Shame on me

Holy cow.  It's been over 3 months since my last post.  Time flies when you're trying to get in as much knitting as possible before the NYC Summer throws it hot, humid and muggy veil over the 5 boros.  The first sign of Spring for me?  Peonies.  I treated myself to a little bouquet from my favorite neighborhood florist, fLorEsta.

Once I see those beautiful blooms, I start to pack away the cashmere sweaters.

But, it's been a really exciting past few months.  I've made some great new friends!  (More to come on that.  I just love a good surprise!)  And, I've been doing so much knitting, that I felt I needed a hobby from my hobby.  So... enter Miss Ladybug.  She's a beauty.

 

Admittedly, I completely forgot how frustrating it is to learn something new.  I've bonded with her since, but that first night... we quarreled.  A lot.  And I said a few things to her that I probably shouldn't have.  But we've made up.

Every Ladybug Spinning Wheel comes with a little ladybug.  Schacht places it in a unique spot for each wheel, and I found mind right behind the wheel.  It has been so much fun learning a new aspect of knitting, fiber, wool and yarn.  And while knitting needs my undivided attention, spinning allows me to calmly let the time pass.  It's mesmerizing.  Here is my first ball of "yarn".  Unplyed.  It's completely unusable, but I'm going to keep it around as a reminder.

I just signed up for the Beginning Wheel Spinning class at Purl Soho.  It starts later on in May, and the class is taught on the Ladybug!  I'm very excited.  I feel like I could figure it out, but just want to make sure I've got a good foundation.

I also jumped on the Rock Island Shawl bandwagon.  What a great pattern!  It's gorgeous, simple enough for a knitter willing to try out a little lace.  And that Grand St. Ink color!  Whoa!!  Jared's done it again.

I had such a great time knitting this.  I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock instead of the Helen's Lace.  And for no other reason than it was sold out.  I had to "settle" for the sockweight.  I love it, but I would like to try it in the laceweight once Knitty City gets some in stock.  I think the color is darker in the sockweight too.  Gorgeous, nonetheless.

And something I failed to mention in my last post: I've thrown another pattern up onto Ravelry for sale.  It's a cabled hat, which spotlights a really interesting yarn - Lana Grossa's Chiara.  I don't usually knit with yarn so slinky, but I couldn't resist.  The sample is at Knitty City and the pattern has been flying off the shelves there.  I don't think the pictures do it justice, but I named it Tortillon because of the sort of smeared-charcoal effect the yarn ends up having in the cables.  It's really pretty cool.  If you're interested, you can pick up the pattern here.  It only takes one ball, and is a super quick knit.

Last but not least, I just had to share some pics of my last vacation.  I spent a long weekend in Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos.  This was my second time there, and I think it was better than the first.  It is absolute paradise. 

I'll leave you on that note.