Something wonderful happened today

I stopped by Cultured Purl today and bought this yarn (even though I need another project like I need a hole in the head...) but seeing Barb's lovely asymmetric shawl made me realize I couldn't let another second pass without starting one for myself. For any one interested, I'm giving it a go with the new Noro sock yarn...

Anyhow...the really wonderful thing was this - I only stopped by for a second, but Barb was there, and Chris and Susan, Maria, and Rita and of course Shirani, so I sat down for a brief minute borrowed from my insanely busy day (which everyone there knows about but I'm not going to share with you here because it will give you anxiety...) Well my minute turned into an hour, and here's the wonderful part, by the time I left I was TOTALLY, UNBELIEVABLY, 100% stress-free because I felt such a warmth and comraderie in that room. All women I have only recently been lucky enough to get to know through one common link- a love of knitting, and the homey, welcoming atmosphere of our local yarn shop! Thank you Sue and Shirani for created such a cozy space and sense of community in which so many interesting and spirited women have come to feel a part of. And thank you ladies for helping me pause for a breath today!

The rest of my day was just as hectic and busy as I thought it would be, but as I rushed from place to place, I had my new Noro yarn and cherished ebony needles close at hand, and every stitch I could sneak in was a reminder of the lovely afternoon spend in the company of the nicest kind of kindred spirits - my fellow Cultured Purl knitters!

Thanks so much ladies!

Yours in knitting,
Claire

~�~�~�~�~�~�~�~�~�~�~�~

Sent with my Treo 755p smartphone & Chattermail

The Annie Meadows Bag

Last night's Fair Isle bag class was the most fun I've had in ages. Ann, Amy, Julie and Robin - you're such a nice group to spend an evening with!

Here's a snapshot of my bag for you to use as a reference as you go. See you next week!

Yours in two-stranded knitting,
Claire

Goings On at the Purl...

First of all, I cannot let another second pass without sharing this photo of Daren and her Peasant Shawl...didn't she do a LOVELY job!!!! I love that this is done in sock yarn. But most of all, I love the easy repetition of the leaves and the way the edging emerges out of nowhere (practically) and makes the shawl into something more than just rows of lace - it becomes something lovely and ethereal: equally pretty over jammies in the morning, a black strappy dress at night, or just a pair of faded jeans and a favorite old t-shirt.

Good job Daren!!!!!!!!


Also,
I got a chance to stop by First Friday last week, and there was

quite

a

lively

crowd...

Chris was hunkered down in the back working on her very pretty toe-up sock design...

I believe she's calling it

"Wysteria"











And that's about it for Cultured Purl photos. I haven't done a lot of knitting lately. The design for the Fair Isle back is coming along slowly. Not the kind of thing that I can work on in a noisy chaos or surrounded by children, or while worrying about

THIS...



Yup. My pathetically pained puppers had her spleen removed. And it probably goes without saying that a 75lb moaning, hot-nosed, furry creature and two-stranded knitting just don't mix.

But she's a bit better now: sans staples and cone and eating like a trooper again. SO it's back to the bag for me.

Yours in knitting,
Claire