What's in Your Drawer?

A few days ago Dave of Cabin Cove showed what was in his desk drawer, and asked readers to blog about what was in their drawers. This is my desk drawer at work. It has only been a couple of months since I started this job, so I don't have a lot of personal (i.e. interesting) items in my drawer yet. What you do see are the usual post-it notes, staples, etc. I also have a couple of lipsticks, my iPod, and most importantly, my knitting! This little project bag was made for me by my KSKS pal last year, and I carry it almost everywhere I go. Inside the bag is a sleeve for the never ending Debbie Bliss Sailor Collar Cardi (I have to come up with a shorter name). Like I said, not very interesting, but I haven't been at this job too long, plus we are moving to another building in a couple of months, so I haven't taken too many personal items up yet.

Speaking of the current knitting, I actually have been making progress, and I just may finish it by my road trip next weekend. I have finished the back and fronts, one sleeve, and hope to finish the second sleeve tonight. I still have to knit the sailor collar, plus edging that goes all around the collar, as well as the hem of the cardi and both sleeves. I did break down and swatch for the Tilted Duster, as well as another cardigan from the Holiday 2006 Vogue Knitting - more on those two projects to follow.

One of my favorite books

You're To Kill a Mockingbird!

by Harper Lee

Perceived as a revolutionary and groundbreaking person, you have
changed the minds of many people. While questioning the authority around you, you've
also taken a significant amount of flack. But you've had the admirable guts to
persevere. There's a weird guy in the neighborhood using dubious means to protect you,
but you're pretty sure it's worth it in the end. In the end, it remains unclear to you
whether finches and mockingbirds get along in real life.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Acquamarina

My yarn came for the Tilted Duster! I love, love, love the color! This is Berroco Peruvia and the color is Acquamarina - that's not a typo! I am locking it up and hiding the key, however. I am forcing myself to finish the Sailor Collar Cardigan first, I'm not even allowing myself to swatch, because I know where that will lead!

Speaking of the cardi, I have finished the back and the left front, and am a few inches into the right front (no pictures to show). Then comes the sleeves, of course. After that, the collar, and then miles of edging before it is all seamed together. I hope to finish it in the next two weeks (although I'm sure that's not realistic), as I am going on a road trip and the miles of stockinette and ribbing in the Tilted Duster will help the miles pass quickly!

FO Report: Mystery Stole 3, aka Swan Lake

Pattern: Swan Lake by Melanie Gibbons

Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr laceweight, Peacock

Beads: Size 8/0 seed beads, Dark Green

Needles: Bryspun US size 4

Started: July 3, 2007

Finished: September 4, 2007

Modifications: None.

I really love this stole! (Don't I say that about everything I knit?) I really do! I had my doubts when I read about the "wing", because I really like things symmetrical. However, I had faith in Melanie and her design, so I knit on. When I was close to finishing, I started seeing photos of other knitters' finished stoles, and when it's draped just so around the shoulders, it is really beautiful. I ordered my Zephyr from Sarah's Yarns, and would definitely recommend her. The color selection is wonderful, as well as the price. They made a little error on the color the sent, but when I notified them, they promptly sent the correct color along with a postage paid envelope so I could return the first shipment! I also used beads, per the pattern. I ordered my beads from the Bead Wrangler, and the prices were very reasonable, and super fast shipping. I did enjoy knitting this, and can't wait for a proper occasion to wear it!

Thanks Secret Pal!

Check it out! I got the most fabulous yarn from my Secret Pal!! Two skeins of dk weight hand painted 100% merino! It is Marisol Hachu - why have I never heard of this? It is shade #304, Sapphire Jade, and this photo doesn't do it justice. The colors are deep and vibrant, deep luscious greens, plum, and eggplant, with a touch of turquoise and dark lime, and the tiniest bit of brown. I just love it, and I can't decide what to do with it.... I'm leaning towards either some gloves or mittens, or a scarf. Or some socks... I don't know!

I mailed off a box to my spoilee last week, and she received it. I think she loved it all, but I'm not telling anything else, so she won't figure out who I am :)

Oh, and look what else has been in the mail box.

Yes, my Secret Pal has sent me 3 other packets, and I think there are more on the way. The only problem is I have to wait until October 1st to open two of these, and October 15th to open the third. I promised her my will power was strong, so check back on the 1st and 15th (or 2nd & 16th) for new surprises!

Thank you Secret Pal - I really do love my first surprise!!!

Mostly Finished

Well, I finally finished the Mystery Stole 3, or Swan Lake, late last night. I hope to block it in the next couple of days. I like to take a picture before blocking because the before and after never fails to amaze me. This is the carpet in my office, by the way, and is pretty close to the actual color. Nice? Actually, I'm getting used to it. We will be moving to a new office in a few months, and from what we've seen of the architect's drawings and the carpet and tile samples, it should be gorgeous. Construction isn't complete on the building yet, but we are tentatively scheduled to move at the end of November.

The yarn for my next project is still on back order, so I have picked up the Debbie Bliss cardigan again; in fact, I may go ahead and finish it before Sweetpea outgrows it. I finally have a picture to post. The book is out of print, but I've seen it occasionally on eBay, and I'm sure there's a LYS here or there that has a copies still. The book is Sirdar #275, Baby Knits, and they are all Debbie Bliss designs. I am using white, but I am also using a washable yarn :) I'm about 45 rows up the back, or 5 inches or so. I did end up charting the instructions for the back, after Kat charted the 3 different stitch patterns (thanks again, Kat!), and it is going much faster. Much easier to just follow a row instead of flipping pages back and forth, trying to follow keep my place in 3 different stitch patterns at the same time!

Weekend Update

It was a nice, quiet weekend for the most part, although I got little knitting done. I checked last night, and I still have 16 rows left on my Mystery Stole 3. (I guess I can start calling it Swan Lake, since the theme was revealed.) My yarn for the Tilted Duster is apparently still on back order, so no pressure from a new project to hurry up an finish the stole. BTW, I will be using the called for yarn, Berroco Peruvia, in the Acquamarina colorway. In the meantime, I've joined the KAL for the cardigan!

I also picked up the Debbie Bliss Sailor Collar Cardigan again, no knitting, but I did figure out where I was in the pattern. I ended up charting the entire back since it was too hard following 3 different charts at the same time, plus remembering to cable every other right side row. If I finish Swan Lake before my Peruvia yarn is here, I'll start working on the DB cardi again. I need to anyway, as Sweetpea is visibly growing every day!

I had a nice little allergy attack Saturday, and slept much of the day. Now the allergies seem to have settled down, except for in my left eye, which is very puffy and is constantly watering. Nice. I did managed to think out my Bloglines some, but am still woefully behind. I just can't delete them with out reading, as I might miss something really interesting!

Oh, one other thing I did this weekend - I'm shopping for a new camera. I've decided I want my own camera instead of a shared one - no more hunting for the camera, and I'll be able to fool around with it anytime and hopefully improve my skills. I think I've narrowed it down to a particular model Sony Cybershot, 7.2 mp. I really liked the menu on it. Now I'm just shopping for the best price. I'll give more details if I end up getting this one.

Have a great Tuesday!