happy Sunday and a very safe Labour day for everyone in North America

It is Sunday here, and I am about to make coffee and relax for a little bit. This is the year that church starts at 11:30 instead of 9:30, so I have some extra time on Sunday morning. Of course, it makes the rest of my day - after church - shorter, but I can get through that.

Lace patterns can be very frustrating. There was one I did for a 6x6 that I ripped out over and over again. But, like a fool, I refused to let it conquer me. I would have been much better off forgetting about it, and finding soemthing else. Oddly, I can do lace in garments like baby clothes and sweaters with very little problem, but in squares - well, let's say that no one else will get a lace square from me!

Katherine

'Morning Els and everyone....Like yourself I didn't get to bed very early either....had to work, then flipping broke down on the way home, took the RAC three hours to get to me, cos so many holiday makers on their way back had broken down, so it was gone five this morning when I wearily trudged up the stairs to my lovely bed, and although I slept til ten, I still feel very wooden...lol

So a sandwich in a minute a drink, finish the last cupboard I'm cleaning out in the kitchen, then chill out and hopefully doze off for an hour or so...

Funny ole sunday this is...lol

cheers........Cher x

Hi Els,

I couldn't agree with with you more on lace, it's not for me either knit or crocheted. In fact the crocheted baby sweater is the first article of clothing I've done in years and it came out great.

It's a lovely fall day here in upstate NY, trees are beginning to turn, we don't need the fans on during the day and we have the windows open at night.

Cher, you didn't need that to happen, but at least you did get home and got some rest.

Hugs,

Nora

I am being a bit lazy today even though I have lots to do preparing to leave on a trip later this week (I will be gone much of September).

I did finish the sweater for DD and got it on its way to her. It will be there early for her birthday but I will be gone then. It is that Jo Sharp silkroad aran tweed pullover I have been working on for a while. I still have my NYCO done but not put together and a sweater for DH almost done. I did finish the socks for my SIL. I have lots of projects ready to start but will probably only take gloves for DH on the trip - he will be there to try them on and they don't take much room. This month I did make 4 "Just Your Basic Beanies" for AfghansforAfghans in childrens sizes- but that was about it.

By the way, kudos to our Canadian neighbors. I read today in the NYTimes about a little town down on the Delta SW of New Orleans where local authorities were really stretched when the Canadian Mounties showed up to help. They came from Vancouver BC to help and got there in time to give critical assistance. I have always heard tales about the RCMP but this was above and beyond.

Have a nice trip, Judy, and return safely.

Peace! Gemini

Eimear

That is SO awesome! Noreen

Katherine, what you gain on the apples you loose on the oranges....LOL It is so nice to have an early and long Sunday morning. Otto was gone this morning to pick up fire wood, and I spent a couple of hours on the phone helping my friend Mieke with a Sweedish lace draft in one of the Handwoven magazines. Great way to spent a Sunday morning.

You are right maybe it is trying to knit a small 6x6 that makes it so difficult. My head is like a sive or is it siff. I need to reread and reread to get it right. Lave knitting looks so nice when it is done though, so I will give it another try tonight, lets hope there is something light on the TV...LOL, nothing that demands a lot of concentration or attention.

Els

Hi Cher, I do hope you had a nice catch up sleep, and are all rested again. Bummer to have your car break down. Hope it gets fixed well so this won't happen again

Love

Els

Sounds like you have many projects on the go. lots of variations as well. Way to go.

Good that the Mounties made it down South to help. It is sucht a tragic situation, and oh so sad. Help is needed and fast, because the hurricane season is not over as yet. I was glad to see yesterday evening that help is on the way from all over the States. It must be oh so hard to loose everything and have no income no house and nothing left at all. I sure hope that everyone does get a chance to start over somewhere else with help from the government.

Eks

Lots of other Canadian military are on the way to the region now.

Darlene in Toronto

Els, you probably don't need to go anywhere for a lace knitting lesson. I'll just give you a no-charge mini-lesson right here. Lace (and cable) patterns require serious concentration when you start. So find a quiet place by yourself with no distractions. Next study the pattern and, if necessary, rewrite the parts of it to make it easier to read; for example, break sections into separate lines. Now start knitting slowly so you don't make mistakes. It's just not easy to tink lace knitting so better to not have to. After a few repeats, you will probably find you won't to concentrate so much. But you may have to do more than one 6x6 square before you get to that point. OK now, give it a go. You can do it!

Els

Yes , Eimear, I have heard of several groups going down there. I think the Salvation army has sent people as well, they are specially trained to deal with people that tramatized, and also they are all people who will work well in the field. I have also heard of third world nations that have come across with lots of money. I do think that the world at large does come across with help no matter who needs it, when disasters like this magnitude happen

Els

Els, I find using charts an invaluable aid in lace knitting. You have a "picture" of what the pattern should look like. The most important thing to remember is for every yo (increase) you must have a corresponding decrease. DA

Thank you for your convidence in me....LOL....I just ripped the whole thing out again, this time I lost 4 stitches. I also have problems with purling 4 stiches at the same time, keep on dropping stitches. I have not given up though. I will start over again, knit looser so it will be easier to pick up four stitches at the same time and will keep on counting, and counting and counting....LOL

Back to the knitting (Eimear, spinning is much easier, for sure....LOL)

Els

We had a meeting tonight, and are just getting home. THe amateur theatre season is starting again, so my free time is disappearing. Definitely no lacy 6x6 for me!

Kandace got your postcard, and immediately wanted me to knit her a real house.

Hugs, Katherine

Jan, I have done all that, and still fooled up a 6x6 lace pattern. I can knit lace, and have done it well, but in the little squares, it just doesn't work.

Katherine

Thank you. I leave Thursday and will be gone most of September. I may be able to check in here once in a while but probably only to read, not to post. I will post again on return.