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 .......

Tallin progresses - slowly

.....well, I can't do everything fast :-). I am enjoying this one when I do work on it though and already would highly recommend it to anyone. I do love these Bad Cat Designs patterns!

I'm just about a quarter of the way done with the center portion of this one.


It's quite squishy and fun, too!

March MADNESS

March 7th, I cast on some more. March 14th, yet another.....could it be? March 21st.....ANOTHER one?

Ok, so this month I have major knitting ADD? Startitis? Whatever, I'm having a very good time so pick on me all you like, I'm just going to enjoy all my very happy projects.....

The weekend of the 21st I finally settled on a yarn choice in a much different colorway for Bad Cat Designs Tallin Sunset. This baby has been callin' my name since she published the post on January 18th. It took some time to get the pattern but Joan of The Local Needle was most helpful in ordering some copies and emailing as soon as they arrived. (Thanks, Joan!!) Not that I had a shortage of things to work on first! I've finished a few things since then ;-). But I had decision issues with color. Some other issues with yarn size substitutions (although less for that). The recommended yarn wasn't readily available in this new colorway for one thing and my stash is hardly um....lacking. Abundant would be a more appropriate term, in fact. I also didn't want to make an exact copy. So I finally went a much different direction. I'm calling this my "Misty Moonlit Midnight" based on the lovely colors of "Stonybrook" lace yarn available from the much appreciated Deb of Fearless Fibers.

Color shot:


Detail view:


I'm actually a good bit further along on this now. Hey, that Bad Cat writes addictive patterns! The yarn is a pleasure to work with. I'm having loads of fun!