Sock yarn de-stash sale

I am de-stashing a little at a time. If you are interested in any of these items, please e-mail me at kniterellacomcastnet or comment and let me know which item.

1 Skein Color #14 45% Cotton, 40% superwash wool, 15% nylon

$6.00

2 Skeins Koigu SOLD

2 Skeins Koigu SOLD

3 Skeins Koigu SOLD

1 Skein 100g 45% cotton, 42% virgin wool, 13% polyamid - machine washable sock yarn!

$8.00

Swallowtail Shawl, more vacation, and upcoming yarn sale

One week ago today I woke up here. It is hard to remember the water being so blue and it beckons me. Now that our vacation is over, we think through what we did and what we wish we had done. Our friends came to visit one weekend from Florida and it was the second time we've seen them (Savannah in April). We had fabulous Thai food that night and were longing to pop over and have dinner there last night. Dining choices of that nature are non-existent here.

I didn't take many photos this vacation and that is one thing I wish was different.

...on to the shawl...

Swallowtail Shawl

Yarn: Zephyr Silk/Wool - Marine Blue

Size 4 needles

Note: Mine is a tad smaller than the pattern states. I should have used 5 needles

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this shawl. It is the perfect size to use for work (once/if I return) and the color is amazing. The softness is indescribable.

Other Knitting

Mom's pink top is drying (still). I will take pictures before mailing, but am pretty certain this is one garment that will not look right unless modeled and those photos may take awhile to get.

Remember my Tilly Garden Shawl? The one with the knit on border? The border I winged without the math? Well, everyone knew that wasn't going to work but I charged forth. It wouldn't block and the border was removed. Some fancy math and swatching was done and the new and improved border is moving right along. Again, photos to come soon.

I picked up some lovely Handmaiden Sea Silk, Jade Sapphire Cashmere-Silk, and Prism Lace Wool - all in various colors of the sea. I find myself nearly content and almost overwhelmed by my staggering amounts of stash yarn. There are only two things I still long for 1) Handmaiden Silken and 2) ANYTHING that comes from Chris' shop. So....I've decided to perform a little de-stash and will be posting the yarn here on my blog first. It will take awhile to get through all of it, but there will be some good yarn - I promise! My goal is to get some posted mid-week.

Vacation knitting

How things stack up when a person goes away from home! The e-mail and postal mail has been tackled, work e-mail remains. The house needs a light cleaning and I haven't managed to unpack everything.

All in all, this was a great crafting vacation. My swallowtail shawl is finished and should be blocked today. My mom traveled with us and purchased yarn for a top on the way to the beach and it is nearly finished (pictures coming soon). Bugg has been working on cross stitch month blocks to be transformed into a quilt - mom finished one block, Bugg nearly has two under her belt and I...nearly finished one (honest, it is almost finished - I promise!). There was not time to knit up any of the other yarn that traveled from my stash, but new yarn did come home with me. Chris, being the sweetheart that she is, had two bundles waiting when we finally came back home - which made going through the postal mail a lot more enjoyable. There are projects assigned to both bundles!!!

My mom learned how to knit and is nearly finished with a garter stitch scarf. She has even tension that is pleasing to the eye. She may be addicted to knitting - time will tell. If she had a dropped stitch or an unknit stitch from the previous row, her scarf would magically appear on top of my project and be waiting for me when I returned from wherever I had gone. The mistake would get fixed and mom would happily take of knitting again...until the next one. Truthfully, she didn't have many mistakes and she was a trooper, counting the stitches at every row to make sure they were all present and accounted for. When we left her house to come home, she was beginning her final 12".

Bugg is a natural at knitting (keep it a secret she is a semi-closet knitter). Her stitches are very even and she picks up techniques quickly. She is working on two projects - a sock using Socks That Rock and a small shawl. She didn't get the 'finishing gene' from me, but is working pretty diligently on both projects.

It seems this post is growing a bit long, I will leave you with a couple of photos which makes me smile - Bugg and my Youngest!

Another holiday almost finished

How lucky are we? Getting to spend 3 weeks at the beach has been fabulous. I would have bet the feelings of being ready to go home would have set in by the end of the first week. You know-'ahhh, this has been a nice break but there will be two tons of mail (including yarn) waiting along with inches of dust and it is time to tackle those things' feelings. Instead, I find myself checking lottery numbers to see if we can schedule time with a realtor to pick out our multi-million dollar beach front home.

