I was completely in denial on this one. I realized I was knitting looser, oh, quite a few rows back. Like near the halfway point of the project. *sigh* For some reason I thought it would block out, but once I bound off I had to face the truth.

In the photo, the top section is the stretched out, way too loose end and the bottom is the gauge I started with. The top is also showing 7.5 eyelet columns while the bottom has 9 columns visible. This project has now been ripped back to just before the halfway point.

Last week we were volunteering at the rodeo almost every night and also on the weekend. That’s why I don’t have much progress to show you this week. However, I did finish my previous sewn item (photos tomorrow) and I picked up a new one to be finished.

1. Misti Alpaca Baktus – 50% done. It’s all downhill from here!

2. Blue Flowered Table Runner – the binding is stitched down. Now I need to decide how to finish the center and whether I want to add any decorative stitching to the flowers.

With Vinca done I only have one project on the needles. I’m really torn between starting a smallish project that will use up a stash yarn (still obsessed about lowering my stash count) or starting a Christmas gift project. Hmm…I guess the thing to do is find something that meets both criteria.

I’m also continuing to work on finishing up sewing projects. Guess I may as well put those on this list.

1. Misti Alpaca Baktus – I’m getting a repeat or 2 done at lunch each day, but that’s about it. Hey look, it’s a new photo, but it really doesn’t look much different then last week.

2. Bright Placemats and Coasters – these are almost done. Just one placemat left to stitch the binding down on.

This is actually my eleventh shawl for 10 Shawls in 2010.

Pattern: Vinca Shawl by Miriam Felton (MimKnits), available in her book Twist & Knit.
Yarn: 3 skeins of Knit Picks Shadow, Kettle Dyed in colorway Eggplant
Needles: US #4 (3.5 mm) Addi Turbo circular and 3.5 mm double points
Notes: Wow was this one a long haul. Looking back on it, Summer simply isn’t the best time to knit a big shawl because I don’t have as much time available. I love the finished product though, it was totally worth it.

I did half an extra repeat of the chart for the counterpane, which then means my wings are a bit wider as well. This took my shawl from 940 yards specified in the pattern to a whopping 1250 yards. Since I’m tall, I also knit the wings a bit longer too.

The pattern is awesome. Miriam includes detailed instructions for the special cast on and for binding off. Then she details how to adjust the size of the pattern to suit your available yarn. Definitely do as she says and start on double point needles. My blog post about getting started is here.

Since I divided my time last week between knitting, spinning, and sewing I don’t have a ton of knitting progress to show you this week.

1. Vinca – I’ve completely forgotten how many repeats I did on this last week. I know I did at least one. It’s getting close to the finish line. My goal is to have it off the needles before Wednesday next week.

2. Misti Alpaca Baktus – a few repeats here and there has amounted to enough that I can at least show you a progress shot. There’s really no rush on this, it’s fulfilling it’s purpose as the easy knit that I carry along with me each day.

It was way too hot to do much of anything outside or horse related this weekend so I holed up in my craft room. We’re lucky to have air conditioning that does a decent job of cooling the downstairs if you’re not going in/out or cooking too much.

I did a little spinning. It took me a few minutes to get back into the flow as it’s been a long time since I picked up a spindle.

Then, a little sorting through old magazines and pattern books. These were my Grandma Honey’s. It’s been quite interesting to flip through them – there are a number of baby patterns that are just as cute as any you’d find in a Debbie Bliss book today. The adult patterns though? Not so much. There are a few classic sweater patterns that I’m going to keep, but most of the patterns are big boxy, shapeless things. Or really tacky 70′s style.

(1) Here’s a couple of sweaters I liked that would only need basic alterations like shortening the length and adding waist shaping. (2) An example of the baby cuteness. (3) What the ??

Followed by a little machine sewing and some hand finishing. I feel like it’s a dirty word, but I’ve been mulling over Christmas gift ideas. However, before I start anything new I have several half a dozen a dozen (*sigh*) sewing projects that I need to finish up.

I also did some knitting on Vinca. Which I’m not going to show you because it’s the same as last time except for being 1 repeat longer.

I couldn’t let the whole week go by until next Wednesday without showing you these photos. I knew I needed to measure my Vinca to figure out how much longer to make the wings and I wanted to see it on the dress form. It’s a bit of a guess still since it’s not blocked, but you get the idea.

See how the front in the middle photo isn’t even close to being able to drape over my arm? Even when I stretch a section to see how much it’s likely to grow during blocking it’s not there yet. More knitting to be done! Three more repeats and I’ll do another size check.

We had a damp, rainy weekend – good for indoor projects, not so good for anything outdoors.

1. Vinca – Three repeats were completed in the last week. The measurement I’m trying to reach is at least 50 inches on the long side, maybe a touch more since I’m tall. Currently I have at least 44 inches which is exciting since it means I’m getting close to the end.

2. Misti Alpaca Baktus – a repeat here and one there, but not much to show for progress.

Can I distract you with food since I have no knitting photos? I’m also making progress on my liver detox. I completed 3 weeks of the very restricted diet and now I’m challenging some of the restricted foods to see if I have any negative reactions to them. Do you want to see more of what the restricted diet looks like?

Sweet potato, kind of plain, but they are moist, sweet, and filling. Much healthier than white potatoes too.

This salad is almost entirely out of my friend Terese’s garden. She gave me the lettuce, green beans, carrots. Strawberries were offered, but I had California strawberries that needed to be used up.

Not much in this salad is local, but it was pretty tasty. Something I’ve found with salads is that when I can’t have dressing, fruit makes a pretty good substitute. I’ve also been known to use some fresh squeezed lemon juice too. I’m still craving a true Waldorf salad. *sigh*

Finally, I have halfway decent photos to show you. This project has been so difficult to photograph. Something about the handpainted colors, the camera can’t get a good focus on them.

Pattern: Lacy Baktus by Terhi Montonen with permission from Strikkelise who designed the original Baktus.
Yarn: 1 skein of Artful Ewe hand dyed merino, worsted(?)
Needles: US #5 (3.75 mm) Addi Turbo circular
Notes: This is such a lovely, easy project. I think it suits the yarn well – better than you can tell in the photos, though I had my doubts in the beginning few inches! I tried to get a few photos that show the true color of the yarn, plus the finished size of the shawl.

Overall, I liked this project enough to immediately cast on for another one. This last photo, while poor quality, does at least show how big it turned out when knit with this yarn/needle combination.

August. Really? I feel like I’m just now settling into it being Summer. There’s still a lot to get done outside this year, namely finishing the horse facility. Lots of busy weekends coming up.

1. Vinca – I completed TWO repeats of the chart over the last few days. Now it looks like Vinca is growing – unstretched I have 13 inches knit of each wing.

2. Misti Alpaca Baktus – barely started, but that’s all that matters. I’ve been taking it with me each day and haven’t found any time to knit on it.