My Knitting List for 2010

So as I mentioned in the previous post I want to finish 12 things this year, they don’t all have to be UFO’s, some are things I have planned on knitting for years now. I was talking to My dear friend Toshi the other day that one of the shawls she liked was also on my “To Knit” list and she expressed interest in actually seeing the list so I thought I would post the list here for you all to read. I won’t hate myself if I don’t finish all of these but i would like to do some of them at least!

1. To finish my wedding shawl! DONE!!!!

2. Finish my Baudelaire socks (sock one complete toe of sock two complete)

3. Finish secret socks for special someone (sock one done halfway up the foot of sock two)

4. knit at least 2 pairs of socks for Ryan

5. Knit one pair of knee highs for myself!

6. This will be the year I start my Rogue

7. Knit Sprossling

8. Knit another Rose Of England Shawl(this one for myself)

9. Try to work out a few of the patterns that are floating around inside my head!

10. have fun!

The Post That Should Have Been Written Two Months Ago!!!

Wow I have been BUSY! let’s see what has happened since I last posted here, well I got married and went on a fabulous honeymoon(I have pictures somehwere!!!) I’ve been knitting a lot… and oh yeah I started a yarn dyeing business Grrrl Shaped Yarns overall life has been good to me.

It’s weird looking back now it seems like so much has been happening i don’t know where to begin or what I should talk about, maybe I’ve gotten a bit rusty as blogger, I feel rusty.

I can’t believe it’s 2010, 10 years since I was in high school come thus June,  8 years since I transitioned come this July, 2.5 years since I moved to New Zealand to live with my husband. I still remember the feeling of being unsure of where I was going, getting lost often, and in general being confused about my surroundings.  Wellington is so big that there are still parts of it I have never seen and parts that confuse me, unlike the relatively small San Francisco I used to live in.  Still doesn’t feel like home, and I still miss San Francisco at times, but things will change. A New year, a new decade, it seems like just last year we were all panicking about Y2K, or in shock over 9-11. It’s amazing looking back at how much I have changed in these past 10 years.

One thing that new years always bring along with them are resolutions, I haven’t made any resolutions so much as a few goals. and in the effort to help me stick to them I guess I shall share them with you.

1. become a bit more fit and healthy(if this helps me lose weight than so be it)

2. Expand my business to the best of my potential

3. Finish at least 12 items this year(after realizing last year I completed one super simple scarf and shawl and that’s it ALL year)

That’s it just a few simple goals, nothing to earth shattering. I like to think I’m doing good I’m eating healthier and participating in the Couch 2 5k challenge even though i am a bit stuck right now… I’m plotting and scheming business plans. I have finished one item already this year that’s my wedding shawl( yes it was 3.5 months late what you wanna make of it?)

In general I think life is good, and although I am busy it’s a good busy I’m enjoying it! I have so many plans for the next year I hope some of them pan out. and with those thoughts I would like at say, I’m thinking of starting an online crafting magazine, if you are at all interested in submitting a project  or article or review please let me know via email Zine AT brooklynnemichelle DOT com

Making of a Heirloom

Making of a Heirloom

So when Ryan gave me the amazingly beautiful Vintage Purls yarn as part of my engagement ring package, I knew instantly that something that special needed to be part of my wedding and as a shawl. Next started the search for the perfect shawl, first I checked Elann.com for something and found the luna moth shawl and moonlight sonata but neither were exactly what I was looking for. So my next stop ,should have really been my first stop, was to see Anne over at Knit Spot to have a peruse of her beautiful sexy patterns. Seriously if you thought knitting could never ever be sexy you should check out her patterns. I browsed and many MANY of her patterns spoke to me but none of them were saying wedding to me, tho they were throwing themselves at me they really have no shame. It was while at her site that I realized I wanted something that was vintage since my dress is going to be very Victorian inspired. It hit me suddenly like a ton of bricks exactly what I wanted it to look like I thought I had seen a pattern I like, months maybe years ago. I did and it was at Knitting-And.com(BTW congratulations to Sarah and her new baby son Charlie) it was this absolutely beautiful table cloth pattern from the 1940′s by Herbert Neilbing and updated and corrected by Sarah Bradberry who runs Knitting-And.

Wedding Shawl

This was perfect so I instantly set to working on it. The cast-on was really interesting and fiddly at first but I just kept trucking and soon found it had to transfer it over from 4 DPNs to 6 DPNs It was just going so fast… Well now I have just finished 52 out of 238 rows and I just can’t stop knitting the rows are now getting bigger and more complicated so I only get to knit on it a little here and there. On Average I get about 2-3 rows a session now. I know you want another picture so here is a close up of the texture, I really hope the rippling center blocks out.

Wedding Shawl Texture

Isn’t that just the most beautiful think you ave ever seen? I am absolutely in love with it and think it will make my wedding day just a touch more special wearing my handknit shawl made ith yarn my fianchad dyed to match my engagement ring. If that doesn’t signal a heirloom in the making I don’t know what does.

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