On the Needles - 8/23/2013

I finally fired up my courage and blocked Cloud Illusions!

I had never blocked a knitted project before, and I hit a roadblock when I realized that I might need blocking wires - which I didn't have.  A few knitting friends suggested that I could probably get away with not using them on this shawl if I was careful to not pull the neck out of shape too badly, so I decided to go ahead and try it.

This shawl turned out to be quite huge!!!  It is much larger after blocking than I thought it would be!  I used the directions for the extended body section because it seemed to be working up very small, but in hindsight, I'm thinking I could have stayed with that smaller size and been fine.  Look at how I had to add another piece of matting, and a small portion was still on the carpet.  One of these days I'll invest in another yoga mat to replace that piece of one LOL!!!  I think I cut that one up a couple of years ago to have pieces that I could kneel on in the flower beds.  It sure came in handy to have it!

Doesn't the lacework look pretty?  I can hardly believe I actually did that!!!  

I'm not sure I did everything correctly during the blocking process, even though I had a supervisor in the room with me.  Gypsy sniffed around a few minutes to see what in the world I was up to crawling around on the floor with wet stuff and pins, but I think she quickly decided that her bath was much more urgent and satisfying LOL!!!

Of course, I have to show you a few more views of the shawl....     =^..^=

...............on the love-seat in the living room - the light coming in the window washed out those gorgeous colors, but I like the way it shows off the expanse and delicacy of the lacework ....

It's so long, I can't even reach to each tip!!!

Overall, I would have to say that I'm happy with my first knitted shawl, and my first lacework project!

Next in line is to get busy on the Dreambird Shawl!  We start the KAL on August 25th!!!!

My current project to keep my needles busy until I can get back to Dreambird is a much smaller one....  

This is the Noro Bias Lace Scarf pattern (free on Ravelry!) using a Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn in a range of deep, rich fall colors.  I love the diagonal design to it!  I'm not really very fond of the yarn - it is not as soft as I would like and it curls up quite a lot off the skein.  But you all know I'm a COLOR girl, and those colors just sucked me in!!!

Be sure to go to Patchwork Times to see what others are creating On The Needles!

I know I haven't shared a lot of quilting items lately, but there's a very good reason for that.  I have been busy, busy, busy at the sewing machine, but I haven't been able to show you....

What am I sewing, you may want to know?  

Well..... come back on Monday to see!  

That's the day that I magically turn into a Hexie Queen!!!

I hope you've all been following the Hexie Queen blog hop so far!  Madame Samm and Cheerleader Debby Kratovil have put together a doozy of a blog hop for our entertainment!  And I have been simply amazed at the abundance of wonderfully creative hexie projects being shown!  Click HERE to find all the posts!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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