complete with head, after only six tries. (My left arm looks just like my right, so you're not missing much there.) Do I look warm enough? My knitted Noro scarf finally gets to go on an outing today. I'll probably be able to stand this on my neck only for another couple of hours, so we better get going.

Downtown Kapaa is light on traffic today. February is not a big time of year for tourism, especially this year, in this economy. It's sad for businesses around here that depend on tourism, but looking on the bright side, it's nice to have the island to ourselves. Here's looking sort of northeast:

And here's looking sort of southwest. We only have one highway that partially encircles the whole island, and you're looking at it.

We'll stop for breakfast in Kapaa town. We love this little hole-in-the-wall Mexican cafe, "Shakka Taco." They have fantastic breakfasts--chorizo, machaca, huevos rancheros...yum! I get some huevos con chorizo, and Clayton gets his usual breakfast Ranchero Burrito with papas fritas. Their fresh salsa is amazing! Tomatoes, onions, cilantro, fresh jalapenos...my mouth waters just contemplating it. What are you going to have?

This little cafe, like most in Hawaii, is open to the elements all around for lots of tradewind action. This is the dining room (below), but we like to sit outside on the patio. There's a bakery next door and it smells heavenly out there.

No heaters, no air conditioning. Energy costs are very expensive on Kauai, so if you can depend on breezes instead of electricity, it's mo' bettah.

After a lovely breakfast, we'll take a walk on the beach. It's nice to have your town built along a beach. As you can see, crowds are not a problem.

My husband is wearing his heavy winter gear, which consists of pants, socks, and shoes. He gets colder than I do (isn't that always the case, ladies?). By now, it's warmed up to 75 degrees F, so he's managed to lose his jacket. The shoes will be next.

Hmmmm...looks like he's finding something in the sand there while I take pictures.

What could it be?

Awww, sweet little opihi shells! They look like little volcanoes from the top. These make nice jewelry.

On my next post, we're off to Koloa town.

Saggy Baggy

Remember this mail bag that I made last year from Amy Karol's "Bend the Rules Sewing" book?

It's been a great workhorse for almost a year now. But we have a growing problem at our house:

This is a typical day's mail run to the post office. This stack includes quilt pattern orders, clock pattern orders, a quilt shop pattern order, and a couple of Netflix videos. I've overflowed and strained the handles on my mail bag, and I've seriously abused my back-up pillowcase bag. Look at what a year's worth of post office runs have done to my poor, poor baggies:

Pretty droopy, I'd say. Poor little saggy baggies. We need a new mailbag around here!

It is for this reason that I made ***SUPERBAG!!!*** (Insert theme music here.)

It's HEFTY! It's STURDY! It's BIGGER THAN A SOUP CAN! It's able to carry large postal loads without sagging hopelessly out it's reinforced-with-tagboard bottom!!

Here is its backside:

You know...I deserve a special reward today for not making the obvious puns about age, saggy bottoms, baggage, being an old bag, wishing to reinforce my droopy bottom--a veritable gold mine of age-related puns! I hope you all appreciate the self control it took.

And speaking of self-control, here's what happens when you run out of the self-control required to make an entire shaggy knitted rug:

Pulling all those knots through this cotton rug-to-be was not fun. I didn't feel like fighting with it any longer. So I seamed what I had knitted into a tube, sewed up the bottom, rolled over the top, added a fabric inside, a snazzy i-cord strap, and a few buttons. Et voila!

Monster Bag. He's watching you. Even Superbag can't help you now....

Feel like going on an outing? Next post, we'll journey to Kauai's south shore. A hui hou!

Okay, This One Got to Me

I opened up my email to find this little note today:

lorrwill has left a new comment on your post "Still Alive!":

are u gonna update your poor bloggy?

I can't stop giggling. Yes..."lorrwill"...I have been neglecting my poor, poor bloggy something awful, haven't I? Thanks to all of you who have sent emails of concern. And thanks to "lorwill" for making me laugh and making me finally post something! I'm doing fine, and I think I'll be explaining my absence a bit if you stay with me and be patient. I can't blog every day like I used to, but perhaps I can tell you what's been going on in my life.

But first, I have to show you what I finished today!!

My first sweater!! This is the "Must Have Cardigan." It's from a Patons booklet called "Street Smart." The yarn is Patons Classic Wool Merino.

Yes, I said WOOL sweater. In Hawaii. Okay, I'll wait until you stop laughing.

I love the cables that go down the arms. You can find the specs on Ravelry--I followed the instructions exactly, right down to the color and type of yarn. I made a medium and it fits me perfectly!

It was quite a coincidence that I happened to finish it completely on the coldest day EVER in our backyard. The temperature gauge read 51 degrees and boy, is my husband ever playing it up. He's got fleece-lined jeans on, a black fleece jacket, fur lined slippers, wool socks, and a watch cap.

Me? I think the cold feels good. It must be menopause.

A sassy pose in my cozy sweater. My FIRST sweater...EVER. I'm very proud I finished this!

Well...you knew this was gonna happen.

An action shot.

See you again...soon? I hope? My poor bloggy....