All of my friends know that the weather in Michigan is a struggle for me. The humidity of the South is welcoming and I embrace it readily. There are cold-weather people and beach people - I am a beach people! Encouragement exists in knowing that we won't always be in Michigan, yet after nearly 5 years I find myself restless. So, as I contemplate the return to Michigan (and Bugg's Senior year), the knowing thoughts of 5 months of cold weather and snow make me cringe. Snow and cold weather are not very functional for a beach person.

Cut to yesterday:

The boys went deep sea fishing yesterday and the youngest son reeled in a 4ft. nurse shark weighing approx. 180 lbs. He also caught a few miscellaneous other fish, but his shark was the largest of the day. Hubs snared one miscellaneous fish and was satisfied to see our son's catch.

Us girls drove to Charleston, SC for some sightseeing and shopping. It was the hottest day of the year and we went through bottled water quickly. Weather reports had the water temp in the Charleston Harbor around 86 degrees. We aimed for a horse-drawn tour, but the weather was too extreme for the horses to come out and play so walking was our mode of transportation. We really needed a couple of days in Charleston to go to a plantation and to visit Ft. Sumter.

---The lottery numbers were not in our favor and we'll be off to the beach in a few minutes.

...We interrupt this vacation...

Being half-way into the vacation, a sense of peace surrounds me. No worry about trying to unwind after the long drive or anxiousness because the break is nearly over and it will be time to return to all that waits exists yet. My youngest son said it best today:

ME: (to hubs) What would you like to do today?
HUBS: I don't know, whatever you'd like.
SON: Let's just do more of the same.

Same= eat, go to the pool, go to the beach, eat

As predicted, we hit a couple of yarn shops along the way. Pictures will follow, but some lovely laceweight and Jade Sapphire cashmere followed me. My mom (not a knitter) decided to knit scarves for her friend's Christmas presents and is flying along on a garter stitch scarf. She also picked up some lovely yarn for a summer top...on which I am nearing completion. She chose a rose color of Cathay by Debbie Bliss. Youngest son tried to wrangle a pair of socks out of me yesterday, but changed his mind when told it would be a 'very long time' before those socks would fly off of my needles. Needless to say, little progress has been made on any of the projects which originally travelled with me.

Spinning?

A few weeks ago a drop spindle was calling my name. I've wanted to learn to spin for awhile and am mesmerized by the whirr of a spinning wheel. Not needing another expensive toy, I opted for the drop spindle. A very kind spinner (insert name later) helped get me started and I walked away with about a foot of spun fiber - that was spun by me! Once we return home, I think the waiting Romney will be spun away!

Choosing the perfect yarn to knit on vacation...

...priceless!

Thoughts of perfect little skeins of yarn, balls of fiber, and hanks to be rolled have been dancing through my mind for days. The idea was to swatch and choose patterns before departing for vacation. I swatched some Tuscany from Briar Rose Fibers for my Retro Cardigan. It was such a fun knit that I've nearly completed it. Thoughts of only taking things that would become Christmas presents (for 2007 Christmas) seemed like a good idea, but I've settled on a nice mix.

L-R Back row: Briar Rose's Grandmother's Blessing, Knit Pick's Sock Memories in Smores colorway (really, I could swear I detected chocolate and graham cracker smells as this yarn was wound), Knit Pick's Sock Memories in Cape Cod colorway, -peeking from the left corner is my Swallow Tail Shawl began this week, Aqua colored Panda Cotton, Briar Rose's Grace (bagged), Bugg's Lacy Cable Shrug in Briar Rose Wistful, Down Front: Ella Rae Silkience and Shibu. If this isn't enough, the shopfinder will be very near - and the driver gets to choose the route, right?

Realistically, this will not all be knit during this vacation, but at least there will be plenty of of options and SOME sock yarn from the stash is travelling. Note: I simply could not wind any Koigu, Lorna's Laces or STR - seriously, it's like sacred yarn and it's being saved for a momentous occasion - what is wrong with me?

Conflicted - there are blogs I read every day. Some don't post every day, but there will be lots of knits going on while we're away and blog-withdrawl is setting in.

On another note

We planned a picnic for last Sunday. The weather was a little cool (hence the sweatshirt and long sleeves) and the picnic was moved inside. Throw down a homemade quilt, call the Colonel and voila!

