I am really making great progress on this shawl.  I have really found a great rhythm in this shawl.  A guide to know you are on the right track is your yarn overs are either before or after a yarn over on the previous row.  This really helped me keep "On Track."  I am finally on the border now and saw some negative feedback online that the border didn't match the picture.  So far I like the border and we will see if it turns out like the picture or not.  No matter how it turns out I am sure I will love this shawl anyways.  It is gorgeous.  I did do it with a larger needle as there were a lot of comments that it was too small.  I can't knit fast enough to get the border done as I want to block it and see the final product!  I am truly enjoying the yarn I chose for this project which is Felici by Knit Picks.  If you come across this you will enjoy the softness and the smoothness across your fingers as you knit.  There is something to say about great yarn!  Happy Knitting! 
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Accomplishment! 05/22/2011
 
Feeling a sense of accomplishment today!  I have finished a few projects this weekend and am feeling proud as a peacock!  I have completed an order for one person including 2 scarves, 2 hats, and 2 pairs of mittens.  Meanwhile I did a few beanie hats for another person and also completed a baby blanket and booties.  Whew... it seems I have been working on this forever.  Not sure how long it has been, but the 2 scarvs, hats and mittens were beginning to get boring in all red!  Toward the end I really quickly pushed out the last pair of mittens in excitement of completion!  Feeling good this weekend... Now looking forward to doing something for myself! 

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To Kathy 05/22/2011
 
I looked all over for info on the mistake you are referring to and couldn't find anything.  I will have to try it to see if I can figure it out.  I finally have finished all my projects and was looking for something new so will try to figure this out and see what is wrong.  Bear with me... I am not fast, but will start it next and start blogging about it.  I think I have yarn for it and can start soon.  I crochet/knit a lot each day at work and when people see me knitting and crocheting they ask me for things and then I start working on projects for others.  I am glad to say I am all caught up and can do a few things for myself.  I did a few projects this weekend including knitted beaded coasters from 101 One Skein Wonders... (one of my favorite books) and Davida a skirt from Cool Crochet.  I finished the coasters, but used beads and yarn I had and would like to do it again with some prettier beads.  The skirt is coming out so cute I may have to do it again.  I made it smaller by 2 sizes as I am making it for my daughter who is 12.  I will finish later today I am over half done already. 

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My friend, Denise, and I dyed some yarn for the first time at my house.  It was very exciting and fun and I can see myself doing this again and again.  A few things were learned as well.  It turns out that dying wasn't messy at all.  We did a couple hand painted yarns and we put a garbage bag over a squared large tin tray for the oven.  We arranged the yarn along the edges and pulled up the bag in the middle to make sure the dye didn't run in between yarns.  We took a spoon and dipped out the dye onto the yarn in a random way.  Then after all complete we wrapped up the bag and put it in the microwave for 2 minutes.  Then made sure all water was clear and let it cool.  After completely cool we rinsed well and hung to dry.  Very easy and fun! 

We did 2 hand painted yarns and 4 in the crock pot.  One thing we learned from this experience is the crock pot method seems to make a lighter color and the hand painted is brighter and more rich with color.  Both are great, but depending on what you would like to there are different results.  I also believe you couldn't screw this up if you wanted to.  It was our first time and we made 6 skeins of yarn and all turned out beautifully!  I will be doing this again and again!  Loved it.  Also, Denise and I were looking at some hand spun yarn we had purchased.  One thing I noticed was the yarn was not spun evenly.  I never had paid any attention to this, but now after seeing such differences I will be looking more closely at any hand spun yarn I purchase.  It is funny what you can learn when playing with yarn. 
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We didn't go downtown due to Masters traffic and we split up our knitting group and 1/2 went to Evans and 1/2 went to Jeanne's.  We had a weenie roast and then sat around and knitted together and chatted with the Malabys'.  It was fun and a totally different setting.  It turned out the half that went to Evans really enjoyed themselves too.  We all had a great time!  I can't wait for next week! 
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New yarn Cabinet 03/28/2011
 
