Somehow, this ain't right...

I'm still trying to catch up on my knitting; I'd like to think that I am.

I re-blocked the Swallowtail (I did a more aggressive block.) - which came out beautifully - and I blocked the Lotus Blossom (Finally!).

I'm doing another Swallowtail (This time, in Fiesta Yarns' La Luz Multi; this silk yarn is perfect for a Swallowtail!)...I think I'm nuts!

I'm also making a cardigan for myself (I really must be nuts!); from Creative Knitting, the Alluring Lace cardigan.

On top of that, Bee commands my attention; at 11 months old (As of tomorrow!!!), she's active and healthy, even if she's a bit small for her age. She's still adorable!

Oy vey!

I really am horrid at updating this blog. :(

I got both the Lotus Blossom and the Gothic Revival shawls blocked; I'll take pictures of the finished pieces tomorrow.

I'll also post a finished sweater (for Bee!!); it's the Top-Down Baby Jacket* and two pairs of baby socks.

Anywho, the reason why I haven't updated is that we're getting ready to move to CA! San Diego, here we come!

*Note: This is linked to my Ravelry account, which is accessible to Ravelers only.

Gothic Revival Shawl (or "Marie Revives from Boredom and School!")

Since binding off the Lotus Blossom, I took some time off from knitting (Basically, to let my hands have a break.).

During this interesting break, I've done several things:
1) Found out I was pregnant (I'm due in September!)!
1a) Newbie (That's the name for now; we have no clue who he or she is because he or she REFUSED to identify himself/herself with the last sonogram we went to.) says hello by kicking me. :)
2) Graduate from college (I iz edumacated, yo!)! I now have an Associate's in Web Technologies (After taking a year off, I'd like to go back for my Bachelor's in Information Systems; that depends on if/when The Husband and I have to move.).
3) Started on two knitting projects (I don't recommend that, especially if your attention span is as fleeting as mine).
4) Put in hardwood floors (Well, The Husband and the Father-in-law did.).
5) Had to replace our A/C unit (This was the most recent kerfuffle.)

The two projects: the Gothic Revival Shawl (found on Ravelry; click on link for more info) and a baby blanket (See? Aren't you glad I spilled the beans about the newest member of the clan before dropping this bit of knitting wonder?).

Eventually, I'll get pictures up (as well as something to help block everything that I've made so far). Apparently, that's not the only thing that's been falling behind in this house! I haven't even blocked the Lotus Blossom (I don't have a way of doing so for now; I'll have to find some cardboard or buy some blocking mats and lace blocking wires.).

In the meantime, I should be getting back to the GRS chart; I have to add two more pattern repeats somehow (Excel, here I come.).

I'm done!

I just finished the Lotus Blossom Shawl.

Instead of the bobble bind-off, I used a picot bind-off instead; personally, I prefer this bind-off than the bobbles. I'm not a fan of bobbles.

Anyway, I'll post pictures of it tomorrow. You'll get the BB and AB (Before Blocking and After Blocking) shots.

Now, I have to find my quilting pins; I may not have enough to block the shawl.

75% complete!

I am almost finished with the Lotus Blossom Shawl! YAY!!!

The yarn (Handpainted.com's Lace) nice to work with, but it gets fuzzy quick and it can be a challenge to unravel it if the strands are matted together.

Nonetheless, I'll be doing this shawl again; I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out (I'm sure I'll bite my tongue once I get to the bobbles; I've yet to learn how to make bobbles.).

Lotus Blossom Shawl...yet again.

So far, I had to frog this goofy shawl three times.

Apparently, third time's the charm; I managed to get 87 rows before finding a goober of a booboo. :/

Needless to say, this Marie isn't a happy one.

I'm working my way to fixing this booboo (Thankfully, it didn't go down very far!), but I refuse to frog it again.

Grr.

Good grief!

I frogged the Lotus Blossom shawl; I didn't like how the yarn was looking when I was knitting it up.

Instead, that yarn will be used for a scarf or two and I'll find a wool/silk blend for the shawl.

Lotus Blossom Shawl, take 1!

Since I decided to hold off on Monkey sock #2, I went ahead and dive into multitasking in the form of the Lotus Blossom Shawl.

Using La Luz Multi - a silk yarn, even (In my crazy way of thinking, silk yarn makes for a gorgeous shawl!) - in Stargazer (Pastel shades of the rainbow!), I'm looking forward to having a shawl that is pretty, goes with everything (Including blue glasses!) and is soft to the touch (Which is proving well so far.) without being itchy (Yay!) is this girl's dream come true.

I'm using metal circulars this time around (The Boye needles in size 6.) and they're working quite well. My tension is spot on (For a change.), so my poor thumb won't be overworked by clenching the yarn too tight.

On top of that, I've learned three new techniques: the knit front-to-back-to-front (kfbf), the knit front-to-back (a variant of the kfb), and the make 1 increase. On top of that, this is my first charted piece. Hooray!

Now, let's see if taekwondo doesn't knock this chick to the ground (I took up TDK; class two is tomorrow. Yay!) before I get started on chart 1!