What a Day!
Hey all! I went online today and it took me about 5 hours to take pictures, download and post everything to EBay. And I only put some stuff on there! I am sooooo tired! Do you hear me? I can't believe what a nightmare that is! But if you would all be so kind as to at least go out and take a look at my store, I would appreciate it. (it would pay off just for somebody to look at the thing considering how long it took me to get it up and going!)

What's for sale? I have handknit sweaters and handspun yarn on the site. One pair of socks so far and one purse that I made. I just can't do anymore today though! It's tiring me out, I need to just go to bed already! I didn't even get to work on the Irish Diamond Shawl, (one row) and NO spinning at all today! Unbelievable.
The site is:
http://stores.ebay.com/EMatthewsKnits

The bidding of the sweaters is somewhere. I don't even know. You have to link through handknit, sweaters, etc., etc., good luck! There are two posted. A Philosophers Pullover, and a Icelandic Yoke (yoke pattern is based from) with a lace knit edging on the bottom and the end of the sleeves. Fairly good prices to (if I should say so myself). Good Night all...

This is a delicious natural brown alpaca that I spun up, and this was as think as I could get it. I could probably knit something medium lace weight with it huh? 

Pugknits, can you see why I love your newly dyed alpaca colors? I love blues and greens. 

another one... 

This is some wool that I dyed this past spring. I used Rit dye and a process that I kind of made up, it was fun, but took me 6 hours to dye 12 skeins of yarn! Whew 

Here is a little sample of the cotswold that I was plying the other night. 

And here's the fiber, doesn't it just beg to be spun? 

This is Diablo! I was motivated to get out the Joy yesterday! I couldn't help it. I sat up straight and spun for about 3 hours! Fun, fun, fun! 

Here is a beautiful singles merino that I spun and balled last week. What should I do with it? Socks? No, I think it's to soft for socks, but theres only about 350 yds. here. I guess I could spin some more for another shawl? suggestions anyone? 

Here is the Irish Diam. Shawl. It's getting huge. I had to transfer to 40" long needle. But, I'm almost done with the first set of lace stitches! Yeah! 

Did some plying of my cotswold last night, this was about all I could do. Sitting up for long periods of time is still hard, yuck! I miss my wheel..... 

You Just Never Know
I was accepted to the knitting blog web ring today. I was thrilled. Until I found out that there is another pick up sticks! I was shocked. I thought I had dibbs. So, that goes to show you that you never know, do you? I did go and check out the site of course, and she is also a knitter. So, all of you out there can have it both ways huh? :) Well, I guess there are much worse things in life than having the same page name.

For those of you who couldn't figure out what the pics are of, its the Irish Diamond Shawl at about 1/2 way done! It's such an easy pattern, I'm glad I put down my other project to do it. Its really kind of fun, especially to knit black lace. Looks mysterious....

How about now? 

Can you guess what this is? 

Snowflake is taking a nap, isn't he cute? 

Baby decided to help me out a little to finish up the last row for the night. (Look at my poor Joy sittin over there all forlorn....) 

Close up, (sorry it's so dark, but it is black after all) :-) 

Here is a pic of the Irish Diamond Shawl. So far so good. It's much easier than I thought it would be. The pattern is a cinch to memorize. 

Up and Down
I'm up today! Yeah! I have been stiff and sore, (still stiff and sore), but better! I can't wait to be back full throttle. But, I decided to do this new project and now it's going great! I thought that this would be something fast and fun. So, I'll post progress. I'm waiting on Shetland wool from Schoolhouse Press to come. I ordered a purplish color to do the Peacock Shawl in. So, now just anxiously waiting for it to come.
Also ordered the Garden Shawl and Inky Dinky Spider shawl from Dorothy @ Fiddlesticks. I love her stuff! If any of you haven't knit a shawl from her, please do. She is one of the most prolific lace designers of our time, (in my opinion). Her patterns are so easy to follow. Even if you've never knit lace before, you would be able to do it blindfolded with her patterns.
Ok. enough, I know, I could go on and on, but after doing the Tina shawl, I mean, hey? What can I say?

Back to Work
My classes are going to be starting back up again next month already! The schedule is already packed. I've got people signed up and on waiting lists. What to do? So, some of the classes are going to have to be doubled, especially at the library. The next one is at:

Knitting In the Round
11:00A - 2:00P
Knitting Terminology and Finishing Techniques
574-784-3303
Mary of Lisa Shafer

Call them to register. I'm not for sure on the price though. But we'll have fun. I'm going to show some finishing of garments, some increase, decrease techs and spinning demos. And whatever else people want to see.

Centre Township Branch Library
Tuesday, September 20, 05 @ 6P - 8P
Intermediate Knitting
Call the branch to register. Space is limited.

Knit and spin on....

And here I started it last night. I'm doing it in black! What do you think about that? Wouldn't this be just fab in black? I'll post progress. 

Isn't it pretty? How could I resist this? 

This is my new project. I couldn't resist. I had to put down my other one. (designing my own shetland shawl) for now. 

Got started on another shawl while I'm laying back trying to recouperate from surgery. This is all the far I've gotten. I've decided to do a fir cone center panel. Haven't picked out the first border yet. Course that's hard to do when you're trying to not pull out stitches from your stomach! :) More to come later... 

ON THE MEND
Well, I had surgery yesterday morning. Everything went great. I'm glad that it's over. I was a nervous wreck. So, I'm just sending a little update, and letting everyone know that I'll be back on the knitting and spinning frenzy in just a couple of weeks. I can't wait!!! Thank you to everyone for their support and well wishes. I won't have any pics to post for a while, just going to get started on another shawl soon. Thinking I'll make up my own this time. I think I've got the general idea after doing the Tina Shawl. So, we'll see how it comes out. Spin and knit on...

Tina Shawl on the chair 

Katelyn Modeling the shawl 

The Adventures of "The Tina Shawl"
I have finally finished it! I am sooo happy! Been working steadily on this beautiful shawl since last Tuesday, with the express purpose to get it done and over with! Why? Because I couldn't help myself. I had to knit this shawl as soon as I saw it. I thought, what a wonder? Now, I can be satisfied and see for myself that it's so lovely. And I have a special event coming up, and I think that I shall take her with me.
Some points to remember: I used a size 4 needle to knit the entire shawl. My gauge is loose, so I usually have to stay a bit smaller. I can't imagine how big it would have been had I used a size 6.
This yarn is merino lace weight from Skacel. There is about 1400 yds. and I used only 1 hank! very reasonably priced also at only $13.95! So Tina wasn't very expensive to knit at all. Just very time consuming. But a good experience nonetheless. Liz M, signing off.

center panel 

Close up of the edging 

Fully blocked shot, you can barely see it, blends right in with the rug.