Saturday, November 8, 2014

A new shawl

Shhhhhhhhh, can you keep a secret?  My husband is out of town visiting Mr. 21, and I got the best nights sleep last night, no snoring, no one kicking the bed in the middle of the night or waking me up early as he is an early riser.  It was so lovely.  I had my knitting friend over for Thai food last night and a bit of creating time.  After Little Buddy drifted off to sleep we chatted and played with yarn, how lovely is that?  Today Little Buddy is off to visit his Aunt's for a bit this morning so I can go out and run some errands.  Then it will be lunch, nap time and a visit from his Medical Foster Parents this afternoon.  Leftovers for dinner and a quiet evening will hopefully end the day.  I might actually get to watch Death Comes to Pemberley, which has been saved forever on my TV.

I do have a finish to show you.  Another Olive Twist Shawl by our favorite blog friend and up and coming fab designer Sue Perez.  


Made with Berroco Boboli Lace in color 4383, and a size I hook.
 

This is the left over yarn I had from the woven shawl I made my friend Lynda this past summer.  So I am guessing about 475 yards used in this project. Yarn from my stash and a completed gift, a win-win.


Before blocking, it was a muddly mess.
 

After blocking the design popped!  Now mind you I used steam and I shouldn't have.  This yarn is made of 42% Wool, 35% Acrylic, and 23% Viscose.  Right on the label it says, "lay flat to dry".  Did I pay attention to that?  No, not me.  I got that steam iron out and went to town.  I am glad I did not melt the whole thing.  It definitely changed the integrity of the yarn, so my suggestion to you is if you use this yarn is to wet block your project.
 

This is for Little Buddy's Speech Therapist for Christmas.  She has been working with him as long as I have.  She has worked so hard to help him to first suck from a bottle, eat food and to communicate.  I think she deserves a really nice treat. 

His Physical Therapist is going skiing for Christmas.  I had a beautiful chunky red cowl I made earlier in the year in my present bin, she will get that for Christmas.   And his Vision teacher will get a Queen Anne's Lace Scarf I crocheted a few months ago.  I swear things are looking good for Christmas presents, I have a few more to make and then I am done!
 

This morning the lovely lady on the moon showed her beautiful profile to me.  This picture above is untouched, no editing at all. 


With a little crop and auto-contrast you can see her so much better.

Have a great Saturday.

45 comments:

Handmade and off-centered said...

I laughed at you a little when you were telling of your good night sleep, with the hubs gone. No snoring and kicking and all that. I. Totally. Get. That. Hahaha. Christmas presents this year really is looking good for you. I really like the pattern on this shawl and what a difference blocking makes. I remember this yarn from you previous project :) Hope your evening is as good as last nights.

Hugs,
Birgitta

Amy at love made my home said...

Your shawl is beautiful!!! I am sure that Little Buddy's therapists and teachers and so on will all love the gifts that you have made as they are so wonderful. xx

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Meredith, I sleep best when I sleep alone LOL!! Oh well. Love that shawl, so pretty and a great present for someone who does so much for Little Buddy. Hope your weekend is wonderful.
hugs,
Linda

Pammy Sue said...

Your shawl is beautiful and very sweet and thoughtful gift. She will be so pleased and surprised! Love the moon shots. I can see the lady clearly with her dark hair.

Chris said...

Wow, look at you! Almost finished and I haven't even started, haha!! I keep thinking it's October not November . That shawl is gorgeous!!!! The Boboli is such a beautiful yarn, it has great colours and such a nice shimmer/shine to it. What a super gift! It's nice to have a good sleep by oneself occasionally, helps recharge those batteries.and Thai food with a knitting friend , doesn't get much better than that. Rest up this weekend!

Anonymous said...

That is a lovely shawl. I like that yarn's shine --- looks like a nice tussah silk.

Good for you being so far along with your Christmas things. :-)

Hope you have a great day and evening and that Little Buddy lets you have plenty of time to stitch.

mamasmercantile said...

