I really shouldn't brag

I cast on for these way back in March.  I bragged about how quickly they were knitting up.  I loved the yarn.  Malabrigo - whats not to love?  I loved the pattern.  Colourwork robots!!  Hello! Fantastic.  But here it is, now September and I'm just finishing them.  What happened?  To put it quite simply - summer.  Warmer weather inspired me to knit lace and baby items, not warm mittens.  But summer doesn't last long here in Labrador.  Its actually chilly enough now to start wearing these in the evenings on my walks.

I suspect I may have a hard time keeping these.  I know Amy wants them.  But she isn't getting them this time.  Amy, you do understand that right?  These are mine, all mine.

A Thing of Beauty

I'm so proud of this shawl.  Its beautiful thats for sure, but the thing about this shawl is that it is totally all my doing.  I spun the yarn.  I knit the shawl.  I even 'unvented' (to quote EZ) the pattern.  I have this 'thing' about knitting with my handspun.  Its like no pattern is good enough.  No recipient is worthy of it.  So, all my handspun just sits in drawers waiting.   I've mentioned my reluctance to knit with handpun before.  I realize that I have to get past it, or really, I should stop spinning.  For some reason, I have no  problem with gifting the handspun yarn.  But, it has to be given to someone who I know will appreciate it.  I once gave a skein of 100% alpaca to my mother.  She started a project and frogged it.  Started another and frogged it again.  My poor handspun didn't hold up too well to repeated frogging.  I don't think my mother will ever get another skein of it.  I actually took that skein back. 

I knit this shawl for a swap partner - another knitter from Newfoundland.  On ravelry, the forum that I participate in most is the Newfoundland and Labrador Knitters and Crocheters.  I enjoy the discussions in this forum and even got to meet some group members last month when Amy and I went to St. John's for her tonsillectomy.  A swap was organized on the board earlier this summer.  I was the only knitter from outside the St. John's area included in the swap.  After meeting Leah in person, I knew that this shawl was well suited to her - and that she was definitely worthy of an item knit from handspun.  Pictured here is her total swap package.  A ball of Zauberball Crazy, a spindle (by Kev) and roving, handmade soap, shawl and shawl/hair stick and a scone kit - all packaged up in a breast cancer bag. 

Leah was pleased with her package and said it was like getting a gift from 'someone who knew her soul'.  What a great compliment.    It makes me want to knit with my handspun some more. 

Summer is ending

And I didn't blog a whole lot.  We've been really busy around here.  To sum things up...we took a trip, we had a baby born, we had a wedding, we had a surgery, I met some knitters, and I bought a new car!  Here are some photos of things I've done and knit this past little while - in no particular order.

Mom and Dad on Port Hope Simpson bridge

Nat and Blair's Wedding! Nat was stunning...Blair too, I guess, if a guy can be stunning that is.

Here I am teaching little Natalie to knit.  Natalie is my sister's niece.  Too young really, but hey, it doesn't hurt to try right?  We spent two nights in Melrose during our flying visit to my hometown to pick up mom and dad for the wedding

My first Citron (knitty pattern) this summer.  Knit in 3 days on the way to pick up Mom and Dad for the wedding and on the drive on the way back.  Blocked in the hotel at St. Barbe NL.  I almost have a second Citron finished.

Knitters!!  Amy and I spent more than 2 weeks in St. John's after she had her tonsils out.  Thankfully, there were knitters and crocheters from Ravelry who invited us out to supper.  I also went to their KIP at the Rooms.  What a fantastic bunch!

Here is Amy posing with my first Minty (knitty pattern) of the summer.  I made a second one for Jenna.  My sister Cindy came in to St. John's for a weekend while we were there.  It really helped to pass the time!   You can really see how sick Amy was in this picture.  The tonsillectomy was not an easy procedure.  It was significantly more difficult than the jaw surgery of two years ago.

A Minion from Despicable Me!  Amy, Jenna, Riley and I went to see this movie during my sister's family visit.  It was great.  I had to make one of these guys for Riley.  He really, really liked it.

This is a shawl made from Malabrigo yarn.  The pattern is from Knitscene and its called Oscilloscope.  I bought this yarn at my new favorite yarn shop called 'A Good Yarn' in St. John's.  The owner, Jenny, is super fantastic awesome nice!  If you go to St. John's, make sure to drop in.

My new vehicle.  A Rogue by Nissan.  I had my corolla for 14 years!  I hated to give it up.  Actually, I didn't give it up.  I have her parked for Amy to drive when she comes home from university.

Mr Colson Lethbridge.  Big ole boy of Heather's.  I can't believe Heather is a mom to two boys!

Jenna and Riley on Signal Hill.  Riley had a list of things that he wanted to do during his two days in St. John's.  I tried my best to get most of them in.

 Overall, the summer was way too short, as it always is.  You can already feel that nip in the air here.  It is Labrador after all.  But that's one of the reasons why I love it so much.