Sneak Peek...

Sneaky Surprise is due to be gifted this morning -- so I can finally share what I'm knitting with you all later today.

But until then...


Update: Oops, plans fell through... sneaky surprise will remain a secret for a while longer! But don't worry, much more knitting to show soon!

Musings...

Knitting with worsted-weight after all the lacework I've been doing, feels like cheating . . .

It's just too easy!

Knitting, baking, cooking, working...

It's been busy busy chez Linz... the boyfriend is working on moving in so there's a lot of *stuff* everywhere.

I have been knitting though (TV time is perfect for that!), and have actually made progress (!) on my Hanami. Le voila:


It obviously needs a block, but I am so in love with this scarf!


I am almost done the basketweave section (phew!) and can't wait for the random YOs of the blossom section. Excellent.

Also keeping me busy: making my own whole wheat sourdough starter. What fun. I'm thinking he needs a name, and "Fluffy" sounds just about right. My new pet, I have to remember to feed him and everything!

And of course, the super sneaky project has to remain a suprise for another couple of weeks. Until then, I shall leave you with one more Hanami-shot for your viewing (drooling?) pleasure:

A Little Sneak...

Ok, all is dull in my knitting world.

I'm currently working on two projects:

1) Hanami - which looks the same as last time but with a couple more repeats, and is currently in time out because of a strange lace event in the basketweave section that I'm not prepared to deal with. It's still pink, I still love the yarn, but it needs a time out.

2) Super Sneaky Project Fall 2009 - which started at the cottage, and I can't tell you much more about other than it's a present, you'll love it, and it will be gifted this fall! In fact, the knitting of it should be done shortly and I can then either attend to Hanami, or start on something else. Turns out I'm no longer a monogamous knitter, and I love it.

When you add bronchitis to the mix, it's a dull time for blog posts. On the plus side, I'm feeling good enough to knit again, and woke up feeling like a new human being this morning. There will also be lots of knitting time in the next few days as I spend lots of time on my butt trying not to do anything too strenuous.

I think I should demand drinks be brought to me, with umbrellas. And cabana boys.

RIP Pink Socks

Brace yourselves, knitters.

The first socks I ever knit for myself are gone.



I loved everything about these socks (perfect fit! koigu! cables! my first socks! ankle-high!), and you don't know how heartbroken I am to have them gone. They seem to have jumped out of my suitcase in Amsterdam, where I had a very quick plane connection between Manchester and Stockholm. (Let's not discuss how I also lost one shoe and all my underwear. My thongs are having a party in Amsterdam without me...)

RIP Socks. I loved you well.

Bad Knitter...

I have a finished sweater, but it's not washed and blocked yet... and I wore it ALL OVER Europe!!!

Wanna see my Featherweight?


Ok, maybe I should go wash it so I can wear it a little more proudly... and not have to unroll the collar to show people what it "really looks like".

Off to find the wool wash!

Basketweaving Away!

Wanna see my Hanami?


I'm so in love with this pattern, but am having a really hard time getting a good photo of it. It seems like hot pink knitting reflects the light so much that I can't get a decent picture!

A lot of people mentioned that the basketweave pattern of the stole is tough, but (*knock wood*) it seems to be going ok for me so far. And I'm really looking forward to the 'random YOs' of the cherry blossom section. Seems like it would be tough to mess that one up.

And yes, I'm still in love with the beaded cast-on.

I dare you...

I dare you to cast on for Hanami, and not be in love.



Yep, beaded cast on, you are my new best friend.

This is the beginning of the Hanami stole, which has been in my queue forever in The Plucky Knitter Silk Merino Handpainted Laceweight. Um, yeah. This yarn is to die for.

The beads are rectangular, and I think they are just SO pretty. And I'm loving having an excuse to use my fabulous stitchmarkers from Lisa. I normally avoid using them, but it was necessary for this pattern - and I'm so happy to get another chance to use them. (Even if they are red and orange, and my knitting is pink!)

I'm knitting it as part of a Snobby Beaded KAL I started on the Ravelry Yarn Snobs board. And I am now compulsively adding beaded shawls to my queue.

I don't have quite enough yarn for the pattern requirements (880 yards required, and I have 700), so I'm cutting out one horizontal repeat. We'll see if I need to cut out vertical repeats on the way...