Must. Not. Panic.

I can't find Fuchsia Wave.  This morning, when I was packing my bag to take to work, I briefly looked around, and didn't see it.  I didn't work on it last night, so I assumed that I had left it at the office. 

Except now I am at the office, and it is nowhere to be seen.  I have searched thoroughly.  On counters.  In corners.  Under desks.  In briefcases.  No shawl.  Nada.  Zero. Zilch.

I didn't look very hard at home.  It could still be there.  I resisted the urge to drive immediately home.  I did, however, go outside to check my car. 

I was able to stop hyperventilating when I realized that the first half of the body is safely snugled into my knitting basket, so really, only about 12 inches of the second half is missing. 

It is at home, right?  I didn't go anywhere yesterday.  Office (not here), pick up kids (why would I bring my knitting inside?), then home.  It has to be at home.  My sweetie will be home from work in four hours, I can call him then, if I really have to.  (Pause for mental image of phone call asking my knitting-tolerant husband to go poking around the house looking for a particular piece of knitting.)  Maybe not. 

At least I am not completely fiber-deprived.  There is always some emergency knitting lying the office.

Today, it is all about the patience.

  

A Tale of Two Shawls

I remember this time last year, when I was six months into Duchess, on the downward decreasing part of the body, and dreading anticipating the long ruffle.  The ruffle that took over six months to knit. 

This year, I am cruising through Fuchsia Wave, at somewhere near the speed of light.  Certainly faster than the average speed of knitting. 

The lone knitter that joined me at Knittervention last week asked when I started it, and I was shocked to realize that I started the shawl in December.  Late December.  The last day or two of December.  I have been knitting on this shawl for less than a month, and I am already 11 inches on the SECOND half of the body. 

Are elves knitting on it when I am not looking?  Have I finally learned to warp the space-time continuum to create extra hours of knitting time?  Have I learned how to knit lace in my sleep?

Should I stop marveling at the progress when only serves to tempt Fate to slap me down for my insolence?

There is still the border on all four sides to consider. 

Today, it is all about the tempting fate. 

(Don't) Talk to a Lawyer Day

In the spirit of MLK day, yesterday I volunteered for a 2 hour shift at Talk to a Lawyer Day, being sponsored by the local Legal Aid Office.  A chance for someone to talk to a lawyer, free of charge.  We are not going to solve all their problems in 15 minutes, but we may be able to point someone in the right direction, or determine whether or not they should hire a lawyer. 

Except that no one came, at least not while I was there.  Three lawyers standing by to dispense free legal thoughts, but no one listening.  The single digit temperature probably had something to do with it. 

So I spent those two hours knitting quietly. Two long hours in the middle of the day, with nothing to do but knit.  (Insert sigh of contentment.)

Last night was also Knitter-vention.  SO I braved the frigid temps, and trekked on out to 9 Irish Brothers.  Except that no one came.  It didn't occur to me until later to check Facebook.  Sure enough, child illnesses and the aforementioned cold had kept everyone else in.  (One lonely brave soul did pop in for the last 40 minutes or so, so I wasn't alone the whole time.)

So I spent those two hours knitting quietly.  This time I had a pint of cider as well.  Are we noticing a pattern?

The four hours of solitary knitting meant that I finished the first panel of Fuchsia Wave.  30 inches, 17 repeats.  And time to cast on the second "wave", so to speak.  After I look up how to do a provisional cast on again. 

Today, it is all about the waves. 

Warp speed ahead

Fuchsia Wave is really screaming right along.  22 inches; 12 out of 17 repeats.  Either I have had more knitting time than I realized, or I have simply forgotten what it is like to work lace with something other than itty bitty yarn on itty bitty needles. 

I think I can safely say that my early fears about the size of the wrap are proving to be completely unfounded.  This piece will likely end up almost 3 feet long.  Ditto for the second half.  Add the border rounds, and the perpendicular border, and I estimate a finished size of a good seven feet wide.  Plenty wide enough to snuggle around my shoulders. 

I may have limited knitting time this weekend.  Doodlebug turns 3, so, of course, there is a party with family, cake and ice cream.  I don't think he really understands birthdays or parties yet, but he has a strong understanding of cake, ice cream and presents. 

I can't believe that my littlelist baby boy is three years old.  And I had a meeting last night about kindergarten for Bugaboo.  Has it really been that long?   

Today, it is all about the number 3. 

Lucky 13

Fuschia Wave is progressing nicely.  13 inches down.  Just enough to be a blankie for a stuffed snowman. 

Not even long enough to cover one arm.  I was starting to get worried that it would be waaaaay to small.  I already have 7 out of 17 repeats finished. 

Then I read the directions again.  17 repeats.  Put aside.  Then make another. 

The two pieces are joined together at the center of the back.  Ok, that makes more sense. 

Oh, that means that I am not as far along as I thought. 

Today, it is all about the lather, rinse and repeat. 

Catch up pics

Before disaster.

After disaster.

Actual progress. 

Today, it is all about the pics. 

Debut

After serving well as TV knitting for the new season opener of Downton Abbey (Beverly Hills 90210 with an accent.  Love it!), Fuchsia Wave made it's public debut last night as a WIP.  After a month-long hiatus from knitting events, caused by the holidays and illness, last night was Knitter-vention.  (Same thing as Knit Night, but with alcohol.)

I brought a couple back-ups, in case the lace proved to be too much for group knitting, but I ended up knitting on Fuchsia Wave all night.  I have about 8 inches knit on the body so far.  I am now used to the pattern, and can generally spot and correct any mistakes with minimal fuss and swearing.  I am not even using lifelines.  The yarn is rather mohair-y, so ripping out is a nightmare in itself, regardless the lace.  I will just get it right the first time.

I will leave the peanut gallery to decide if that is determination or stupidity.

Today, it is all about the fuchsia.   

Saved by the Line

I am sure that it will come as no surprise to anyone that I had to use a lifeline on Black Rose recently.  It takes longer than I would have guessed to put the lifeline row back on needles.  I was so discouraged, I am taking a little break, and working on my Fuscia Print O' the Wave shawl instead. 

That one is progressing nicely.  Two and a half repeats down, out of 17 needed.  Just for kicks, I reviewed the entire instructions.  I could tell from the picture that there would be a border, which I was looking forward to as a new experience.  I didn't realize that there was a lot more to that than expected.  The Inner Border has four different rounds; the pick up round, marker round, eyelet round, and miter round.  The I get the Outer Border Edge, the one that I already knew about. 

How did I not notice that I would have to pick up 640 stitches around the entire circumferance, do a few rows, then do the perpendicular edging that I expected?  Because I didn't get enough picked up stitches with Duchess. 

I took pictures of everything, but for some reason, can upload them.  My apologies, and I will try to add them on a later day, after my compueter stops pouting. 

Today, it is all about the Fuschia.