Flowering Around

I'm not accomplishing much on the knit front lately. SPRING has finally decided to say here in Virginia, and the outdoors have lured me away on several occasions. Not that this retirement neighborhood requires a large amount of work, but that I like getting my hands into the dirt!

I have also been knitting slowly on a sweater for a friend's grandchild. This is still a sweater relationship I am not pleased with. The major complaint is that for once I am using the yarn suggested, and it looks nothing like the finished picture. Oh sure, the top looks the same, but the bottom part is a mess.

Maybe as I progress is will grow on me, but it's not likely. I guess I am falling into that "but I want this to be perfect" trap instead of just knitting on, finishing and mailing it off. It isn't meeting my expectations, and so I am disappointed, and so I am dawdling -! I am sure no one else has even been there, right? And it's not like there is a huge investment going on here .... maybe that is the answer, frog, start again with something else and just move on.

I did try to divert myself with a pair of socks, and so far, on the second yarn, I am still unhappy. Phooey. Bad knit week all around.

The Happy Ending

I finished the stole on Wednesday evening, washed and blocked it out to dry, and was able to bring it to it's new owner on Thursday morning! Don't you think it is going to look beautiful with her red hair? She was quite surprised, and thrilled to get it, as she had no idea I was making it for her, if she even knew it was being made. She's a special friend, and this will be a special hug for her, reminding her of our friendship in the months ahead, and always! May it bring her peace and joy.

As far as technical matters are concerned, the finished stole weighted 293 grams, which in DK weight wool, means it took approximately 1200 yards. The Knit along pasted 9 weeks, and I think I knitted at least 3 to 5 hours a day on the clues, so knit time was at least 200 hours for me. I am a slow knitted, but this was a truly satisfying knit. I can't thank the designer enough for the pattern and her skill! I have no clue as to the name of the stole, which is also part of the contest that goes along. I think it is Savannah something, but then .... that is truly a guess.

The last Stitch of a Great Journey

This has been a super knit a long - and the stole is quite beautiful! It is blocking now, and I hope to get some pictures tomorrow morning.