I smiled too I always get a better nights sleep when my husband is away. The shawl is exquisite, a beautiful gift. Hope you have another good night tonight.

linda said...

Glad you enjoyed a bit of me time Meredith, love the shawl what a beautiful gift she is going to love it. I haven't really started on the gift front yet but I'm only making small things so it should be doable apart from daughters throw and thats almost done. I feel as if I can pick up the moon and op it in my pocket it looks amazing. Hope you get to watch your show, have a lovely evening. :) xx

Ljubinka said...

Wonderful shawl,awesome yarn,beautiful gift!!!
Happy weekend.:*

Mrs. Micawber said...

"Present bin" !!!! Those words just leapt off the screen. Seriously, what a great idea.

Enjoy your day, and may that peaceful night's sleep carry you through until the next one. :) (Separate beds start to make sense, don't they? Maybe Lucy and Ricky had something there.)

The moon has been extra-beautiful this week.

P.S. Nice shawl. ;)

Judy S. said...

Boboli colors are so wonderful, and so is your shawl. I love the QA shawl pattern also. Lucky therapists, I'd say. (And lucky LB to have such good ones.) Have a great weekend.

Ingrid K. said...

Hello Meredith! Glad you had a great sleep and quiet time to enjoy!!! :)
That shawl you made looks gorgeous, what a magnificent gift!!!
Have a lovely weekend!
Ingrid xx
http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

Lynne said...

Great moon shots! I have been enjoying the full moon these past few nights.
The Boboli sure makes up nice in that shawl pattern,and you are going to town on the Christmas presents! It feels good to get ahead of the game doesn't it?

Teresa Kasner said...

Hi Meredith.. sounds like an enjoyable evening and another ahead of you! We're off on an adventure today. More on that later.. have a great weekend!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Love the shawl! Very pretty. Sounds like you had a wonderful time with your friend...it's always nice when you can get together with a friend and their is yarn involved! :) ((hugs))

Linda said...

Truth be told Meredith I can never tire of this shawl, it comes out gorgeous every time. I was looking at your pictures nd I actual said to myself 'Why haven't I made this yet?', I will have to remedy that I think.
You're very organised with your gift makes and I have decided to have a gift make box too so I can pop hand makes into it throughout the year, rather than panic in the few weeks before Christmas about getting gifts done. It makes total sense to me and as you know I am sensible if nothing else lol xx

Have a great weekend xx

Caffeine Girl said...

What lovely gifts for Little Buddy's therapists. He is so lucky to have such a wonderful team. It's no wonder that he's come as far as he has.

Bridget said...

Some day I am going to actually learn how to crochet, and I'm going to make one of those shawls. The ones you make are so very pretty!

forgetmenotsblue said...

Glad you managed a good nights sleep hehe!!
Wow you captured the moon well. The shawl looks great lovely yarn x

Jo said...

Oh I love those shawls, the colours, the drape, the utter sophistication. Jo x

CJ said...

You have been busy, the shawl is really pretty, the speech therapist will love it. I'm envying you your creative friend, it sounds like a wonderful evening. Leftovers and Death at Pemberley sounds pretty good as well actually. Enjoy! CJ xx

My Garden Diaries said...

That shawl is gorgeous!!! She will absolutely love it! The feel of it and color are spot on! And you had me cracking up about your good nights sleep!!! Happy weekend to you!!! Nicole xo

Lucie said...

Beautiful shawl. have a nice evening. hugs xxx

Betsy said...

Beautiful shawl finish and it sounds like you have gifts under control. That's great! I'm opposite from you. I don't sleep well without my Hubby so I can't wait to get home to him. I wish it didn't mean leaving Piper. :-). I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Blessings,
Betsy

Neighborhood Watch said...

I just finished my Olive Twist shawl. I was happy to see your before and after blocking because I kept looking at mine (pre-blocking) in disbelief that it had used up 3 skeins of yarn. Now I am feeling somewhat relieved that it will stretch out just fine.

