love that pocket!

As I head out the door this gorgeous Saturday morning ready to whip today's bride into shape (hee)............ I have my knitting bag at the ready, hoping that a row or two might happen while doing the inevitable waiting that always comes along. (I never knit during the ceremony when I am generally not working---- but I'd sure love to!)

Lexical is almost ready to begin the slight increases at the waist of the first front section. I'm still in love with the knit and the best part? Has to be the little inserted pocket-------- cute as pie and so slick to do. It's hard to tell from the photo, sorry----- but because of the self facing, it does roll while in progress.

Crazy July weather today, about 15 degrees below normal but who in the world is complaining, a true and unexpected delight. (No doubt the bride today will love it, when you are wearing pounds of satin and fluffy layers and your man is encased in a stuffy black tux--- well it is a good thing).

Hope your weekend will be fantastic!

One down............ & apologies to THE Norah Gaughan

the back of Lexical came off the needles late last night----------yay! I had forgotten that the decreases on a raglan sleeve do seem to go on forever! I'll be casting on for a front later today, the front of a sweater always seems to zip right along after working the back.

On a related note my deep apologies to THE Norah Gaughan........... sigh. In a wild and harried moment of what was I thinking, on my way to knit with the ladies last night (wonderful as always), I grabbed NG Volume I, some yarn an needles, shoved them into my bag and dashed out the door. After my first cup of coffee and some chit chat I cast on for Astrid. Sigh. I've always loved this fabulous scarf comprised of those interesting Norah shapes. Well, apparently I'm an idiot (which perhaps comes as no surprise to some)

I brought the wrong sized needles (noticing it after I was into the second row)===== and I have to admit, starting row 1 with a yo just wrinkled my brain in a way that wasn't happening for me. With the help of fellow knitters I moved stitches, wiggled position----- and it still made me crazy. Finding out that in my super haste I had not only brought the wrong dpn's but had knit with them------ well it was just too much. Time to move on. I'll regroup, after all this scarf is completely fabulous!! I'm knitting it in a go with anything gray.

Did I mention I bought new yarn the other day? Uh huh----------- we'll talk about that later. I seriously don't know when or how I'll get it all done.

7 Come 11

It's a week of 'lucky' numbers! With 456789 coming earlier this week, Saturday brings 7/11 and I'm feeling lucky!

7 Come 11 indeed----- NO bride to wrangle today as I cleverly do not have myself included in the contract (yay), a morning that brought a gorgeous clean house----- an afternoon to catch up on a few things and KNIT on Lexical. Best of all? Dinner with friends this evening at a great Ethiopian restaurant.

c'mon baby, mama needs new shoes...........................

I only want to be with knit

In the spirit of the approaching all star break........... I'm ready for one as well. Studio life and brides in general seem to have worn me out kind of early in the season. I've been digging deep for energy and a bit of The Pep by listening to 60's on 6 (love me my XM) and find the old Dusty Springfield tune "I Only Want To Be With Y*ou" stuck in my head as if looped.

I only wanna be with knit. Just for a day even---------- I dream of Long and Langourous hours drinking something fruity and knitting. I have managed about 8 inches on the back of Lexical, and it is a delightful knit indeed. The bottom looks a bit curly due to the fact that there is a turning row where the bottom two inches will make that lovely facing. The second slight bit of waist shaping has been completed although it is almost too slight to detect at this point.

Hana says that she is tired of wearing her Fourth of July dress, she is already bored with this couture fashion, could she change please?

Cute No Knit

An overdue bride photo--------------- she was lovely inside and out, why can't more be like her? She is very obviously NOT a knitter but good natured about holding the project du jour. Yes, that is the Arch in the background, we were downtown on 'the Landing'.

Her gown was absolutely lovely and suited her perfectly! She's holding the swatch for Lexical, Berroco Lustra. Both are beautiful! :)

glam gowns & giant sweater

I admit it, I am a total sucker for bridal gowns. The good, the bad and the ugly! One of my guilty pleasures is to enjoy the annual wedding drama otherwise known as Today Throws a Wedding. I watch with fervor, vote with intent and sit back and wait. This year my second place couple was the winner.......... but they'll be fab regardless. Once the couple is chosen to marry on national morning television the excitement (for me) builds as the audience gets to vote on the gown the tux, the ring and even the honeymoon. Today was gown day and ohmygoodness what fantastic gowns they were. I confess to taking some weird pride in KNOWING my wedding gowns after all! This year the gowns were chosen for a petite and athletic bride, and all were yummily perfect. Check 'em out............

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I voted for the last gown, the Anne Barge---- one of my favorite designers. I used to think she lived my life after all. From a young girl she always wanted to design gowns for brides and started her incredible career at Pr*iscilla of Boston when she just showed up at a local trunk show with an armload of sketches. I love it when that works out! From there she has had a shining career of world-wide influence and gorgeous gowns.

***On a non-glam note, Alexi the cabled cardi is together. I am NOT a happy knitter. The coat, which has been otherwise known as a boat cover on frequent occasions------ ends up being exactly that. Let's say it is wearable only when changing up the initial idea. I am not sure if I will ever wear it but youknowwho is chomping for it. AS A JACKET/COAT!!!!!! Yes indeedy, it is the length of a 'car coat' if you remember that sort of thing. Oversized and big. It is a LOT of cabledness let me tell you. I'm searching out leather toggles to close the fronts and will more than likely add some shaping by running the side seams through the sewing machine. Blasphemy to many but blitters--------- I have almost 7 months of my life in that bad girl! Enough seed stitch to turn me away for quite some time! The very best news is that it is all but DONE! I'll post photos when I've found good toggles.

Now................. finishing up the intarsia bag??? Or just continuing to knit the happy Lexical? The chicken for the moment is residing in the sewing room, still sporting double points where the tail should be!

Bridependance!

A weekend off, no ladies in white and not a lot of work! It doesn't happen very often around here and I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest

As promised, Nimbus photos:

The color is still wonky----------- but isn't she glorious? I think I'd love to knit her again in chocolate or black.

Love the shawl collar a LOT. Remember I had such a hard time finding a great button for her--- I found this great pin instead. The actual closure is a snap, the pin sits on the surface. I think it looks great, wonderfully unique and sort of vintage and modern at the same time.

With the cabled cardi, Alexi, off the needles it was time to swatch for Lexical. The yarn is yummy with the very soft sheen. Because it is not 'spun' it can be a little splitty but doesn't take much time to get into the groove with.

A very soft haze without being too furry----- and that nice soft shine. Swatching was a delight since the pattern uses pocket linings, they made perfect (and USEABLE) swatches! Gauge was bang on using 7's.

The 7's are still in use finishing up that seed stitch collar for Alexi, with luck over the weekend I'll enter final push.

For the moment I'm just delighted to do holiday things that don't involve brides! For all my American blitters, have a wonderful 4th of July!