Once Upon a Time.....

.......there was a lady named Lara. She was a crafter of great variety but also a mother, daughter, granddaughter, friend, an employee and many other things. Sometimes she shared her projects and perhaps a few stories on a blog. However, other times life kept her a very busy lady and if you only followed the blog, she appeared to have poofed into some mysterious disappearance and who knew if she would ever return?

In short - yes, I'm still around and have been living life with all it's ups and a few downs to go with it. Thankfully, I also have those crafts to enjoy and they have not been as neglected as the blog! Christmas and New Year's came & went since my last post. Valentine's Day was enjoyed by many. On Ravelry - where I have been slightly more visible these last weeks - the Ravelympics began and ended. As a team captain and a team member I also spent quite a bit of time on Ravelympics as a matter of fact and while I did not manage to complete everything I signed up for in the mad insanity of enthusiasm and hope when planning for events (ok, work also played a disruptive part) I DID cross the finish line with two projects (more coming soon), did considerable spinning on a third and even managed to complete more than half of a shawl I plan to wear to my son's wedding late June. Soooo many things to share but we must start somewhere, right?

Therefore - to begin - I give you a glimpse of first of Seed Pod Socks, started and completed since my last, long ago post - finished, in fact, even before the end of December!



Pattern: Seed Pod Socks - Bad Cat Designs
Yarn: Plymouth Happy Feet, 2 skeins
Needles: US1 / 2.25MM

These were fun to knit and I will no doubt knit them again......and in spite of only one in the picture, the pair really is finished and has been worn!

Next - finished December 30th - you might recall the lovely Misty Moonlit Midnight (Tallin Sunset) shawl I began some time ago. As a related side note, I do hope my resident photographer is able to assist with some modeled pictures of several projects - including these - sometime very soon.



Pattern: Tallin Sunset, by Bad Cat Designs
Yarn: Handdyed Merino Lace (Stonybrook) by Fearless Fibers, used ~1,115 yards
Needles: US4 / 3.5mm
Beads: Megatamas, 3mm crystal AB beads from Earthfaire

As with all Bad Cat Designs, I feel you can't go wrong knitting this! The pattern was great fun and the yarn was lovely to work with.

I will be back - perhaps even later today - with more on Ravelympics .......

Finish me this......

Recently, I shared some of the WIPs I found. Here now, are some items I've finished that I took forever to share here.

The Get Well Soon scarf is really a free little pattern Ms. BadCat calls Crested Wave and can be found on her blog or as a download from Ravelry. I called it "Get Well Soon" since I made it for Puppy while she had pneumonia! She slept, I knit and she was very happy on all counts, hehehe. Thankfully, she is feeling much better these days. Since she also loved it enough to make it disappear and not allow pictures lately......it seems I only have a pre-blocking shot for you today.

Size 3.5mm (US4) needles
1 full skein Panda Silk Print

I finished my Heartland Lace Shawl in yummy Yak/Merino fingering weight from Colourmart ages ago. It's been washed into a luscious, soft and warm shawl. It's been used, petted and loved. Ironically, what it hasn't been is properly blocked! Nevertheless, a picture for your screen-petting pleasure. I'm sorry you can't feel it in person! One of these days I'll take it out of action for a proper blocking......perhaps I'll post another pic or two with some finished dimensions.




Project Name: Heartland Lace Shawl
Yarn used: Colourmart 3/14 fingering weight 50/50 yak/wool
Amount used: approx 616 yds / 120 gr (4.2 oz)
Needles: 4mm
Pattern name/source: Heartland Lace Shawl, Evelyn Clark Designs/Wild Fibers Magazine Winter 2007
Did 5 repeats total

Coming soon to needles near you?

Ok well first.......Don't you just wish? This is Lump, all flaked out in true worn-out Husky fashion. Don't be fooled, he's a live wire :-).

Just a little preview or two of things in the works.....

We have these lovely swatches as a wee contribution (along with the "calculations") to the amazing Queen Susan shawl project - a recreation of a gorgeous shawl from the Shetland Museum and it will be astounding!



Then there's the teensiest glimpse of the two Dark Star stoles I have in the works as another bit of the Summer Squares projects from the creative mind of Bad Cat Designs :-). As always, her designs are a treat to knit and can't be recommended highly enough! Look for the pattern coming soon for folks who missed the group!



And last (for tonight), I leave you with a preview of the pattern that I've been working on, mainly from the Haapsalu Sall library of Estonian designs and knitting information. I wish I could read the words, not just the charts but all the same it's a gorgeous book!

For the moment at least, I am calling it Red Cedar and you have GOT to check out the yarn! Gossamer Webs Vorpal Bunny Ranch is so soft and so yummy to knit up! We'll see if the name sticks but for now......in Copper - isn't it just a gorgeous color?

Golden Eye - yup, it's FINISHED

Another beautiful design from the talented BadCatDesigns. Look how pretty this is, eh? I think I shall have to make another that stays home sometime soon. This one, however, is going to a new baby and hopefully will be well loved and used lots!

