It has been over a year since I posted.  One of my more difficult years but I am a survivor.  Last year I lost my job of 20 years and I have struggled with that loss.  I enjoy my new job but there are some aspects of it that are disappointing.  Money is one.  And the number of hours worked is another.  None the less, I've still found time to knit.  

Late winter into spring I worked on a lace shawl from Goddess knits Mystery Shawls on Yahoo.  I think it was No. 7 named Imbolc.  This is it although the photos aren't great.  I used Classic Elite Alpaca and Silk in Garnet.  It took me a few months to complete and thankfully I am pleased with the way it turned out.  

Lace knitting is amazing because during the knitting phase it sort of looks like a blob.  Then once you block it like magic the project blossoms.  Does anybody remember those little crystals you place in a bowl with water and grown into the most amazing crystal stalagtites and stalamites?  That's what it reminds me of.

I also made a few baby gifts.  One was a simple white lace pattern out of Cascade 220 Superwash.  It was and easy to knit without having to concentrate.  This is it.Last week I finished a little baby cardigan out of Rowan Cashsoft.  The yarn is very soft so it should feel nice next to a baby's skin.

And  I must be the last knitter to make the Monkey Socks Knitty Winter '06.  But I'm making them now out of a blue Socks that Rock I purchased last year at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival.  I almost got trampled trying to buy that yarn so I wanted  the pattern to be very special,  And it is a special pattern.  I don't yet have a photo but I'm on sock 2.

As always I have a number of projects going at once but I'll save them for another day.

And hopefully soon I'll get my photo files organized.

I have missed my blogging friends.

Comments

[Sharon]

Hi Bonnie. Welcome back to Blogland. Sorry to hear it's been so rugged. Hope it only gets better from here on. Both projects are lovely. I'm just getting seriously into lace, so it's nice to see it at the other end.

[Maureen]

So nice to see you blogging again! The shawl is beautiful.