A ripping good time

The weather has been froggy around here lately. First it was the mittens Dr. Steph made me knit; I saw hers and I could not resist them. I love them with a mad passion. You may wonder at me, and why not? I mean, after all, it isn't mitten weather here. But I could not resist. And since I don't have the time to knit a big thing like one of Anne's gorgeous creations, I figured I could take a little break with some mittens. But. Back to the frogginess. I am usually a very tight knitter, except when I have been knitting lace. So when I saw the needle size required, I figured no problem. I went stash diving for the yarn and the US 2 needles and I was off to the races. Because really. Who could resist these colors?

And then I realized that I was knitting mittens for King Kong.

So I ripped. And then I restarted, this time using white for the pattern:

and US 0 needles. I like it much better.

Okay. I am totally and madly in love. And so far it fits, which is always a bonus. :)

Then there is my new version of Muir. I decided to design it using the Faroese structure as a model because I wanted a leaf panel down the center back. I swatched on larger needles with bigger yarn. I thought I had this one down. I got this far, and I realized that I hated the way the leaf motif was growing next to the center leaf here:

so I ripped.

almost down to nothing. (I love the way this shawl begins - I can't wait for you to see it!)

And then I reknit.

I am absolutely loving it now. I am so glad I ripped!

Gratuitous beauty and the bead shot:

and another.

I am almost back up to where I was before I ripped. Woo! I can't wait to finish. My lace projects look so horrible until I block them - it's always a pleasant surprise to me when I see that everything has turned out well in the end. I think that's why I generally finish lace so quickly!

Oh! And don't forget to get your free shipping!!!