KNITTING WITHOUT DOG HAIR IS NOT AN OPTION

The day finally got here. I am leaving for a week at the beach in Siesta Keys, Florida. I am sitting here with my first cup of coffee for the day, getting ready to load the car and head south. I am so excited. I haven't been at the beach in forever. I am more a mountain girl, but I appreciate a nice beach, the sunshine and the salty water. Plus, I can really use a week of doing nothing but laying around, knitting a lot of things and collect shells. I got lots of sunscreen in my bag, a big straw hat, and aloe, in case I get a little sunburn. So, no worries that I am going to turn into a baked tomato. ;-)

So, before I go, here are my latest finished projects... This is a knitting blog after all, right?

Project: Angee Socks
Pattern: Angee by Cookie A.
Size: 8
Needle: US 1 / 2.25 mm (32" circular for magic loop)
Yarn: Premier Yarns Serenity Sock
How much? 2 skeins = 460.0 yards (420.6m)
Colorway: Varigated reds/greys

Notes: Love Cookie A.'s sock patterns. This is a really easy one.

Project: Appalachian Shawl I
Pattern: my own
Needle: US 10½ / 6.5 mm (Circular Knitpicks Harmony)
Yarn: Miss Babs Solo
How much? 1 skeins = 500.0 yards (457.2m)
Colorway: Light Purple

Notes:
I made up the pattern during my spinning and knitting class at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, during the first week of June. The top border (long straight edge) is knitted - called the Holey Border - and the rest of the border is crocheted because I wasn’t sure if I had enough to knit the Holey Border all around.

I love this very easy shawl pattern. If you want to be more fancy, you can add a lace pattern or just knit in garter stitch or stockinette stitch.

Name: Appalachian Shawl II
Pattern: my own
Needle: US 15 / 10.0 mm (Circular Knitpicks Harmony)
Yarn for the shawl: Schaefer Yarn Company Little Danya
How much? 1 skeins = 240.0 yards (219.5m)
Colorway: Indira Ghandi

Yarn for the border: Rowan Kidsilk Haze
How much? 2 skeins = 458.0 yards (418.8m)
Colorway: Green

Notes:
I also started this version of the shawl at the class at JCC. This time in stockinette stitch and for the border I bought Kid Silk Haze and double stranded it. This shawl has the Holey border all around. I am debating if I should block this mohair shawl. Any thoughts, you lace knitters out there?

Name: Devon Socks
Pattern: Devon by Cookie A.
Size: 8
Needle: US 1 / 2.25 mm (32" circular for magic loop)
Yarn: Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sock & Baby Yarn - 2 ply
How much? 1 skeins = 400.0 yards (365.8m)
Colorway: BFF (black/purple/pink)

Notes:
First, I thought I'll knit with wooden dpns again. But... After one needle snapped when I tried the sock on, I changed back to circulars for magic looping. I knitted the ribbing with size 2 needles and made the cuff shorter (3 repeats instead of 4) because I thought I might run out of yarn. Of course that occured to me after I turned the heel on the first sock and I had to rip back quite a bit. ;-) I have some yarn left but I don't think I would have had enough for the 4th repeat on each sock. Jane is knitting the same socks with the same yarn for our trip to the Sock Summit. Sure sounds like we're still in high school and have matching stuff for a trip. Love it - that's a nice feeling. Especially when you are just turning 42. ;-)

So, that's it for the moment...

I had a hard time picking projects for the trip. But I finally settled on a baby blanket, a pair of socks, some cotton for making dish rags (perfect for sitting at a sandy beach...), an easy lacey scarf and knitting supplies for someone who might want to learn how to knit.

Oh, and stay tuned for something that I am designing. It's still a secret but you'll find out soon. ;-)

With this - have a great weekend! I'll miss my Friday night knitting buddies tonight and next Friday. See y'all soon!