I finished the Strawberry Shortcake Shawl last night. Used a whole skein just for the fringe! You may want to sit down for this next statement …. there is a possibility that I will block it today! I know, I know — what is the world coming to?

It must be something in the air. Lately, I have been trying to do things by the book and not cut corners. It all started with swatching. It moved on to ironing seams open while sewing. Then came the taping before painting. And now blocking! oh, and I have also become a diligent flosser!! I hardly recognize myself. (without spinach stuck between my teeth!)

Today’s project is to paint the foyer. I have been threatening to post pictures of these many house projects and I will, someday soon. For now, I have taken the liberty of crossing the foyer project off the list.

Anticipating The Vest, I have been trying to convince myself to become an avid blocker. This should not be a difficult point to make. As they say, the proof is in the pudding – one has only to compare an unblocked to a blocked piece. To this end, I have been doing some investigating and have found good sources.

You Were Perfectly Fine has posted a great blocking board idea! It is simply a solid piece of insulation board cut in half! This is wonderful on many levels.

[1] much cheaper than fancy, schmancy blocking boards

[2] The honey can do the shopping

[3] gave me an idea for a post about what we can buy at a hardware store for knitting

[4] makes me feel especially handy

In her post she shared a link to Lucy Neatby’s site that has good blocking directions. I think I will combine those with Chicknits method.

Of course, all of this presumes that I have The Vest out of hiding and am working on it. ;)

The main problem with publicly making a solemn vow is that you run the risk of having to publicly make excuses. On Friday, we left off with my solemn vow to get to work on The Vest. You may have come here today hoping to see pictures of the vest and to hear a witty ditty on how we were reaquainted after all these years.

Well, at least I have pictures for you. Let me set the stage …..

Last week, I was in the store Tuesday Morning. I go there a lot and a friend had alerted me to bargain prices on yarn. They have never carried any yarn in the past so naturally I was excited.

We have already established that I am a . I believe that this is the reason I bought so much of this stuff – Lion Brand Woolspun. I bought three bags, each containing three skeins. 3×3=9. I also choose the color – it is called raspberry. I did not go for my usual cream or forest type colors – I was feeling adventurous and it reminded me of these. (yum!!!).

Wait!!, you say What does any of this have to do with the vest??

I’m getting to it — hold your horses. (and yes, horse will be featured in my yarn!). general groans at weak pun.

On Friday evening a good friend of mine, whom I haven’t seen in ages came over for a visit. Let’s call her May. Anyway, May makes a wicked one of these. We had a wonderful time gabbing and drinking the evening away. All of this gaeity meant that I was in no shape to meet The Vest on Saturday. When meeting old beaus you want to look your best. Still I wanted to do something! It had to be something very easy — numbing really. Like a true I had no plan for all of the Strawberry Shortcake yarn. I got onto the Lion Brand website and saw that [a.] this yarn has been discontinued [b.] they don’t recommend all that many patterns for it. I settled on the shawl pattern. Skill level=hungover.

Didn’t you mention something about horses?

Yes, I did. So far I have covered Why I Did Not Work On The Vest for the Saturday portion of the weekend. That brings us to Sunday.

I spent the entire day at a horse show. Not a suitable venue for The Vest. I took along The Shawl. It is knitting up quickly and I am &#190 finished. You may be horrified to hear that it is not getting rave reviews – most of the comments were lukewarm, however, one reviewer was overtly hostile.

She said, “That looks like sh*t”.
I protested, “Chr*st N., can’t you see how hard I am working??”
She said, “I see how hard you are working, it is a shame it looks like sh*t.”

It is a highly textured yarn and is knit on 15’s in garter stitch. (that’s why it is perfect for hangover knitting!) I fear it is not the pattern or the yarn that offends the eye. I suspect it is the color – other people do not seem to have the same appreciation for Good Humor ice cream that I do. go figure.

The main problem with publicly making a solemn vow is that you run the risk of having to publicly make excuses. On Friday, we left off with my solemn vow to get to work on The Vest. You may have come here today hoping to see pictures of the vest and to hear a witty ditty on how we were reaquainted after all these years.

Well, at least I have pictures for you. Let me set the stage …..

Last week, I was in the store Tuesday Morning. I go there a lot and a friend had alerted me to bargain prices on yarn. They have never carried any yarn in the past so naturally I was excited.

We have already established that I am a . I believe that this is the reason I bought so much of this stuff – Lion Brand Woolspun. I bought three bags, each containing three skeins. 3×3=9. I also choose the color – it is called raspberry. I did not go for my usual cream or forest type colors – I was feeling adventurous and it reminded me of these. (yum!!!).

Wait!!, you say What does any of this have to do with the vest??

I’m getting to it — hold your horses. (and yes, horse will be featured in my yarn!). general groans at weak pun.

On Friday evening a good friend of mine, whom I haven’t seen in ages came over for a visit. Let’s call her May. Anyway, May makes a wicked one of these. We had a wonderful time gabbing and drinking the evening away. All of this gaeity meant that I was in no shape to meet The Vest on Saturday. When meeting old beaus you want to look your best. Still I wanted to do something! It had to be something very easy — numbing really. Like a true I had no plan for all of the Strawberry Shortcake yarn. I got onto the Lion Brand website and saw that [a.] this yarn has been discontinued [b.] they don’t recommend all that many patterns for it. I settled on the shawl pattern. Skill level=hungover.

Didn’t you mention something about horses?

Yes, I did. So far I have covered Why I Did Not Work On The Vest for the Saturday portion of the weekend. That brings us to Sunday.

I spent the entire day at a horse show. Not a suitable venue for The Vest. I took along The Shawl. It is knitting up quickly and I am &#190 finished. You may be horrified to hear that it is not getting rave reviews – most of the comments were lukewarm, however, one reviewer was overtly hostile.

She said, “That looks like sh*t”.
I protested, “Chr*st N., can’t you see how hard I am working??”
She said, “I see how hard you are working, it is a shame it looks like sh*t.”

It is a highly textured yarn and is knit on 15’s in garter stitch. (that’s why it is perfect for hangover knitting!) I fear it is not the pattern or the yarn that offends the eye. I suspect it is the color – other people do not seem to have the same appreciation for Good Humor ice cream that I do. go figure.