Last weekend I took a short trip to visit the folks down in North Carolina. It was 80° and sunny! My mother’s birthday just passed and I’d been missing her for some time so I think we both needed to have a little bonding time. We got right down to business and sewed up those napkins!! Looks like they are all finished! We’ve got 160 total so I’m ready to check it off my list. The tranquil calm this has provided is amazing. I guess that’s why people have said to me if you’re going to craft it–craft early.

Mom was so up for this sewing project, and she really took on the bulk of it. They flew off her machine before I knew it! She also made me a huge carrot cake, even though I was only going to be there for two days. She’s the best. We also hit up every major craft store in the Greensboro–Winston Salem area and bought out ribbon, fabric, and silk flowers. In the end, we made some wreaths, ultimately to decorate the barn for the big day. Here’s a sneak peak….

We also got some really cute fabric that will end up as jar toppers eventually. Hello pinking shears! My heart is torn between the John Deere and the chickens.

The return trip on Monday turned into a fiasco when a mechanical issue bumped me off the first flight, and then lightning and thunder in Pennsylvania canceled the second flight, but only after several hours of delay. I was not a happy camper. But after 7 hours of hanging out in uncomfortable chairs and reading a very funny book, I was sent home to La Guardia.  I did bring Big A’s sweater to work on, but you know how it’s not good to knit when you’re upset? Yeah, I couldn’t knit. Despite all the time, I just couldn’t go there. I did get a nice chunk down on the way there and I expect to have a full FO to show sometime in the next two weeks. Possibly.
What I did finish on the subway this week was a single sock ☺

I’ve had this little bad boy on the needles just to have a little subway knitting here and there. I’m using my brand new Lantern Moon Christmas needles from Marie, and I ADORE them. They are so wonderful to knit with because they bend without breaking as you work. The yarn is also Marie’s and it’s lovely! These socks are the Waving Lace socks from the book Favorite Socks. They are really simple and fun to knit. I guess that’s why they are the cover image….
Unfortunately the pattern for the Forest Canopy Stole didn’t arrive in time for my departure flight, so I didn’t get to cast on until this week. I’m whipping through the border to get to that lace! Will share a progress shot next week, seed stitch border isn’t much to write home about.

The wedding bells have been ringing around Chez Craptina, and the crafting has commenced! This has all but put Big A’s sweater on the sidelines, which he is none too happy about, but I can’t  feel too guilty about it. We might just have to walk down the aisle first.  Slowly, slowly, when a minute appears I hit a few rows, but other knitting and crafting have taken the spotlight.

Before I get into the craftavaganza, I’ll give you a few deets on the nups:

Geographical Location: Riverhead, Long Island
Place in said location: Hallockville Museum Farm
Place in said Farm: The Barn

Barn Stats:
30 acres of blank open country (check)
Electricity (check)
Running water (uncheck!)
Blank canvas to decorate (check)
Two cows on premises (check)

Basically, we’re bringing in the whole shebang. Bathrooms, kitchen trailer, tent (Hail Mary no rain!) chairs, water, you name it. Suddenly I’m a walking Rent-A-Center. This is a lot of work, of course, but I’m so game.  Thankfully I have a very supportive family and family-in-law to help. Everyone is psyched ☺

So here are the first of several crafting plans that have officially commenced to date:

Wedding Stole
After aggressive ravelry searches, (never knowing that ravelry could have aggressive searches) have finally decided on the Forest Path Stole. It’s going to be a new technique for me, since I have not yet tried entrelac, though have been dying to get my feet wet. I think it’ll be a good challenge. I think that it’s a touch too wide and will definitely be bringing the width in a few inches.

But however wedding-y this stole will be, I plan to make it in one of the wedding colors, dark olive green (the other is chocolate brown) A splash of color against all that white is going to be lovely.  After four yarn store expeditions, Karabella Lace Merino was the right fit. Thank you School Products!

Le Napkins
Did I mention that we’re having about 125 guests? My mother, sister, and I have been sewing up a storm of napkins.  To date, we have about 120ish completed. We’ll need extra for spoilage and I think that means we need about 160.

I decided that mine had to be fancier since I was invoking this crazy project. The Purl Bee had a great tutorial about making your own bias tape. It was a little rocky at first, but after the 15th napkin, I have this down to a science.

Intetionally, and perhaps insanely, the napkins are not all the same color. They are however in the same color family. I’m hoping this will have a fun and eclectic look on the tables. Besides, when the wedding is all over, I’ll be happy to have lots of different colors to keep, sew a quilt, or give away.

This weekend I’m off to visit the folks in North Carolina and get in some more napkins and hit the thrift shops with Mom. I see a trip to Joann Fabrics in the near future….

Done! The Estes Vest was finally completed about 10 days ago. I love it. It’s really big and really warm and I think this is a FO that I am going to be able to hang onto for a long time.  It did come out a little bit wider than I intended, but I think it’s ok. When I wear it outside, I’m going to want to be able to layer. There didn’t seem to be a need for buttons, at least not yet. The finishing took so long, I don’t even want to think about adding toggles. Besides, since it’s wide, i think I can put on some nifty snaps or something. Big A has been a big help with the brown detailing. Can you see it on the pocket edges? And check out the back!

You want some stats, right? Ok, here goes!

Pattern: Estes Vest, IK Fall 2008

Yarn: Husdon Valley Sheel and Wool Company, 8 skeins blue, 2 skeins brown

Time: 2.25 months

Mods: I added 3″ of length to the overall body. I felt that sample was a little tight for a bulky vest and I wanted something slightly larger. I think the sweater on the model was a tad small, so I also went up one size. I also made the collar slightly higher then specified. I added brown to highlight the i-cord edging on the bottom, back cables, sleeves and collar.

Here’s the question on everyone’s mind: How much yarn was leftover??

Two full hanks of blue, 3 small skeins of blue and half a skein of brown. I guess I’m making Jess a hat and some pot pie

And now onto the next looming project…..Big A’s neverendingraglan.

Looks nice and nearly finished, right? WRONG. If you look at the first photo, there’s a faint line of blue string across the chest. That’s the place where I ripped back to. The sweater is fitting him pretty good, except for the near-breaking tightness of the chest. I offered to block it harder, and promised it would stretch, but I know in my heart that it would probably be uncomfortable for him wearing a too tight sweater. So I ripped back just to the beginning of the raglan decreases, and plan to do less than specified, so he’ll breathe easier.

Oh and my new favorite mug from the last post? It died. Suicide. Just couldn’t take being used anymore and jumped off the cabinet. I was really bummed, but she’s in a better place.

Next in my knitting plans, is this owl. But after Big A’s sweater is done, he’s been shorted out of a sweater this winter!