I used Bernat Baby yarn because it's very soft and easy care for a new mom and I could "kill" the acrylic. It delayed completion because I swear it squeaks when you knit it! It's an odd (and disturbing) thing to feel & sort of hear. I'm spoiled, it's true and thank goodness for it! :-)

Project Name: Summer Squares - Golden Eye
Yarn used: Bernat Baby
Amount used: ~1050 yards
Needles: US 4 / 3.5mm
Finished dimensions: ~42" square
Pattern designer: BadCatDesigns

Midsummer Night's Dream - Titania

Here's a bit of loveliness thanks once again to the wonderful design talents of Bad Cat Designs....

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to test knit it. She was quite patient about it, too! I had a few life bumps that stalled delivery on this one but isn't she worth it? The design is a delight to knit up. What else can you expect? That Ms. Bad Cat does the most marvelously fun patterns! The recipient of this one was very slightly less patient (but saw it often) and is exceedingly delighted that she finally has it! It's been done for a wee bit of time but sharing on my part needed to wait until you, too, could have the fun of knitting this up!

The yarn is wonderful, amazing stuff - like knitting with clouds. Unfortunately, this particular yarn is no longer available, however, Colourmart no doubt has some other bit of knitting delight you could use instead!

Mid-Summer Night's Dream - Titania
Bad Cat Designs
Colourmart 3/45 lace weight 65% Cashmere/ 35% Silk ~50gr (~850 yds)
Plus:
~28 gr #8 clear, silver-lined beads
~1-2 gr #6 Turquoise blue frosted

How'd I miss it?

.......one of my favorites of the "cheesecake" shots.....didn't Ms. Puppy (my darling daughter) do a fantastic job with the photography?

(ps - if you are on Ravelry there are even more pictures)

The Summer Sampler Takes Flight

......or at least I enjoyed the lovely breezes for our photo shoot together!


.....and the views!



This has been a wonderful bit of fun and learning. Thanks to the internet, I finally learned to both knit AND purl backwards for the edging of this shawl. I had LOTS of practice on the edging and feel rather proficient at it now :-).



Thanks, Ms. Bad Cat for another wonderful design!





Project Name: Dusk Summer Sampler
Yarn used: Graceful, in "Summer Dusk"
Amount used: ~1355 yards
Yarn source: Yarn Place
Total weight: 75 gr
Needles: 2.75mm (US2)
Finishing method: Wet blocked
Finished dimensions: 24"x95"
Pattern name/source: Summer Sampler Study by Bad Cat Designs
Other notes, including techniques used: Knit return edging rows "backwards" instead of turning my work

A preview of coming attractions......

sounds rather dramatic doesn't it? Well in a way it is. I have finally (at long last!) finished my Dusk Summer Sampler project. It's blocking now. A post with cheesecake shots will follow but for now.....the above shot was bath time. The below view is a rather fuzzy shot of her blocking......

MORE marvelous fun from the Bad Cat!

I have been behind in sharing that there is a Summer project for THIS summer with Bad Cat Designs. I highly recommend you pop on over to her blog and read all about it - better yet read the details and sign up for the group. It's not too late to join us for a fantastic series of projects, education and good company! C'mon, you know you want to :-).

A preview of my beginning.....at least my FIRST one for this series. I suspect I shall give in quite soon and start another.....


This particular version is in Bernat Baby. I confess that I am only using it because I want to make a baby blanket that can be washed, doesn't need reblocking and a first time mom doesn't have to worry about using but that also is lace. Acrylic, steam blocked, fits the bill. It's just that it squeaks while I'm knitting. Or maybe I've just gotten spoiled/accustomed to knitting with natural fibers and my fingers are no longer adjusted? In any case I hope it will turn out to be a very nice baby blanket that fits the bill and makes my deserving co-worker a happy camper :-).

.....and YES, I am coming down the TRUE home stretch for the Summer Sampler edging.......really, truly.......and am on my way to knit more of it right now!

Yup - more of the Summer Sampler!

Some better shots this round I think :-). I have actually managed a few other things this week. I've even done some other knitting but have no pictures of that just yet. I still have plenty of other things I plan to start but as it happens I'm getting some hints & whiffs of "finish-itis" as well to balance some of that startitis I had last month. I'm not rushing anything in particular but there are a few things.......

In the mean time, here are some much improved pictures. I hope you'll enjoy them. You'll note the re-dos for Patterns 8&9 but Pattern 10 is an update. Pattern 11 can even be previewed here but wasn't quite done at picture time. Clearly it will be soon ;-).

Pattern 8 reshot:



Pattern 9 reshot:

Pattern 10:

Pattern 10 detail:

Colors and more colors.......wonder which one is next?



Stay tuned for more updates - finished objects no less!

Growth of the "Dusk" Summer Sampler

Mostly just pictures - I shall have to try for some better one's to replace these with soon, however. I don't think these are quite up to par. None the less, they are what we have today ;-).

Pattern 8:

Pattern 8 detail:
Pattern 9:

Pattern 9 detail:

Check out the colors on this baby!

This one is progressing a bit more rapidly some of the time. It's hard to put it down! The color changes are VERY subtle while they occur and it's all kinds of fun to see the progression on top of a great pattern.

Lots of picture updates for this one!

Pattern 4:

Pattern 4 detail:

Pattern 5:

Pattern 5 detail:


Pattern 6:


Pattern 6 detail:

Pattern 7:

Pattern 7 Detail: