All Dressed And Just Loverly

The shawl is all dressed and it is gorgeous beyond my wildest dreams except one thing. I used the method that Sandy describes in her book to block the shawl and boy am I glad I did. I tied crochet cotton through all the points and then soaked the shawl and stretched it out over the bed. This method is really a lot easier than putting pins in every point. It saved my back.

Remember in my last post I mentioned something was worrying me about blocking? I didn't want to say it out loud because I was afraid that would make it happen. Well it didn't help. It sort of happened anyway. I was afraid I would have a dropped stitch somewhere and end up with this huge hole. What happened was this. While I was stretching out the shawl I noticed a hole in the border. I quickly took one of the coilless safety pins I had and made sure everything was secure and then finished blocking. When the shawl was dry I attempted to repair the damage. Well it turns out it wasn't a dropped stitch at all but a tear in the yarn. I have no idea how it happened. I think it was in 2 places because I had 4 ends and not just two. Well there wasn't much I could do to except try to fix it. I tied all 4 ends and used another end of yarn to make sure the hole was sealed and secure. This is the final result. Obsessive me wants to reknit the whole shawl because of this and maybe give this one away so I don't have to look at it. Crazy true but I am not kidding either.

Here are the rest of the pictures. It really did come out better than I could have dreamed. Now why did the damn thing have to tear?


A woman on Ravelry asked me if the pattern could be used as a tablecloth because she doesn't wear shawls. So I took a picture with the shawl on the table. I think it would make a very nice tablecloth but I would have to use cotton.

The unicorn is the reason I wanted to do this pattern to begin with. I have other filet crochet charts I would like to try to knit with this method but oh to find the time.

I changed the way the center is from the pattern as written. I didn't like the way the written instructions looked so I did a simple eyelet pattern that I saw someone mention on Ravelry. I am very pleased witht he way it looks.

Pure Magick

It's really difficult to believe that the last time I posted was December 22nd. I have been consumed with trying to get this shawl finished. Well I took the sts off the needle about an hour ago. The shawl isn't blocked yet but I wanted to get some pictures anyway. The pattern is the Magickal Earth shawl. It's designed by Sandy Terp and so far I am pleased with the way it looks. I had a few year disasters but I'll tell all about that after the blocking.

I changed the way I did the moon section because I didn't like the way the pattern looked as written. I'll decide when it's blocked if I would do the same thing again. Now that this one is done I expect I'll find the one I started and misplaced anytime now.

I also made another change because I thought there was a mistake in the chart for the mountain and sky but I think I might like this way better.

The unicorn in this pattern is the reason I had to knit this shawl in the first place. I am a unicorn collector and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a shawl with a unicorn.

Now to get it blocked. I hope to do that either tomorrow or sometime this weekend.

Day 23 of NaBloPoMo

It took me most of the day yesterday but the border is FINALLY complete, grafted, and all the stitches are picked up. The grafting was a nightmare. I don't know how I managed to pull the stitches too tight when I was grafting but that's exactly what I did. So I had to loosen it one way and then work my way back to adjust the big loop I still had. Then I tackled picking up the sts. Do you have any idea how long it takes to pick up 1,152 stitches? I didn't time it but let's just say I was listening to a movie and the movie finished before I did. I'm now on row 6 of the Evergreen Trees chart so things are now moving along again. I used a 47" circular needle when I picked up all the sts but I wasn't comnfortable. I think, for me, the 47" was too long. Then I switched to Addi 40" but the join was a little difficult after a purl round. I rummaged all morning and found the 40" Knit Picks I have. I'm a much happier camper now.

Day 22 of NaBloPoMo

I'm almost there! I've just completed repeat 46 on the border for the Magickal Earth Shawl. I don't have any pictures of the finshed shawl except for in the book so I direct you to missalicefaye's website to see pictures of her completed shawl. If I manage to finish the border today I am going to try and graft the two ends together today and get started on picking up the stitches. It should be lots of fun because I have to pick up 1152 sts. I think the shawl will go slower after that because I am going to have to follow the charts. Right now I know the pattern in my head but once I finish this section I'll have to start following charts once again. That will definitely slow me down. I'll have pictures once I get the border on one large circular needle.

Day 19 of NaBloPoMo

Where has the time gone? I feel old. I remember when my brother's wife gave birth to the twins. Now Baruch is engaged. Here is my brother Menachem and my dad with Baruch on the left and Shmuel on the right. I still can't tell them apart but believe it or not they are not identical twins. According to the tests that were done when the boys were born they are fraternal twins. Makes sense I guess since my dad has a twin sister.

I am very bad with names and I couldn't spell it so I am just going to call her the bride to be with my dad.

