Thanks Deb. You came to my house and look what happened. The shawl is great. I cannot wait for it to dry. In this case a picture truly is worth a thousand words.
Don't worry, I am still working on J Jacket. So far I have completed more than 3/4 of the left side panel. But--------- I just could not resist the two balls of Zauberball that were sitting in full view. I had already chosen the pattern "Swallowtail Lace Shawl" by Evelyn Clark, it was printed off and sitting on my desk. I just had to start it. The yarn has a very nice feel as it flows between my fingers and over my sticks. It will have to take a back seat to J Jacket though. I will work on the shawl in the mornings and the jacket in the afternoons and evenings. I cannot, I will not, let lace take over my life. Oh yeah, I am playing around in my head the concept of a girl's wrap cardigan with lace, oh my Gawd, I am hooked. The picture looks big but it is actually only about 6 inches of work done-----a long way to go. 
I am making great progress --- I think. 
First of all I must have socks in progress. These are more children's sizes, a little bigger but still using up my left over sock yarn, mixing up the colours; self-patterning mixed with solid colours.
Today Deb and I went to visit the new yarn shop in Huntsville. "Knitting Three Together" is a great networking place to visit and stay for a while, knit, shop, knit, network, etc. It is a welcoming friendly yarn shop and boutique. It is just getting started and will get better and better as the inventory grows. Brenda Allan and Judith Ruan made us feel welcome and I had a great knit day with Dana, Deb, Brenda and Judith. The first impression is the window display, wow! Then the rest of the afternoon was great. Customers came and went, they all seemed to enjoy the space and joined in the conversations and the knitting. Check it out at www.knittingthreetogether.com . 
Done!!!! 
Done!!!!! 
Progress!!!! 
The sock project is almost to the end, at least for the Comfort DK 5 balls of assorted colours. I will start another sock project from my stash, perhaps a bigger size, toddler 2 - 3. 
I had 5 balls, each 50 gms. Red; Yellow; Green; Blue and Varigated that had all the other colours in it. I will have 10 pairs when I am done. See the last work in progress in the centre. See just how much yarn will be left, not much. The socks will likely fit an eighteen month old baby, I will have to check the size to be sure. I am awaiting the Adult "J", that will be a lot of knitting but it is time to put it out there. 
The shawl above, while lovely, it was far too big for my plan. There was still many many rows and then an edge, it would have reached the floor on a short person like me. I tried to keep at it but for some reason I kept turning to other projects. I think it should have been in finer yarn on smaller needles, oh well, lesson learned. Onward and upward. The yarn will emerge from the frog pond and live to fight another day. I am posting the picture just so you all know that I really did put a lot into it.
Now, new shawl started. It is an Evelyn Clark Design called Heartland Lace Shawl. It will be smaller and more lacy. Deb had originally recommended that I visit Evelyn Clark's web site and see her patterns. but I had some sentimental reason for choosing the other one. Deb, I should have listened to you, I am enjoying this pattern and find it real easy to follow. What I like the most is that it is written out line by line and also charted. I am still knitting baby socks, sweaters and Lynda's cozy as well. They work when I am watching TV, the shawl requires more attention. 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM-IN-LAW; TODAY WE CELEBRATED OUR MOM'S 97TH BIRTHDAY. SHE IS STILL A STRONG WILLED PERSON AND WE ALL LOVE HER.
Yesterday I trashed a closet full of off season clothes, mostly never worn in many years; so -----dumped them, cleaned the closet and guess what, started to store my stash in some sort of system, yah right!!!!
This is just the beginning, I need more containers and likely more closet. I will keep on sorting and storing.
Oh, by the way, while I was looking and touching I brought out a big ball of yarn that I got at the K-W show last year. I didn't know what to do with it but had to have it. Bought it, stored it, and then it called me ----"Come get me, I want to be Lynda's (Cabin Fever) Fancy Stitch Cozy. Lynda demonstrated the fancy stitch cozy pattern and taught the local guild how to do it at the May Guild Meeting. My version is a little different, smaller needles, more stitches cast on and a different edge. The yarn is supposed to be doubled heavy worsted weight worked on size 9mm needles. I worked mine double but it is finer and the needles are size 6.5mm. The stitch is absolutely beautiful, I cannot wait to try it on something else. 
My huggy bear (sort of like the pattern) in Bernat Jr. Jacquards is almost done, I was not happy with the previous picture, the blue striped T did not do it any favour so I took another photo. I am still working on socks, now have completed 7 pairs. 
Current Projects are a variation of my Huggy Bear in Bernat Jr. Jacquards; and baby socks in a supply of Berroco Comfort DK that has been dwelling in my stash bins under my bed. I have five colours, so I am making a pair in each colour (so far three colours and one sock in the fourth colour, still have the royal blue to do) then I will mix the colours up with perhaps different colours for the cuffs, heels, toes and perhaps stripped socks as well. It is 50% nylon/50%Acrylic, should be good for wash & wear. It will be interesting to see just how many pairs I can get. I prefer bright colours for babys, none of that baby blue or baby pink lives in my world. The yarn calls for a size 4mm needle but I am working the socks in size 2.75 mm; makes for a nice tight texture and should really hold it's shape and stay on the foot nicely. Until next time keep on knitting, I am.
