Finishes

I can't tell you how happy I am that Blogger and Safari are working well together again. After months of tinkering around and trying to figure out what I accidentally clicked, everything is magically working again. What a relief!

Before school yesterday, I managed to complete Clue 4 of the Sanditon MKAL. I did have a little trouble with the last eyelet row. I dropped stitches twice, but I realized it right away and was able to get them back in place before they became too much of a problem. This is the end of the main color, the light blue, and as you can see, I have plenty of yarn left. I'm glad I switched from the recommended size 4 needles to the size 2. I'm pretty sure I would have run out of yarn!

Yesterday was another two blue Ice Drops day. I love this shade of blue, size 20 Lizbeth #656 Wedgewood Dk.

This one is size 20 Lizbeth #657 Ocean Turquoise Dk. I do love both blues, but when they're side by side, the Wedgewood Dk is my favorite. The shuttle is my newest one from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. I believe the art work was done by Rita's college friend. It's beautiful!

I didn't post yesterday, because it took me until 9 p.m. to finish grafting the two ends of daughter Joanne's Sneak a Peek cowl. I love the textured side!

The striped side is pretty, but I know that I goofed on that center stripe. It's one row larger than the other stripes. Luckily, it's in the center and looks like a design element! I'll block it this morning, and then it will be ready to mail off to Joanne. I hope the weather stays cold in Minnesota so that she has a chance to wear it this year!

Starting over

There was nothing for me to post yesterday. I subbed in kindergarten, and I was too worn out at the end of the day to do much of anything. Those little kindergarteners were so much fun! There were 16 in the classroom, and they were extremely well behaved. Still, their energy level was far greater than mine!

After sharing pictures with my friends Denise and Jen, I decided that I needed to start my Sanditon MKAL over with size 2 needles. I don't know that it's obvious in the picture, but in person there is a significant difference, and I'm glad I decided to switch needle sizes. Both of these samples go up to 83 stitches. I have until Sunday to increase to 227 stitches. I think I can do it. Even if I don't, there's no school on Monday, so I should have plenty of time to catch up.

I managed to finish two more stripes on Joanne's Sneak a Peek cowl. I only have five stripes to go!

It was time for a splash of color in my Ice Drops, so I switched to Lizbeth #100, Falling Leaves. It may be the wrong time of year for this color, but I couldn't resist using it.

I think I have a little more time for knitting before heading off to bed!

Sanditon

Last night I recorded Sanditon, a PBS series based on Jane Austen's last unfinished novel. I first heard of this series when I signed up for the Sanditon MKAL from Kristen in Stitches. I've finished 11/35 pattern repeats that make up the first clue. The next clue will be released next Sunday. So far, I'm really enjoying this project!

I'm also continuing to work on Joanne's Sneak a Peek cowl. I finished two more stripes today with seven left to go.

My newest Grizzly Mountain Arts shuttle arrived today.

I love both the front and the back!

It just so happened that I had chosen another Grizzly Mountain Arts shuttle for today's Ice Drop. I had intended to tat another Doodle Ice Drop, but I didn't have enough thread with me. Luckily, I was able to wing it!

Lorraine Kolasa offered some of her enameled shuttles to raise money for Australian relief. She had a blue shuttle that I would have loved to have purchased, but I forgot to go online when she listed them. I was lucky that when I looked, there was still one left!

Crafty Sunday

Since Dave and I did so much cleaning yesterday, I had plenty of time for crafting today. I'm working on the second side of Joanne's Sneak a Peek cowl. I managed to knit two of the nine stripes for this side. I'm really enjoying this project!

I intended to tat two Ice Drops today, but I only finished one. Instead, I spent a couple of hours with my friend Jen and her daughter Tori. We had a really nice visit, and Jen and I spent time knitting while Tori crocheted.

Jen, my friend Denise and I are all knitting the Sanditon MKAL. Jen and Denise both chose the mauve colors, while I chose the blues. Are you surprised?

Photo op

We chose not to have a Tollway Tatters meeting today because of the predicted weather conditions. It was very windy and wet here, and some of the ladies had snow to deal with. I think we made the right decision to cancel!

Sue suggested we all take pictures of ourselves tatting in our tie-dye t-shirts, so I asked Dave to take a picture of me tatting.

True confession time... I had the t-shirt on for less than five minutes. It was just too cold, and I couldn't wait to put my sweater back on!

Another true confession... I only tatted 6 ds today. Dave and I spent most of the day taking down and putting away Christmas decorations. We accomplished a lot, including deep cleaning the sun room, dining, room, and living room, but we still have more to do. The bannister is still decorated, and we haven't taken down any of the outdoor decorations. Once those tasks are completed, we'll be back to our normal routine.

The first side of Joanne's Sneak a Peek cowl is finished. I know I never would have chosen these colors, but I do like they way they look!

Catching up

I feel like I'm catching up today. Yesterday was kind of crazy and I didn't finish either an Ice Drop or two sections of Joanne's cowl.

I received my newest shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts today.

I do love Dave Stanbrough's doodle art!

This is the Doodle Ice Drop I started yesterday. I was happy to finish it today!

I didn't quite catch up on Joanne's cowl. I finished section 9 today. Earlier in the week I had hoped to finish section 10 by today. Still, I've made good progress. Once I finish the nine rows in section 10, I'll be ready to start the second side. This is going to be one cozy cowl!

Progress

I'm making progress on two fronts. First, I'm rebuilding my Ice Drop stash, and I'm having fun doing it!

I also managed to knit another two sections on Joanne's Sneak a Peek cowl. Next I need to make progress on another front... organizing my craft supplies!

Sneak a Peek

Today was my first day back at school after the Christmas break. Teachers had to be back yesterday for a day full of meetings, but I only need to be at school on days when students are present.

It felt good to get back into my routine, and I even managed to tat an Ice Drop while supervising students in the Learning Commons!

Joanne's Sneak a Peek cowl is coming along nicely. I now have four sections completed. There are ten sections on the textured side of the cowl. When that's complete, I'll knit the striped side. I think this is going to be one beautiful cowl!

Knitting day

A couple of weeks before Christmas, daughter Joanne asked if I would knit this cowl for her if she bought the yarn kit. I said yes!

By the time I finished my morning chores and caked the yarn, it was lunch time. I really do wonder where the time goes!

The pattern has been easy to follow, but as I was finishing round 7 I realized that I had knit round 3 incorrectly. So, I carefully frogged out rows 3 through 7 and reknit them correctly. I really had planned on getting some tatting in today, but I was determined to finish two sections of this cowl today. Tatting will have to wait until tomorrow!