the Akamai Knitter

I’ve been positively lazy the past few days. There’s been attempts at knitting, crocheting, and some wireworking.  All of which have resulted in the realization that my thumb still needs more rest.  So I continue with activities that are less taxing on my injured digit, like spinning and seed beading.

I don’t have much handspun to show yet, but I finally finished a leaf component in black and sewed one of the Trillium Flowers to it.

I like this much more then I do the white. I’ve always been more partial to black then white though.

I can finally show off some knitting I did before the thumb injury. Here are my first pair of Fetchings that I made for my friend Lisa.

I used Malabrigo Merino Worsted and boy was it a pleasure to work with such a nice yarn.  More details are on my Ravelry project page if you’re interestesd.

Another gift I can now share is a pair of earrings I whipped up for my friend Blogless Barbara. The project idea came from the magazine Easy Wire and it’s one of those things that made me want to slap my forehead and say “why didn’t I think of that?!”

Quincy is just ecstatic over all the jewelry fun.

Happy Tuesday, everyone.  Thanks for all the well wishes. They’re truly appreciated. :)

Remember the knit along? The one for the Oyster Bay Shawl? The one where I was supposed to knit with Cookie and Megan? I kind of fell behind them by a mile or three. Well not only did I finally finish the shawl, I also blocked it.

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Pattern: Oyster Bay Shawl

Yarn: Malabrigo Laceweight in Whales Road from our Cookie

Needles: size 5US/3.75mm

Started: 9/11/09

Finished: 11/04/09

No modifications.

The pattern really gets lost with this yarn, but the yarn is so pretty  I don’t think I mind. It was a nice little pattern to knit too. Not too hard, not too easy.  It was enough to keep me entertained.

I love the yarn. It’s nice and soft and like I said, the colors are perfect. Cookie picked a winner. Thank you, Cookie!

In other news, there’s a flash flood watch across the state. You wouldn’t know it looking at the morning sky though. Yeah the sun is shining brighter then bright and the sky is blue.

Island weather is just crazy.

Happy Friday everyone! Have a great weekend!

(gakked from our Cookie, who gakked it from Carole.)

For those who are unfamiliar with Thankful Thursdays, the basic premise is to list three things you’re thankful for.  So here goes.

1. My friends. They’re an endless well of support and love. Especially in the wake of all my whining when I’m sick and I happen to get sick a lot.  They also respect my boundaries. I have a thing about people touching me and they respect that. So thanks to all my local friends and to my cyber friends.
2. My mother. Blogless Dayna and I  have a theory that we used up all our good parental karma on our mothers because we get along so well with them, but no so much with our fathers. But get along well with my mother I do. She’s one of my best friends and I cherish her.
3. This is a weird one. My dentist. If it were not for him, I would not have gotten the root canal that relieved me of considerably pain. He also doesn’t demand full payment at the time of the procedure. This is a lifesaver as I wouldn’t have been able to get said root canal. Instead I’d probably be missing a tooth.

In knitting news, I’m still trying to catch up to our Cookie when it comes to the Lyra (Ravelry).

I can’t wait for the 47″ needles I ordered to get here. It’s currently cramed on a 32″ circular needle and it’s getting a bit cramped.

Sammy’s feeling rather bashful today.

Happy Thursday everyone! I hear we’re canceling the rest of the week. (Not that there’s much of it left.) Doesn’t that sound like a great idea?

Remember the Oyster Bay Shawl? Well not only is it finished, it’s upstairs all pinned out and drying.

You see, I figured out why I was so unhappy with it. It was the needles! I was using metal needles and for some reason they were hurting my hands. I have no idea why all of a sudden my hands decided they don’t like metal needles over a certain size. They’re fine with size 1US needles, just not with the 5US needle I was using.

So I quickly changed to my plastic Denise needles.  The only problem was that the cable was a bit too thick for the laceweight yarn.  Megan suggested I try out new Zephyr needles from Knit Picks.  I went ahead and ordered some, but by the time they arrived I had already finished the shawl. Figures, huh?

Still, these needles are so nifty I decided to use them on my Herbivore.

I can see why Zonda has the love for these needles. The points are so nice and sharp! They make those purl through back loops so much easier. The needles themselves are nice and slick. They’re almost as slick as metal, which I like.

I cannot tell you how tempted I am to cast on for a lace shawl with actual decreases in it. But I’m knitting another shawl besides the Herbivore. So no. Not yet.

The fact that they’re clear doesn’t bother me at all. I thought it might be a problem, but so far so good.

All in all, I think these needles were worth the astronomical shipping cost that Knit Picks likes to charge Hawaii residents.

I’m also thinking of spinning up the other bobbin of this.

My wheels are getting rusty doncherknow!

Sammy wants to know what you’re up to!

It’s Monday folks. I hope you’re getting through it all right.

Megan may call me a bitch all over the interwebs, but the girl shows me the love with the birthday gifties. She sent me a box full of lovelies.

First up is a bag from the ever so talented Acornbud. Megan knows of my bag ho’ tendencies and my addiction to Barb’s bags, y’see.

Inside the bag, was a beautiful skein of gorgeous that Megan dyed herself.

The colors are perfect and they’ll match my wardrobe perfectly. I’m thinking Swallowtail. (Ravel it!) :)

Also in the box was this beautiful mug.

What I haven’t pictured is the nifty French Press that was included. Mainly because it’s dirty. I also didn’t include the bag of coffee. Mainly because it’s nearly gone.

Megan knows my love for coffee.

This was such a thoughtful gift. I love everything in it. Thanks so much, Megan! You can call me a bitch anytime you like!

As to why she called me a bitch? It’s because I cast on a new shawl.

The pattern is the Herbivore by the genius Stephen West. The yarn is Blue Skies Ahead from Hungry For Handspun.

And I am in love.

More on this in days to come.

Happy Friday everyone! Have a great weekend!