I've Succumbed!!!

After a year of blog surfing and trolling the various knitalongs, I've finally given in and joined one. Am I conforming? Does this have anything to do with the fact that I've already knitted 1 1/2 pairs of mitten for Xmas? More likely it's that the fickle finger of fate has finally tapped me on the shoulder.

On one of many sleepless nights recently, I was reading a back issue of Interweave of Knits and came across an article on gloves. The next day while I was blog surfing I came across a mention of this knitalong and curiosity has gotten the best of me. I still haven't decided on the yarn, the pattern or the style. One thing is for sure, the yarn will come out of the stash.

In the meantime, I'm too busy playing with my new toys, a fullsize notebook and a Palm T|X. Hopefully, I won't spend too much time moving stuff from the other PC to get this done even though fate has intervened again and killed the monitor on my old PC before I could even get started setting up the new one. As long as I can get my knitting database I'll be happy. After all, it's all about the knitting baby!!!

KISS (Keep It Simply Stranded)

I was raving about Sally Melville's book the other day because I couldn't wait to get started on this purse. It's the KISS purse. I used Noro Kureyon(80) and a gray worsted that I had in my stash. This is a really quick knit and I am pretty pleased with the results. The Xmas presents are rolling right along in spite of the doubt I have had about not being able to knit fast enough or for long period of time.

I've spent most of the day knitting and watching the Sci-Fi channel's zombiefest. These movies are so corny and silly that it's easy to watch them and keep merrily knitting away. Gotta go. It's time for --- "Brains!!! I need more brains!!!"

The almost completed purse. I have to finish the bottom, make the straps and felt it. This has been a really quick knit now that I can finally knit 2 color stranded with 2 hands.  

This is a close-up of the KISS. 

All Color, All the Time

This weekend I purchased Sally Melville's newest book The Knitting Experience Book 3: Color. I am totally in love with this book. I've already started the KISS purse. This is my first real experience with knitting with two colors. I thought the two-handed method was really hard but when I started this pattern it suddenly clicked in. I've had the first 2 books as soon as they came out and never knitted anything from them. That's probably because I was so far beyond plain knitting and purling that nothing in them said "KNIT ME".

On the knitting front I completed the Leaf Lace Shawl on Monday. It still needs to be blocked so there will be pictures to come at a later time. I also completed the Sock It To Me Toe-Up Chevron Pattern Socks. I made these using Froelich Wolle Special Grunband 4-Fach. They ended up shorter than most socks that I make because I didn't realize that this yarn was much thicker than my usual sock knitting yarns and was only 175 yds/skein. My mom loves them none the less.

Had an MRI of the non-cooperative shoulder so I'll find out Friday morning if it's something that needs to be fixed or just nerve and muscle damage from the ongoing neck dilemma. Regardless, I'm determined to keep on knitting. Maybe not as much and not as often, but I shall knit on just the same. To this end I've decided that I've knitted quite a few pairs of socks from other peoples patterns, so I'm designing one of my own based on a lace pattern from one of the Barbara Walker Treasuries. Everyone knitter should have these books in their arsenal.