Ugh.

Well, I was going to show you my latest project. It looked like this:



It's the Faux Russian Stole from A Gathering of Lace. I was feeling pretty happy with my progress.

Now, it looks like this:



Seriously, will I EVER learn to read directions???

After finishing the bottom edging, I just plowed into the next chart without ever reading the directions. DUMB.

Last night, I'm clicking through Ravelry and I start to notice that other people's version of this stole look a little different than mine. Suspicious, I finally go back and look at the pattern and see that I should have added 6 rows of garter stitch before starting the next chart.

UGH.

I ripped back, but I haven't gotten down to knitting those 6 stupid rows yet. Grrrrr....

I do have another project on the needles that I am happier with. During my blogging hiatus, I was very happy to win a "Skein of the Month" club from Storey Publishing and WEBS. I get a free skein of yarn every month for a year! Whooo hooo!

Well, the first package arrived back in January. Inside was a skein of Sheep Number 3 from Sheep Shop Yarn Company. It's a really pretty lavender. Also included was a pattern for Silky Leaves Scarf. I really liked the pattern so I immediately cast on.




Pretty, right? It's been slow going, but I really like how this is turning out. The yarn is a 30% silk/70% wool blend. It's got a nice crunch to it! I love it.

The thing about both of these projects is that they both require concentration (even when you don't read the directions.) I really need to start a sock or something so I can have something mindless to work on too!

There are a few sweater patterns calling to me. Maybe a mindless stockinette sweater would do the trick.....

The lost months in review!

Helloooooooooo..... is anyone out there???? I know, I know... I fell off the face of the earth. But I'm still here. I apologize for not posting in ages. Life got crazy, and blah, blah, blah - I haven't posted... in months.

But that is not to say that I haven't be knitting. There has been much knitting. And even a few completed projects! I spent the months of October through December working on this:



It's a combination of two Lionbrand patterns: Nature in Natural and Tree of life . It was my Christmas gift to my much adored sister. I didn't do so well actually completing it by Christmas, but I did finish by New Years! I can't tell you how happy I was to finish that puppy. It took FOREVER. But I think the results were worth it!

Other Christmas knitting included this fabulous item:


It's Errol the Owl from Charmed Knits. My father sent me the book with a note saying he'd thought Errol would make a great Christmas gift - "hint, hint". How could I refuse an 80 year old man who loves Harry Potter?? I modified the pattern slightly by adding some fun fur to the ears. I thought Errol needed a little fluff!

I have started and not finished many a random sock over the past few months. I think I have at least three single socks still on needles. And I'm not really feeling motivated to finish any of them! They have been more process knitting than product knitting... Just something to keep my hands busy!

I did manage to finish a pair of Jaywalkers. I think this is my fourth pair. It's just such an easy pattern with satisfying results.


The yarn is the ever fantastic Tess Super sock and Baby. I am crazy about the colors!

Let's see... what else... (I'm looking through my Flickr photos! I did keep up with pictures, even if I didn't keep up with the blog!)

I made this tam, which I wear a lot. I love it!

Very quick knit and very wearable.

And now for my very favorite project of the past few months. I just finished these on Friday. I LOVE them!!





It seems like everyone on Ravelry and in Blogland is knitting these. And for good reason - they are so fun! It's Kate Gilbert's Bird in Hand mittens. I really enjoyed knitting these (I have become obsessed with two color knitting lately.)

The yarn is just plain old Lion Wool. But I think it knit up pretty well for this pattern. The only irritating thing was that I ran out of green yarn before I finished the thumb of the second mitten. I had to buy a whole new skein just to finish the thumb.
(Sarah, I completely lied - I used size 2 needles on this. I don't know what I was thinking!)

So, that's what I have been up to over the past few months. Now that the mittens are done, I am looking forward to a new lace project. I just cast on for the Faux Russian Stole from A Gathering of Lace. I think the construction of this shawl is going to be a little challenging for me - there's a lot of picked up stitches, which I hate! But the challenge will make it more worthwhile I suppose!

If anyone is still reading this, thanks for sticking around!

C