Hell frozen over (aka: it snowed in Houston)

Seriously? I can count the number of times it's snowed here on one hand. That's considering (almost) 28 years of living.

The forecast for today was 100% precipitation, with a very good chance of sleet/snow. It happened! Not much accumulation, of course, because, again, this is Houston, but it was fun, and work let us out early, in case the roads were bad.

Of course, my camera battery was low, so I have no pictures to document the occasion, but Rhonda and I knit some this afternoon, while drinking Irish coffee, which was delicious.

I'm working on one of four Christmas knitted gifts, so I'm furiously trying to get through them. I will definitely be casting on for a new sweater for myself once I'm done.

I'll show off some of the gifts soon, but tow of them can't be shown until after they're given.

Oh, and apologies for the lack of Food Fridays. See above regarding my camera battery. I'll fix that with a quickness.

Black Friday Destash : any takers?

I've noticed I really like using a colon in my blog titles. Hmm. Interesting.

So, I would like to share with you all some of my stash. I don't know when I will use any of this, and I'm trying to save up some Christmas money. Hope you find something you like or need!

11 skeins of Elann Sonata in Tarragon (it's a sage green color; a little richer than the picture shows)
$20 Paypal including US shipping

Fiesta Ballet, 1 skein (wound into a cake; ball band is missing) Iris colorway
$17 paypal including US shipping

8 skeins of Merino Style in Storm
$20 paypal including US shipping

2 skeins Karaoke (variegated orange/yellow)
$11 paypal including US shipping

La Lana Streakers, 1 skein of lovely fluffiness!
$15 paypal, including US shipping

Louisa Harding Jasmine, 8 skeins (2-3 balls were knit and re-wound; all yardage is present)
$45 paypal, including US shipping
This stuff is soft and sparkly DK weight.

Three Irish Girls Adorn, 1 skein in Kelly (I partially knit and re-wound this into a cake)
$19 paypal including US shipping

I will combine shipping if you buy more than one item. Comment here and we can discuss.
I will not be available Friday, but I will answer your comments in the order received on Saturday

Thanks!

FO: Craving Cables Bag

This FO was a long time comin'.
Like, one year and four months. Yeah. Sixteen months of being on the needles.
Then, it sat in waiting to be revealed for another month.

Shame on me.

Look how pretty!

Pattern: Ganiggle's Celtic Memories
Yarn: KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Tidepool Heather, 1.5 skeins
Needles: KnitPicks Circular, Size 2
Time: Sixteen effin' months (a few rows here, a few rows there; you know how it goes)
Recipient: Not sure. I will save it for now, but maybe it will be a gift at some point.
Thoughts/mods/notes: I didn't make any mods, and the pattern is really straightforward. There was so much time in between sessions of knitting on this that I never really memorized the cabled section (but the lace portions on either side were easy to remember). I love this, and I'm proud to finish it, as the cabling is really gorgeous in the heathered yarn. I like the three buttons I had in my stash, and how they match the yarn so perfectly. I did my first i-cord for the strap (now I've even done applied i-cord on Pauline!).

The end. Whew. Glad to have this one complete.

FO: Starry Night Shawl

It's been almost two months since my Boston trip. And that's how long I've had this shawl done. Seriously. Two months, and I haven't shared it yet.
This is the shawl I cast on while working on my Boston Marine Cardigan (I needed something to work on while I was waiting to start the button band-you know how those can go!). I finished it the morning I flew home.

My blog friend Peter recently wrote about vacationing and knitting, and the connections you can make while working on something in a certain place. I definitely think of Boston every time I see this shawl. The colors are perfect, too; they make me think of Boston Harbor, and our fun ferry ride.

Details:

Pattern: HelloKnitty's Multnomah Shawl
Yarn: The Unique Sheep Verve in Dusk Dark, 1 skein (I have just a couple of yards left!)
Needles: KnitPicks Circular, Size 3
Time: Just under a month. I could have finished it faster (see above to remember this was a procrastination WIP), but there was no rush.

Recipient: Not sure. I will save it for now, but maybe it will be a gift at some point.

Thoughts/mods/notes: The pattern is well written, and easy to follow. I'm really a big fan of the sock yarn shawl. It's easy to see why they're so popular these days. I'm sure there will be more in my future. No mods to the pattern. The yarn is awesome; my Ishbel was knit in the same yarn. I'm a big fan of The Unique Sheep.

As you can tell, there is some pooling, since the yarn is predominantly blue and yellow (although there is a lot more subtle variation than that). I like it, though. I dig it.

Last night

Jill and I went to see Glen Hansard. The Swell Season. If you don't know, now you know. Check it out if you are unfamiliar. It was one of the four best shows I've ever been to.

The best part was when he pulled this girl on stage to sing backup (she was singing out from the crowd, and it was obvious she had a voice), so she ended up belting out, and it was an amazing goosebump-inducing song moment.
Ah, I wish we were still there.

Food Friday-Boston #6 (and the last)

Quincy Market is an awesome place. Have you heard of it? It, along with Faneuil Hall, are old buildings just on the border of the North End and Downtown Boston, which have been converted into food and retail spaces. You walk through the crowds to pick your poison, and then you can eat it outside while you people watch.

This will give you an idea of what I mean. It's a little overwhelming, trying to choose, and trying to wade through the crowds. I managed to find something yummy.

It's a portabello panini, and it was delicious.

Jill and I actually went to Quincy twice.
The second time, I don't remember what I ate for lunch, but I do remember gelato I had for dessert. It was coconut, and it was yum. Sadly (and happily), it was eaten too fast for a picture.

That's all my Boston food pics!

Sometimes, a little indulgence is necessary

Give yourself permission. Give in. Just a little.

Cast on for projects with disdain for those projects that have long been on the needles.

Use yarn that you've been hoarding and thinking about when you're knitting other things.

After finishing several items in the last few weeks (two of which I still need to share with you!), I cast on vigorously this weekend.
For two things. That's right, folks. I have two new WIPs to share.

First up, Pauline, a bonnet by Knitting Kninja (the link is for ravelry-it's a free pattern!).

I'm knitting this in Malabrigo Worsted. The color is Verde Esperanza and it is divine. I already knit my little i-cord flowers, using some Zen Yarn Garden sock yarn that I bought as part of a sample pack on Etsy several months back. It was only $5, and it had five sample skeins of their various sock yarns in a lovely berry shade. I think the color will go nicely with this green bonnet.

After a few hours of knitting, I'm ready to start the short row shaping. I'm curious to try the applied i-cord edging technique in this pattern. Sounds weird, but neat!

So, since that wasn't enough Malabrigo in my life (along with my Malabrigo Mitts that I need to finish!), I cast on with some Malabrigo Lace for a second Ishbel.

This is my first time using Malabrigo Lace, and I'm using size 5 needles. The fabric is super soft, and I love the slight variations in this shade of blue (Stone Blue).

I've knit far past this picture. I'm knitting the large stockinette portion, and I'm about two-thirds through that section. This will probably be a gift.

I hope you'll find something new to cast on for soon! Live a little; you won't regret it.