This is a lovely free Ravelry pattern – 198 Yards of Heaven. I used some love Karaoke that was a gift from my two knitting buds — Beverly and Dawn.  I have two more balls that might become another one of these…because it’s perfect size to be scarf and just enough coverage to keep your shoulders warm — so versatile.

Coco really wants the ball… can I have the ball please?  Now it looks like a pet toy factory blew up here most days, but if Max has one ball… she must have it.  They are both little hoarders.  Happy Dogs on Thursday.

First the this is the Cocoon scarf, knit with Kidsilk Haze which is not one of my favorite yarns.

However, the finished project is very lovely as Madison agrees.  This is going to Mom.

She’s also getting this extra-warm EZ hat.  I have to admit I was tempted to try it out for warmth today while I snow-blowed the driveway.  I refrained, but it’s really nice and warm.  It’s double-sided, utilitarian, and lovely.  A 3-day knit.

Finally to get some Dogs on Thursday going around here.  Coco and Charlie seem to be cuddling.

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.

It didn’t make the book due to there not being enough room, so she released it on her website the Wooly West as a kit.  Of course I loved it and had to have the kit.

I ordered it first in the Fjord blue.  However, when it came I couldn’t see it in this shawl and thought the red might work better.  Poor Nancy, I emailed and called her back.  She probably thinks I’m nuts, but your know, the red works and is gorgeous for this shawl.

Of course, I have no intention of returning the blue.  The blue is gorgeous.  I’m thinking the blue would work for the Miralda shawl. I figure this is good.  I have the yarn for two shawls and I can’t wait to knit them both.

Anyway enough whining. Here is the beautiful scarf. I’m about 1/2 way through the main pattern. I would like this to be about 60 inches before I do the edging.

The blanket is also coming along. Those ends may kill me.

Not as quickly as before since my home time has been devoted to the scarf, but still growing. I have knitting group tonight and that always re-charges me, so I’m off.

So yes the little mitered squares are moving along – I may finish the squares this week. It’s a super fast knit, especially when you are so focused on getting things done before the babies are born.

What is not faster, but still an easy lace pattern is my cocoon lace, which I worked on yesterday while I finished listening to The Power of One, which by the way is an excellent book. A little violent and dark, but full of hope. I’ve decided to put off listening to the sequel for a while, which is Tandia, to get into something a bit lighter. I picked out the first book in the James Herriot series, All Creatures Great and Small – I would like to listen to the whole series. I don’t know how I missed this series as a kid, since my childhood dream was to be a country vet. I’m much too much of a softy though, as I know it can be tough, plus I would probably be totally broke all the time. (lol) At least I could take payment in wool.

I forgot to take a picture of my Saturday Sky, whoops. It seems like all of them are really looking the same lately, so no biggie, but you can sure tell spring is in sight as it actually got warmer through the day yesterday and by 10 pm when the dogs went out it was 53-degrees. Whoa – now that’s interesting. Hopefully everyone will be safe though as it seems to be causing some terrible weather further south.

I still have to set the heel up for the sock that will go to my Silly Sock pal.  It’s not complicated, but will take a little thought to get it started.  I have been buying a few little doodads here and there to put in the package, so getting this sock complete is definitely on my mind.

I have cast on yet another project.  The Cocoon Lace scarf.  I loved the one Donna at Random Knit’s did and thought this would be perfect for a future gift.  Out of kid silk haze.

Betcha think I forgot, didn’t you. Well, I didn’t and now have three proud bees. This part has actually worked up the quickest for me and I did 10 rows last night. I still love this pattern.

now onto the last section. I’m seriously contemplating doing the petite. Since I’m so vertically challenged, I don’t want to get swallowed up in the shawl. You know I want to wear it, I don’t want it to wear me. I’m thinking the petite size will be large enough for me. If that’s the case – 30 more rows and then the end edging. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter on this one, but let me just say, I’ve enjoyed the journey on this one. While I do have to get an eye on the chart, it is repetitive enough for me to enjoy it.