This is my brother with his wife Chana and the twins. This time Shmuel is on the left and Baruch is on the right. Mazal Tov Baruch. I wish you and your bride to be all the happiness in the world.
I did manage to stick to my plan of getting two repeats of the edging done. So I am now in the middle of repeat 36, I think. That means I only have a dozen more to go, HOORAY! I am going to be so relieved when the border is done. I do have to say that it is going faster than it did the first time I did this. The last time it took me months and months. For some reason, I couldn't remember the pattern in my head and it was so tedious to do. This time it's going a lot faster but still not as fast as I would have liked. That's the price you have to pay when you have work everyday.

I started the gusset on the socks and should get to the heel tonight.

Day 18 of NaBloPoMo

Paul and I went and bought a new microwave. The old one we bought when I was pregnant with Joseph so it's close to 14 years ago. It was making some funny noises so we figured it would be better to get it now before the other one broke down completely. The new one has a broil in it just like on the top of regular ovens. I can't wait to actually have something I want to grill so I can try it out.

As I said before, I started the Sockamania November sock on Sunday. This is the progress I have made so far. The yarn is sock yarn I bought from Maggie. The yarn is so soft and easy to work with. I'm getting used to the pattern now. After the heel the pattern is different on the front and back of the sock. What I am trying to do is get one or two repeats of the edging done per day and then get some knitting done on the sock. I am still hoping I can get the pair done before the end of the month.

I've completed 35 repeats of the edging now so that means there's only 13 more to go. If I can do 2 repeats per day I should have the edging done by the end of next week and finally get the ends grafted together and proceed with picking up those 1,152 sts.

Day 17 of NaBloPoMo

To celebrate the first birthday at The Purl they had 30% off all purple yarn. Since purple is my favourite colour I couldn't resist getting some purple yarn. Originally I had only bought the Dye-Versions Bamboo Sport (shown on the left), and the Fibra Natura Yummy sock yarn. Then Sandra threw her mitten at me and I couldn't believe how soft they were. She made a pair of mittens and a cowl out of the Misti Alpaca. I hesitated for just a little bit before I bought 2 so I can knit a cowl and fingerless mitts.

I did manage to get to 33 repeats completed on the edging for the shawl. That's a bit surprising because I had a wee bit of a tumble on Saturday and when I hit the floor I used the palm of my right hand to break the fall. I iced it for a while and the swelling was so so by the time I got home. I iced it again after I got home. Now it's just turning some really funky colours. I was able to knit after the ice applications and did knit to the end of repeat 33 on Saturday. Yesterday I started the November Sockamania club sock pattern. I'm using some hand dyed yarn I bought from Maggie of Dyed in the Wool Handmade. I'm almost ready to start the gussett and will take pictures to show tomorrow.

Day 13 of NaBloPoMo

My order arrived from Shuttleworks yesterday. Here's what I got. I bought the Wild Flyer kit and I also got the tension knob for the Little Gem so I can use it with either Lily or Lizbeth. I also got an extra bobbin for the flyer. I decided on the wild flyer instead of the plying flyer because I don't like the delta orifice at all and the wild flyer has the circle orifice and not the delta. I also bought the Universal Tensioned Lazy Kate. I have the Kromski arched lazy kate but I am having problems with the bobbins constantly popping out of the tension string. I think it's because of the limited space I have here I can't put the lazy kate behind me. It's always off to the side. I decided to get this one so I can see if that will solve my problem. I had a little surprise in the box as well. This canvas Shuttleworks bag was included with the order. It's a really big, thick, very nice, canvas bag.

I acutally managed to get some knitting done yesterday. I knit up all the stuff I ripped out and I started repeat 30. I really have to be more careful. It's horrible to work for hours and then have that work thrown out when you find a mistake and have to rip out a few hours worth of knitting.

Finally, remember those knots I found in the elann.com Baby Lace Merino? I emailed elann and told them about it. They apologized and are going to send me another ball.

Day 12 of NaBloPoMo

Missed another Snb last night. I hate having to miss them. I just wasn't feeling up to it. I am going to go to the doctor today and check things out.

I thought I finished a few repeats on the Magickal Earth Shawl edging but, when I double checked things yesterday, I made another mistake right at the beginning of repeat number 29 so I ripped it back. I didn't knit anything after I ripped. I just got the sts back on the needle and put it aside. If I'm feeling up to it, I hope to get some knitting done today.

I'm still waiting for my order from Shuttleworks. I still hope it will come tomorrow since I only work a half day on Friday.

ETA: The order arrived a little while ago!!! I will open the box when I get home from work and take pictures. Will blog all about it tomorrow.

Day 10 of NaBloPoMo

Today is flue shot day in the Ribeiro household. I know many people don't believe in getting the flu shot. I have a friend that had Guillian-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of a flu shot. I've still been getting the flu shot ever since I had the mastectomy. Joseph hates shots and is not very happy that he has to get the shot. He keeps saying he doesn't get the flu so he doesn't need to get the shot. Oh well, he'll have to get over it.

