July … or how I spent the heat wave!

 Technically, it is August.  August 4, actually.  However, I started this post in July, just before I went away, thinking that I would have time to finish up and polish everything nicely.  Yeah, right.  I should have known better. Having admitted this, let me get going on what I accomplished in July!

This is the Aran Afghan I was knitting for my step-daughter.  That girl surely knows the way to my heart -- she selected the pattern herself from a big pile of patterns!  The magazine, McCall's Super Book of Afghans was purchased by me way back in 1975 or so.  I have knit a few afghans from it, as evidenced by the poor condition of the magazine itself.  On a whim, I searched on-line for it, and found another copy in far better condition than mine.  It lives with me now. 

In any event, this particular pattern is known as the Aran-Stripe Afghan.  It consists of five panels, joined with a garter stitch border at the top and bottom.  Instead of sewing the panels together, I opted for a three-stitch i-cord join.  It worked amazingly well!  The afghan was very well-received by my step-daughter.  You would have thought I had gifted her the sun, moon and stars.  I used a 5.0m needle and James C. Brett Aran with Wool -- 3.5 400g balls.  I rate this a successful project!

Another project recently off my needles is this beautiful wrap.  This is named the Stella Wrap, designed for Ella Rae Cozy Alpaca.  We carry the Cozy Alpaca Chunky in the store, and were accidentally shipped a bag of the worsted weight.  Of course, we didn't discover the mishap until after the yarn had been opened ... What's a girl to do with orphaned skeins of yummy wool?  The pattern calls for 5.0m needles, which is the size I used.  (I guess it's a good thing I have several sets of interchangeable needles, eh?)  The wrap is roughly 17 by 48 inches, so it will be more like a poncho than a shawl.  In any event, it is lovely and soft and warm.

We also ordered and received another fabulous baby/child yarn.  It is King Cole Tropical Beaches DK.  I have no idea why we didn't bring this in earlier.  The colourways are spectacular -- happy, happy, happy and the hand is super soft and comfortable to work with. Since the new yarn had arrived, we needed a sample.  Initially I was planning to make a baby blanket -- there is plenty of yardage in the skein to complete a generous blanket.  Not seeing anything I really liked, I started browsing through our pattern binders.  Sure enough, I found something I liked -- Sirdar 5214.  There was plenty of yarn left, so I went ahead and made up a little bonnet as well.  Except it isn't pictured here ... Anyway, a 4.0m needle for the bulk of the design with a wee bit of 3.25 for the garter stitch edges.  Love, love, love it!

And since knitting isn't my ENTIRE life ... Doug and I went sailing on a beautiful summer Sunday.  And brought home a trophy ... again!  This was the Lake Scugog Sailing Club Memorial Trophy.  The other highly competitive boat/team had a rigging failure and withdrew from the race just as they rounded the last buoy.  Sad for them, but we got the trophy. 

Sailing, for me, is incredibly restorative.  You have the sun, the wind, the waves, and yourself (and sometimes your partner), and that's it.  No interference from radios, telephones, tablets, neighbours, pets, children ... It makes me happy.  I have been away for the past 9 days and am looking forward to a sail tomorrow, weather permitting.  

There is lots of other news, but I am gonna save it for a bit.  My heart is too full to share just yet.  

Cheers, everyone!