Greetings!

It is summer or so they tell me now that I am back in Montana. We had lots of winter this year in Alaska and now we are in Montana and it is time to relax and knit, when I am not working with the flowers beds, hiking, biking, knitting, visiting, family and friends.

SUMMER KNITTING!

Anyone have any projects on their needles for the summer?

I have two sweaters I am working on. Plus I am looking at a Dale of Norway sweater for DH as I need to knit him something!

Smaller summer projects will be wash clothes for the kitchen and the bathroom.

Nice to be back within walk distance to my LYS oh what a treat, plus the book store and health food store oh bliss!

Happy summer time knitting!

I finished a sweater a couple of weeks ago and I've decided I don't like it. Actually there is only the top part of a bottom up raglan that I don't like so I'm going to rip it back and re do the top. I'm also working out details for another sweater based on Elsebeth Lavold's Viking Knitting book. It will have a dragon, probably with two heads. And then there is the lace weight hand dyed merino that I've been thinking about off and on for a couple of years and some heavy natural linen that I had forgotten and ran across when I was reorganizing my stash a while back. There are always more good ideas than there is time to do them. I'll do some knitting advice and workshop stuff at the weekend church outing this weekend and there is some interest in knitting with wire. I haven't done that, but I have some simple pieces and some ideas for some other quick and easy kitchen and bath items that should pique some interest in that group.

I like small projects with light-weight yarn. I'm just finishing a vest for a little girl in Plymouth Yarn Jeanee.

Unfortunately I don't get as much knitting done during the summer as I work at an Amusement park and am really tired when I get home. Also my days off are used for yard work and house cleaning. I do go to a Wednesday afternoon knitting group - so do get at least 2 hours a week in. I'm hoping to start the Easy Bamboozle Lace Cardigan from Crystal Palace. I am planning on using Dream in Color yarn that I purchased for the February Ladies Sweater - I decided that pattern won't flatter my "front" - the lace pattern starts at an bad place for me. Will be looking at some small projects though - probably hats for charity donations this fall.

I don't have any real plans, just work on my Level 2 as much as I get a chance. Hubby is going to be making hay again this summer and usually that is my knitting time, but I got drafted to help with bale counts and driving the truck, so if I could do any, it would have to be small and simple.

Cousin is due in 2 weeks, so I have a blanket that's 3 inches from being completed. That should be done on time.

Next project is my niece's blanket that's made in strips. I'll be bringing that on vacation this year.

We're going to Williamsburg, VA for a family friend's wedding and decided to extend the stay for a week. We got the wedding rate for an extra two days and we have to pay for 3 days on our own.

Shari

I am now knitting up some coffee colored wash rags as I have finally learned over they years if it is going to be used in the kitchen coffee is a wonderful color to use!

Good thought! if they are going to end up that color anyway, why not start off that color? I think that is the reasoning behind my formica counter, it has all the colors that would land on it in cooking so the only way you can tellthat it is dirty is if you stick to it....eeeew.

A friend has asked me to help keep an eye on her place during open studios, and will leave a small table for me to display my knitting on. I expect I'll sell a baby hat or two and a scarf if I'm lucky. It's all good.
Meanwhile I still have that marino cable vest I'm doing for DH. I was packing away some stuff and discovered a few unfinished items,so I've got plenty to work on over the summer.

My summer kitting is small and portable. I continue to knit mittens for donation to the local "Mitten Tree" at the end of the year. There's nothing funnier than sitting poolside and someone asks "what are you making?" and I reply "mittens". Even DH gets a chuckle from it!

Oh, and there's a afghan for yet another niece, the alpaca cardi, the lace shawl, the other alpaca cardi, the remake of a favorite sweater that I've worn to death...

Sounds like some of you are busy with knitting and other things. Did you see the video where some reporter said it is beneficial and relaxing to knit or crochet. I on the other hand are trying to finish up some started projects and when I finish one I will start another. I am finishing up a sweater, still doing a kimono, two scarves and a pair of socks. The socks are keeping me busy at the moment and I think I will go and work on the kimono till I can figure it out or get some help with the socks. In between all the knitting I do crochet a doily or two as when my shoulder gets tired from knitting then I crochet. Keeps me busy and relaxed. Although some friends have told me a good Irish toddy can be quite relaxing, lol.

I just got back from the estes park wool market. Stashed up on sock yarns and more sock yarns and fingered the fibers, fiddled with the silks and cashmeres, was forcibly restrained from buying another spindle and am trying to decide how to convince the yard nazi up the street that a pair of shetland sheep are really an organic lawn mowing system. I am told that they prefer bindweed and thistles to grass. Hmmmmm.

Now I like the idea of shetland sheep because trying to get my sons to cut the grass is like looking for a needle in a haystack!

I just finished a bunch of baby booties and socks (including some of Arenda's toe-up baby socks) for the expected arrivals in my extended family, and now I'm making a tank top for myself (it's the one in Knitter's Stash, but I thought the pattern needed something so I added a modified Crest of the Wave st to the bottom).

My summer knitting consists ONLY of cotton. Anything else is much too hot! for me to even think about working with.

I am currently knitting the "Spring Fling" sweater featured on the cover of April 2007 "Knit n Style" magazine. The original is made of Twisted Sisters "Daktari" slubbed cotton. This is handpainted yarn which I found out cost $12.50 per 50 gm ball and you need eight of them. Do any of you know what 'slubbed cotton' is? The yarn in the picture looks a bit 'nubby'.

My friend did not want to pay that much, so we went to Hobby Lobby and we found some really nice mercerized cotton called "Sinfonia" which is made in Mexico. I love this yarn. It is so soft and smooth and really drapes nicely. I am using a size 5 needle instead of the yarn's recommended size 4; nontheless it is turning out really nicely. So cool and drapy for summer. The only thing I'm not crazy about is that the yarn is made up of eight tiny plies and the yarn is very easy to split (almost begging for it on every stitch ). So I have to be really careful about that, but it is turning out so gorgeous that it is totally worth it. The price was fabulous as well -- only $4.99 per 100 gm ball -- less than half price for twice as much!!! Have any of you ever used this yarn before?

Another minor problem is that the color is a mix of bright shades of avacado/olive (medium and light) and a pale cantaloupe/pumpkin. It looks so cool and refreshing (like limeade) but as I knit I keep on craving cantaloupes (I can almost freaking taste them!!!)