It was a very nice day!

...Off to the shore.

De-stashing and Enough sock yarn to sock the world

The De-Stash

Slowly but surely I have started de-stashing - emphasis on s - l - o - w - l - y.

A bit was posted on E-Bay and then I checked the yarn closet to see what else might be in the realm of giving up. Giving my yarn away for a song is not appealing to me at all. The idea of a win-win situation always makes me happy, but there are some of us knitters out there that want the yarn for nearly FREE and I would rather it wait patiently for me until the year 2020 (this is completely possible, too). Anyway, I could only part with a small bit this time - maybe more later.

Update: Heh, Heh...Kristy goads me into posting a picture? (see comments) Not today! My hubs would certainly see that and when I ran into the sock deal of the century we would be at an impasse.

After vacation - in mid - August, I am thinking of posting some de-stash here on my blog to sell if anyone is interested. Until then, e-mail me with any sock yarn wishes you have and I will dig into the pile to see if I have it. Want to knit with Koigu? Seriously, this is stuff only shared with knitting friends!

Sock the World

Truly, there are folks out there who knit hoards of socks. I love socks - love to knit them, love to wear them, don't mind hand washing or blocking, but I knit lots of other things too. This is why I cannot understand the enormity of the amount of sock yarn I have amassed. Theory is that it is pretty affordable to get enough cool sock yarn to make a pair of great socks. All sock yarn (within reach) was layed neatly on the floor - the idea was to post a picture for you all to see. It was so utterly embarrassing that I quickly sacked it up and stashed it back into the yarn closet. It was decided with certainty that 1. none of THAT yarn was going anywhere and 2. more socks need to be knitted. It is all great sock yarn - Lorna's Laces, Lucy Neatby's Celestial Merino, Socks That Rock, Koigu, Mountain Colors, Colinette's Jitterbug, Schaefer's Anne, Interlacement's Tiny Toes, some favorites hand dyed by pros that I dare not mutter - er, type.

So, a pair of socks WERE just finished (check previous post). That was out of Black Bunny that was nabbed off of EBay last month - while all this luscious goodness sat patiently waiting for me in the yarn closet, I purchased, received, wound yarn, and knit an entire new pair of socks. Nothing can justify the gluttonous behavior shown in the acquiring of such an amount of sock yarn! Guess what all my knitting friends can look forward to getting for their Birthday's and for Christmas...for many years to come!

Black Bunny Socks

Diagonal Cross Rib Socks - Verbena Black Bunny

It has been awhile since I've completed a pair of socks and these may be my favorite yet. It could be the fact that I benefited from someone de-stashing on Ebay (I jumped on this yarn!), maybe it is the fit, it is probably because both socks are finished -yay! I just grafted the second toe while waiting for my daughter to get home from a late movie. Oh, I barely had a smidge of yarn left over - I was sweating it!

Sock particulars:

Pattern: Diagonal Cross Rib Socks - Favorite Socks 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave

Needles: Sz 2 for upper leg; Sz 1 for lower leg and foot

Changes: Shortened the leg from 8" to 7"

Finished sock 1 - 7/5/07

Finished sock 2 - 7/9/07-ish

One for the boys

It is easy to get photos posted of Bugg because she graciously models all of the handknits for me. I take photos of the boys, but don't get them posted regularly.

So...here is a recent photo of the boys. I am a lucky, lucky girl!

Finished Icarus Shawl

Icarus Shawl

Modeled by my Bugg

Yarn: Briar Rose Fourth of July2 1/2 skeins; asking Chris for an estimate on yardage according to weight

Size 6 needles

Blocked Measurements (HUGE) - approx 88" across top and 58" down middle
This shawl is huge, but I would not knit it on a smaller sized needle.

It is made according to the pattern from 2006 Summer Interweave Knits by Miriam Felton. Bugg and I liked the way it draped and how it stays in place when wrapped. I will be taking a couple of the first chart repeats out and re-making this in an attempt to squeeze it out of two skeins of Fourth of July.

Dear Friend (you know who you are)...

Dear Friend,

I need your help.

My daughter just informed me that scrapbooks will be needed for Graduation next year. Yes, yes, I knew they would be needed, but there is a class in school - it is required, even - in which an assignment exists for the student to make their own scrapbook. Actually, there WAS a class, the administration changed it (bummer). Ok, I am SO not a scrapbooker. I could knit her a cap and gown and offered, but she won't go for it. It must be a scrapbook ..er two.

