Welcome to my new follower(s)!  I've been slack this week, both with blogging and stitching. 

Here's the blocked Holden Shawlette:

I did put in a (very) few stitches into Nature's Little Helper this week.  Well, I could have sworn I took a picture of it...so the following pictures may suck.

I finally got a start on the Mill Hill Autumn Collage.

And I stashed a little.  (I got some yarn, too, but I don't feel like going upstairs to get a picture).

And, lastly, I am about halfway through with my Elen hat.  (It's farther along than in this picture).

And now, it's late and I'm tired and no more will get done tonight. 

Happy stitching!
Tamara

Holden Shawlette FO

I didn't think I would have this shawlette done this weekend, but it is and I am thrilled with it.  That picot bind off, however, took for.ev.er.  It's now blocking, but I couldn't wait to show it off.  So here it is unblocked and I will post a picture next week of the blocked shawl.

Holden Shawlette
(unblocked)

Pattern:  Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes
Yarn:  Blue Heron Yarns bamboo lace "Summer Meadow"
Needles:  Hiya Hiya Sharps Size US 4 24" circular

The pattern was well written and is good for a beginner lace/shawl pattern.  The only problem I had in the beginning was my yarn overs would migrate over the round stitch markers I was using and after I switched to the larger locking stitch markers, I did not have any more trouble.  It's a small shawl (hence the shawlette name, lol), measuring 48 X 23 inches while blocking.  The yarn did bleed during the washing, but several rinses seemed to get most of the excess dye out.

I'm hoping feverently it will be dry by 4PM so I can wear it out tonight. 

Word is out I might celebrate by starting my Mill Hill Buttoned and Beaded Autumn Collage Kit tonight.  Fall is approaching at warp speed.

Happy Stitching,
Tamara

Year The First

Wow, I've kept up with this pretty well for an entire year.  I really didn't think I would;  I'm a horrible journal keeper.  I think the show-off factor and pictures help, lol.  The blog has definitely helped keep me motivated and I usually feel a little guilty when I haven't made any progress to show.  It's still fun, so I guess I'll be keeping at it for a while longer.  Thanks to all of you who stop by to visit!

Now, unfortunately, no stitching has been happening here the past week or two.  I've been in a perpetual bad mood for the past couple of weeks now and can't seem to shake it.  I hope the few days vacation time I have in a few weeks will help.  Monday we had a bad thunderstorm here and it zapped my tv and satellite receiver.  So, I had to go spend stash money on a new tv.  Now I'm just waiting for the replacement receiver.  I'm really over summer now.  Other little odds and ends have been stressing me out, too.  Nothing major, just everything seems to be slightly out of kilter.

I did finally(!) manage to finish up the no-purl Monkey socks last night and kitchnered the toe this morning.  Two and a half months.  Ridiculous.   It was all me, the pattern is great. 

Pattern:  Monkey by Cookie A, no purl version
Yarn:  Patons Stretch Socks in Licorice
Needles:  US 0 on the first sock and US 1 on the second, which worked better.  The no-purl version of this pattern does not have as much stretch as the original.

A bit more lace is showing on the Holden Shawlette:

Yeah, I know, still doesn't look like much.

And, I'm a good way through my next pair of socks:

Nothing fancy on these, just a 3 X 1 rib.  This is in Online Supersocke 100 Comedy Color 1279. 

This upcoming week I will be focusing on the shawlette and Nature's Little Helper.  I hope. 

Happy Stitching and thanks for a great year!
Tamara

Another Month Down

Wow, is it really August already??  After about March, the year always just seems to whiz by at an alarming speed.  And my progress slows to a snail's pace.  No stitching for me tonight;  I have a meeting to go to instead.  I have been working on my Holden Shawlette the past couple of days.  I'd really like to get this one done soon.  The picture quality might be worse than usual for a while;  I got a new camera and it will take me some time to figure it out.

I've done the first ten rows of the lace border and it's starting to look slightly less boring.  I'm off to watch a little of the Olympics and get a few more rows done before having to go out. 

Happy Stitching,
Tanara