This past week was either our last road trip or second to last road trip for the summer. I'm still equivocating over the class reunion. It was really nice to have so much time to knit, both in the car and while on our trip, since Rich was in class all day and I had no children with me. I made quite a bit of progress, as well as had rest, time to read and pray, time to walk and visit parks, shop bead and yarn shops, hang out with my buddies from back home and solve the world's problems over coffee. Rich and I had several lovely dinners out and we got to go to a concert on the harbor one night and a salsa dance another night. It was so much fun! At night, walking back from our dinners, Rich would say that we had time to walk a little more and I'd tell him that I had time, but he had homework. I hope his instructor appreciated that.

As you can see above, I finished the neckline edging on the ballerina tank top. Unfortunately, I forgot to pick up every other stitch on the front and back of the neck, so the lace ruffles out. I'm going to work on the armhole edging first, because I automatically picked up the right amount of sts there, and then see if threading a ribbon through the faggoting around the neck and cinching it in a bow will solve the ruffle problem, or if I have to rip back and redo all of it.

I made quite a bit of progress on my Equinox test. I'm hoping to have it finished by August 19, or August 26 at the latest. I have three birthday projects that need to be done in that time, as well, though, so this may be delayed.


Here I am working at the bed and breakfast, which we cannot recommend highly enough.

And here is the yarn I bought at two different shops. The light blue in the back were freebies. I picked up some odds and ends and unicorn tails at one place for some color work, and the Tosh Merino Light in (the ill named) vermillion at another shop - I think it should be called summer rose or ripe raspberry.
I'm still looking for test knitters for my design, so if anyone is interested in testing Cirrus, please e-mail me with Cirrus Test in the subject line using an e-mail address you check on a regular basis. My plan is to have this available in five sizes, XS, S, M, L, XL, approximately to fit a bust of 34", 36", 38", 40", and 42", and I'd like at least one tester for each size. I anticipate having the pattern available to test between late July and August.

I'll bet you are bored of the same books all this time, but I am still reading Christ in His Saints and The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things. There just isn't as much time for me to read, and the knitting has taken priority lately. I'm about half way through the Jane Austen book and almost finished with Christ in His Saints.

These pictures aren't related to the knitting or reading at all, but I thought I'd share a shot Rich got of my hair while we were at the concert on the harbor and a picture of us after we had gone out dancing. I really need to get my hair cut, though Rich has been enjoying how long it is, but kept waiting until I could go see my former hair lady in the harbor. I did get to talk to her, and it turns out she has had a shoulder injury, so she is semi-retired for the moment, but she said to try her later. This means that I have to try someone here, which really freaks me out since it took me several years to find this lady. I was going to try to schedule something in time for my birthday this week, but that hasn't worked out, so maybe in the next couple weeks I can get my hair done. Wish me luck!

Labels: Ballerina Tank, Books, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn, Yarn Along

Almost seven years ago, I started a ballerina tank top. I wove in all ends and sewed the side seams about five and a half years ago. Even though I modified the pattern to raise the neckline by an inch or two, it was still much too low for modesty's sake, so it's been languishing for years while I try to figure out edgings that might work. I think I've finally found one (the disturbingly named Baby's Tears), and I hoped to have it finished in time to post this week, but that wasn't possible. I'm still resting from my illness earlier this month and our surprise Vacation Bible School last week, and I've been too tired to even get much done on that score. So, perhaps next week you'll see a picture of a finished top for me. The project page has a couple other pictures if you want to see more. This picture is probably the closest to the actual color, but it's still not quite right. There is a tinge of purple, the color name is columbine blossom, and that is really what it looks like: Blue with just a touch of purple, a shadow of it, if you will.


The swatch hat is finished, and I am on to starting the actual sweater pattern. I'll post a picture of me wearing the hat soon so you can see the lace pattern better. I believe it is a variation on fir cone. I started with size 3 needles on the hat, but the gauge was too tight, so I went to size 4s, and it worked well. I didn't bother casting on again. Since I knit it top down, I figured it would be fine, and it was. I just switched to the larger needles on the plain stockinette section and kept knitting.


I am glad finally to be finished with Yasmina's heart bowl, and I think I'm finally happy with how it is felted and shaped. I'm excited to give her this for her special items in her room. It will be one of a few birthday presents from us. It's hard to believe that this little girl who was just starting to walk when we moved will be six in just a week.

There has only been negligible progress on my friend's Beatrix Potter Scarf, so I don't even have a picture. Imagine one or two more rows than last week.

I'm still looking for test knitters, so if anyone is interested in testing Cirrus, please e-mail me with Cirrus Test in the subject line using an e-mail address you check on a regular basis. My plan is to have this available in five sizes, XS, S, M, L, XL, approximately to fit a bust of 34", 36", 38", 40", and 42", and I'd like at least one tester for each size. I anticipate having the pattern available to test between late July and August.

I quickly read one of my happy little murders this weekend, Yarn to Go (A Yarn Retreat Mystery), but I was disappointed. I remembered trying this same author's crochet mysteries, but didn't like the forced social agenda in it. It was a little lighter in this new series, but it was still there, and was jarring and out of place. I don't think I'll read any more of her books. Also, I figured out who the murderer was in the first or second chapter (when that character was introduced) and got the motive pretty close, though I was wrong about thinking there was a conspirator. I'm terrible at figuring out mysteries, so when I can do so this easily, I know it was sloppy writing. The book did reawaken a desire in me to try to start a knitting camp and retreat.

The real meat of my reading though remains both Christ in His Saints and The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things.

