Knitting...knitting...knitting....

Okay, I know it's been almost a full week since I've written anything here. But it's because I've been busy. I'm almost done with the main part of "number 3" of my secret design. And I've made a few other things in the meantime.

<3

Here are Princess's mitts...

It took one day to knit them up and dye them. I used the same turquoise blue cashmere as I used for Angel's, but Princess loves purple. So I overdyed them with cherry koolaid. There's still quite a bit of blue in them, but she says she really likes them. Now I just need to figure out the adult size and write down the pattern...

<3

Here's a dishcloth I designed for my dear friends in the Bunker. They're like family to me...

This pattern is only available to members of the Bunker.

<3

And here's the promised picture of "Laura".

I wasn't able to get a picture of Laura (my pastor's wife) with "Laura" (the shawl), because she didn't open it immediately. So I'll just have to be content of this picture of me holding it. I have a few friends test-knitting this one, but I will be posting the pattern soon!

<3

I'm finding inspiration everywhere I look!

A Girl's Best Friend...

Everybody knows that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Which is why I've chosen that as the name for this pattern. I designed and knit these in less than 24 hours. Well, actually, I figured out the lace pattern ahead of time, then decided what kind of garment to use it for. These fingerless mitts are sized for a little girl, and I intend to figure out a women's size as well.

For these mitts, I used recycled worsted-weight cashmere that I had dyed with koolaid. I knitted them flat, then seamed up the side by the thumb, leaving an opening for said thumb. I made them for Angel, my oldest daughter. She has been wearing them all afternoon, despite the fact that it is summer. Now Princess wants a pair, but of course hers have to be purple.

In other knitting news, I've finished the second size of my secret pattern. Three more to go....

After spending hours and hours yesterday working on it...

Laura's shawl is done! It is blocking right now; I washed it and laid it out last night, but it's still not dry. Well, it is cotton, after all! But it should be dry later today. So I can give it to her on Sunday. Now I just need to get some pretty wrapping paper... And I'll post pictures later.

Now, just because I'm done knitting the shawl, that doesn't mean I'm done praying for her. I'll keep praying as long as she needs the prayers. And I'd like to ask my readers to continue praying for her as well. You can follow her journey on her blog at http://laurashook.com She updates it every day, or almost every day.

As soon as I get the pattern refined and turned into a PDF file, I will post it on my other blog, and link to it on this one. Now I'll turn back to my big project. I've been neglecting it for two weeks so I could focus on "Laura".

Okay, I know I haven't posted anything since Thursday...

so here's a general update on everything. Laura's shawl is progressing slowly; I need to focus and spend a few hours today working on it. My goal is to finish it this week so I can give it to her on Sunday. Which means I'd have to finish by Friday, so that I can block it on Saturday. Which means I have to get busy!

I didn't knit a single stitch yesterday; I was too busy. I did 6 loads of laundry; ironed 6 shirts, 5 pairs of pants, one pair of shorts and 3 perler bead creations; sewed one split seam, 9 buttons, and one small hole; and attempted to felt two sweaters in my washing machine. It's a front-loader, and it doesn't look like it worked. Oh, well. I can just fall back on my original plan; taking them to the laundromat and felting them there in the top-loader.

I am on day 14 of the Love Dare. I should be on Day 15, but I fell a little behind. I'm caught up now, thanks to yesterday. I'm changing. This dare is all about doing what I can to improve my marriage. I can't change my husband; I can only change myself. I can only hope and pray that he decides to change for the better as well.

I think we're planning on going to the pool later today; it's supposed to be really hot out. I'd much rather stay in the air conditioning, but the pool might be fun, too.

Knitting and Designing...

Here's the WIP(work-in-progress) picture of Laura's shawl. I know I promised to post it on Monday, but I got distracted and forgot to take a picture until today. Sorry about that. It's almost three feet long now, so just over two feet to go. I think if you click on the picture, you can see it bigger. That way you can see the detail better. The lace pattern is a very simple eyelet diamond. Easy, pretty, elegant, but not showy. I love showy shawls, but my skills aren't quite to that level yet.

I am working on another design, using a different lace pattern that I came up with myself, but I'm not sure yet if I want to make it a shawl. Maybe something smaller...I've got some ideas, but I haven't settled on anything yet. I'm enjoying this new foray into designing. I've been designing my own stuff almost since I learned to knit last year, but I was designing it for myself, not for anyone else. Now I'm keeping track of my ideas, and refining them. Hopefully, I can come up with a few patterns that other people will want to knit.

As soon as I get this shawl done, I'm going back to my big project: the pattern I want to submit to Knitty. I set it aside near the end of knitting the second size, and I need to get back to it. September seems like a long time away, but I know that I can't procrastinate. I need to get this pattern written and get test knitters lined up, so that I will be able to make any edits to the pattern before the deadline. My goal is to be finished knitting all five by the beginning of August, so that my test knitters will have at least a month to do theirs. It is a pretty quick knit; when I was working exclusively on the smallest size, I finished it within about a week. I just have to keep myself from getting distracted, once "Laura" is done. Wish me luck!

Nearly halfway done...

with Laura's shawl. Hooray! I'm really enjoying the lace pattern; it's so easy. I'll try to get a good picture taken and posted tomorrow. Update on Laura: after more tests, they now know that the cancer is only in her colon and one lymph node. It's considered Stage 3. She's starting chemo and radiation treatments tomorrow; she'll be doing both at the same time. Everyone is staying upbeat, praying instead of worrying. If you want to, you can read her blog at http://laurashook.com

Today is my anniversary.

Hubby and I have been married nine years. And they've been mostly good years. ;) So tonight, we're having a nice quiet dinner after the kids are in bed. I'm going to grill steaks. And I'm also making a no-bake cheesecake for dessert; I used to make those a bunch when we were newlyweds. I got him a gift card for Gander Mountain, which is an "outdoors" type of store. They sell stuff for hunting and fishing and camping, so I know he'll find something he likes there. I tried really hard to find something leather to give him, since leather is the ninth year gift. Well, I couldn't find anything leather that would make a good gift, except a nice leather wallet. But he doesn't carry a wallet; he uses a money clip. So scratch that idea. I think the gift card will be just fine. I don't know what he's giving me...unless it's a gift card for a massage or a yarn store...

We're going to go out for dinner on Friday; weekends work better for babysitters. I think we're planning on going to Applebees or Chilis. Either way, that will be nice.

A gift that I'm giving him, but he won't know about it yet...today I started the Love Dare. It's a forty-day challenge, designed to improve your marriage. Day 1 is about patience. The challenge is to "not say anything negative". Kinda tricky when you're dealing with PMS, but it can be done!