Beach 2006: The Knitting Update

So guess what I did while at the beach (and in the car on the way to the Beach)?

I finished something!!!!

Actually I finished two things, but I'm giving each its seperate blog entry, because it really isn't that often that I finish things

Here are the modeling shots, from the balcony at the beach house.

The Front

and The Back

It's the cover art from Interweaveknits summer 2006: Lotus Blossom Tank by Sharon Shoji, in knitpicks Shine Sport

I started it back in July when I went the the meeting. It was a rough start. I didn't think I had the gauge right. It turns out the gauge was more or less right (its hard to measure lace patterns accurately), but I thought it was way too big after doing two repeats of the lace bottom. So I ripped it out, changed needles, and then I ripped it out again and changed needles again, and then finally I ripped out and took out two pattern repeats, and adjusted down the pattern accordingly, and added extra length on the straps.

I think I made it tighter than it was designed to be, but I am pretty satisfied with the results. I probably should have made the straps a little longer, but overall it looks pretty much like its suppose to.

Next week I report on the other finished object, which is not Icarus. Icarus is almost done. I'm at the border, but apparently I can't knit lace without a chart. I feel like the stiches aren't lining up right. I need to chart it out and see what's suppose to go where. Thank goodness for safety lines

Dear Readers....

Hello! Hippo here. It's been awhile since I've been able to write. I'm sure you missed me. I just got back from the vacation to the beach. I generously allowed Snuffles to come along, and some people I hang out with, and a kind of smelly dog, who threw up in MY car! The nerve of some dogs!

Anyway, I picked out a really cool place, with a pool and a hot tub, and a short walk to the almost deserted beach. Snuffles and I hung out and I drank beer. The people seemed to do a lot of getting into the pool, getting out of the pool, drying off, and then getting back into the pool. It was kind of dizzying. Snuffles and I thought they were a little crazy. I'm not sure if I'm going to invite them a long next time. And then there was their crazy dog, who at least had the sense not to get into the water at all, but was knid of confused by the fact that the people seemed to be in the water, and not drowning in it. She walked back and forth and barked at them a lot, expecially when they played catch with a football in the pool. The dog was disrupting my nap time a little bit.

I wisely did not let Snuffles have any beer. He gets a little crazy some times, and wanted my security deposit back. So instead of beer I gave him a nice long book (Susanne Clarke "The Adventures of Jonathan Strange and Mr.Norrell" ) to read. He said it was pretty good, and he learned a little practical magic and is looking forward to trying it out. I haven't the heart to tell him that it was a fiction book, and that there is no Raven King in America.

It rained most of the last two days. That was alright with me. I was getting worried about Snuffles, who is quite fair and subject to getting burnt. So, I helped a friend of mine do some knitting, and I finished this gigantic sweater for her (at least the knitting part, I'll let here sew in all the ends. She's been working on it forever, since last March or so.) Anyway I was a nice friend and helped her out

Also, I won the "Punch Prius" game on the way home. I am "Punch Prius" champion, although snuffles says I cheat.

Hope everyone's enjoying the last days of Summer

Yours truly, Hippo

Beach 2006

Well, where back from our excursion to Southern Shores, N.C.

Just a five hour drive to relaxation.....

It's a bummer to be back, but kind of nice to be back in our own bed

Doggie had a good time, but I think we tired her out

We spent most of our time lounging by or in the pool

Looks inviting doesn't it

I also did some reading

Outlander, Gablandon. Good, fast, fluffy, beach read, that didn't make me think too hard and moved a decent pace

And there was knitting....., but more on that latter

More beach photos