Japanese Feather & Fan Shawl

I finished my Japanese Feather and Fan Shawl, designed by Izzy.
Domo Arigato Izzy for a great pattern!!
I need to block it and it will be presented to the recipient.


Project Notes:
Started 7/11/08 Finished 7/27/08
Yarn: Regia Silk #002 soft white colorway I used 3 1/2 50g/200m balls
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony 4mm/US Size 6

The pattern charts only show the right side of the shawl, you knit the charts in reverse on the left side (changing K2TOGs to SSKs, etc.)
Chart 3: Row 75 there are 3 repeats. Row 89 there are 4 repeats. The charts don't show the new repeats.
Chart 4: Rows 109, 111, 113 there are SSKs missing before the Purl stitches.



I love the fit and drape of the shawl. I would like to make this pattern again.

Clearing the Decks

I am almost done with the Japanese Feather and Fan Shawl. I have 30 rows left on the fourth and final chart. I love this pattern. It did not come with instructions and the third chart is missing a repeat section. There are several Ravelers that made the shawl and they were able to clarify the confusing sections for me. Izzy got me started in the right direction and they kept me going. I want to finish this shawl before the UFOlympics begins. I would also like to put the border on my Adamas Shawl. That would be two lace projects completed - whohoo.

I just finished listening to two really good audiobooks, Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver and The Disappeared by Kristine Rusch. I still have two parts to listen to of The Eight by Katherine Neville, unfortunately the reader's style gets on my nerves after about 30 minutes. Especially when she is doing the main character. I probably should have just reread the paperback!

I have a new favorite tool - Pattern Tamers !!! They rock. The Etsy shop is out of stock right now but there are several online sources. Just Google it. I bought mine from the Loopy Ewe.

Mending and Knitting

My hand is healing well. The scarring is minimal. The carpal tunnel incision area is still sensitive. I cannot turn a door knob or a key, or use the blow dryer - but everything else is doable. The thumb where the tumor was removed is completely normal looking and I have not had any problems.

So . . . I am knitting my needles off!!! I have completed 16 repeats of the Adamas shawl. I could start the border and finish it off. But, I am using a cone of Zephyr Main Line 2/8 so I want to use as much of the yarn as possible. I think I can do at least 18, maybe even 20 repeats before I start the border.

While catching up on the Ravelry Forums I discovered a wonderful little shawl by Izzy, called the Japanese Feather and Fan Shawl.

I could not resist. I cast on when I got home Friday night and I am almost done with the second chart. It is a great pattern. I am making it for Pam. She has given me some wonderful hand made jewelry and I had promised her a trinket chair. But the turning of the arms of the trinket chair became too painful so I never made one for her. The Japanese Feather and Fan shawl is very pretty and I thought of her immediately, I think she will like it.



My Sister and I had another day out together. It was so nice. The weather was perfect, we found everything on our lists. We had Barnes and Noble's coupons and gift cards to spend - just a really lovely day. Our B&N Cafe Barista made the perfect Mocha for her and the perfect Caramel Machiatto for me. Then we went out to brunch and gossiped. We also celebrated, she just got a new job and will be working in San Francisco. This will be the first time we worked in the same city since we worked for Dun & Bradstreet in the 70's. I gave her my iPod mini for her commute. She has always worked where she could drive to work - but that's not convenient in the SF Financial District so she will be taking BART. The tunnel under the Bay Bridge alone calls for some kind of noise abatement. So I gave her my mini. I love "toys" and since I use my iPod Touch now the mini had been abandoned in a drawer.

I bought several Interweave Press Hurt Books and I cannot wait for them to come. I know it was only about three weeks, but it seems like I was cut off from knitting forever. Now I cannot get enough. I even pulled out my mystery sock bags that I need to complete for the 52 Pair Plunge. Oh my, when I look at my sock wip pictures on my sock blog I blush. I have not finished a pair of socks since MARCH. I might have to look at a pattern when I pick up the gusset on my next pair 8} I registered for the Sea Socks Cruise 2009 today. My Mom and I have been planning a trip to the East and never quite made it. Royal Carribean is our preferred cruise line, so when I saw the ship was RCCL Grandeur of the Seas and they had Superior Balcony Staterooms it was a done deal. We are sailing next June. Mom does not knit and she only wears her handknit socks for special occasions but she will enjoy the ship and the ports of call. And I, yes it's all about me - again - I will end up getting TWO goody bags.