Toni said...

Ha! Ha! The REAL secret fantasy of married women--a good night's sleep with no one else in the bed. :)

LOVELY shawl!!!!!!

Kris said...

My husband goes camping a couple times a year with his mens softball team. I love that time! You are not alone my friend! I sleep sideways in bed, with all of the pillows! Of course, I have a couple dogs on the bed too, but still, it is heaven!!!
Sounds like you had a good girls night! The shawl is lovely. And you are way ahead of the game with your Christmas gifting! Good girl!
XO Kris

moonstruckcreations said...

Wow that shawl is amazing, what a lucky lady.

I am so happy you had some "me" time, absolutely vital I always think.

Have a lovely Sunday, Helenxx

Géraldine B. said...

What a such beautiful shawl !!! I like it ! Have a lovely sunday !

Couson said...

A beautifull shawl!

HollyM said...

I have a friend who doesn't sleep at all when her hubby is away. I slept so terribly with my husband that we moved into separate rooms.nworks for us.
It is still a treat when he goes away (not often) because I love the freedom from meals.
What lovely gifts. The shawl is so pretty.
Enjoy your weekend!
PS. I can't see a lady, only an old man.

Elisabeth said...

What a beautiful shawl, the yarn is amazing! I love the colours :) I'm glad you had a great nights sleep, you always feel so much better after a few solid dreamy hours <3

Needles and Wool said...

I love the shawl it is so pretty I am sure buddy's speech therapist will love it. I like the close up photos you can really see the pretty details of the shawl! It is so nice to make handmade gifts for people I think they probably appreciate something that comes from the heart :) have a great day!

Lisa
Needles and Wool

kathyinozarks said...

Happy Sunday, oh I love days like that-a good nites sleep undisturbed, and creative time with friends
Lovely shawl my friend, have an awesome new week

Helen said...

The shawl is just stunning and such a lovely present for a special person. I know excactly what you mean about sleeping better without snoring men, mine seems to have developed an incurable snore, he is immune to digs in the ribs now!!

kathy b said...

The gifts will be so meaning ful to those ladies. I once crocheted a shawl in linen and was told it would soften up when washed . It never did.
You are way ahead of schedule!! Hooray!
I love your moon lady Mere

Gracie Saylor said...

While I was not happy my husband needed a c-pap machine, the c-pap machine took care of the snoring problem and it produced a soothing white noise :) Cheers for your latest make! Sue's pattern and your good work produced another lovely shawl, Meredith. xx

Carla from The River said...

I laughed, that is so funny about you and the best nights sleep. :-)
I do get the snoring part!! LOL

Beautiful! You are just amazing. I think all will love the gifts of homemade, from the heart. :-)

gaia said...

I love those nights when my husband travels, too. My favourite destination is China, meaning at least fifteen days, crochet time. People ask me if I get lonely when he is away and I tell them I crochet...
Your shawl is gorgeous! I wish I could crochet one but first I should finish my 1000 WIPS...
Have a lovely day....Gaia.

Gillian said...

I might as well say it again - I love the moon!! We have watched Death Comes to Pemberley twice now and it's really good - you'll enjoy it. It's lovely that you're getting a wee break and a good night's sleep. The shawl is so beautiful and will be much appreciated I'm sure. As will your other gifts. I've just finished a Queen Anne scarf for my son's girlfriend.

Anonymous said...

Love it! the colors are SO YUMMY! Good work.

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

Ah Olive, my old enemy. How wonderful you make her look! I will return to her at some point!
Jillxo

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Wow, Meredith! I'm impressed. You certainly are getting some wonderful projects done. And your evening with a friend sounds awesome. My husband has been snoring a lot, too, so I am constantly pulling on the blanket to get him to roll onto his side. Have a good rest of the week. Tammy

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

P.S. Marvelous moon shots! :)

Anna said...

Beautiful shawl !!!
Anna