Elsewhere

The German Scalloped Triangle Shawl (actually a scarf), aka The Avocado and Eggplant Shawl, is finished and has already been given to my friend K--, when I saw her last week.  I was smart enough to photograph it before it went out the door, though.  There it is.  I also finished the second Pretty Secret Christmas Sock, so if nothing else, I have something to put in the Emperor's stocking come December. 

The Emperor and I are out on the road, happily ensconced at my sister's place in the mountains of Wyoming. Last week we scooted over the hill back to our former home 'Way Out West and visited friends, stayed at the One Horse Popsicle Stand, and just generally caught up with what everybody was doing.  The old LYS had closed its doors this past April, but the Amazing A-- has opened a yarn shop of her own!  I spent a couple of very happy hours hanging around with my friend there, and bought a boatload of yarn, hopefully enough to last me to the end of the year.

A couple of weeks ago A-- and the bunch at the new LYS celebrated the shop's opening with a knitalong of the Leaf Lace Cardigan (actually a vest) and of course I had to join in, even though I wasn't there.  I ordered Curio thread from Knitpicks in a dark rose color, and started on the right day.  I've got a couple inches done on the back, but it's going to be slow going until we return from this trip.  One of the women who started the project on the same day has already finished hers.  A-- has only a little more done than I do.  So I'm in good company.

We returned to this side of the Continental Divide a few days ago, and it's been go go go ever since.  Yesterday I helped Sis with her jewelry booth at a local festival, and today the Emperor and I pitched in and helped with the yardwork on this enormous property.  Later tonight and tomorrow, I'm supposed to help out with making stuff for her to sell on Thursday.

Back home before we left, I didn't have time to get much more done on the craft room.  I got pulled into some projects at work (even though I'm off the clock) and had a pile of other house chores to get through.  When we return, I have a couple of things that have to be done, but otherwise I will be able to return to dividing my time between school prep, writing, and getting some things done around the house.

One of my must-do projects is to make a cardigan to wear with my work clothes.  I'm tired of wearing the same couple of store-bought pieces, and I'm not seeing anything in the stores or online that I like.  So one of the big yarn purchases I made from A-- was enough Berocco Vintage in an olive green heather to make Jupiter (it turned out that I am one skein short of the Galway to make this pattern.  Sigh.) I started knitting a sleeve the other night but discovered that my gauge is off, so I frogged a perfect sleeve (I was about one-fourth done with it) and put the project aside until I could get larger needles.  The Leaf Lace Cardi is also meant to be worn at school; I've got it with me, but I really do want to get Jupiter finished first.  I wonder if Sis has a set of #8 dpns...?