I had better see some new signatures in Joseph's agenda when he comes home from school today. I don't know what else I can take away from him. I've already taken away his x-box. I've deleted all the games I can from the computer he works on. I've uninstalled MSN Messenger so he can't chat online. Someone I know suggested taking away his favourite food. That's not so easy because Joseph is such a picky eater. I just hope he starts to get serious about his school work. What boggles my mind is that he spends hours at the computer working and yet he isn't handing stuff in. I just don't get it. I asked him what he's working on and he said his inspire stuff. That's for the gifted kids. He's always loved doing the gifted stuff but I told him he has to work on other things too and not just gifted. I've made it very clear that if he isn't caught up and able to stay up to date in all his subjects by the end of this year, I will make arrangements for him to go to a different school in September. So he knows he only has a short while to prove himself.

On the border for the shawl I've managed to complete 29 repeats. I keep trying to get one repeat done per night but I get so tired that I rarely manage to get more than one repeat done during the week and then on the weekend I get around 3 repeats done. Each repeat is 48 rows so it takes a while. I made a mistake when I was knitting at the Purl on Tuesday so I had to rip back an entire repeat. That was so annoying but I'm back on track and that's all that matters. I'll be so happy when the bloody border is complete. I finally had to join the second ball of yarn in the middle of repeat 28. I wind the balls of yarn into a centre pull ball before I start using them because then I don't have a tangled mess when I get to the end of a ball. When I wound another ball yesterday I was not happy to find 4 knots in one 50 gram ball. I can understand one and maybe even tolerate 2 but 4 is just too much.

Day 6 of NaBloPoMo

I am getting more than a little frustrated with the bank. Still no sign of my stolen money being returned. When they say 10 business days they won't give it back to you a day sooner. Or so it would seem. I am going to call them tomorrow to see what is happening.

Am I the only one out there that has trouble adjusting to the time change even in the fall? It is usually worse for me in the spring than in the fall but I am feeling so sleepy. Part of it could be because I was up WAY too late Tuesday night watching the election returns when I got home. I only had about 4 hours sleep Tuesday night. Yesterday I had such a headache I fell asleep when I got home from work and slept for a couple of hours. That didn't stop me from going to sleep around 11 and still sleeping until 5 this morning.

I didn't get any knitting done last night. That's not going to help my plans of getting the border done anytime soon. This is what approximately half the border looks like. Joseph keeps asking me what I am making and when I tell him a shawl he looks at me like I'm crazy. I've tried explaining it's done from the outside in but he still thinks I'm knitting a scarf. I love the colour and I'm almost done with the first ball of yarn. I have 4 in total so I am hoping it is going to be enough. Back to knitting tonight, I hope.

Day 5 of NaBloPoMo

Last night was fun at The Purple Purl. It's the first time I've gone to one of their regular Tuesday stitch nights. They had their Halloween Trick or Swap as well and I went for that. It was fun but I didn't end up trading what I brought. That is fine for me really because the Malabrigo Lace would have been difficult to part with.

I did have a wonderful surprise. I brought along the Louet Victoria wheel I have. I've been meaning to bring it there for quite some time so I could try to sell it. When I was trying to sell my Ashford Joy, I brought it there and it sold in a couple of weeks. I was hoping the same would happen with the Victoria. Imagine my surprise when I brought it there, someone looked at the wheel, looked at what I was asking for it, and decided to buy it! The Victoria has gone to a very good home and I have Lily and Lizbeth - Little Gem II and Suzie Pro.

I also made it to the halfway point of the edging on the Magickal Earth Shawl. I don't get to work on this every day because it gets tedious but I am relieved to be halfway there. I still hope I can get the edging done by the end of the month. We'll see. I started this on October 11th and it's taken me this long to get 24 repeats done. I did knit a pair of socks in there as well.

Happy Thanksgiving Canada

You would think that after 17 years in Canada I would be used to Thanksgiving in October. It still seems odd to me. Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

Now that the Forest Path Stole is done, I've started another lace project. I actually started this years ago and it became a UFO. Now that I am ready and eager to get back to knitting I can't find the bag that has the pattern. So I've started again from scratch. I know once this one is done I'll find the other one. The only consolation in that will be that I won't have to knit the edging all over again. The lace project I started is the Magickal Earth Shawl by Sandy Terp. It is from A Gathering of Lace. I was attracted to the pattern because of the unicorns. I became a little worried about the section that has random decreases so I put it aside. The previous version is being knit in a blue Jaggerspun Maine Line that I had in my stash. This one I am using the Elann.com Baby Lace Merino in Aubergine (purple) and 2mm needles. I've already completed 9 repeats of the edging so I only have 39 to go. If I can get the edging done in a month I'll be happy. I can remember the pattern in my head now so I am moving along at a pretty good clip. No work tomorrow so I hope I can get to 13 or 14 repeats done by the time I go to bed tomorrow but that might be pushing it. Tuesday is Snb night so either way I should make some progress.