Just Signed Up With Ravelry

I've been reading so much about Ravelry that I had to check it out: www.ravelry.com. It's still in beta and they've got a waiting list to join, but it only took about a week. I haven't really gotten into it yet, but I've created my account and I've been poking around and it looks fabulous. One of the features I'll use most is a database that allows users to keep track of their stash and tools. The timing was perfect for me -- I'm in the process of turning the spare bedroom into my craft room, which means a huge reorganization -- okay, it can't be an reorganization if it was never organized to begin with! :) Anyway, I can't wait to really get into using Ravelry!

Jane Crosses the Bridge

One of my beloved Angoras was returned to the earth last week. Here is a pic that was taken the day I brought her home. She was little more than a kit and shared a small crate with her littermate Blanche. They were named after the characters played by Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. The other pic was taken last summer. She was 5 years old and 12 pounds and had been living in her own spacious hutch that was built by DH. Jane passed in February. It was hard to dig. As our dear friend Tony put it: "Rabbit: 12 pounds . . . Friend with a backhoe: Priceless." Great heartfelt thanks to Tony & Dana for helping us with our Jane's funeral.

Fun with Bleach

I made a nifty t-shirt for DH. I gotta get a picture of the finished shirt, though! I used a plain black t-shirt, a Clorox bleach pen and a stencil. I taped the stencil to the shirt, colored it in with the bleach pen and then just waited for a few hours. When it was done, the picture was the burnt-looking brownish orangy color you can see in this picture. I put it in bleach stop for a while to stop the process and then threw it in the washing machine. Gotta try this again -- great fun was had by all. Oh -- this is important -- open a window or work outside!

Alan's Sweater

Another UFO finished! I started this yoke sweater last year for DH but when I got to the neck, I put it down. I picked it up yesterday and finished it. Unfortunately when he tried it on, we both decided it was too "girly", so now it's mine. Back to the drawing board.

I used Lion Brand Wool Ease with 2 strands together on size 13s. It's knitted from the bottom in the round. I used the methods in Knitting in the Old Way. Love that book! This was my first yoke sweater. Next time I'll be more adventurous with the actual yoke . When I was finished I could see why they traditionally have all of those colors! When it's in a solid color, the decreases are pretty visible. Not that I mind that -- I think it adds an interesting texture.

Shauna's Poncho

After three years, I finally finished it. It's been a joke between us -- it was a birthday gift, but it wasn't finished. I gave it to her unfinished and then said, "Okay, give it back so I can finish it." The pattern came from Sally Melville's book The Knit Stitch. I love Sally's books! Anyway, Shauna finally got her poncho. My New Year's resolution is to finish my UFOs! We all know how that goes -- at the end of the year, we'll see how I did! :)

Alan's Scarf

This is the scarf I made my husband for Christmas. Okay, it's not the whole scarf! I need to take some pics of the finished product. The yarn is alpaca and I sort of made up the pattern as I went -- it's just 1x1 rib with a cable down the middle -- 2 p st on each side of the st st cable. Pretty easy and fun to do.

My New Scarf

Okay, I know it's been FOREVER!!! I've just been way too busy to keep up. Anyway, this is my new scarf. I got the pattern from my pal Dana. I think she got it from www.knittingpatterncentral.com. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the pattern. The yarn was part of one of those felted bag kits from JoAnne Fabric. They had a bunch of kits on clearance -- didn't care much for the bag but loved the yarn, so I bought it -- 4 skeins of single ply bulky wool for $8 -- couldn't go wrong. I wear this with a black pea coat and get tons of comments!