bestitched

It puts the lotion in the basket...

So, BL's 16-year-old niece is visiting with us this week. And we have done tons of shopping in stores I have never frequented, such as Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, and Bath and Body Works. Clearly I have no business going to the first two stores, but I don't know why I never have really checked out B&BW. My friend J even worked there as a "lotion consultant" during a holiday season.

Gah, what the hell was I thinking? They carry foaming hand soap and almond lotion. Clearly, I have been missing out.

 

But, now for knitting content. It's been too hot to knit anything but afghan squares. So, here are  some more:

I've been sewing some together using mattress stitch as I go so that I'm not overwhelmed at the end of the project.

***Edited to add: I forgot to list the best memory of the visit thus far. The look on my friend J's face and the niece's face when, talking about the difference between Michael Jackson and R. Kelly, my friend K said, "Peeing on someone isn't a crime, it's a preference". 

Afghan progress

I made some more progress on the Briland Blanket.

See the pink? 

It's meant to remind me of pink sand . Which it does. Sigh...

Ahh, much better

Limoncello has been frogged. Doesn't the yarn look just so much more relaxed now?

Well, I know I feel better.

While plotting my next project with this yarn, I discovered some beads I have that would look great. I know, this is a shitty picture, but these are some great frosted glass beads that are apricot colored. Trust me, they are nice.

And, my new T pass came today.* How's this for coordination?

Hope I get to wear Nelly once in August!

*Although I'm not taking the bus too much these days. It's just too full of hot, sweaty bodies. These days it's me and my bike. That Tpass is only getting swiped on rainy days.

Fickle

A month ago, all I needed to complete my summer wardrobe (hah!, like it's ever really completed!) was a lemon-colored boatneck sweater. I talked at length with Grumperina about this and came up with a plan to knit one. So, I order some yarn, but the yarn took a little while to get to me. In the meanwhile, I spent money on more summer clothes and included in those purchases was several lemon-colored tops. Sigh.

But, then, the lemon yarn appeared at my doorstep. It's here! It's here! Must begin working away on my new lemon-colored boatneck!

And so I did. But, whilst working away on the aptly named Limoncello boatneck

 

my eyes kept turning to other things, like this

because since I already have something for the summer in lemon, don't I need something for the fall or spring in lemon???

Argh. June, look away. You know what might be coming next and it's not pretty.

Back home

Even though I love seeing family (especially my sweet nephews), it's wonderful to be back home!

Much knitting was accomplished, much with the help of my five-year-old nephew Dominic, who likes to hold the ball of yarn while I knit (aaawwww!). No pictures of that (sorry!). The other nephew, Nicholas, was too busy playing Gamecube (he's eight).

Back of Nelly was completed before I left. So, I finished the left front

And began the right

Ma and I went shopping at her lovely LYS (sorry no website, but fab store!). I picked up Sarah Dallas Knitting, some Katia Mississippi, and some more Manos Cotton Stria in Bubblegum for Nelly

Also did a little clothes shopping and found a scarf to match Nelly

Really, could it be any more perfect?

Ma also gifted me with some vintage aprons that her mother used (thanks Ma!).

 

All in all, a wonderful trip!

Then, I came home to the loving arms of BL and mail! I love mail! Best of all, the mail contained the long-anticipated Jaeger Siena in Buttermilk

 

And I got to start my boatneck last night referencing Grumperina's notes and Rosa from Rowan 35. Grumperina's pattern was dead on (as always with the queen of the maths!), but my gauge is off from what I discussed with Grumperina , so I needed  to reference Rowan. 

Plus, it really needed a little picot edge.

So, now, full stop on all other projects so that I can finish Limoncello and enjoy it this summer.

On vacation

Off to visit the family back home. Be back next week!

Cranky

The state of the world, long days at work, a looming deadline and crappy weather are starting to wear on me. I am cranky. Let me amend that. I am crankier than usual. Sigh. Apologies to my friends that I was cranky to today. The others can go fuck themselves.

Here's work-in-progress pictures on the back of Nelly. I've finished the armhole shaping and should be done the back soon. Can I remark on Cotton Ease? Others have said it before but let me chime in : great yarn, great yardage at a great price! I got up to the armhole shaping on just the first skein. Wow!

   

Now I'm starting to think about what edging I want to add. It must be in the raspberry family. The choices are:

Manos Cotton Stria in Bubblegum

Cute!

Or, Rowan Calmer in Amour (discontinued but I have some) Sadly, it does not photograph well

I'm thinking that the Manos is the way to go.

Now, let's talk about edging. The original pattern calls for picking up the stitches around the collar and hems, knitting a row, and then just binding off. Does Nelly need more? Picot edging as my friend A suggested? (A, again, sorry to be cranky today). Any suggestions?

The pattern also calls for an I-cord to keep it closed. I fear that, on me, this may look like the string between the links of a pork sausage. How about something more substantial? Like the ties on this Rowan sweater. And, now that I'm thinking about it, how about a little more embellishment? Like some embroidery? Or am I just gilding the lily? Hmm, I guess one step at a time. Finish knitting the fronts and the sleeves first and then let's see where that takes me.

Also, nothing like a little planning ahead for the next project, which I'm thinking may be this in the Calmer color. Beads, and embellishments and lace. Oh my!

Forewarned

The guy sitting two seats down from me on the bus this morning sneezed into his library book 14 times (I counted).

Work continues on the back of  Nelly. Pics to come later. 

Nellyville

The petticoat socks are complete. Here they are resting by the pool.

Pattern: Petticoat Socks from Weekend Knitting (designed by Veronik Avery)

Yarn: Mandarin Petite in 5200

Needles: US 3

I thought that I would be done with socks now that my first project is complete. A quick trip to a LYS ended that thought when I walked out with this:

Two skeins of Artful Yarns Candy in Sour Apple for some socklettes (no pattern in mind quite yet). New sock yarn meet old sock yarn.

I started Nelly in Cotton Ease Orangina.

Ahh, orange goodness. I was thinking that the entire sweater would be orange, but now I'm thinking it needs raspberry edging.

Finally, some pictures of flowers from the garden in summer bloom:

Forget-me-not and coneflower.