Winding My Way

With the good news that my little niece was back on her way home after an unexpected return to the hospital, my fingers returned to the border of her blanket. She was deemed perfect yet again, and she needs her gift. I am "this close" to being done. I just need to sew on the border and wrap it up. The border took much longer than expected. (for those asking, she was admitted for a fever. it was deemed due to dehydration. all is well now)

Since the blanket is almost off my list, I have been filling up the queue. After being bit by the crochet bug with the baby's hat, I decided to participate in Blair's Granny Square Sampler Project. I am actually quite excited. Eamon and I watched the videos she suggested, and we are well versed in the ways of the granny square. He is quite certain he can make a few too. I am hoping it becomes a bit of a family blanket. I fondly recall curling up under an afghan my mom made. In typical 70s style, it was green, yellow and brownish orange. I tried to follow a different palette when picking colors for our blanket. I used what I had here and supplemented with a bit of cascade 220 from webs (for those in the search, their anniversary sale ends this week cascade 220 was $5.99). I spent yesterday afternoon with yarn wrapped on children's arms or my feet until finally settling on the chair method. I balled for quite awhile, but now I am ready. I have a few easy squares to make to catch up.

I believe the granny project will be a bit easier, since it is parsed out weekly, so I added something else to my list. I am going to make a stripe study shawl. I have had the pattern in my queue for quite a while. I decided if I want to make the color affection shawl, I need to get moving on this one. I am using madeline tosh merino light for this project. I had the sense to have it already wound and ready to go. With two projects plus the stagnating two pairs of socks I have on needles, I joined in with Camp Loopy to knit this one. It is run by The Loopy Ewe (another of the online shops, I prefer). I like prizes, camaraderie and a deadline.

With all the fiber work, I still plan to read. I am finishing up Sheepish: Two Women, Fifty Sheep, and Enough Wool to Save the Planet , which I am rather liking. I also started The Sense of an Ending. I am not sure how I feel about this one. It may be more enlightened than I am currently, since my reading is rather disjointed and distracted most times. I have about 30 more pages to read. Next week I will let you know.

For all those following along, what are you winding, knitting, crocheting and reading?