Sansi Shawl

I ran across some of my favorite alpaca yarn while going through the stash. Galler Prime Alpaca. I made a shawl out of this same yarn about eight years ago and just loved it. This particular batch has sat in the stash for a while. It has tried to be many things but I was always disappointed in the patterns so back it went. This last week I ran across the Sansi Shawl by Emma Fassio, www.emmafassioknitting.blogspot.com . It has a lacey look but the pattern is repeated enough after you get going on it you get into an easy flow. This is not to say it will get finished fast. 102 degrees in Texas in June does not make for fast work on alpaca. I also seem to be jumping from project to project lately. But this is a simple pattern so we will see how long it takes.

Beginnings of the Sansi Shawl

RA and Heart Disease

Check out www.theseatedview.blogspot.com . Lene has written a great article on how RA with it's systemic inflamation factor affects the heart. Most people think of RA as just "plain ol arthritis". It is not. Heart disease is just one of the issues we deal with when we have RA.

Pretty Warm Hat

A while back I made this hat. JE had made one and then gave me the pattern. It is made on size 15 needles with chunky yarn. I made it and thought it was ok but never sewed it up. I have been in a finish up mode lately (also a start another project because I can't concentrate mode) and decided to sew it up. It is very warm and fits nicely. Unfortunately I can't tell you what magazine it came out of because it is not on the bottom of the page but JE is checking for me. I love that it covers up the ears nicely. By the way not only is it on size 15 needles and chunky yarn but the yarn is doubled. It does knit up fast.

Lion Brand Jiffy Yarn #107 Denim

Finished

I have to say I do not think I have ever finished a shawl as quickly as I did the Cotton Shawl. I finished it Monday night but this is the first time I had gotten a picture made. I think because it was crochet it went faster plus I usually knit lace shawls and they do take longer. This shawl was finished in less than a week.

Point to point

Across the front

Edging

This was a very enjoyable pattern. It came from

www.solgrim.blogspot.com

It was a nice change of pace to crochet instead of knit

but since I can't crochet without looking knitting will

still be my main projects.

Coffee

Matthew and Corteney got back from Italy Sunday. They brought me several wonderful things from there. One was this coffee cup from Rome. Love it. But what is a cup without some coffee. They also brought a small bag of Italian coffee. I am not sure what kind it is because everything is written in Italian. Today Allison and I made a pot. Oh my goodness it was fantastic. Not wanting to waste any after dinner I drank it over ice. Outstanding. Thanks you guys. I love it.

 This is one of my favorite pictures of them in Rome. Looks like so much fun.

Great Idea

Friend Lene ( www.theseatedview.blogspot.com ) posted this picture on Facebook today. I agree with her someone had great planning. What kid doesn't like to swing.

More Yarn

I used up all the "found" yarn on the half granny square shawl. I then "found" this yarn at Hobby Lobby to extend the size of the shawl. Amazing, I am clearing out the stash of yarn I did not care anything about but had to buy more yarn to be able to finish the project. I am not sure how big the shawl will be but man cotton is heavy.

I Love This Cotton from Hobby Lobby.

#235 Camo Print

I did not start out to get a cream, green, brown yarn. I wanted to try and find a yarn with a cream that would match the one I was using. There was this and one with purple that I felt was too bright. So this is the one. Here is what it looks like so far. 

Should have used a better contrast but you get the idea. I have found I cannot do crochet without looking at the piece I am working on. This is interesting because I can knit without looking at what I am doing, watch TV, even knit with my eyes closed. Not crochet. Strange. I also got this yarn with a 40% off coupon so it was very cheap. It actually works up much nicer than the more expensive yarn it has been paired with. More updates as I hopefully finish it up tomorrow.