30!!!! And a Hidden Friend

What do you think of my 30th finished project of the year?  This is a horrible picture of a not so horrible shawl.  You know my photography skills leave much to be desired.  Pammy Sue, I hope you don't mind me giving you a shout out, but you were the inspiration for this shawl.  Pammy Sue can be found on the very fun blog Scotty's Place.  This is a version of the Boho Hippie Shawl she made based on the Country Cotton Shawl found on Lion Brands Website.  This shawl is a  free pattern. Once you are visiting Lion Brand have a good look around, there are some lovely free patterns to download and enjoy.

A bit of a closer look if you don't mind.  One of the wonderful Medical Foster Care Mother's I work with gave me a skein of Knit Picks, Stroll Fingering yarn.  It is hand painted 75%  super-wash Merino/ 25% Nylon.  I decided to use this beautiful yarn to make the shawl even though it wasn't the correct yarn for the project.  I did not double up the yarn as the pattern suggested, because frankly I did not have enough yarn to work with.  I almost used the entire 462 yards of the yarn to complete the shawl.  It is very light weight and airy.  I am not normally a blocker, I envy the patience of all of you out there pinning, and wetting, and pulling things into shape.  Not me.  No I either iron it or wet it down, give it a good shake and let it dry.  Probably not the best method, but it usually works.

I have never used Knit Picks Yarn, so I was pleasantly surprised at how lovely it was.  And when I gave it a good soaking, not one color ran.  I crocheted this during the last week of the Olympics.  After it was dry I folded it up, plopped it in a gift bag and gave it right back to the lovely woman who gifted the yarn to me.  She is so wonderful, she is an amazing Mother and friend.  She has welcomed me into her home for five years now, twice a week for hours at a time so I can work with her kids.  I think she deserved a little shawl love.  She has recently learned to crochet which of course makes me so happy.

While sitting outside the other day, taking some dead ends off my Christmas Cactus, I briefly parted the leaves, see who was peeking back at me.

Have a great day and thanks for the lovely thoughts on my last post.  We make it through all kinds of Change whether we want to or not.  Hopefully I can get through these times with some grace.