I made my final decision for the UFOlympics. I am going to finish my Clay Felice Socks and my Feather and Fan Stole - both are of Knit Picks yarns. I still want to finish my vest and lots of my socks, but these projects have really been neglected.

I really need the shawl for the artic air conditioning at work and I am dying to see what the stripes are going to end up looking like on the Clay Felice socks. I have several more skeins of Felice in my stash.



Okay, my posts are getting fewer and longer. Note to Self: adjustment needed . . .

Catching Up

I have been listening to podcasts and reading Ravelry Forums. It is so nice to be getting all caught up on the knitting/crocheting world. I recently read a fun needlecraft mystery you may want to check out. If you want to read it let me know and I will mail my copy out to you [first come first served on that]. There is a cake recipe and a crochet pattern included at the end of the book.


UFOlympics August 8 -24, 2008








It is time to start thinking about my UFO for the UFOlympics 2008. I have lots of Unfinished Objects to choose from and I want to start another pair of Monkey Socks. I am a cheerer and clapper so I know I need to pick a project that will not suffer from being thrown aside occasionally. Socks are good, because a couple of rounds can be completed during commercial breaks. I have a vest and sweater project too that are mostly stockinette on larger needles. Either of them would be good for this challenge. I started them around the same time so they are both pretty old WIPs.

The Bookworm Vest probably has the best chance of being completed in 2 weeks time, it is knit all in one piece. I have to knit the pockets and shape the armholes and it is pretty much done. There are a ton of stitches per row but it is primarily stockinette.

The Kenobi Jacket has a variety of stitches. I still have to knit the sleeves and both front panels of the Kenobi Jacket. I may not be able to finish it in 2 weeks but I really do want to start wearing it this fall. Maybe I can get the sleeves out of the way, the unfinished part would be the just the two front panels.

On the Mend

June 9 - surgery went well. Recovery room staff lost my Mom, and I was the one on drugs, really!!!! Finally got home and got a cup of coffee. I felt really good. Then dinner time came and I could not hold a fork or spoon and dropped lots of things from my usually-out-of-work left hand. But at least I had the rest of the week off to look forward to.

June 10-15 - not so much fun. I could not read, books were too heavy and awkward with one hand. Could not play sudoku - my 3s and 5s look the same when written with my left hand, and the rest of the numbers never quite ended up in the center of the square. No knitting or crocheting. Day time TV makes my skin crawl and Netflix turnaround time was just not fast enough. It was the only time in my life that I managed to sleep more than the dog!!! Also, I forgot to mention the temperature was between 94 and 104 degrees every day. Highlight - I totally know how to take a shower with a sock (no, not a wool one) and a plastic bag rubberbanded to my right hand.

June 16-19 back to work. I went to Starbucks for coffee since I cannot tear open the little sugar packets with one hand. I had to eat lunch out because my frozen lunches made my tote bag too heavy and awkard getting in and out of vanpool one handed.

June 18 - my birthday was wonderful. I received the most amazing roses and my Mom made me Lobster Thermidor and a Chocolate cake. YUmmmy. I also received many wonderful greeting, e-cards and Ravelry birthday wishes. Fabulous. I am a glorious 49 and can't wait to hit 50 next year and join AARP.

June 20 - I couldn't make it through the whole week, and took off Friday.

June 23 - my post op appointment was kinda interesting. I think he took the sutures out too soon though. Anywho I was taken off work until June 30. I have tons of projects, and deadlines and it's month end - but hey, I only have one right hand. If it does not heal properly there won't be another month-end or anymore completed projects. So I took a deep breath and let the work worries and stress release. And since I was being charged vacation time for June 24 - June 30 I told my teams to stop e-mailing me questions and passing on horror stories.

June 25 - my Mom had a birthday. I did what decorating I could do. She would not let me cook anything but we had fun. Needless to say she got a gazillion birthday cards from far and near and phone calls all day long. But, oh dear, my Uncle George FORGOT his baby sister's birthday. She stayed up until 12:30. But he was her first call the next day, bless his heart. I told her to cut him some slack, he turned 75 in May. She's still only 73 and she forgets birthdays now too.

July 1 - back at work and blogging. I have overdone it a bit and I have a cramp in my hand. I can knit again, I worked a row on some socks with size 2 needles and I did not feel anything anywhere. I cannot write for more than a few words with a pen or pencil - hurts too much. I can type without any adverse affects, but mousing more than 5 or 10 minutes hurts. I will finish my day by catching up on some legal articles. Tomorrow is another day, and I am on the mend.