Blueberry Fields Shrug - Finished!

I finished up my Blueberry Fields Shrug on Sunday and left it blocking while I went on travel, sure that it would be dry when I returned.  This one was a challenge with the colors (the blues didn't really play well together), so I ended up alternating the blues and greens, but I'm happy with how it turned out.  The colors are fun.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)

Blueberry Fields Shrug - One Side Done

I've been busy working on knitting projects that I can't post pictures of lately.  I finished up one last night, a test knit of a new kit for Earthfaire.  It is currently blocking, and it is lovely.  Fortunately I am going to be able to keep the sample, I just need to send Ellen pictures.  I have two more test knits to complete - one for The Unique Sheep Mini Modern MKAL, and one for The Unique Sheep Christmas Club.  The latter one is also a sample that I will have to send to Laura when I'm done.  But I did find some time to finish up the first side of my Blueberry Fields Shrug.  I figured I needed a little break before I dive back into the test knitting.  I'll go ahead and get the second side going and work on this some more today.  I have a book I'm reading, and may even finish today, and this is perfect knitting for reading - except for the increase and the decrease row.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)

Blueberry Fields Shrug - Three Stripes Done

I've been working on a pseudo-test knit - for yarn quantities for a kit - plus staying up with my Rapunzel Redux, which means I haven't had as much time for some of my other projects.  I did manage to work some on this one, mostly because this is my stupidly simple knitting project for when I'm tired or watching something that actually requires me to pay attention (like Endeavor).  I have finished up the third stripe and started the fourth.  I like the color arrangement much better now - the color balance feels right.

My husband and I have been watching the Leonard Bernstein programs that aired on TCM in honor of his 100th birthday.  They are marvelous shows, he was an amazing man, and I'm finally learning some music theory.  It makes me want to learn more.  I have been very lax in my piano practicing.  For a while I was doing well, but then I let other things get in the way, and once you start to break a discipline, it decays very quickly.  I have found that is true with a lot of activities - like exercise.  I try not to beat myself up too much when I skip an activity, after all, every day presents you with a new opportunity to practice the discipline or activity that you want to cultivate.  As long as you don't fall into the trap of Scarlet - because there won't always be tomorrow, that is why we should always try to make the most of today.  I just don't believe in guilt and self-recrimination, they just create a lot of negative energy, and if you put negative energy out into the universe, that is what you get back.  If you don't like something in your life, figure out a way to change it, or change your attitude towards it.  You know, the old Serenity Prayer.  I just wish there were more hours in the day or days in the week - there are just so many things that I want to learn and do.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)

Blueberry Fields Shrug - Two Stripes Done

I had actually finished up three stripes and was starting on the fourth when I decided that I really didn't like the color order of the stripes.  Initially I was going with the last two blues  in the photo below swapped, but then I decided that the most intense green and the most intense blue needed to be next to each other, so that got me through three stripes. 

But when I started the final blue stripe I really didn't like those two blues next to each other.  So, I swapped things around again.  Which meant ripping back to my very first stripe, and picking all those stitches back up again.  Fortunately the yarn tends to stay put, and I always pull that last row out one stitch at time, picking up that stitch in the process.  It is slow going, but generally keeps me from losing stitches.

And what I find so very cool is how the neighboring colors are impacting each other.  The blue that was looking so dull as the fourth stripe is really popping as the second.  I know, basics of color theory, right?  But I still love seeing it in action.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)

Blueberry Fields Shrug - One Stripe Done

I finished up my ECOLO Shrug this past Thursday while I was home getting the downstairs AC installed.  It had gone out on June 19, fortunately it didn't get too hot, but we definitely noticed the humidity creeping up.  It is so nice to have a fully functional system again.  After laying it out to block I picked up the next shrug in my queue and started on the first stripe.  This is a perfect project for knitting while reading, and I had a couple of fun books to read on my Kindle - Design for Dying and Dangerous to Know by Renee Patrick, the pen name of a married couple.  The books are mysteries set in the golden age of Hollywood and incorporate facts into the fiction.  I learned about them from Eddie Muller, the host of Noir Alley on TCM.  The writing is good, and so are the mysteries.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)

Blueberry Fields Shrug - Center Panel Done

I finished up the center panel of the Blueberry Fields shrug over a month ago, but forgot to post about it.

I have the yarn caked up and split into 2 so it is ready to be knit up as soon as I finish my ECOLO shrug.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)

Blueberry Fields Shrug - Cast On

Having finished up the center panel for my ECOLO shrug, I needed to get another one going to put in my work bag.  I pulled the next Paintbox set off my stack.

When I got in to work on Tuesday, my computer still hadn't changed state.  It was well and truly hung.  I checked the indicator lights and decided it wasn't accessing my hard drive and pushed the power button on the docking station.  Hard reboot.  It came back up and at first I thought it was going to boot up into Windows 7, but then it went back into the upgrade screen and I got to watch my computer go through the process.  It was done loading the operating system by lunch time, but then spent another 22 hours configuring.  By Wednesday mid-morning it was finally done and I was able to log back in.  Thankfully everything had been successful and I didn't lose any data.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)