Frogging and Starting Over

Yesterday I posted pictures of the Rococo Shawlee that I am working on.  Last evening I received an errata notification from Annie's Attic regarding an important correction in the pattern.

As I was knitting the shawl I noticed that it seemed very fragile but I attributed it to the light airy feel of the yarn that was being worked up on larger than required needles.  Well apparently my feeling was correct because the correction was that it should be made while holding two strands together.

Now I was faced with the age old knitter's dilemma.  I was one third of the way through the project what should I do?  Yes I had completed a large portion of the project.  It was an awful lot of time to through away but really it was sort of fragile and I had been thinking that it really was not quite as warm as I thought it might be when looking at the original pattern picture.

After thinking about it for a while and talking to my husband who is wise enough to know that he should just nod and suggest that really I should trust my instincts and then just listen.  :-)

So as I was talking it through with him I realized that I still needed to sew the shoulder seams together and the fragile nature of the project and the weight (slight as it may be) would be too much for the stitching and would end up pulling and hanging incorrectly and would not look as nice as it should and I would end up disliking it and never wear it.

So naturally I frogged it (pulled it apart) and restarted.  Here is where I am with it at the moment and I must admit that I love it a lot more than I originally did and I know that once it is done it is going to become a staple of my wardrobe.

Of course my original plan was to finish this in time for our Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday but with all I have going on in the evenings this week, I do not believe it will be completed in time.  Oh well, at least I will love it when it is done.

Tell me your knitting or crocheting horror stories.  Post your tales in the comments section below.

Keep your sticks clicking.

Betty-Anne

I Am Caught In A Monsoon

I really wanted to publish this post yesterday but I was so caught up in the business side of my life that time got away from me so here we go today.

Here we are at the beginning of October (one week before the Canadian Thanksgiving) and I am caught in a monsoon.  Not really.  But the yarn that I am working with at the moment is called Monsoon by James C. Brett, and it is spectacularly glorious.  Soft and cozy and a treat to work with.  If you click on the link and then select S6 you will get a great view of the colour that I am working with.  The colours are typically fall colours which I love.

I am using this yarn on my latest project which is called Rococo Shawlee and is available for PDF download from Annie's Attic.  It is an absolute gorgeous piece and I am having a fun time knitting it.  The pattern is quite simple to memorize so this makes for quick work and a go anywhere project.

My favourite projects are the go anywhere type because I do take my knitting everywhere that I go.  In fact if you have read any of my previous posts you know that I take my knitting on all my road trips and get lots done while my husband is driving.




My goal is to have this complete by October 5 and if all goes according to plan then I will have a post ready for you.  In the meantime I have to start gathering all the information on the yarn needed for my next several projects as I am going to the Woodstock Fleece Festival on October 13th.  Can't wait.

Keep your sticks clicking.

Betty-Anne

My Heart Swells

Thanks to a lot of hard work by my friend Linzi, a lot of Mom-preneurs came together last night in an effort to raise enough money to purchase an iPad for a little girl undergoing special treatment.

It was a great night of good will and such love and camaraderie that it made my heart swell to near bursting just to be fortunate enough to have been part of it.

Not only did we help a little girl but we grew our own circle of friends and colleagues and I was privileged to meet some very extraordinary women who provide a very diverse group of services.

Everyone provided something for the silent auction and it was fun to see what was there.

What was really cool was that it was all women.  We banded together and helped one of our very little sisters.  I am sure that this will be something she remembers the rest of her life and I am sure that one day she  will look for situations where she can return the favour by helping someone else in need.

Thanks to everyone who contributed last night and an very big thank you to Linzi for bringing us all together to share a night to think of someone else.

Keep your sticks clicking.

Betty-Anne

Fund Raiser Tonight

Hi everyone.  I have been very busy knitting away more than usual these past few weeks.  I am preparing for a fundraiser for a local girl who has been going through a very difficult time.  I have posted her story below and I hope that you take the time to read it.

A very dear friend of mine is opening her home to a number of Mom-preneurs and we are all working together to help raise money to make this little angel's dream come true.  

Now the knitting is done - well it is never done but I have enough things prepared that hopefully I can get some sales which will all go towards the purchase of the iPad.

