Knitting Meet-Up Wednesday

Wow, there is progress in my knitting land!

Wednesday night I spent a lovely few hours with the Santa Clara County knitting meet-up chicks. The "theme" for the night seemed to be siblings and all their good and bad qualities. It started when I arrived with the new Ghost outfit for CNITU, for which I had drawn a little pattern and was working out stitch counts. L., who was already there, commiserated with me over demanding sisters. (I actually don't mind doing it, but although my sis bought the yarn, bless her, she did pick that tricky washcloth-y stuff where it's hard to see the stitches in all the fluff.) It was revealed later that L. has some fairly intense sibling issues. On the positive side, my new almost-sister Spinnity was there (she's the organizer), and we talked about how she just realized she had a new sister! Then on the way out, Spinn and I talked about her brothers, one of whom is my sweetie, and their difficult relationship.

Successes -- I worked out what needles to use for Ghost (10 1/2) and how many stitches. I also decided I want to wear Sparkly Poncho for L&C's wedding on 10/10 (Sis rejected it as too warm and formal for her Laguna Beach life), so I have to get that done. Deadlines are good!

But I'm doing well on that front, too! I bound it off at the meet-up, and then at home laid it out and put safety pins along the seam. Last night I started work on the flowers, plus I sewed the seam and wove in all the ends. It could actually be worn now as it -- it looks great! But I am looking forward to adding the ruffle and flower embellishment. I figured I can do all the petals tonight, then add the ruffle and sew the flower together on Saturday. Should have a FO by my next post! Then I can free up the 10 1/2 needles for Ghosty.

Where does this leave little Cardigan? I need to do the left front before too long. but the deadline for the FO is Dec. 25, so less urgent. Sis also wants a cotton poncho, and I want to make myself a little purse for the wedding (deadline: March 12). So many projects! I am starting to feel like Spinnity!

Vacation, all I ever wanted!

Drat. Just wrote a whole posting and the computer crashed before I could hit "post."

The basic gist was that I just spent a week in Laguna Beach with the cutest nephew in the world (CNITU), and I am starting my third concurrent project, a little fuzzy white poncho that will turn him into a ghost for Halloween.

I also wanted to share my discovery that sunscreen, sand, and yarn do not mix well.

Laguna Beach has a lovely yarn store called Strands and Stitches. It's not Knitting Arts, but then, what is!?

And I bought my wedding dress.

Macaroni Duck

The traditional Wisnewski-Walker-Ennals macaroni duck night was buzzing with pre-wedding discussion last night. Arguments about the guest list were safely postponed until next week's vacation, when we'll have more time to talk about them.

Although we spent most of the evening eating, chatting, and playing Munchkin, I did have an "a-ha!" moment when I created my best buttonhole yet on the Best Nephew Cardigan. I think it's all got to do with doing a knitting cast-on rather than a cable cast-on, and keeping the stitches nice and tight.

Also did the indulgent shopping trip to Knitting Arts -- I restrained myself and made my smallest purchase ever. I had a $20 credit on my stash card -- God, I love that, what a brilliant marketing move -- so I treated myself to the new Rowan magazine, and also got two vintage buttons and a length of silk ribbon. The buttons are green and gold (for the poncho) and blue and gold (reminds me of my ring, I may have to make something for the wedding. A little tiny purse with a button closure?) The ribbon is ombre dyed in reddish-pink, blue, and green -- a PERFECT match for Paris Nights!