These penguins are from the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland. They were one of our favorite sights on our honeymoon.

Maybe this weekend I can do a project picture purge (once I actually take some) so there are actual knitting things on this blog. I've got the Honeycomb Vest, Fire Fountain Dresser Scarf, Knotty Gloves, and a surprise project actively on the needles (Rav Links). It's hard to work on some of the more complicated projects (like the Fir Cone Square Shawl and cantankerous Monkey Socks) aren't being worked on because I don't have time to puzzle out the next steps I need to take.

In the recently completed pile: hand towels and a swiffer cover for a friend, lots of plain cotton washcloths, a snazzy laptop bag for my new toy! Pictures soon - assuming the sunshine sticks around for a photo shoot.

New Adventure

Today I began a new adventure in knitting. My MIL requested a dresser scarf for Christmas. I'd never heard of such a thing, so I did a little Rav research and found a few patterns. I bookmarked one of them, but wasn't in love. Then when Knit Picks had a sale on laceweight yarn I snapped up some Shimmer in Cumulus - the perfect colorway for my MIL! Unfortunately, my bookmarked pattern and my yarn did not match. I did more searching, but found nothing to my liking. Enter the Interweave Knits "101 Stitches to Knit" card set. I found two lace patterns I liked and decided to try my hand at putting them together.

The Fire Fountain Dresser Scarf was born (in my head anyway). Because this is lace, I've taken a few good notes on what I'm doing so I may even be able to share this pattern when it is completed. I'll have to double check copyrights on the lace patterns first, though. When I've got enough of it done to look like something, I'll post a picture. For now, just wish me luck!

Finally

My big secret project is no longer a secret!!

Wedding Sweater for Christopher (Rav Link)
Men's Cable V-Neck Pullover by Kim Barnette
Rowan RYC Cashsoft Aran in 016 Mist

This was a five month labor of love for my new husband. He loves it. It fits him beautifully. (I'll have to get an action shot sometime soon!) I'm thrilled to pieces! Now, he's just got to learn how to take care of it...

Shortly after I gave it to him, I discovered it in the trunk of his car soaked in Windex that had leaked all over the place. When we got home, he carefully washed it and has promised to take much better care of it in the future.

Center square done!

The center square on the Fir Cone shawl is complete! As soon as I pick up all the border stitches, each round will have 614 little loops of joy for me to knit and purl and so forth. I can't wait!!!

Also - wedding countdown = 10 days!!!

The Fir Cone Square Shawl is shaping up nicely! I'm about halfway through the center section and am falling ever more in love with the pattern. It slides through my fingers now, instead of struggling with them. I can't wait to see it blocked!!

All other exciting and recent knitting projects are wedding and/or gift related. Just three more weeks to the big day! I can't wait to show off the pictures (of the knitting of course!)

He is Risen Indeed! ALLELUIA!

Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.

In the grave they laid him, love by hatred slain,
Thinking that he would never wake again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.

Forth he came at Easter like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Raised from the dead, my living Lord is seen;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.

When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
Your touch can call us back to life again,
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been
Love is come again like wheat arising green.

- Now the Green Blade Rises John MacLeod Campbell Crum, 1872-1958

Happy Easter!

The Return of the Fir

I've finally gotten back to knitting on my Fir Cone Square Shawl. Over the weekend I ripped the whole thing out, went down a needle size, and started over. I'm much happier with the results now. Now, if only my cat would stop looking threateningly at the yarn... one snap of those jaws would snip it in two and I'd have to figure out how to weave in ends on lace. *gulp*

I am able to spend time on the shawl now because I've completed my bridesmaids gifts! I'll post pictures after the wedding - they're a surprise! But I think they're precious! I can't wait to show them off! Just a little more than 6 weeks now... we're getting close!

With this being Holy Week and last week being incredibly busy with a funeral and other goings on, I'm looking forward to a bit more knitting time after Easter. I'm starting to feel yarn-deprived!

Far too long

It has been far too long, dear knitting blog, since I spent time with you. I have excuses, I promise! I've been swamped with work. (That one's old.) I've been knitting secret projects that cannot be revealed until a later time. (Valid point, I suppose.) I've been traveling and away from my computer. (Ever heard of a laptop or e-mail, genius?)

In any case, the Valentine's Day gift for my beloved was a lovely Besotted Scarf (Ravelry Link). It's a lovely green flecked with yellows and browns and blues. I'll have to ask him to take a picture of himself in it. My camera is still broken and I forgot to ask to use his. I apologize!

My big pink, fluffy prayer shawl is close to being done. The knitting group has completed 5 already! We're blessing them in worship on Sunday. :-)

The remaining monkey sock is hibernating for being ornery.

For now, that's all the knitting news I've got.

Happy New Year (a month into 2009)!!!

I didn't fall off the face of the earth - I promise! I've just been knitting a lot more than I've been blogging. I suppose that's what happens when your fiancee lends you all of his Star Trek DVDs (ie - all of TOS and TNG). As much as I hate to admit it, I've been pretty glued to the TV for the past month and a half - but it has produced a lot of knitted goodness! One monkey sock is complete, and the other is fast approaching the heel. A Valentine's Day gift for my beloved is also complete, but since he reads this blog every so often you'll have to wait until next week to see it!

A new prayer shawl ministry is up and running at church. I had to start my shawl over when I discovered it was too narrow, but one of our knitting converts, my dear friend Deb, has already completed hers! I'll be showing her how to weave in ends at our meeting on Tuesday!

Well, that's all my publishable knitting news for now! See Ravelry for more details!