Twisted Knitter: If you guessed I've been busy

If you guessed I've been busy, you'd be right.

But there has been knitting - including a couple of things for me. And one of my 2009 wishes was granted a couple of weeks ago. I learned to crochet. In no particular order, there are a few crochet projects that have inspired me to want to learn since I saw them for the first time: Kathy Merrick's Babette Blanket, Cecily Keim's Larger than Life Bag, a Soft Waves Ripple Blanket (like Alicia Paulson's) but with Cascade 220 (the colors in Yarn Bee's Ripple are my inspiration) and several more - including some smaller projects - in my Ravelry favorites. Big thanks to Ann for teaching me. I actually love crocheting! I was prepared to like it (it's so fast!) but loving it is a nice surprisel

And the project in the photo at the beginning of the post? It's my third Sursa Shawl (from Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton's Book Two), in colors (Noro Silk Garden 249) I rarely choose for myself. There's pink and blue in there - probably a first for me. It seems to work with the warm rust and yellow because Noro is brilliant. I wore it for the first time yesterday and purchased a gorgeous shawl pin that I can't wait to show you. The pin allows me to wear the shawl without fiddling with it while I teach (in this case, the beginning knitter's class yesterday).

There's more catching up to do and I'll probably spread it over a few entries. My mom is here in Texas to stay with us a while after having been in L.A. since after Thanksgiving. Los Angeles is a tough act to follow weather-wise, but thankfully, we've had some beautiful weather since she arrived last week.

Comments

you have been busy...beautiful shawl,just beautiful!

Posted by: Theresa | January 25, 2009 07:57 AM

Enjoy your Mom's visit. Noro has the most amazing colors. Totally addictive.

Posted by: Debbie | January 25, 2009 08:44 AM

That's just lovely! I'm a big fan of Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton. Not always a big fan of Noro, but that's a beautiful shawl. The colors don't look jumbled together at all, everything blends nicely and looks very classy.

Posted by: Batty | January 25, 2009 08:47 AM

It's gorgeous! The simple stitch really shows off the beautiful colours! I hope you share pics of the shawl pin when you get it too!

Posted by: Anna | January 25, 2009 10:10 AM

Gah! I still love that shawl pattern! And those colors look great on you!

And congrats on learning how to crochet! (I still have yet to learn.) Have you seen "Simple Crochet"? I want to make almost everything in that book!!!

Posted by: Vanessa | January 25, 2009 10:34 AM

I love your Sursa shawl...the colors are beautiful and look great on you.

Posted by: karen | January 25, 2009 04:40 PM

I love that shaw!!! Once my other projects are complete, I plan on stitching one in those exact same colors! It was gorgeous and the pin was perfect :-)

Posted by: Tracy | January 25, 2009 05:28 PM

Love your shawl, just yummy. How did you learn to crochet- I can knit fast and furious, and would love to learn to crochet, but I just can't seem to pick it up. Did you take a class, or use a book?

Posted by: Beth Leintz | January 25, 2009 07:20 PM

The colours of that shawl are just beautiful.

Well done on the crochet, I finally managed a ripple blanket recently and am itching to do some more hooking, it's so addictive once you get going.

Posted by: Rebecca | January 26, 2009 08:54 AM

Incredibly gorgeous colors. I know a little crochet, but I'm still on the fence.

Posted by: Cassy | January 26, 2009 10:24 AM

Love the shawl. I am enjoying Noro in a scarf right now. I had forgotten how much fun it is to knit.

Congratulations on learning to crochet. It is fun to be able to both knit and crochet.

Posted by: Sallie | January 26, 2009 11:33 AM

Ha! the one and only reason I want to learn how to crochet is so I can make a larger than life bag. I LOVE that bag.

Posted by: Raina | January 26, 2009 02:10 PM

Gorgeous shawl!

Posted by: Rachel | January 26, 2009 07:01 PM

Very beautiful! The colors are amazing.

I will need to learn to crochet as I have a sweater pattern (yarn was a Christmas gift) that requires crocheted edging. I had a "traumatic" crocheting experience in 4th grade, during which my teacher/friend (a 5th grader) commented on my crocheting problems that she thought I was smarter than my crocheting seemed to indicate. I guess at 45 I should be over that by now!

Posted by: Brenda | January 26, 2009 08:06 PM

Oh wowza your shawl is a stunner, Janet!!

Posted by: Heather | January 26, 2009 08:39 PM

Happy crocheting! It will help you cover more area with your favorite yarn quickly.

Posted by: O-chica | January 27, 2009 06:25 AM

Such beautiful colors. And ambitions for crochet! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Posted by: AJ | January 27, 2009 01:55 PM

I love your wrap, gorgeous colours.

Posted by: Lin | January 27, 2009 03:36 PM

Gorgeous! Love the colors.

Posted by: tiennie | January 27, 2009 10:25 PM

yay! Time with your mom is great.