I feel so lucky that at this time in my life I have a circle of friends.  Through knitting, spinning, fiber crafts in general, I’ve met such wonderful folks.  As a group we have decided to do a the Circle of Friends blanket.  I received my supplies on Thursday and I finished it up this morning.  I knit strip 3.  It’ll be winging it’s way back in the mail tomorrow morning to meet the other strips.

I have yet to make my kitchen the dishcloths it deserves.  However, when I saw this cute pattern for the hyperbolic dishcloth, I knew I had to give it a go.

I’m a completely novice crocheter but was able to get this done with a bit in the morning and then working on it for a bit in the evening.  I didn’t follow the directions exactly, but it still came out super cute.  This one is more flouncy then the ones the pattern makes.

I will probably do some nice plain ones now, as I can always use some nice mindless knitting.  I’m thinking of trying Grandmother’s favorite.

We’re having some super nasty weather right now and it would be a great day to just sit home and knit, but I have to go to work today.  Yuck.

Anyway - I’m looking over my project list on the side as I casted on a few more projects this week and I’m thinking - hey I should put the finishing touches on a few of these.  So this week I’m making it my goal to get the Bee Field Shawl done.  I have to weave in 2 ends and sew up the little bit of middle and block it.  You would think I could get this done.

So in the new project area - I started the Baudelaire pair and The Purple Squirrel for DH.  I was a bit farther on the squirrel, but ripped it back when I hated the M1’s I did.  No biggie - this will knit up quick.

I decided two days ago that I wanted to make some slippers for my Mom out of stash yarn for Mother’s day. The gray and green is handspun from a sweater I did for her last year. The yellow is from my PWool sweater. These knit up so quick that I didn’t have enough time to take a progress shot. They were just done.

After two trips through the washer, they are now busily drying.

I didn’t realize they were Green Bay packer colors until DH pointed that out. I thought they reminded me of a garden and I think they need smidgen of embroidery once they dry.

The pattern is from Knit 2 Together, which I got with a coupon after I loved several of their patterns while browsing it at JoAnn Fabrics. Normally celebrity knitting books never even make my list, but trust me, there were some cute patterns in this one. I think I need to knit a pair of these slippers for myself.

So these are the first dishcloths I’ve ever done.  No really.  Ever.  I don’t know why I haven’t done them before, as they are a super quick knit.  I did one in each sitting.  Size 7 needle, with Knitpicks Shine Worsted, the Ballband Dishcloth pattern, which is free and can be found here.

I’m creating a little package for Mom and these are going in as one of the items.

We’re having a bit of Internet connectivity problem right now, so I’m up and down.  Hopefully to be fixed soon.

Knitting content towards the bottom today.

I knew today was just an off day. I was just “off” all day. First my computer at work was moving like molasses and then nothing just seemed to get accomplished today. Then DH asked if I saw the headline and no I didn’t. I was weaving in the ends as he read the news to me. While I only saw Winky while she resided at the Detroit zoo and really I didn’t know her… I was still so sad to hear her passing. I’m happy she had three happy years in California at PAWs, but still very sad.

I was on the band wagon to have Winky and her companion Wanda go to Paws or another sanctuary at the beginning. If you all don’t remember it was touch and go for a while there. The Detroit Zoo was all for sending them to happy retirement, but when the American Zoo and Aquarium Association stepped in saying the elephants should go to Columbus zoo, it looked bleak. Especially since her bonded partner Wanda was really on loan from the San Antonio Zoo, which sided with the AZA.

At that point I wrote the director of the Detroit Zoo, along with many others, saying how the lovely California sunshine and fresh grassy fields would be so much better for them. I got a personal response from the director, complete with all the details about why they were going to be moved to the new zoo. I like to think in the end common sense prevailed, but the fact is Wanda either carries a type of virus or has antibodies of it that could be fatal to young elephants. It does not however bother her. Everyone held their breath for 3 days while they were driven across country and we were all logging on getting Winky and Wanda updates. I was hoping they would just make it safely and they did.

Anyway, DH has reminded me to stop crying or else I’ll have puffy face tomorrow. Really I was doing good until I read these two sentences in the press release. “She had three veterinarians in attendance while she was euthanized. Her companion, Wanda, choose to stay with her for some time.” So sad. Here’s a really nice picture of them together at Paws (picture 27).

In the interim of this sad news, basketball, and regular evening activities like lap time, cuddles, and pats for my own critters, I managed to get the ends woven in… can you believe it. Really it only took about 2 hours to do and it flew by.

Here are all the little ends and a poodle ear…

And Jack who kept jumping in front of the camera. He’s a little ham.

All the squares are done.  I’ve decided this thing has to get off the needles.  I have to finish it this week.  Heck or high water.

So now this leaves the border to knit and the ends to weave in.  Oh no… not the ends.

So part two of the trip continues, after a lovely visit at the yarn shop we made our way for lunch to my cousins house to visit with her son, husband and father (my uncle).  I have to say I love knitting for her because she loves getting my knits.  When she receives something - normally a hat or whatever for the kids she acts like it’s the best thing since sliced bread.  I mean break out the ticker tape folks, it’s time for a parade.  Knitters love this.  I mean, love this.  The husband commented about this to me once in conversation and I decided yes, dang it, I want a parade per finished object - thankyouverymuch.

Anyway I’m committed now that she’s seen the blanket and it does match the new baby’s room - so on I go.  I do have to say though not much has gotten done.  I’ll spare you the picture with all the ends this time. (lol)  Commence eye rolling. 

When I’m chatting or need simple keep my head clear work,  I head right for some plain socks and I have nice little self striping yarn stash built up for those plain but lovely old friends for the sock drawer.  Here’s another pair off the needles.

This is out of Trekking XXL - color number 144.  Top down the after thought toe heel - no biggie.  I just knit another toe for the heel after I take out the place saving stitches.  Some formulas I’ve looked at say to knit one decrease row and then two rows of plain.  I have a very narrow heel apparently, so I do exactly like a toe - knit one row plain, one decrease row.  No biggie at all and it fits like a glove.  I’ve found out if I do the two plain rows it kinda bags out on me like little wings on the side of each heel.  It eventually works itself out, but why bother when you can have great fitting right off the needles.

So that’s about it… not much more to tell.  I was happy to see Mom again and happy to come home.  I ate several favorite things and will now be on salads for the rest of the month.  Not!  But just to give you an idea - at my cousins there were both cream puffs and cannolis  - I had one of each.  Mmmm… I would love another one now.

Ok - one half is officially done.

While I enjoy doing these little squares, they do seem to take their time don’t they. At least the finish line may be in sight.

Ok - so it’s as long and wide as it’s going to be… now just filling in the blank side.

I’ve been looking at Ravelry photos of beautiful mitered squares for inspiration to keep going. Definitely will be making these squares bigger next time, but talk about the inspiration out there. I love this blanket of many colors out of sock yarn. Click here for a Ravelry link. She has a great post on how she is weaving in the ends on her blog. I’m feeling inspired today.