My friend Denise had a cabinet that she had knickknacks in and wasn't using it anymore and asked me if I wanted it.  I thought it would be a great yarn cabinet.  Unfortunately, my photo uploading hasn't been working on here, but as soon as I get it working I will post it.  It is a tall glass cabinet and is perfect for my yarn.  It also works in another way... I have already filled it completely up so I can see very clearly I am cut off from buying any more yarn.  I have several people asking me to make many different things and some of the yarn is for those projects and some is my own.  Either way I cannot purchase anymore and this is a daily reminder of that!  It is the perfect cabinet though because it is all glass and you can find the yarn you are looking for.  I absolutely love my cabinet and can't wait to show it off.... We will be very busy this week as we have company coming on Sunday and are picking up a 9 week old puppy (Mal-Shi) on Saturday.  We are driving to Jacksonville, FL to pick up the puppy and it will take us about 3-1/2 hours.  My daughter is 12 yrs old and that is her birthday gift.  She is the best little girl around and she deserves it!  She is kind of an only child as I had another, but was 12 yrs older than her and is already gone and married.  She needs a little buddy and we gave in!  I think we are really going to enjoy it though! 
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Since Hilton didn't have any green on St. Patrick's Day he borrowed my strawberry hat!  Donna who wants 2 of these hats was worried he was wearing one of hers... (he wasn't).  Hilton wore the hat all day long!  Very funny!  He said he didn't want to be lame and pin a dollar bill to his jacket, which some people did do (not naming names!)  St. Patrick's Day was a fun day to
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Picture
Here is my latest Cowl the Candy Wrapper cowl from the book Cowl Girls (link above).  This one is good for those who want to take on a little bit of a challenge.  After the first round I realized I had miscounted and immediately placed to markers between the 14 knit and purls just to mark off the area and be able to recognize when I started and ended this part.  This helped me a lot.  I did make one mistake, but I don't think it is an obvious mistake.  After the knitting through the back loop on the edge I continued to knit through the back loop instead of just knit.  I noticed my error after about 20 rows and the pattern still looked pretty so I just went with it.  I do think it came out great however, but not sure I will make another.  I used Vanna's Choice yarn and I think if I did do it again I'd either use Vanna's baby yarn or some other softer yarn.  I do love the color though and am very happy with the end product!
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It sure was an interesting night in downtown Augusta.  There was a lot going on downtown tonight with the St. Patrick's Day Celebration going on.  I knew it was St. Patrick's Day, but did not think about there being a big celebration going on!  We were at Nacho Mama's tonight and it was full of people outside when we arrived.  We thought at first we may not be able to get a seat.  However, we did get it and found a place to light for awhile!  Luckily we did because we had Gene stop in and meet us for the first night.  Gene was quite interesting as she obviously is a super quick learner.  She told us she had just started crocheting 6 weeks ago.  Well she had 1 project completed (a pretty bamboo shawl) and was working on 2 more shawls.  She is quite good for only being at it 6 weeks... I am impressed!  I can't wait to see the work she will produce a year from now.  We also stopped in at Sit A Spell Coffee shop and talked with Jennifer the cool owner who is a cowgirl!  Real cute lady!  We will be meeting at her shop in April and I can hardly wait!  It looks like a great place to have a meeting!  As I was leaving Nacho Mama's I saw one of the soldiers who visits my coffee shop at Fort Gordon!  He waved and smiled and said..... There's Abbi... and as I walked out the door I heard him tell his table of friends ..... Did you see Abbi?!  Awww how I love my soldiers!!    All in all a wonderful knit nite! 
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My husband just had a cardiac cath and stent placed yesterday.  So glad it is all over and he is back home.  I must give a shout out to one of my pals (Denise).  She really stepped up when I needed her.  I first called her when my husband drove himself to the hospital and got admitted so needed his vehicle returned to our house.  He asked me to call Denise and have her come with me and drive it home.  We got to the hospital and visited and then my daughter was about to die of boredom so she drove my daughter home and then drove our vehicle back to our house.   Day two... my husband usually stays with our daughter and waits for bus.  I did this, but normally I leave for work about 30 to 45 minutes prior to this.  Well since I am a coffee barista being late was a disaster!  I was so behind with no coffee and everyone is in line and ordering everything but the kitchen sink and I don't even have coffee ready... Well after this day I decided I needed to do something different.  I called Denise again and asked her to drive my daughter to school, which she did and then proceeded to pick her up from school and bring her home.  This helped us so much!  Thinking that would be all the good deeds she had up her sleeve she calls me and tells me she is bringing over dinner for us, which she did and it was delicious.  So a shout out to a great friend.  I hope all of you ha
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