522

522 is the number of stitches I casted on last night for Maplewing shawl.  I decided that since I just added more lace yarn to the stash it was time to cast a project on.  In fact, I’m actually in a casting on mood, which sometimes does not strike me, so I’m taking advantage of it.

I think though this is the largest cast on I’ve ever done – it took 1 hour 15 minutes.  I’m keeping track this time to see how much invested time I have in this project.  So far, winding, swatching and casting on – 2 hours 15 minutes.  This way when I wear the shawl and someone goes – gosh how long did that take?  I’ll have the right answer instead of a guess. It’s just an interesting experiment for me.

Speaking of winding.  This luscious skein is Gypsy Girl Lace… what you haven’t seen Gypsy Girl Lace?  Then run right over to Stone Barn Fibers and Cathi would be most happy to dye you up some… or better yet – tell you LYS that they need to carry bunches and bunches of Gypsy Girl Lace because we all have to the honor the gypsy girl in us.  No affiliation, just a very happy customer.

Another recent addition is this awesome swift.  Do you know I hate winding lace on my upright lace swift?  I have the blue cagey one and for lots of fiber it works just fine.  I’ve had a few laces fall right down off it though and become a tangled mess.  Ugh… well I looked at some wooden ones and I toyed and toyed with the idea when my friend Beverly’s husband made this one.  Well, one look at it and I snapped it up.  It’s gorgeous and hand made.

Also see my lazy-yarn cake holder?  I love it! Also handmade by Beverly’s husband – it’s in cherry wood.  After I wound on it went and no fiddling now.  I just winds right off.  Also for lace I like to knit from the outside.  Nearly everything else – from the inside, but lace from the outside so the ball doesn’t collapse in on itself – again a knot.