Mystery Stole - un- along

I thought I could live in denial for a bit. I really did. I had cast on for MS#3 with my skaska yarn, US5s. I ripped it, and used US4s. Ripped it, and used US3s. I'm not a loose knitter at all... so I told myself "this is lace, lace ALWAYS looks like crap until you block it... maybe the yarn will... bloom... when you block it! yeah, that's it, it'll bloom!"



I was able to be in denial... up until I got a few rows into clue #2, and my friends started pointing out blogs with pics of completed clue #1. CRAP. I just can't stay in denial, much as I love it there. I even thought to self, "well, maybe it looks like crap, but it'll look better once it's blocked... and really, even if it's not that pretty, you don't WEAR lace anyway, so... it's ok."

No. I couldn't live with it. I had an online convo with Wanda, who is always good for an honest (even if it hurts) opinion. RIP-PIT all out. Then I couldn't figure out what yarn to use... most of my stashed lace weight yarn is variegated, and my sock yarn collections is only intended for socks (meaning, i only buy enough to make a pair of socks). SO NOW WHAT? Celia to the rescue!!! She had sent me, in one of our international exchanges, some beautiful bright blue laceweight yarn. She had suggested that I pair it with another yarn to tone it down. Which is what I did. It was quite painful (there were many many knots in my skasa yarn). it involved much cutting and spit joining and cursing and waving away the too interested cats. I have yarn burn on my left hand (which guided the two yarns... one from ball, one from swift). But I think it was worth it.



Two steps forward, one step back, they say. Well, i feel like I've been taking one step forward, 2 steps back. I hope that trend is at an end.

i need a channeling

b/c i seem to have misplaced my camera to computer cord. Seeing as I finally got my invite to Ravelry, this fact is becoming more and more disturbing to me. I know it's here SOMEWHERE. So, if anyone has any ESP abilities, please ask my Sony Cybershot PSC-200 camera cord where it is hiding (or, alternatively, where *I* carefully stowed it for easy access, hmph).

In other (non knitting) news,... you're all used to that by now, aren't you?
um. right. Took the furkids to the vet yesterday. I LOVE this vet. He's the only one at this clinic/hospital AND he only sees cats. He's in the examining room almost the entire time the cats are in the room, so I always feel like he thoroughly examines them. Oh. the news. (I think I need some ritalin maybe?) I am quite happy to report that Danger is back up to his previous healthy weight between 10-11 lbs. YAY. The IAMS food did the trick. His weight loss was his way of saying "poo poo to the fancy schmancy healthy for me food. Gimme some CARBS!" He takes after his mommy.

Of course, now the OTHER one is el gordo. Cosmo is def. a heavyweight, coming in at 16 lbs. SIXTEEN lbs!! Seems he and i should both sign up for 1800-Jenny Craig. Did I mention that I love the vet I've found? He recommended that I give Cosmo some canned pumpkin every day to help fill him up with some fiber.

In KNITTING news, I'm actively working on three lace projects

1) Reid from Knitty. I need to complete this project by July 29th. I'm gifting it to one of my professors in Denver (for her 1 yr old daughter). I'm done with the back, and right front. Half way done with left front. Two sleeves and seaming to go. Bleh.

2) Madli shawl from IK Summer 2005?. On repeat #28 or 29 of 31.

3) Mystery Stole #3. Just finished clue #1 last night, printed out clue #2 today.

too busy Ravelry-ing to knit.

must find cord.

must.

Instant Katma's gonna getcha

Sorry. no pics. I have no idea(r) where my camera/computer cord is stashed away. I'm sure I very cleverly put it where I would be able to easily find it. Uh huh - uh huh.

I've started the Mystery Stole madness. I'm using Skaska lace weight yarn that I bought at the Estes wool festival in 2006. A very dark blue/grey called "midnight." Stupidly, I did not swatch. I cast on with my US5s, thinking I used this needle size with helen's lace... nope. Looked horrid. Rip back 30+ rows, cast on with US4s. Work up to row 25ish. Rip-pit. I've settled on US3s. Up to row 47. Cat is next me, napping. We're all one big happy family.

UNTIL.


UNTIL I hear the smack smack smack of little cat lips. Dangling next to the previously very cute cat lips that I like to give kisses to? An end of lace weight yarn.... which is now detached from my WIP.

FUCKER. he's been banished to the floor, while I gather the nerve to see if this skaska yarn will spit join. It's called 'superlamb' which I hope does not mean it won't spit join. Who would need superwash lace weight yarn? I mean, even if it is superwash, it's still LACE.

Off to find some scissors to cut off the ends of the yarn ... only to hope that my own spit will reverse the damages rendered by the cat spit.