Remember all of those card-making supplies I purchased? They are still shiny and new and could be used for scrapbooking, couldn't they? Oh, the thought of spending hours upon hours on this project makes me feel ill. I just spent 2 hours going through photos and my head hurts so bad I think it will fall off.

Maybe if I had help on just ONE page...if I could finish just one...maybe I could find the confidence I muster when diving into a knit project. I know you don't love to scrapbook and we've talked about dispensing with all of the extraneous hobbies we've accumulated to focus on our beloved few -- but it's my Bugg!!!

I've looked at the shops, perused the magazines, browsed the shops trying to pick up the tips -- I am going to need your help - any suggestions?

Pray for me - this is DEFINITELY going to impact my knitting agenda!

Love,
Me

A Good Day

Yesterday was a good day.

Chris and I had been planning to meet and set-up yesterday's lunch a few weeks ago. I looked forward to it and had a wonderful time. Briar Rose KAL'er Jan came with Chris and it was so great to meet her - she is so nice! The trek home (with fresh Briar Rose Fibers in my trunk - say yeah!!!) passed quickly and I was able to spend time with Bugg in the afternoon.

--cut to the evening--

Mitzi and I haven't been able to have our regular KnitNite for a few weeks and we finally got together. Typically, we do not get much knitting done when we have missed a couple of dates and we spent much of our evening just catching up. It was peaceful sitting in her sun room with the breeze blowing and birds singing. Summer events will cut into these opportunities with Mitzi and I will miss them and always look forward to our next KnitNite.

Note to self: Take pictures of Mitzi's project(s)

I've swatched for the next project in the que. Wistful will be used to create Bugg's next item - the Lacy Cable Shrug from Briar Rose (of course!) Gauge was finally achieved and cast-on is tentatively slated for Sunday.

Clapotis - modeled by Bugg

...I don't think she is going to give my Clapotis back...

Clapotis - modeled photos coming soon

..because the kids are still sleeping...

EVERYONE except for me must have finished a Clapotis...well, not anymore!

This Knitty pattern has sucked many a knitter in. I've stalked the Clapotis on blogs and read the woes of those who have began knitting it. Those testaments kept me at bay for a very long while.

Last month I spied a skein of Schaeffer Yarns Laurel in a small LYS. This skein had been fondled by me before and it drew me in again. Surprising because I am not a huge fan of cotton - especially mercerized cotton. On top of all of that, the colorway was Judy Garland - a garish display for my tastes. Yet...it called to me (heh heh, you see where this is going). That skein and a friend of it's followed me home.

Over the weekend, the yarn crawled out of my yarn pile and sat on the table in front of me. We looked at each other for awhile...it screamed Clapotis! I resisted, knowing full well that the color strands would lead to pooling...it screamed back - CLAPOTIS!

I cast-on.

I now own a beautiful finished Clapotis! It is marvelous and drapey. This yarn was the perfect choice for me. The colors remind me of tye-dye...and I love them...yes, even the pooling! Best of all, this will be the perfect beach accessory - I will take pictures to prove it.

So...proceed with the photos but be warned: the following is not for the faint of heart. If you are

extremely adverse to pooling, get out now --- while you still can...

2 skeins Schaefer Yarns Laurel 100% mercerized pima cotton - Judy Garland; sz 7 needles

Catching up on the unfinished objects

The floor of my home office is covered with knit-things that are drying. The blocking process doesn't usually get away from me. A wonderfully knitted piece needs to be blocked to achieve it's ultimate glory.

This week has been both frustrating and enlightening. The Icarus Shawl that I am making from Briar Rose Forth of July progressed and I am ready to begin the final 20-some rows...I ran out of yarn. Google helped me determine that many knitters have started Icarus and few of those who have finished posted about their final yardage. I did find one site that seemed to support reasons for my dismay - she used 900 yards before the final chart! The goal will be to finish this shawl and weigh it for final yardage and then try to cut out some of those repetitive rows on the first chart to make this a manageable knit.

Project withdrawl nearly set it...but I had planned to finish up a few things once Icarus was...um...complete? The Tilly Garden Shawl needs to have the knitted on border . I love this shawl. This is my first knit on border and I didn't do the math prior to getting to it. It has turned out well and the final corner is nearing. Tilly sat on my lap most of yesterday evening and family began talking to me, rows were taken out, Tilly was put aside. This may be finished today.

