Monday, September 1, 2008

RIP Denise

Denise Saylor-Collins died suddenly this past Friday.

She will be greatly missed by her Panera friends. Her sense of humor, and her sense of "right-and-wrong" were keen. She was fun to be with ... and I can't imagine her not being with us again. My heart goes out to her family ...

She was way too young ... and way too nice ... and will be missed so much.

To keep you up to date:


I am now working on some sweaters for my Illinois grandchildren. They are almost 3 year old twin boys and a big brother who will be 6 the beginning of 2009. I am making them matching sweaters. I will post a photograph as soon as I have a bit more finished.

I am also working on a variation of Judy Pascale's Shapely Shawlette from "mystery yarn". I discovered this yarn in my attic, think I might have bought it on e-bay once, and also think it might be either cotton or mostly cotton. I love the way it looks -- off white with specks of color. I am also working on a magnificent triangular shawl (Marco Polo Self-Fringing Triangular Scarf) from Berroco Hip-Hop. The colors are beautiful -- with greens, purples - browns, etc. the yarn is high/low and is really interesting. There is a really bad photo of this yarn above. The Shawlette and the Scarf are "mindless" knitting projects -- since I don't have to look at directions, and so they are easy to do in low-lighting (like Panera's) or in a moving car. The sweaters are much more difficult, and until I finish the fronts (I am doing the twins' fronts at the same time to get them finished. I'll do Paulie's front after I finish their sweaters totally). I need quiet for them ... counting stitches, changing colors, etc.

I also bought other yarn when the Yarn Outless in Oceanside went out of business. One is an alpaca in greens, which I've used before in a blue/black (very denim looking)color to make a Clapotis shawl ... which I enjoyed knitting tremendously. It is Atacama, hand dyed 100% Alpaca. I bought enough to make another "Clap" ... but can't start that until SOMETHING -- ANYTHING is finished.

I also bought a cashmere/silk/merino wool combination, in a fingering weight, I think (no yarn wrapper) ... which is soft and really yummy. I have 4 skeins of each of two colors and am working on finding something to make with these. One is a really pretty soft pink and the other is a greenish-greyish-beige. They look marvelous together. Suggestions?

I will try to attach photos of any or all of these things really soon -- but did want to post since it's been a while.