It does not take a lot of effort to do a lot of good.  Knitting which I enjoy is so easy for me to do that it feels good to be able to use it to help others.

Keep your sticks clicking.

Betty-Anne

Here is Kathryn's journey:

Kathryn is 9 and was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage IV in June 2008 at 5 years of age. She underwent 10 months of intensive treatment including 12 surgeries, 8 rounds of high dose chemotherapy, two bone marrow transplants and 12 rounds of radiation. She was in remission for 17 months. Unfortunately in September 2010, the cancer returned in two lesions on her spine. We were told at that time that she would never be in remission again and they were giving her quality of life. Despite their comments, after 24 rounds (5 days per week every 3 weeks) her scans showed there was no evidence of disease in February 2012. She underwent 10 rounds of radiation to her spine to help ensure that the cancer cells were gone. In August after another set of scans showing no evidence of disease, her oncologist told us that she had applied to the National Institute of Health in Washington DC to ask for compassionate use of a new therapy (which is now part of the original treatment routine in newly diagnosed kids) on Kathryn. This treatment is called Immunotherapy. It is complicated so I won't try to explain it except to say that it is extremely painful and requires her to be on morphine during the whole time she receives the medicine The purpose of giving her the Immunotherapy is to kill any lingering cells which many have escaped the chemo and radiation and to keep her in remission forever. This treatment is very hard on her and the pain is almost insurmountable at times. She is a Grade 4 student at George Kennedy and plans to attend school full time while not at the hospital getting treatment. It is our goal to make as many of her wishes come true as possible. The iPad is another wish that you are making come true and for that we are truly grateful to everyone. Thanks again for doing such a special think for our brave girl.

Inspiration - You Just Never Know

Wow, it's true.  You just never know where you are going to find your inspiration.  I was at my favourite Starbuck's this morning when I met this very sweet lady (hi Judy) who was wearing the most incredible shawl.  It was just so elegant and cozy and soft.  Such a great combination.

Anyway, being as shy as I am, I walked right up to her and asked if I could feel it.  Naturally she dumped her latte over my head.  Only joking.  She was kind enough to humour me and allowed me to manhandle her shawl and then she even helped me measure it so that I could plan my pattern in order to create my own version of this shawl.

Now I must figure out if I am going to use a tweed, which is spectacular for the fall, and also if I want to use the twining technique.  So many decisions.  What fun!

Anyway during all this feeling and measuring we traded details and I am very excited to have met Judy from Arbonne and can't wait to get designing now.

Have a great day everyone and remember clicky sticks are happy sticks, so keep your sticks clicking.

Betty-Anne

We Have A Winner!!

We do, but unfortunately I cannot tell you who it is until I have contacted this person and advised them.  Then and only then I can share with the world.

In the meantime, I thought I would show you a picture of the shawl/scarf that I completed today.  It turned out better than I hoped so I am especially pleased with it.  It is a really rich burgundy colour and I really love the frill on the bottom.  With a nice shawl pin it will be elegant enough to wear out in the evening and tied loosely it will be fun for the day.

This shawl/scarf is really cozy and warm but light enough for a fall day.

Please let me know what you think of it.  Also post pics of what you are working on.  I would love to see.

In the meantime, please go to https://www.facebook.com/ButterflyAngelKnits and like the page and put your name in the status bar so I can add you in for the next free give-away I am planning.

Keep your sticks clicking!

Betty-Anne

It's Free and it is Almost Time

Hello everyone.

I am always grateful to the people who read and comment on my blog and to those who visit me on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ButterflyAngelKnits .

To show my appreciation I would like to give away a hand knit item to one lucky winner.  To enter you can go to my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ButterflyAngelKnits and click LIKE so that you can then enter your name for the draw.

Time is running out to get in on the first draw which will occur as soon as I have 50 names.  As of this writing I have 44 so please do not miss out.  The first 50 people will be in the first draw but do not despair because I will be holding more draws over time.

While you are visiting my site please feel free to leave a message and tell me what you love about knitting or hand knit articles.  Post a picture of you or someone you know and/or love knitting and tell me about it.  I would love to learn about you too.

Thanks for stopping by and keep your sticks clicking.

Betty-Anne