ok, so I’ve been home a few days now, and I’m a bit of a slacker when it comes to updating here. possibly cuz I’m overwhelming myself. at any rate, a recap of the last week or so…

I took the beginning Aran Knitting class at Irish Fest Summer School. Our teacher was Shirly Grade (pronounced Grah-dee) and a number of teachers from her shop which is The Yarn House out in Elm Grove, WI (a Milwaukee suburb). It’s quite cute - it’s an old house crammed full of yarn and books. So during the class, I chose to make a hat with Aran patterning - panels of trinity stitch & a claw type cable alternating around. I think I used some sort of wool (it was a bit scratchy) in a purple sort of color (if you looked close you could see the red & blue fibers). I ended up giving it to my friend Ginny cuz I’m not really a hat person. I did take pics - I’ll post them soon.

My sister had her baby just before I left (I want to say on the 9th, but I could be wrong). She named him Eli. awww. I didn’t get to see him as he was still in the hospital when I was visiting her - aside from a bit of preemie jaundice, he was doing good. I haven’t heard any news, so I’m hoping/assuming he’s still doing ok. Mom sent me some pics though, so I might post one.

I worked on the legwarmer a bit more - I’m sort of playing with where to add the increases as I go, so I’m taking a break from it for now. back to working on the HP/UofM scarf for dh (since it is almost winter here. well, almost autumn at any rate - which doesn’t really last very long.)

oh, and just before I left I received some lovely purple stitch markers from one of my Stitch Marker Swap pals. and I received 3 hanks of recycled sari silk in a swap with honeybee from the knittyboard. it’s gorgeous. I haven’t decided what to make with it yet, though I’m leaning towards some of these recycled silk bag patterns (the sunburst one or the ones in the ‘beautiful bags’ patterns)

I’m leaving tonight to spend a week and a bit in Milwaukee. taking an Aran Knitting class thru Milwaukee Irish Fest’s Summer School program. then sticking around for the festival and getting back to reality sometime on Monday. probably won’t have internet access while I’m down there, so no updates (or photos) or MN Knitters ring maintenance til I get back.

(oh, and to the Burnsville crowd - it was great seeing you at the Irish Fair. sorry I couldn’t find you after the second performance. I did look a bit.)

the ever so kind monkee posted a link to Zany Holidays… turns out my birthday also happens to be “National Milk Chocolate Day” (mmm… chocolate) and “Cheese Lovers Day” (I have a serious cheese addiction. 3 cheese pizza? um, no add some more cheeses. cheese gets added to damn near every dish, even if the recipe doesn’t say to.)

on the knitting front, I bought the snaps & ribbon for finishing the nephew cardigan and actually managed to knit one of the ‘button’ bands onto it. now to do the other side and add the collar. oh yeah, and sew it up (which I’m dreading). I also started making a tank for Lilin out of blue ‘Target’ yarn, but realized that one kit won’t get me very far. so if I happen to find more of the blue on clearance, it’ll be continued. otherwise we’ll find a new use for that yarn.

I just finished the sleeves. good timing too. my sis is in the hospital and going to have her baby within the next week. apparently this one is making up for the two girls (the girls were both born a week or two late. he’ll be a little over a month early!)

I’m having a bit of an issue with the pattern though. I’ve modified the sweater here into a cardigan. Not so much the problem. But there’s no where in the instructions telling me when/where I need to block. (I’m assuming because the pattern calls for an acrylic yarn.) So I don’t know if I should block before I seam it or after. I suppose I should go dig thru one of the books for blocking info - I have enough of them! lol

I’ve decided to use navy blue snaps for the closure, after running into problems finding a decent length zipper that seperates and being indecisive on the whole button thing (as well as insecure in my sewing abilities - don’t want it to come off and have choking hazards). The wonderful knitters at the Knitty Coffeeshop have given some advice and directed me towards this article at ChicKnits. So, off to JoAnns tomorrow with my coupon in tow to pick up the snaps and the ribbon.

In website news:
I’ve taken a lot of pics and have determined that I’ve outgrown the photo gallery thing I’ve been using, so I plan to upgrade that. I also want to finish reworking the layout here. And I’ve determined that there’s too many pics of Kashka invading here, so she’s getting her own photo gallery as well (so my aunt can love my kitty from afar. ;)).

So I’m off to work on that… updates and photos to come.

I suppose I should mention… managed to finish front piece #2 on the bus today and have cast on for both sleeves and made it thru the first of 6 rows of ribbing. I’ve decided to knit them simultaneously, which is what I should have done with the front pieces (here’s hoping they’re the same length! lol! at least the shaping is on the correct side for both pieces). I am having so much fun using my Denise set. (thanks for the b-day gift mom!)