Where do I begin?

I've got just loads to blog about, but I'll never get a post out if I try to do it all in one post. I've decided to split it into two posts, so here's part 1!

We had a lovely week in Dungarvan last week. The weather was good and we had some nice days out, including a trip to Cushendale Woollen Mills (to come in part 2)

So, here's my knitting progress for the week.
I finished the Hemlock Ring Blanket:



Pattern: Hemlock Ring Blanket from www.brooklyntweed.com
Yarn: Cascade 220, a smidge under 3 skeins
Needles: 6mm Addi Click
This pattern used Emily Ochers (sp?) cast on for the centre, which I'm not really happy with. There's a bit of a lump in the middle, but I don't think my friend will notice :)
It also called for 6mm dpns for the beginning of it, which I didn't have so I improvised and used two sets of 6mm interchangeable 6mm tips. I always knew having two sets of interchangeables would come in handy!

Johns Plain Ol Sock progresses:

I've actually since turned the heel and am on the foot of this one since I took this picture. Grand plain ol stocking stitch. Perfect for whipping out anywhere.

My Summit shawl got some attention too:

I've completed one repeat of both curves. 10 more to go! I'm enjoying this knit immensely, it's really entertaining and interesting to do.

Just before I went on hols, I entered a competition on UnderMeOxter's blog. It was a treasure hunt, and great fun to enter. It took me a while, but I got there, and won a prize which arrived today:

Some fabulous Rowan Colourscape Chunky in deliciously rich colours. And she included Easter choccies! I just love Mini Eggs, just enough chocolate for me that won't give me a migraine. NOM. Thanks so much! I just love it.

It couldn't have arrived on a better day, either. Dad went into hospital today to prepare for his tests on Thursday. At 6am this morning my phone rang and it was my brother. He had come up to stay with Mam while Dad is in hosp, and he rang to tell me Mam & Dad were burgled last night. Some scumbag had taken out the kitchen window. My brother reckons he disturbed them, as they got nothing and the house was barely touched, as if they had just broken in. Thank God they didn't go upstairs to my Mam & Dad in bed. That doesn't bear thinking about.
I had to take the day off and go round.
So poor Dad was leaving for the hospital as I was dealing with the fingerprint police and Mam was wailing & sobbing about him going. Not the best of days. She didn't seem to give a toss about the burglary, just that Dad was leaving.
Still, I hope they catch the creeps that did it. I know what I'd do to them if I caught them!
I went to see Dad this evening in the hosp and I think he's ok. I know he's worrying about the house, but I got the window temporarily repaired and dealt with the insurance company so that re-assured him a bit. Plus my brother will be sleeping with an iron bar tonight!

Surely this will be the end of the crappy news for a while??

Squeeze!

If I'm quick, I can squeeze in one last blog post before I go. It's almost 8.45am and I'm sneaking round the house so I can get this done before anyone else gets up.

Here's my progress on the Hemlock Ring Blanket:

A really quick and easy knit, although the no. of stitches are getting large on the needles now. I'm onto round 42 of the feather & fan chart and have 408 sts on the needles at the moment. This is expected to increase up to 472 before the bind off begins.

I also gave in last night and cast on for the Summit shawl:

I love it so far, a really interesting construction. And the Malabrigo lace? Oh my, it's like knitting with butter, seriously it's that soft. It's very sticky though, so I don't fancy my chances if I have to rip back at any stage. Dropping the stitches down is hard enough, I have to separate the stitch from the bar every time, it just gets stuck there. Almost like shetland wool.

Speaking of shetland wool, motivation is a great thing. I had no spare needles for the Summit as it is knit on 3.5mm needles too (what IS it with every freaking project I want to make being on 3.5mm??) so I finished the second sleeve of the colourwork yoke sweater! I ploughed along with it telling myself it was so I could knit the yummy shawl.

So, I'm now ready to join the sleeves and start the yoke! Yipee!

Of course I can't decide what knitting to bring with me, so sod it, I'm bringing the lot. Luggage space is not an issue. I'm bringing the Summit, Hemlock Ring, Johns boring socks, Myrtle Leaf Shawl & maybe the Colourwork sweater, although on second thoughts maybe not. I've no needles for it anyway!

Have a great week everyone and cross your fingers for me that the sun will shine.

With these gifts

For what I am about to knit with, I am truly thankful.
I noticed that This Is Knit had got a new delivery of Malabrigo in.
Before I knew it, my legs had carried me down to the shop at lunchtime Like a siren, it lured me into its clutches and I left with two delicious, beautiful, soft, cuddly, nommy skeins of this:

Malabrigo Lace. Mmmm. It's just faboo. This stuff is going to become a Summit shawl. So enamoured with it am I, that I have already wound one skein in anticipation of casting on! It's amazing how much a shot of new yarn can help your mojo!
Although I'm not forgetting my Miss Potter mittens pattern that Nic gave me. That will hit the needles very soon too.

I have also wound one skein of Cascade 220 in a cornflower/pale blue to start the Hemlock Ring blanket for my friend with. I just found out she's expecting after ages of trying, and I'm so happy for her I could just dance around the house. She's going to be an amazing Mom. I've deliberated about the yarn colour, but the blue is really pale, and I think it will be ok. Anyway, I've a 50/50 chance of it being a boy, and if not, sure she can use it as a bed blanket or a lap blanket for herself! Also, who says girls can't be seen in blue!

On to WIP progress.
A pair of plain ol socks in blue for hubby:

I'm using Berroco Comfort Sock for these as there's no wool in it. He's looking forward to them already. I knew once he wore his first pair of handmade socks he'd never look back!
I really want to have these done by June as we have a special occasion coming up and I'd love him to wear them for it.

The Seamless Colourwork Yoke Sweater progresses:

I've almost finished the second sleeve. You can see in the photo above that there's not much left to do. Then I get to join them to the body and work a few inches of plain stockinette before the colourwork fun begins. Yipee! I'm really looking forward to the colourwork part. The stockinette part, not so much :)

This also arrived in the post for me today:

Nancy Bushs Knitted Lace of Estonia. *sigh* Everything looks so floaty and pretty and difficult. But I just have the lace bug at the moment, so I couldn't help myself., not that you'd know by my lack of progress on my Myrtle Leaf Shawl!
Anyway, I deserved a little something to cheer myself up.

So, I'm bringing my Mam & Dad away for a week this Easter Sunday.
For my holiday knitting, I shall be bringing:

• The Hemlock Blanket supplies
• The Summit supplies
• The Plain Ol Sock
• and maybe
• The Seamless Colourwork Yoke Sweater

One can never over-pack knitting stuff for holidays. And I'm only going a 2 1/2 hour drive away, so it's not that luggage space is an issue ;)

I'm unsure what the internet availability will be next week. I was in the same place last year, and there was only a really weak internet signal in the hotel reception (we're staying self catering in houses about a 10 min walk from the hotel). I'll try and get online a couple of times, but in case I don't, have a great week everyone, and Happy Easter!