The Blocking

Zip neck vest knit from Blue Sky Alpacas Cotton - Navy: Began before vacation, dreaded until now. The front and back are finished and there is not much left to do.

Multi Directional Scarf knit from Rowan Tapestry: Finished months ago

Yet to block: Bugg's Eyelet Cardigan knit from Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton

...Oh, I wasn't really smoking that cigar (at least, I don't remember smoking it). That is a funny photo from our family trip to Washington, Vancouver, Victoria a few years ago.

Tea Rose Tank and Eyelet Cardigan-modeled

These knits have been finished for some time and Bugg slowed down enough today to run by the camera!

Tea Rose Tank - modified from the Tea Rose Halter in the 2007 Summer Interweave Knits.

Made from Blue Sky Alpaca's Cotton Color 627 Flamingo. Small post info here

Eyelet Cardigan - Made from Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton Color 81 Sand

I asked for a silly shot and wanted to share this last photo

...and then she was off to play tennis again!

Screwing up my knitting

THE SHAWL

Thrill overtook me when Chris asked for a sample in her Fourth of July. It is a shawl pattern I have wanted to knit and just haven't properly prioritized in my knitting projects.

The 2 hanks of yarn were fabulous, but not dead-on matches as those of us who love to knit with hand painted fiber know. This is something I know about, the precise moment when this fact burned itself into my brain is lost to me - but I KNOW.

Excitement over took me and I cast-on and knit and knit and knit some more. 3 days - 550 yards all knit wooohooo I was moving fast...(insert screeching halt here)! I realized that the second skein was not a dead-on match - big surprise? No...shock was not one of the emotions that I felt. Anger with myself was what I felt because I knew - I KNEW.

Gracious Chris offered to send more yarn so I didn't have to rip out 550 yards of progress (she's so sweet). Freshly through my meltdown, realization hit that if I did not do this right, it would haunt me all my knitting days (and I plan to have many of these). Out came the knitting - with out alcohol, I might add.

My original goal was to have this to Chris by the time she goes to Iowa...I am into the 3rd/5 repeat for the first chart...I think I can.

IMPORTANCE

Kristy sent an e-mail earlier this week. She made my scarf for ISE3 and I have been so thankful for her friendship. She has had medical events for a long while and I am praying for her - please take a second and put her in your thoughts.

Last but not least

...a picture of Darby. I know, he needs a haircut!

Intestinal Fortitude and the New Neighbor

OMG! I am so astonished that I put down my knitting (gasp) and came to share my new neighbor with you.

The back story: We live in a newly (last 5 years) developed area with 12 lots. It is arranged in a 'court' type area with a 5 acre pond on each side so nearly all of the homes have pond in their 'back yard'. The area used to be a gravel pit long, long ago. Up until last summer we were one of 2 homes and the other lots were unoccupied.

This is a small community where families have raised their families, have raised their families. We've been here for 4 years and are still 'outsiders'. Kids from all over the town have always come to these ponds to swim and I believe they always will. I know a woman who swam here growing up and she is 50 years old!

The back sides of the ponds are undeveloped and owned by one family who are smart enough to realize that the kids are going to come and they don't stop them as long as they are congenial. If foul language has been expressed, the kids have always apologized for offending and returned to an acceptable disposition.

Enter the new neighbors: They are middle aged retirees and have built many-a-quality-home in this neck of the woods. This is meant to be their final resting place (no pun intended) and they are also building their daughter a house next door to them. I heard that their other daughter built the house across the street and just moved in...not a tight-knit (pun intended) neighborhood, ya see?

The new neighbors (she a retired teacher) have grown children and apparently have forgotten that kids are kids. They DO NOT like kids swimming in any part of the 5 acre pond they back up to...

Sidebar: I really saw this coming and thought the community kids would have gained revenge last Halloween

The new neighbors cont'd: Up until now, it has been pretty low-key where my 14-year old son and his friends are concerned. He has good friends, I know them. They are respectful and helpful and pretty funny to listen to. Awhile ago, my doorbell rang and the new neighbor (wife) stood at my door. I must say, her body language and twisted face gave it away - she was upset!

