FINISHED OBJECTS! The Cascading Hearts shawl from Jackie at www.heartstringsfiberarts.com as a sample for Morgaine Wilder of Carolina Homespun, who models it here. I used 6 skeins of Malabrigo, kettle-dyed merino in a heavy worsted weight on a US size 9 - the whole thing weighs only 21 oz. The yarn is a joy to work with and very very soft - I can wear very little wool but this I can wear next to my skin. The pattern is well written and easy to follow. The scarf, also a sample, is of merino twist and mohair dyed by Morgaine in a ruching pattern. Patterns and yarn available from www.carolinahomespun.com

Having finished two projects for samples I decided it was time to start something complicated again. Not fussing around, I ordered and promptly received Jamieson and Smith Shetland jumperweight from Medrith Glover's Woolroom in Quincy, CA for her Seaweed vest from Sweaters from Camp. The colors are glorious and the yarn easy to work with. It's naturally sticky so the steeks won't be as scary as cutting smooth wool would be. My husband will get to wear this, not like the pink Susan shawl he modeled! I did a circular swatch on US size 3 but thought it was a bit dense, so then did a "quick swatch" using the method suggested by Meg Swansen in the book on size 4. After steaming it was limp as a wet dishrag and the swatch on size 3 was lovely and held its shape nicely. So size 3 it is, but it didn't photograph well so the photo is of the size 4 swatch. I thought while reading the pattern I would be able to use the figures Medrith worked up but forgot to compare them to my husband's measurements, and I have to re-work the entire pattern fitting in the seaweed fronds. Silly me to even think of knitting something in a pattern without changes. Actual casting on will have to wait until I finish Cheryl's birthday socks (Lorna's laces sport weight; they will be fraternal twins), and the lace edging on the Alka shawl for me.

Now that baseball is upon us I also have to work on a couple of projects that don't require great attention so I can, um, "watch" baseball with Jim. Can't really complain; he is going to go to knitting camp with me if I get in, and puts up with my draping the stairwell with yarn and leaving knitting bags next to every chair in the house and telling him things like: I don't care if you'll wear it, I'm knitting it. SO I'll get some time to finish the diagonal knit in Sherlock, and the Laurel sweater that I already posted the first sleeve. Ok enough blabbing, now to the needles.