Picking up where I left off..

If I just start chatting about the latest finished project and the weather will you not notice that I have been gone for a very long time? I haven't meant to be. All is well here. My best excuse is that I started a new job a few months ago and for a time it was all consuming. Since the knitting wasn't progressing, I couldn't motivate myself to blog.

When I finally realized my niece's wedding day was fast approaching, I got serious about her gift, which had been languishing on my needles. I nearly made it, too, but five days before I was to leave for her wedding, I used up my last bit of yarn (including the test swatch yarn which I unraveled and used in the vain hope that it might suffice) and still had 18" of edging to complete.

I immediately ordered another skein and it actually arrived the day before I was to leave. I finished up the knitting but left the blocking until my return last Sunday. And now, at last, without further ado ..

Giralsole for Jeanne and Lou

Pattern: Girasole by Jared Flood

Yarn: Cascade Pastaza in Doeskin Heather (14 skeins plus a little bit of a 15th)

Needles: US Size 10 Knit Picks options (and dpns)

Finished size: Nearly 7 feet in diameter!

Modifications/Notes: My only mod was to go down a needle size; I did use the suggested yarn but I'm a loose knitter. (As evidenced by how huge this is, even with a smaller needle!) Fantastic pattern; Jared is brilliant!! I was tickled to learn the nifty circular cast-on.

Glorious weather this week. I played hooky yesterday and we went to the beach!