Chinook Shawl

Chinook Shawl
Originally uploaded by SpinningMommy

I don't have a whole lot of lace knitting experience, but this is one knit that I am really enjoying. This is my version, in progress, of the Chinook Shawl knitted on a KnitPicks lace sampler.

The charts are a bit messed up in their numbering, but other than that, it is a good knit. Enough of a pattern to keep your attention, but not so complicated that you need to stress over it. I can't wait to see it blocked.

I am in the midst of a bit of a "shawl down" with my friend Debbie B., who got the same kit I did. I was well ahead in my knitting, and then we had the great sheep tragedy, and she's now catching up. Gotta push myself or she will buzz right on by me.

My Poor Isabella

I have decided that breeding sheep isn't for us. If we had a nice big farm and lots of money, and now personal attachment to the critters, then maybe I would reconsider.

In my last post, I talked about waiting for Gracie, maybe Izzy is bred, yadda yadda. I will admit, I got fooled. I got home last night, and Izzy, who was still out with everyone else, was out in the shed in active labor. Mark and I got her up and into the stall with Gracie, and then the real excitement began.

At first, everything seemed OK. She was doing a lot of pushing, pacing, and grunting, but then again, so did I when I was in labor. After about 45 minutes I got concerned and called Chris, who is not home at the moment, of course, to see what he said. Of course, he hasn't delivered any more lambs than I have, so I moved on to calling Bernadine, our sheep mentor. Get worried, she said. Lube up and check her. So in I reach and find a head and legs. It was right there and just not coming out.

At this point, she and Olivia headed over, and Bernie checked her herself. We tried getting hold of feet, encouraging, etc, with no success. So we start calling vets. Calling a vet that isn't your own, after hours, is not a cheap proposition. After a few calls and consultations, we got Dr. Roher in (thank you Debbie B and Deborahlee for making this happen in the midst of my crisis).

Dr. Dan's first comment on examination was, "Did you breed her to a Hostein or something?"

"Why?" says I. "Does the lamb have a big head?"

"This lamb has a big everything," he replied.

To make a long story short, the vet spent hours here trying to get this lamb out, but it wouldn't come out. After facilitating removal, we gave her tons of drugs and antibiotics, and the poor man never left here until after 1 am. By the time we got Izzy all situated, it was 2 am. She did sit up and drink some water, which is a hopeful sign, but she's still not out of the woods.

So the sum total of this affair was, we still have is, and hopefully we will be able to keep her going, and we have no lamb to show for her suffering.

Next at bat, Miss Gracie, who hopefully will avoid having another freakishly large lamb.

Waiting on the Lamb

0322001624.jpg
Originally uploaded by SpinningMommy

Well, our Cotswold ewe, Gracie, should be ready to deliver any day, but as of yet, no lambs. And let me tell you, she would rather be out running around with the rest of the geepers than sheltering inside and staying dry.

My guess is that she is the only one that is bred, although Izzy might be. I'm really not sure. Time will tell, however.

As to what I'm knitting, the question is: What am I not knitting. I'm working on my Chinook shawl from KnitPicks. In pink, of course ( it was on sale ), I'm working on an Easter Egg Love dishcloth, and an accordian scarf. I just rotate through. Aren't my powers of concentration mindboggling?

Free Pattern - Pucker Up Cloth

Pucker Up Cloth

Materials Needed:

Size 6 knitting needles

Craft cotton, such as Peaches and Creme (Lilac Ombre shown here) or Sugar and Cream

Abbreviations used:

K= knit

P = purl

Yo = yarn over

K2 tog = knit two together

Cast on 31 stitches using long tail method, or method of choice.

Pattern is a multiple of 11 sts + 1

Rows 1-4: Knit

Row 5:K4, k1,*yo, k3, [k2 tog] x 2, k3, yo,k1. Repeat from * to last 4 stitches. k4

Row 6: k4, p23, k4

Row 7:knit

Row 8: k4, p23, k4

Repeat Rows 5-8 eight more times for a total of nine repeats.

Repeat Row 5

Knit 4 rows.

Bind off loosely

Weave in ends.

This is a smaller, easy to handle cloth that makes for a quick knit.

Breast Cancer Awareness Pin Knitting Pattern

In honor of my friends Carrie and Raema, and all women facing breast cancer, I worked up a quick and simple pattern for a knitted breast cancer awareness pin. Feel free to share it with a link to this page. Pink fingering weight yarn (I used Knit Picks Stroll), although any fingering weight will do Size 0 or 1 knitting needles Safety pin Cast on 40 stitches using your favorite cast on method. I used long tail. Knit 3 rows. Bind off. Weave in ends. Cross your ribbon over to form a loop, and use a scrap of your yarn to secure it. I just used a sharp yarn needle to tack it down. Attach to your pin, and you are done. It actually took me longer to bind this off than it did to knit it! Very quick and easy. You could do other memorial ribbons as well, just by changing the color.