Work in Progress: The Mermaid's Gift

Whew, I am in full panic mode, as I always seem to be when I am under a deadline.  Things are coming along...I just need to learn how to relax, but also not procrastinate so much!  Like last night, after I spent the day photographing, writing up and then sending off the test draft of Hesperides to my test knitters...I kept finding more things to do on the computer.  What I really needed to be doing was working on The Mermaid's Gift...which I did, around 10 pm.  This whole DST thing always does a number on me, especially when I am in this crazed state!

Anyway, that said I did finish almost an entire section on TMG, which I am really happy about.  Even if that does mean I was up past 1 am and slept in this morning!  I am super pleased with how it is coming along and I think my bead choice; while a bit, um, bright will work out well with the pale blue lace.  Also, I am wondering why I didn't get on the half circular shawl thing a lot sooner!  That is one of the things I love about working on this eBook, I wanted all 6 shawls to be constructed differently, so it is really making me step outside of that triangular shawl comfort zone!



The colors on this are rocking my world!  I am a powder blue lover from way back and I think the beads will do a wonderful job to give it the feeling of spray on top of ocean waves. Plus the yarn color is Malabrigo's "Blue Surf" and the beads are called "Miami Surf!"

The Official Announcement!

Well, after months of hinting...the official announcement has been made!  That's right...I am Miss May for the Malabrigo Freelance Pattern Project!  I am so excited to be a part of it and so glad that it isn't hush-hush any more.  There are still a couple months of hard work ahead, but I can't wait for May ♥

Work in Progress: Hesperides

It took me a little longer than I had hoped to get pictures of my latest WIP, Hesperides.  These were taken with the new wireless remote I got for my camera, since I was the only one home today.  It was actually quite interesting to see what I look like when I knit!



Every "action" shot I got was a bit blurry...I don't really knit that fast!  I think I just had the bad luck of moving my hand every time the camera took a shot.  I set it for a 2 second delay so I could get the remote out of the shot ;)  Also, I've noticed I hold my right middle and ring fingers super awkward...funny.



Here is a little larger look at Hesperides.  It is a triangular shawl with alternating bands of stockinette and a striped lacy section.  The original striped lace I had swatched for this worked out horribly in action, but maybe someday it will live again as a scarf or stole.  Luckily the change didn't set me back too far and I managed to recover the design gracefully and still keep the general look I was going for.

When I came up with this design, I had wanted something that would work well with a variegated yarn and a complementary solid color.  Since I have an unhealthy obsession with variegated yarns, I am always trying to come up with good uses for them.  This way I can justify those skeins that inevitably find their way into my stash and it offers up a fun challenge for me to tackle.

Happy Malabrigo March!

This month is a frenzy of activity for us Malabrigo Junkies on Ravelry. Basically it is an excuse to cast on as many projects as we can in one of our favorite brands of yarn!  I am working on Irving the Icebox Monster  from Rebecca Danger's adorable book, The Big Book of Knitted Monsters. He is looking great in Apple Green and Purple Mystery (here's a shot of the lovely skein):



He is just a bunch of parts right now, I am waiting for his safety eyes to arrive. As soon as they do I can begin assembly!

I am also busily knitting away on two more samples for the secret project.  Hopefully I'll be able to grab a picture or two for you guys in the next couple of days.  They are looking lovely, though...one is in Violeta Africana and Archangel Malabrigo Sock, the other is in Blue Surf Malabrigo Lace.  And, with that little teaser I bid you adieu!

Sneak Peek: Kisseis

Here is another look at just what I've been up to!



Kisseis is a crescent shaped shawl worked in Malabrigo lace with a large ivy lace pattern and beads! It is named for Kisseis, the Lady of the Ivy. She is one of the Nysiades, nymphs of Mount Nysa, in Greek Mythology and caretaker of the young god Dionysus.



This pattern is currently being tested and edited.  It will be available as part of an ebook and as an individual PDF download in May.

Sneak Peek: Amalthea

Malabrigo Silky Merino, fringe and leaves...on my!



This shawlette was inspired by one of my favorite childhood characters; Lady Amalthea from The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle.  Soft leaves and delicious pastel yarn make this shawlette perfect for keeping a unicorn turned lady warm in King Haggard's drafty castle by the sea.



Amalthea is currently being test knit and edited, the pattern will be released in May.  It will be available as part of an ebook and as an individual download.

So, um...yeah.

Hellooo there little blog and lovely readers.  I am very sorry for taking an "extended leave of absence." But, I have some good excuses, really.

So here's what happened:
November - 

• I was rushing to get Snowberry Brambles released both as a Ravelry download and as part of  KP IDP. Man, translating the charts on that pattern to include written instructions was a bear, but I got it done!
• The yarn support came for my big, secret project and I began to work furiously on charts, drafts and the first sample.
• Went to Chicago and enjoyed wonderfully cold weather to rock my hand-knits in and great company.
• Then my dad suffered a major injury to his knee at work the day before Thanksgiving. Broken patella, torn muscles and ligaments...it was horrible and he had emergency surgery right away.  So by the end of the month I was in NJ to help him out with just about everything, since it is impossible to drive with a cast that goes from ankle to hip!

December -

• Hung out in NJ was bored to death, worked on a ton of Christmas knitting and ate a lot of good food.
• Brought my dad down here with me for a few weeks, celebrated Christmas, panicked at my slow progress on secret project.
• My dog, Rocket, got a huge gash in his side and had to have stitches and then proceeded to rip the stitches out...ugh. (He's ok now and none the worse for wear.)
• Went to NC to visit my sister and nephew and to "hand-off" my dad so she could bring him back to NJ for his doctor's appointment.

January

•  Decided to do a Project 365 (really like I need more hobbies)!
• Spent a lot of time charting lace, unsuccessfully trying to get the massive repeats to bend to my will.  In the end I bent to the will of the lace and it worked out quite well.
• Marathon season preparation, lots of meetings and public speaking...eeek!
• Turned 31...another eeek!
• My other dog, Roxy, got a hematoma in her ear and had to have surgery (actually on the day I was supposed to leave for NJ...see next bullet point).
• Found out my dad's knee needed to be operated on again and by the end of the month I was back in NJ. And there was snow, a whole lot of snow.  I brought Rocket along for company and so Roxy could heal in peace.
• I did manage to get one sample done for my project  >_<

 February

• By mid-month I was back in Savannah and my dad is doing much better.
• Roxy finally got the silly bandage off her head and a week and a half later got all of her stitches out. 
• Coaching started, I actually missed the first 2 weeks.
• Woke up the other day in a cold sweat realizing that I need to start busting my butt to get my designs done for the big project.
• Became obsessed with Photoshop and textures thanks to Kim Klassen's wonderful blog and e-course.

See, I told you I have good excuses! Don't worry, I will do my best not to let it happen again. I am going to try to post at least once a week, hopefully more ♥ Stay tuned, in the next few days, I'll bombard you with pictures from my big project and give you the full scoop!