I think I have found my particular knitting passion.  Some enjoy sock knitting and others will make sweater after sweater…I seem to lean towards lace knitting.  I can’t decide if the finished product is what draws me, or the intricate patterns that keep my mind busy and interested. 

I cast on for LodenMist on 5/5, but then had to put it away for a few weeks.  I’ve since picked it up and progress is good.  I’m 2/3rd’s done with the left front and hope to cast on for the sleeves next week.    I couldn’t resist blocking the back. 

I’m using a different yarn than what the pattern calls for, so I had my doubts as to whether it would stretch to size.  It came out real close.  I’m using Louet Kidlin and the color is Woodland. 

I just love the halo affect that the mohair gives it, which is hard to see in this picture.

In other lace knitting news, I’ve made two swatches for my Mystery Stole 3 project.   Something I found ironic…here I’ve been working on Loden Mist for a month or so and found the pattern to the mystery stole swatch to be the exact same lace pattern. It made for a quick and easy swatch.

Both swatches were made with Alpaca With A Twist Fino in Champagne.  70 % baby alpaca, 30% silk.  In the top swatch -  I used the recommended needle size which is 4.   I almost always have to go up a needle size to get gauge, which is what I did for the bottom swatch.  The top one is more to my liking though and should make close to a 18 inch stole. 

If you look REAL HARD, you’ll see my one little bead that I tested for color.  It looked pretty in the store when comparing yarn to bead, but when I placed it on the yarn, I  didn’t like it.  It made me think of something that is old and has yellowed with age.   Not to say that there aren’t some very pretty things that yellow nicely with age.

Anyway, I ordered 2 other colors and I like the one on the top the best (my lighting is not all that good today).  It seems to emulate the same thing that the yarn does - silk and softness.

I am now set with yarn, beads, needles (INOX) and size 13 crochet hook for bead application.  Now…I just wait until Friday, when the first pattern clue is given.

Gotta love that UPS man when he brings boxes and boxes of yarn and more!

At The Local Needle we just received our reorder of Alpaca With A Twist Fino.  A fine laceweight -  70% baby alpaca and 30% silk.  Perfect for the Mystery Stole 3 project and there’s still time to receive it before the first clue is given!  Last week we announced a price increase on this yarn, the current price structure will end at midnight tomorrow (6/19/07).  If you’ve been contemplating this yarn, you may want to decide before the price increase.

Some of the Schaefer Laurel that we have on order came in today.  We have 3 of the new Schaefer cotton colors and our best selling Margaret Meade, now in stock.  We have more on order, as well as their new dk weight cotton - Susan.   I was able to take a peak at Susan while at the TNNA show.  It’s lovely and may even become more popular than Laurel!

Schaefer is shipping as fast as they can, on opening I could smell the dyes.  Tomorrow that entire corner of the shop will have that smell!  We also received in our Anne sock yarns  (assorted colors) and Lola Bunny kits as well as the Baby Bolero kits.

I’m hoping to get this all posted tonight - photography working in my favor will help that process.

In addition to the yarns, we have the new edition of the Needlecrafters’ Travel Companion, a “tasting” of Hiyahiya bamboo needles, and some beautiful Heartstrings Fiber knitting patterns by Jackie E-S. 

I learned about this Butterick pattern from Archengelica on Knitter’s Review and thought I’d buy it for my Mom.  She’s a seamstress with her own work-room and does work for some of the top decorators in Jacksonville (she deserves to be bragged on every once and a while).  I can’t sew a stitch. 

Anyway, the bag seemed versatile enough so that she could make whatever piece she needed the most.  I have a small bag fetish, so am in need of none.

Mom used some fat quarters she had laying around (another one of her stashes) and made the circular needle case.  She said she had never used bonded fleece before (the pattern calls for it).  It’s used as an interlining and gives it extra padding. 

It came out really nice so thought I might could get away with another brag…

I can’t help but smile…

Yesterday I had the privelege of participating in Smile Camp.  Smile camp is a week long day-camp for children with special needs.  It is organized and presented by some very special volunteers with Girls Scouts of Gateway Council.  

High school aged Girl Scouts are teamed one-on-one with a special need child for the week, to provide friendship and encouragement.  The children participate in arts & crafts, swimming, songs, makeup/dress up and canoeing, which is why I was there.  

It made me smile to see these children get some enjoyment out of something so simple as a canoe ride.  Some of them were afraid of the water and others wanted to go fast.    A few of them were able to ride without their counselors and some couldn’t even hold their head up.  Humbling.

Some of the older special needs children were able to participate in other ways.  There was a waterfront director, a kitchen helper and more.  These children stayed at the camp the entire week, along with the adults and counselors.  For some, it’s the first time they have ever spent the night away from home or parents. 

And everywhere there is some form of this:

This is why I can still smile…

even after a construction worker that is working outside my in-laws house (who are in their mid-80’s),  backs into their car, encourages them to continue on to their Dr’s appointment because he would be there when they return, then denies everything to the police. 

Smile camp isn’t just for the counselors to learn leadership skills, or the older special needs children to experience responsibility, or even the younger children to have fun…It’s also there to put a smile on the volunteers.