Knitting lace is great. It’s challenging, it’s fun and the end result is a beautiful . . . something. I know this because I have finished the Leaf Lace Shawl. (waah hoo – throw me a party) It took nearly two months and it was my first lace project and I’m pretty happy about the whole thing. Except. It needs to be blocked. I have wandered through my whole house with this thing in my hand and I have now come to the realization that I don’t have a suitable place for blocking a shawl of this proportion anywhere in my house. Between the dog, the cat, the husband and the kids, there’s just nowhere to spread it out and leave it and know it will be safe. So, the shawl sits in a heap in the sewing room for the moment. The only place I can think of to block it is on the pool table in the garage. And, as soon as they all stop playing pool, that’s what I’ll do.

In the meantime, I did some shopping. This is the stuff that came today from Jimmy Beans Wool. I ordered it on Tuesday and it traveled from Nevada to Massachusetts in two days and that’s what I call pretty good.

We have Ann Norling fruit cap patterns. C’mon, you know that Ambrynn needs some of these. A pumpkin hat for Halloween, how cute will that be?! We also have T-pins for the blocking of the shawl. And we have Rowan #34. Birch, anyone?

After a project like the Leaf Lace Shawl a little instant gratification is in order. I got it knitting this.

That’s a Flower Washcloth made out of Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille. The pattern comes from the book Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick and it took about a night and a half to whip up this little cutey. You make the 5 petals and then join them together and knit the center. The chenille makes for a great washcloth even if it did hurt my hands while I was knitting it.

Tomorrow we’re off to the great state of Vermont for a reenactment here. If I bump into Norma, I’ll say hi for you guys.