Me: Hell......
NN: (interrupting the greeting and talking loudly) Is your son one of the boys back there swimming?
Me: Yes, he is with two of his friends. Is ther......
NN: Do you know what kind of kids he is spending time with? (no breath) AND he is on private property!
Me: I know his frie...
NN: The one with a beard is using filthy language
Me: My son and his friends are 14 - they do not have beards. Many many kids go swimming back there. (glancing over her shoulder, I see at least 2 cars which had transported kids to swim) It is a big pond, they are not with those kids. I will take care of my son and his friends getting on the private property, they shouldn't be doing that - I apologize.
NN: WELL, you should be more concerned with the company your son keeps

(ok, I'm getting pissed!)

Sidebar: At this point, my son's two friends are coming up the driveway, my son is coming across the street to avoid walking on anyone's yard...smart kid! Meanwhile, NN is hastily retreating down my driveway while yelling various parenting tips over her shoulder. She gets to the curb by my mailbox and turns and yells that I need to...

Me: Kids have always come here and they always will. Maybe you should have taken that into consideration before building your house.
NN: Those ki...
Me: (finally raising my voice a small tad) Don't stand at the street yelling at me, go home
NN: Now I know where your son gets it!

Summary: Ok, she got the last word. Seriously, I am amused. She was a teacher? No wonder our school system leaves much to be desired.

Anyway, the boys filled me in (and I saw beard-boy scramble to a car). A couple of the other kids did choose to use foul language after being chased down and harassed by said NN. 'My kids' were talked to and told that is not a way to resolve anything...they already knew that. Beard Boy and Cousin of Beard Boy remain unknown to 'my kids'. Must have been a random swim-by. 'My kids' will not again rest on any 'private property' (the ponds are not part of their land deed). Just for good measure, they also will not go onto the shore on NN's 'side of the pond'.

As for the NN; I guess we won't be exchanging birthday cards and I'm going to look out this Halloween. They were lucky last year, but you know those kids are going to get even...kids are kids.

Hmmm, I'll bet NN would be nicer if she knew how to knit!

Knitting - past, present, future

So....I tagged Wanda last week and she graciously meme'd (which I found very interesting) and then posted an 'inventory' of her own. I'm intrigued and decided to be tagged myself:

Bold for stuff you've done, italics for stuff you plan to do eventually and normal for stuff you don't intend to do.

As a knitter, I reserve the right to change my mind and cast-on something not planned at any time in the future!

Afghan (only half finished)
I-cord
Garter stitch (sworn off due to the boredom factor)
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up (tried it, honestly - I didn't GET it)
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up

Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL (Briar Rose)
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn

Domino knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with Bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn—soy blend
Cardigan
Toy/Doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
baby items

Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (I don't even know what this is - say Google!)
Continental Knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit

American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with Alpaca
Fair Isle Knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors (does grass stain count?)
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars

Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living (otherwise, I will never use a portion of my stash)
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn

Steeks (yes, I'm planning...yikes!)
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously-Why??Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured Knitting
Kitchener Bind Off
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching!!!!!!

Long Tail CO-that's what I use the most!
Entrelac
Knitting and Purling Backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegated yarn-umm, can you say socks!!
Stuffed Toys
Knitting with Cashmere (still trying to figure out if there was really cashmere in it)
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn

Writing a pattern
Gloves (They were great gifts!)
Intarsia
Knitting with Linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows

Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/Bolero/Poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public (before it was cool)

Lutea Lace - Shoulder Shell modeled

Ask and you shall receive! Doulicia has been thinking of making this pattern from 2007 Summer Interweave Knits.

I adjusted the size to a 38" by adding 8 stitches at cast on.

After working the decreases, I had 60 stitches left (which was the number for a size 40").

I worked the short rows as noted and finished according to the size 40 schematics. When working the lace shoulders, there were not enough stitches for a complete repeat (I believe it was one stitch short). The pattern is such that I just worked the last 2 stitches (instead of 3)as called for (*k3 became k2 for row 1; k3 tog became k2 tog for row 2). After the first 4 rows, there was the correct number of stitches. Also, for the Left-back shoulder, I reversed the order of the stitches and worked backward i.e. Row 1: k3 (2)*, yo, k1...(don't forget, you are one stitch short on this side too~repeat what you did for the right-back shoulder).

After accomplishing the first two shoulders, I just repeated what I had done for the front two shoulders.

You can do it Doulicia!! E-mail me if you get stuck.