Aargh! Project(s) update!

So....I spent several hour trying to get the Nightbird shawl to work. It requires a casting on off 293 stitches, and then knitting a row. Then start a 2 row chart that you can repeat as often as needed to make the shawl the right size. The furthest I got was the first row of the second repeat of the chart. After ripping it out 3 times, I realized that I was not capable to knitting the shawl with that particular yarn. I might try to use a different yarn later, but not for this project.

So the search was on for the next try. I looked to crochet, as it's easier to put down, wouldn't require as much concentration (assuming I picked the right pattern) and I found one that I am sure will work. It's called the Small Talk Shawl. I've managed to get to the 9th row without screwing it up, and I'm quite pleased at the results so far.

As for the second project....well....I was naughty today. Mom decided with the weather being so nice (above 15C!) it was time she left the house. She's pretty much housebound due to severe arthritis and lung issues, so when she gets to go shopping, it's an occasion. She, my dad, Daughter and I went to Michael's (which is a 40 minute drive from my place). I had consulted with Husband if there was anything he wanted (there wasn't) and if there was anything he didn't want me bringing home. He said "yarn".

I had recently (as of this week) purged about half my yarn, getting rid of anything that didn't inspire me to craft. So...with that in mind, we spent a very enjoyable afternoon browsing through the store, looking at craft and art supplies. I picked up some stitch markers (for Mom's shawl), some glue and Modge Podge (for my diamond paintings) and then took Daughter to the yarn department, as she has expressed an interest in knitting.

I showed her various yarns (mostly the soft ones) designed for beginning knitters and then we looked at other yarns that were currently available. Then I saw it. The one ball of yarn that sang to me. The one ball that cried out to be taken home and made into something wonderful. So....I bought it.

Here is the current pictures in progress:
Work So Far

Pray for me.

The saga of the Nightwing shawl Part 1

I spend at least one day a week with my Mom, who is by virtue of her severe arthritis, housebound. During my most recent visit, I told her of my need to start purging the disaster that is my crafting supplies, to reduce the amount/space by half. That I had found many yarns that were lovely, full of memories and still I managed to get rid of a lot. She was proud of me. 

Then proceeded to say that she would love a "big comfy shawl" to wrap around herself. And that she wanted me to knit it. 

Now, I'm the kind of crafter that has a hyperfixation on a craft, amassing all the necessary accessories, supplies, and patterns. Enough that I will be able to make/create with that craft for the next 200 years. This includes fibre arts. I have knit, crocheted, tatted, spun, stitched it all it seems. 

I worked at a craft store for 5 years, with the proviso that I spend no more than 1/3 of my paycheck at that store. With my 30% discount, this resulted in a LOT of yarn. 5-6 BIG totes of yarn. But my fixation on fibre arts waned a great deal, to the point where I haven't cast on anything in about 4 years. I have occasionally picked up a mostly complete WIP (Work In Progress) to finish it and get it out of the house, but otherwise? Nope. 

I warned my mother that it would probably be about 2 years before she saw this shawl, if I ever chose to knit it. She was fine with that, but in my mind, a plot was brewing. I would go through my current reduced stash, hunt on Ravelry and find a shawl to have ready for Christmas this year. I have 8 months to accomplish this task. 

I have chosen a fingering weight, bamboo yarn, designed for baby clothes. It's soft and a neutral ecru, with pink and blue speckles. It took 3 days of combing through Ravelry, looking in my library online, and I found my pattern. 

http://knitty.com/ISSUEdf16/PATTwingsfornightbird/PATTwingsfornightbird.php

Wings for Nighbird.

So far the saga started unsuccessfully last night with me casting on for the first row. This is a reverse pi shawl, which means that it starts big and gets smaller as you go. Which for me works out well, knowing that there will be an end in sight.

I cast on 293 stitches, knit the first row, started the chart for the lace, managed to get through to the end only to realize that I was 2 stitches short >.<

I started again, making sure that I had the correct number of stitches before I started the first knit row. Then the first pattern row, I lost my way a little over halfway to through. Since I had frogged (rip it, rip it) the project twice, the yarn was a mess. So I cut that part off, looked at the time, (3:30am) and went to bed. Ugh.

I start again tonight. Wish me luck.