A couple of things . . .

Beadwork

Here is a photo of my Scottish Fleet for Beadwork. The color is “Rock Dove” and it’s sort of a light khaki color. I think the copper colored buttons will look great with it.

A question in yesterday’s comments — how difficult is Beadwork?

I had to go back and look at the pattern because I had no idea. I’d say “adventuresome intermediate.” You gotta be able to follow a fairly complicated texture chart, and be willing to knit on small needles at a tight gauge. The garment shapng is pretty standard — a cardigan with dropped shoulders and shoulder straps.

Roscalie

Starting out on the sleeve.

Lucy supervises.

Dale Baby Sweater

Here’s the commuter knitting project I started yesterday.

A Dale of Norway baby sweater, project details in the sidebar. What a sweet little sweater. It has a fairly simple lace pattern, but is loads of fun to knit!

And here she is, in all her sleeveless glory:

Front band/neck band completed, all facings sewn down. So now all that I gotta do is knit the sleeves and when they are done, it’s done. I picked up stitches and started the first sleeve.

And guess who was in my lap during all this?

I did order some nice Celtic-looking buttons from a place called Dream Weaver Beads. This, for Roscalie:

And thinking ahead, this for Beadwork:

Why I Don’t Knit With Cotton

Someone in a comment last week asked why I have a “prejudice” aganst cotton.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say I have a prejudice against cotton. I just don’t like to knit with it. And the climate here in the summer is not good for wearing cotton sweaters as far as I’m concerned. It’s hot and humid most of the summer — there’s usually a week in the spring and a week in the autumn when short sleeve cotton sweaters are just right. The rest of the time it’s too hot or too cold for me. Your mileage may vary.

Also, I prefer fine gauge cotton sweaters — finer than fingering weight. Not something you could handknit.

And that’s the straight dope.

If you’ve been to Kathy’s blog, you’ll see that she’s spilled the beans!

Wendyknits is going on a road trip!

(Well, okay, I’m flying to Toronto, but that’s a minor point.)

Three weeks from Wednesday, I’m going to Toronto to meet up with Kathy, Kate, Amy and Jillian for our own little mini knit retreat. Before we head off into the wilds of Ontario, we’re going to be at a Toronto Bitch and Stitch the evening of Wednesday, June 25th. I hope anyone/everyone who is in the area will come! Details of location are on Kathy’s blog.

Weekend Knitting

Some good progress on Roscalie. I finished the body, like so:

I cut open the front steek, like so:

And I commenced to pick up 401 stitches from the front band/neck band. Good thing we had a couple of movies to watch! Scotland, PA and Insomnia.

Rather than knit back and forth on the band, I did like Geane suggests — I made a steek at the bottom of the front bands connecting each side — like so:

I had the band done by the time we finished the second movie, and started on the facing for the band. Got the facing done last night, sewed it down, and sewed down the bottom facing, so I’m all set to cut open a sleeve steek and start on that tonight.

I’m gonna need buttons for this sucker. I looked at what I’ve got, and none are quite right. Anyone have any good online button sources for Celtic/Scottish-look buttons?

Next Project

It looks like Beadwork gets the popular vote!

Lucy Sez

Meow! Monday again??!! Time for a snooze . . .