Look Mom...I can do it with my eyes closed.

OK...get your mind out of the gutter please! I happen to be referring to knitting into the wee hours of the morning (even if you do have to be up early for work), knitting till the eyes begin to close, but your fingers and hands continue to move.

Knitting with your eyes closed looks something like this..............

blurred needles

blurred fiber

blurred hands

blurred stitches

all the while still getting it done.........................

still knitting

Has this ever happened to you?? Am I the only crazy knitter out there?

Great Projects really seem to pump my adrenaline and affords me this new talent of "knitting with eyes closed". Anyway, I've noticed this is the case when I have a GP on the needles! Luckily I'm a knitter that doesn't require a lot of sleep...just lots of knitting.

At this time I have 6 WIP's on the needles...will I be knitting more with my eyes closed...Absolutely! ^.^

I just can't help it!

As you all know, for me there was one true reason to learn Entrelac and that was to knit Autumn and guess what........... I did it!

Autumn was knit in 19 days and believe me this isn't a small piece! I totally love the JoJoland Rhythm yarn. Early into the project I found myself picking and choosing the next ball of yarn for that perfect coordinating color...only to find myself totally frustrated; you see, no two balls have even a similar color run. I finally threw caution to the wind and pretty much closed my eyes and pulled a ball...any ball. What started out as total frustration ended in an extremely fun journey.Many knitters had spoken of the different methods (AND TRIALS) when attaching the Cobweb Frill. I chose to use the three needle bind off and am pleased enough with the end result. I did go up 2 needle sizes on the third needle, but still found myself with a rather tight bind off and as we all know, there isn't much give on this bind off process. Soaking and blocking immensely improved the finished results of the knit!

I just can't help it........

I love Autumn, I love The Cobweb Frill and I love Entrelac!

autumn block by block

Entrelac can make anyone feel like a super knitter - big project made up of little sections that give you a real sense of accomplishment with each completed block. You could say I'm finishing Autumn block by block. As I affectionately near the end of the entrelac progress on Autumn, I'm looking forward to the next exciting part of this project - The Cobweb Frill edging! This fringe is knit separately and then attached to the shawl. Many knitters have shared their negative results with this step, so I plan to divide and mark the stitches on the shawl and mark sections of the frill to ease stitch counts when connecting the two pieces. Did I mention I finally purchased a "Real Blocking Board"? The new board will replace my old Grandmother's quilt that I used in the past - how nice to actually have measured blocks to ensure perfect squares and angles!!

A Knitter's Desire

Sometimes a knitter desires a quick fix and that's where I found myself this week. With Lilith complete and good progress made on the Autumn Shawl, I felt this overpowering need for one or more of those quick fixes.

One such project is Susie's Reading Mitts by Janelle Masters. I had 3 skeins of Blue Sky Baby Alpaca remaining from this project and think these mitts are a perfect use for 1 1/2 skeins of such a soft yummy yarn. This will be project #7 using yarn from my stash this year! These mitts were started on Friday night and the first of the pair was completed on Saturday. The mitt was started using #5 needles, but after the first lace pattern, I decided the stitches were way too loose and open so the ripping began and the piece was started again using #4 needles...with much better results that time round!!!

My plan is to start the mate and work thru the first lace pattern and complete the project on my trip to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Show. Oh..I didn't tell I was going this year???? I'm going with a group from a LYS...hope to see some of you there!

In case you are wondering what the plans are for the remaining 1 1/2 skeins, I plan to knit a hat....perhaps this hat! Yes, another quick fix!

The second QF is the Two Row Scarf. This is a pattern designed by a knitting friend I met here

and is a wonderful pattern to use up some of that sock yarn ladies! My scarf is knit using Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome, color Moody Blues, using #3 & #6 needles. I'm loving the waffle look and the narrow width I chose for this scarf....it will be narrow and very long.

my reason

to Entrelac .... is a shawl called Autumn.

With this completed, I felt I was up to Entrelac speed and ready to begin the shawl I have been drooling over for many months. My Autumn is knit with Jojoland - Rhythm, color selection #M09. I chose to use #5 needles instead of the recommended #6s. and so far very pleased with the tension of the piece. Did I mention Autumn will be my 6th Stash Burner this year??

Have a Fabulous Sunday!

Lilith is a FO

I loved knitting this project.

I was sweating the sleeve length. See.....the sleeves are the heart and soul of this shrug and getting the correct length is really a big deal. Well, I think I got them just right. I love it when a plan comes together.
Check out the ties at the wrist, aren't they sweet??

Lilith is fun with a cotton tee and jeans and will be amazing with my sleeveless black dress. Oh, did I mention how fabulous this shrug feels against the skin!!

Check out my previous post and Ravelry for Lilith details.