#10

Cross #10 off the list, Baby!! I finished the Shoulder Shawl in Cherry Leaf Pattern today, while getting my hair done. Sweet.

Name: Aunt Helen's Cherry Leaf Shawl
Pattern: Shoulder Shawl in Cherry Leaf Pattern, from Victorian Lace Today
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Lace, color2379, 1 ball
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony, size 5
Notes: This pattern calls for a knitted on edging on the sides, and a crocheted edging across the top. Obviously, I did neither. When I cast on for this I saw that I had a good deal less yardage of my chosen yarn, then the pattern called for. I've heard the the patterns in VLT have slightly underestimated yardage, just to add to the problem. SO I thought I'd just omit the edging. Turns out, I used a Little less than one ball, so I could totally have done the edging. Oh well, I like it this way. It is fancy, but yet, still simple.

The pattern itself is uber easy. After the first repeat, you have it down. Since the scarf starts at the point, and works towards the top edge, you get to do three repeats really quickly, learning the pattern fast. The downside, of course, is the last three repeats, or so. Like most triangle shawls, this gets a little tedious.
I love Misti Alpaca, too. after my first shawl with it, I knew I had to knit with it again. I have two balls in three more colors just waiting to be knit up. I equate it to knitting with unicorn fur. What could be more soft and drapey than unicorn fur?

This lovely bit o' wisp is for my Great Aunt Helen's Holiday Gift. She is a knitter, crocheter, and quilter. Who better, and more understanding, of a gift of homemade lace than someone like her? All my life she has given me gifts of handmade things and chocolate (it's generational :))and I look at this as my opportunity to give a little back to her. Now, it doesn't compare to the gorgeous wedding quilt she made me, but I hope it serves as a little reminder, and a hug, from me this winter.
And with that, I get to cross #10 off the Summer Knitting Goals List!!
#12 is next...
Oh, and this is what happened to my hair whilst I was knitting.


It is also the reason I drive to Seymour to get my hair done. SO worth the drive.

Next on the list

1. Make a list
2.Check thing off
3.Bask in glow of accomplishment
There is nothing like drawing a line through an item on a list to make me all glowy and happy. I feel organized, accomplished, and somehow justified. I have visible proof of progress. Sometimes, when I have a crazy busy day at work - the kind that you are bouncing all over and are getting no, one project finished - I make a list. I put everything on it - broken down into the smallest units possible. For example, instead of writing "Do timesheets" I write, "Do DB's timesheet, Do SS's timesheet, Do KV's timesheet...". This way, even if I only get one timesheet done before I have to run off to another meeting, I get to cross something off the list. I also put items on the list like "drink a glass of water" and "eat lunch", because, seriously, I forget sometimes. Most times I make my lists during meetings - it keeps me from getting noticeably bored, I'm multitasking, and I get to cross "sit in stupid meeting" off my list at the end.
In my real life, as a knitter, (smile) I do a form of the list as well. I read through the pattern and make little boxes in the margins that correspond to the amount of times I need to do a certain instruction before moving on. Like, "repeat chart a 10 times" would get ten boxes beside it. Then I can cross out a box each time I finish a repeat. Or, "increase one stitch st each end of row, every 6 rows, 5 times" would get five boxes, and I'd make a slash mark at the end of every row, so when I got to six slashes in the box I knew it was time to increase again.
I have no idea why I do this; why I love to cross things off so much, but I do. I really do. I think it is part organization, and part motivation. (maybe part obsession too) I can say this though, my current project is killing me.

This is the Shoulder Shawl in Cherry Leaf Pattern from VLT. I'm knitting it for my Aunt Helen. (It is totally on my Summer Knitting Goals list. Surprise) It is 15 repeats of the same chart. I have 5 more repeats to go before I do the top edging. I am desperately trying to not make a little post-it of boxes to cross off. It's only 5 more repeats! Certainly, I can do 5 more repeats with out needing to make little x's on a freakin' piece of paper! My list making is seriously being tested. The only thing keeping my resolve is the fact that I get to cross this project off the Christmas and SNG lists after I block it.

I do think I might be knitting faster though - I think because I am desperate to cross something off. An upside, no?