Labels: Ballerina Tank, Birthday, Books, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along

See that hat? That is for Jerome. I should have posted it last week, because I finished it New Year's Day, but I was busy with Christmas and family stuff. I would have had two finished objects, but the ballerina top I finally sewed up was evidently designed for Song of Solomon 8:8 woman, because when I put it on I realized I could not actually leave my house dressed in it, and that was after I had raised the neckline by an inch. Rich seemed to like it a lot. So, I will be crocheting some sort of picot edging or something around the neck and the armholes to make them match, then it will be finished. I also realized how many objects I have which just need a little finishing work for them to be done. I told Rich if he wanted to give me anything, to give me time to work on my knitting, sewing and crocheting in peace and quiet.

If you have one or more finished items this week, please sign Mr. Linky below and share all you have made. Your Finished Object(s) can be knit, crocheted, sewn, quilted, tatted, beaded, papercraft, woodwork or any other kind of craft. Show off what you have made! Please make sure you link to the exact post that shows your finished item(s) rather than just to your blog.

Labels: Ballerina Tank, Finished Object Friday, FOs, Knitting

I'm feeling kind of dumb hosting these each week when I can't get much finished on my end. Our new schedule leaves me with less time to knit, crochet and sew, and I'm often too tired at night. Apparently, I got a lot of knitting done while I waited to pick up the boys at school.

So, folks, give me a little kick in the right direction. I have less than a month to finish a project for a friend who will be in town then, I have a design, my sweater shrug, that I need sewn together and pattern ready to sell and I have the ballerina tank top. You want to come here and clean house while I knit?

If you have one or more finished items this week, please sign Mr. Linky below and share all you have made. Your Finished Object(s) can be knit, crocheted, sewn, quilted, tatted, beaded, papercraft, woodwork or any other kind of craft. Show off what you have made! Please make sure you link to the exact post that shows your finished item(s) rather than just to your blog.

Labels: Ballerina Tank, Finished Object Friday, Knitting

Evidently in the time it took for me to finish the back and start the front, I forgot how to smoothly knit the hem up. I did it and ripped out five times, before I decided that the front hem would just have to be sewn, so I could continue knitting. Now that I am much further along, I think I remember how I did it, but I'm not ripping back to try it again. It is possible for me to finish this before the end of this month, but unless we get a hot spell, I won't be wearing this until spring at the earliest. So much for getting a quick summer knit made this year. It is for me, however, and finishing more for myself was a goal of mine.

Labels: Ballerina Tank, Knitting

That's not entirely true. I finished the back of my ballerina top. I finished organizing Jerome's books and toys in the living room. I finished one chapter in the bible study book I'm doing with some friends. I didn't finish any projects, though.

Did you do any better? I've just been wiped out. Between homeschooling, housework, meal prep, gymnastics (I still have to post photos), ballet, errands and just normal life, it's been hectic around here. This week was busier than normal, too, though full of good things. The older boys went to their first cub scout meeting last night, and I had a mom's night out type thing the other night. So, I'm hoping there are people out there who maybe aren't as swamped, or who work faster than I do who can share their creations.

If you have one or more finished items this week, please sign Mr. Linky below and share all you have made. Your Finished Object(s) can be knit, crocheted, sewn, quilted, tatted, beaded, papercraft, woodwork or any other kind of craft. Show off what you have made! Please make sure you link to the exact post that shows your finished item(s) rather than just to your blog.

Labels: Ballerina Tank, Finished Object Friday

I'm still working on the Ballerina Top. I'm to the waist increases, after doing the decreases. I think that puts me at a quarter of the way through the whole piece. I have been finishing off Celia, and once I have a picture of that, I will post the pattern for sale.

In actual finishing news, I made 11 jars of crabapple jelly. We have two more batches to make. The weather has been working against us, and I'm not sure we'll get enough to make any more of the blackberry lime jam.

If you have one or more finished items this week, please sign Mr. Linky below and share all you have made. Your Finished Object(s) can be knit, crocheted, sewn, quilted, tatted, beaded, papercraft, woodwork or any other kind of craft. Show off what you have made! Please make sure you link to the exact post that shows your finished item(s) rather than just to your blog.

Labels: Ballerina Tank, Finished Object Friday

That is about how far I am on my ballerina top. It is a pattern from Southwest Trading Company, and it is designed for their bamboo yarn. I got the pattern free when I bought some of that yarn, for a friend to make a shawl. I had some Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Columbine Blossom which knits at the same gauge, and most likely won't stretch like the bamboo does (that's why it was for a shawl and not a sweater).



This is a little closer to the actual color, but it's hard for me to get a good picture of it. I've been zipping right along on it, while we drive to church, at bible study, watching movies at home, but now I've been knitting baby gifts for our friends who are due in October.

Labels: Ballerina Tank, Knitting

I always vaguely hope that I'll have something finished for each week. You know, a baby hat, or a UFO that I resurrected and did that last seam on, or knit the collar or something like that. Well, no such luck this week. Although I do have two projects that are pretty much at that stage, and could always knit a baby hat for someone.

I did finish a helping of blackberry cobbler with two scoops of ice cream last night.

The St. Martha's Guild ladies will be here tonight, so I'm hoping to get some progress on my ballerina top. The one you haven't seen yet, because I'm still fighting with the photo server. It's lovely, and I enjoy the knitting. I bought some Southwest Trading Company bamboo yarn for a friend, and was able to get this pattern for free. I didn't want to use the bamboo for it, so I'm using Cotton Fleece in Columbine Blue. It is so pretty. My goal is to have it finished in time for me to wear it next summer.

If you have one or more finished items this week, please sign Mr. Linky below and share all you have made. Your Finished Object(s) can be knit, crocheted, sewn, quilted, tatted, beaded, papercraft, woodwork or any other kind of craft. Show off what you have made! Please make sure you link to the exact post that shows your finished item(s) rather than just to your blog.

Labels: Ballerina Tank, Finished Object Friday, Knitting