I'm Done, I'm Done!

I'm Done, I'm Done! Ta Dah......





I'm done with the center square, that is, of a Shetland hap style shawl. Let me see, I've use approximately 2.5 balls of the total 14 balls in the project. Hum. Now that is sobering. I guess I didn't fully appreciate how large a 68 inch square really is. In hindsight, I should have gotten out a ruler and measured a few items around the house to have a better perspective on the finished dimensions. Maybe even lightly chalked the dimensions on the floor. Something. Oh, in case I neglected to mention, I'm using US 3 needles to knit this 68 inch piece of lace. It's a Sharon Miller design called The Cora Shawl and I'm knitting it in the blue colorway using Jamieson's Ultra. One thing's for sure, in the land of instant gratification, I don't think I'll bump into too many people wearing this particular shawl on the streets of LA.

Never mind, it is pretty. I also, with great effort, found a finished one in blog land that has re-inspired me. You can see it here. I love the colors I am using and I'm about to get to the fun stage where I knit in the round and add bands of color. And, as Steve astutely observed, there's a reason these patterns are called "heirloom" knitting. He, by the way, is particularly impressed with this piece of knitting. He likes it so well, he will even occasionally enquire how it's coming. Don't get me wrong, he's always appreciative of my FOs, but it's not like him to ask about UFOs. For example, he's not one to ask "how's that sock coming along?" Or, "I haven't seen that cardigan you were knitting lately." You know what I mean? Curious.

I think a cup of tea is in order ~ and a review of Mr Puffy's day at the beach. These pictures are right in front of our house. We are at the North end of San Clemente and actually have a pretty good view of Dana Point, which this picture doesn't do justice to. It's nice when the sail boats are out and occasionally a tall masted ship is on the horizon. I like to pretend I'm at Portray Castle (you have to have read Anthony Trollope's, The Eustace Diamonds to understand) or perhaps that's a ship Captained by Horactio Hornblower from CS Forester's seafaring tales. The illusion, I must say, is helped by the fact that there are no oil rigs drilling off shore in San Clemente.