I simply adore long weekends. The only problem with a long weekend is that it makes me wish all weekends were 3 days and work weeks only 4. This weekend was spent working on Hourglass - and that’s all. I went to a team roping with Travis on Saturday. And the only good thing about 10 hours of team roping (aside from spending time with the hubby) is a heck of a lot of knitting time (in case you’re wondering, 10 hours of roping time equals about 580 teams). I also knit on Hourglass a bit on Sunday and a lot yesterday. As of last night, here’s where we are

I am done with the knitting. I have about half of the neck facing still to graft to the inside:

The armholes to graft:

And some ends to weave in. Then, a good blocking (did I mention this yarn is superwash wool?) and she’s done. I tried her on a couple of times when working out the neck business and I do believe she’s going to fit just fabulously. I think I’ll be able to finish things up tonight, so we should be able to do some modeled shots tomorrow or Thursday.

My only other semi-exciting news is that I got a new pair of shoes.

I had a terrible time finding some cute mules to wear with my summer suits and skirts and such (having long narrow feet is really a challenge), but I think these will work just fine.

Tomorrow, new project news.

Thank goodness it’s Friday. I am really ready for a nice three day weekend. I haven’t made a lot of progress on my knitting projects this week, but I’m hopeful that the weekend will provide some quality knitting time.

I’m still on the first Hourglass sleeve - I just started the increases.

I still really like this pattern and the yarn, and I can’t wait to see the finished sweater.

Other random news: I finally received my Wendy Knits book.

Funny story about this book. I ordered the book from Amazon right about the time it was released and had it sent directly to Cindy because she went to Wendy’s book signing at Knit Happens on April 29th. Cindy got my book signed

and put it in the mail to me. When I got the envelope a few days later, there was no book. Just an empty envelope. I was crushed. My book had been lost in the mail! Cindy and I were sure we’d never see it again. But, a couple of weeks went by and it showed up in Cindy’s mail box. She had left the Amazon packing slip in the front of the book with her address on it as the ship to address. So, the post office repackaged it and sent it back to her. How awesome is that! I honestly take back every bad thing I’ve ever said about the post office. So, Cindy, bless her heart, repackaged the book, taped it up like Fort Knox, and sent it back out to me. And it arrived safe and sound! Fate. Oh, and the book - I love it. Of course. I haven’t had time to read the whole thing yet, but it looks really good.

Let’s see, what else do I have for you? Oh, Basil and Abner’s Critter Charity Drive. Rebekah is doing a charity drive for her local animal shelter. She’s collecting dog and cat toys and blankets and she’s giving away fabulous prizes. She has some links up on her sidebar for patterns, which are great little projects for those little bits of yarn left over from projects. So, if you have a few minutes, make a little something for a critter in need and send it to Rebekah. It’s for a good cause.

Guess what was in my mailbox waiting for me when I got home last night.

My sockapaloooza socks!!

I finally have some Jaywalkers! Isn’t that awesome? And best of all, they fit!

Jaime made these for me out of some gorgeous, pale pink Debbie Bliss Merino DK and they are soooo soft. Like butta, I tell ya. I put them on as soon as I unwrapped them and they are snuggly and soft and I can tell that these will be a favorite. Thanks Jaime! They’re perfect. Plus, Jaime sent a lovely Lantern Moon needle case and the cutest card ever. Travis was a little concerned about the purpose of the needle case (snicker), but it just goes to show you how clueless men are about knitting necessities.

Next up, an update on Sew? I Knit. Angela, Mari, and I have decided on tops for the next project - any kind of garmet worn on the top half of your body (or anyone else’s body, for that matter) qualifies for this project. Sign-ups begin tomorrow the 24th and run until next Wednesday the 31st. We’re trying to get the sew-along on a 2 month rotation. So, the actual sew-along will start June 1st and run through July 15th and then sign-ups for the next project will begin July 16th with the next project starting August 1st. Make sense? So, if you’re interested, get on over and sign up!

I just love a project that moves along and shows progress at regular intervals. Hourglass is just cruisin’ along.

I finished the body up to the armholes Friday night and then had to go to the yarn store on Saturday to get a longer US #7 needle for the sleeves. I was looking for a 40″, but they only had a 47″. I was worried it would be too long to comfortably accomplish some magic loop action, but it really seems to be fine. Yesterday was mostly spent outside in the yard. The weater was gorgeous, so I spent the bulk of the day weeding and cleaning out my flower beds. I was quite proud of myself, but boy the backs of my legs are sore today.

I alluded to a secret project awhile ago, and since it’s been given to the recipient, the cat’s out of the bag. Cyndi, Caitlyn, Rebekah, Violet, Ruth, Agnes, and I knit a Circle of Friends baby blanket from Last Minute Knitted Gifts for Lynette.

Lynette says she loves it, which is a relief. You know I worry about those things. We each knit 7 blocks in one color, Caitlyn and Cyndi seamed the blocks into strips, and then I seamed the strips together and wove in about a thousand ends. We used the Rowan Wool Cotton specified in the pattern and it made a lovely, soft blanket that is machine washable. What’s not to love about that. Hopefully, little Karalyn will enjoy it.

Thank you all so much for your nice compliments on Fritz (and Clapotis, of course). I thought about whether I should tell him about all the compliments, and decided that while his ego is rather large, it’s kind of mean not to tell him. I’m sure in his own way, he thanks you.

What is it about the excitement of new projects? Is it just that they’re new? Or is it something about choosing the right projects? I honestly don’t know, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth (as my dad would say). I am just having the best time with Hourglass. I know it isn’t complicated or challenging, but I think it’s the combination of a pattern I know I’ll wear a lot and the super yummy Sundara Yarn.

I’m on the second set of increases and I think I have one more set yet to do. One of the best things about this project is that it’s perfect for tv watching, and I’ve been watching a lot of tv this week - all those season finales. I can knit on this without looking, except when I need to do an increase or decrease. The yarn isn’t splitty at all and it just glides along on the addis. A winning combination. This sweater is knitting up to be rather dense, but the yarn relaxed considerably when I blocked it, so I’m operating on a bit of faith and hoping the same will be true for the sweater.

The Oak Rib Socks are also progressing nicely, although it doesn’t look like I’m going to have them both done before next Friday for my mom’s birthday. But, I’ve decided that if I don’t, well they’ll just be a gift for no reason and she’ll get something else for her birthday. I’ve turned the heel on the first sock and am decreasing the gusset.

I tried to make the stripes work out and I think the solution I finally ended up with is just fine. I thought about cutting the yarn to keep the stripe repeats the same in the heel, but decided I didn’t want to be that fussy with these socks (that is not to say that I couldn’t be that fussy with a pair of socks - I have the personality for it). I think the wider heel stripes add a bit of charm. You want perfect, go buy some socks!

This weekend promises to be much quieter than last weekend and I’m pretty happy about that. My mom wants to knit a felted bag. She’s thinking about a large tote. If anyone has any pattern suggestions, I’d love to hear from you. We are going to try to get to the yarn store and get her started on something and then I think I’ll work on my knitting and my yard a bit while the weather is still good. It’s been unseasonably warm here - we went from winter to summer in one day, but it always gets cold again before Memorial Day. So, I’m not going to plant any flowers, but I think I’ll clean up my flower beds and get some new mulch and that kind of thing. Have a wonderful weekend.