Sometimes it's not ALL about knitting!

So I'm sure there are some of you out there who are like me and start stuff like this...

and well...maybe it just doesn't get completed?! And...maybe you don't quite know what happened to the patterns/instructions?

Yeah, well...I just resurrected this and from what I recall, it was VERY close to being finished! I think it is a bracelet and I was on the last portion. I also think I can probably figure out the last portion to finish it, but will have to either find the instructions for the clasp portion or wing it. It was a pattern from a 'Bead' magazine I bought a while back and I'm pretty sure it will turn up...

And speaking of BEADS...as you all know, the projects have been all about beads these days with the Mystery Stole 4 and Secret of the Stole iii KALs well underway.

I am happy to be able to show you two finished clues:

Secret of the Stole III is now completed through Clue 2. There are now 6 clues that have been released, so I am now 4 clues behind! Oh well...I will plug on!

Mystery Stole 4 is coming along. I am not thrilled with the laciness and think I should have done a smaller gauge, but long ago, I had decided I would not frog. I'm sure I will still be happy with this once it is completed, and I am getting more used of this tiny-thin yarn knit at this larger gauge, so at least that part's gotten better.

And now, after a school picnic at the park, I'm tired and am thinking 'nap' more than 'knit'...I'm dying to continue on my stoles, but I think the nap is going to win out! Besides, I really should be doing housework!

Yesterday morning was spent at the beach participating in Beach Clean Up day with Lil' Emp's school, then off to take care of some business in Vacaville (and hour and a half drive from here), then on to Sacramento (another 1/2 hour-45 minutes drive) for a visit/dinner with relatives. We made it back home at midnight. The good thing about long drives where I'm not doing the driving is that I got some knitting done! The bad thing about being away so long is that I have all the house stuff to continue to attempt to catch up on! But like I said...the nap is winning out at this point! ;)

Got me some lace!

Well, not exactly lace, but lace weight yarn! And at NO COST. In fact, I got back $1.78 in change! I made it over to Article Pract and found that they do, indeed, carry Cashwool. And I was able to find a beautiful cranberry red color. In addition, I was able to snag 2 cones of Habu in a gorgeous sage green color!

I loved the color of the Habu, but it is REALLY thin. I mean REALLY. THIN...Nartian suggested I swap out the BMFA Laci for the Habu; use the Habu for the SSiii since DK is using a fairly thin yarn for hers. I agree with that, so long as the Habu swatches up ok. It may drive me nuts to knit with in which case I can always carry it along with some other Habu for a lacey scarf or something if it doesn't work out. But I will swatch and see...

But for now, the results of the ssiii swatching:

Size 2 needles with Colonial Grey-lined crystal beads (I stupidly didn't realize I was supposed to add the beads as I went, so only ended up beading 2 of the 3 beaded rows...):
Then I realized I needed to go up a few sizes on the needles. I went up to a size 5 and tried out the Orchid-Lined crystal 6/0 beads:
I haven't completed this swatch, since I am now starting to swatch the green Habu so I can decide whether I need to switch this yarn out to use on the MS4. If not, I can use the Cashwool for the MS4 or (if I can find my other gift certificate for Article Pract) purchase this other lace yarn I found today--a gorgeous heathered greenish-teal color. It's on hold as I write! Keep your fingers crossed that I find that gift certificate!

Swatching, not Watching...

...the Olympics, that is! Never been very big on them except as a kid when I was into ice skating. But then, again, that would be the winter olympics!

Well, here is The Knittery lace in Moonlight. LOVE this colorway. Don't love how the lace is knitting up with it. The colorway is so incredible that it really competes with the lace patterning. LOVE the way it washed up and the feel of it, too! Oh well...

The good news is that if I decide not to purchase new yarn and continue on this attempt at insanity that is, the Mystery Stole 4 KAL, I still have other things to occupy my time. Like the Secret of the Stole iii, which I finally started to swatch for!

I'm further along that what is shown in this pic, and the beads above were placed on the swatch. I think I should have read up on the crochet hook beading method first, cuz then I would have realized I needed to hook the beads on as I went along! Oh well...I continue on the swatch and am this swatch will at least have the upper three bead rows with beads attached.

So far, I still can't tell which beads I like best. I'm now leaning towards the Colonial Gray-lined (the ones I have placed on the right side...). I will probably try going up a needle size or two and do a second swatch at which time I'll add the Orchid-lined crystal and see what the overall look is.

And while I'm discussing my swatching, let me add that working with the Laci so far is FABULOUS! It has a softness to it and good stretch! Me loveses it! But what else could I expect from a Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn?! Definitely less lofty than the Dream In Color Baby I'm using for the Mystic Lights shawl, but its smooshiness is much like that. And the hand is soooo soft! I'm sure the Baby will feel softer once washed, but the Laci already feels so soft knit up without washing! I'm no expert on lace, but so far, I have to say that this is a winner in my book!

Beads! Beads! More Beads! Cake!

I can't believe I FINALLY got the whole 1750 yards of Laci wound into a cake! And without the help of the Jumbo winder, since I had returned it and hadn't gotten around to borrowing it again! Nartian was right-go S L O W... And here it is!


I think alot of the driving force in finally getting this wound is that my beads arrived!

Above, Laci is shown with the three bead choices (left to right): Colonial Gray-lined Crystal, Orchid-lined Crystal, Gilt-lined Peach. Off the bat, I think a NO on the peach. The Silver-lined Rosaline is in the background and I think would be a lovely choice, except they didn't offer it in the 6/0 size. The ones in the background are supposed to be for the MS4 KAL and are size 8/0.

So now I REALLY have to swatch!