Swallowtail Shawl

The Shawl is done. I love it.

Another MEME

I went to visit Janet's blog, and there was another meme thingy, and of course I have to do one:


1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

-Getting ready for a trip to Finland. We were there in June.













2. What are 5 things on your "To Do" list? (Today or when ever?)

- Knit my Swallowtail Shawl
- Iron clothes for work
- make dinner
- crochet
- water the plants (two are almost dead) (I have three)

3. What are 5 snacks you enjoy? (In no specific order)
- pears, apples, yogurt, chocolate, ice cream


4. Name some things you would do if you were a millionaire.
- I'd pay my kid's mortgage, my stepkid's mortgages, made sure I had enough
space for my yarns and books, travel

5. Name some places where you've lived.

-Finland, Sudbury, Toronto












6. Name some bad habits you have.
- procrastination, startitis, eating


7. Name some jobs you've had.
- babysitter, store clerk, tax office clerk, construction office clerk, computer operator et al

8. Name those whom you are tagging.


not tagging

Swallowtail Shawl

Another WIP started. If you call me crazy, it doesn't matter.

I started a shawl yesterday, I think. Or Saturday. It's Monday now, and we are on a long weekend mode. Queen Victoria's Birthday. I never met her, but it's OK, I enjoy my day off regardless.

Oh, the shawl. The pattern is in the "Interweave Knits" magazine, Fall 2006 issue, "Swallowtail Shawl" design by Evelyn A. Clark

I have done quite a bit already, although would be further if I didn't make so many mistakes, and so many froggings. I get careless with an easy pattern. It also isn't helping to watch telly and follow a chart, is it now?

Here is a picture of my WIP. I just finished the 13Th set of Budding Lace 2 set. One more to go, and then move on to a new pattern set.

I am using Noro sock yarn, which is not mentioned in the original pattern, but I wanted my shawl to have all my favourite colours.

I don't have lace yarn in these gorgeous colours that this yarn has.

Of course I have some regrets for using Noro sock yarn, because it's rough, and makes my fingers itch because the yarn is wool. (plus a little bit nylon, but that doesn't help).

I cannot imagine anyone, who has a sensitive skin, wearing socks made with this yarn. However, I know that I am just being mean, because wool yarn isn't very

cooperative with me. There are so many beautiful yarns now that I would love to knit with all of them, but first, they are pricey, and second, my skin shivers when I touch some of those fancy yarns.

I bought four skeins of this Noro yarn, intending to make a vest. So why the shawl? I saw one made with the same yarn, same colorway, in Knitter Gal's blog, and fell in love with it.

May Long Weekend

What a great day it has been so far. I made a meatloaf for our crochet group lunch. We had somewhat quiet instead of a noisy meeting. I guess that many members had gone out from the city for the long weekend. We had a wonderful lunch, lots of desserts. I had several pieces of cakes, lemon squares and lots of different melons. There was also a delicious mango salad, that Julia had made. I forgot to write down what was in it, other than mangoes.

My meatloaf was a success, and there were no leftovers. I ate too much, but how can one resist

when there are so many good things to taste. Sherri had made a rice pudding, which I liked.

After the meeting Sherri, Drea and I headed down to Purple Purl. We took the subway and a bus down to our destination. (not the bus in the picture, though)

My first order was a cup of coffee, which was nice and strong. I enjoyed every drop of it.
I had a ball of some sock yarn on hold, and that is what I went to get, no other reason, truly!

We sat on those comfy chairs that are in the middle of the store and started knitting and crocheting. Drea was knitting a huge cabin block type afghan, it's huge. Sherri was crocheting a sweater for the fall. I was working on my freeform crochet, and walking around the store, drooling over the scrumptious yarns. I touched, I felt against my cheek, and put back on the shelf, and moved to another yarn, went back to my chair, but could not concentrate on my crochet. I was restless, and somehow knew that I could not resist any temptation.

Sure enough, Sherri started talking about a scarf she had seen in Ravelry. It was made with Noro sock yarn. What amazing and succulent colors. (I have heard that word "succulent" on telly so many times lately, that I am starting to hate it, it sounds so unreal, I am using the word here so I can squeeze in my opinion about some commercial use of the word on TV).

Sherri has a skill to make me buy yarn. I did. First I decided to buy one ball, but then I was thinking of making a shawl, instead of a scarf, but for a shawl I would need at least two balls. They are not really "balls", they don't even look like them, they are "skeins". OK, now that that is cleared, I had decided to buy two, and make a shawl.

Well, there was a young girl knitting a sweater with another type of Noro yarn, but I figured out the cost being too much if I wanted to make one for me. Well, Sherri, who has some brilliant ideas, started saying that "a ripple vest would look nice with that Noro Yarn". Sure, it would.

Guess what, I bought four skeins, instead of one and instead of two. Now I need to think what and when I am going to make something with it. This yarn is not very good for my skin, since it's wool, and not like Merino wool. It makes my skin itch even when I look at it. Maybe a vest will be OK.