Sharfik specs

Pattern: Sharfik

Source: Grumperina's website

Yarn: Plymouth Baby Alpaca DK

Needles: US7

Work remaining: 66-75% more to go.... >:

Mods: I added 6 rows of garter stitch edging at beginning and end of pattern, as I am not a big fan of fringe. Original pattern called for worsted weight yarn, but I used DK weight with the same size needles. Her pattern finishes at width of 6", but mine is shaping up to be 6.5"! Hmmmm, what does that say about my gauge!!?

It took one ball of yarn to make 16 inches in length. So I figure 2-3 more balls of yarn to make 48-64" long--don't know what's a good length for a scarf, but will make that decision as I get there.

This is a fun knit and I'm enjoying it, each pattern repeat pulls me forward to the next, and I'm revelling in the fact that I'm making this beautiful item!!!

However....I fell. Hard. Off the bandwagon. I bought all this yarn just 3 days after posting goals on the stashalong (where you promise not to purchase more yarn until you meet your goals!) Sheesh.

I console myself with the thought that I did buy all this yarn to make gifts for my whole family for Christmas, as I'm having so much fun with Sharfik. I have 4 brothers to make for, a husband and one son, one daughter, 3 SILs and a MIL and FIL, plus my madre and 94 YO grampa. Sharfik is for my dad....

Anyway, when I saw all this yarn marked down 1/3 at my LYS, I didn't even think twice! I think I flunked out of the Stashalong :|

Really wanting to make this cute cabled bag in my new book:

And this shrug was another reason I purchased it.

That's the most perfect combo of shrug and sweater I've seen, very practical for work! Another WIST for me!

Cables, in love with cables....

Here are instructions for an intricate Kelt cable inspired by an old manuscript. Add this to my swatch list for cables.....

Loving the cables. Grumperina gives a nice tutorial on cabling without a cable needle.

Here is a really cute sock pattern with tulip cables....if you can read German. There's a chart though which should simplify things. ***ETA--the pattern and chart for this is now a free Ravelry download in English*** She has some beautiful patterns....interesting cable-y entrelac socks

Here's another cable pattern from girlfromauntie: the double knot cable. Looks really nice.

These X's are interesting too. There are a huge assortment of charts for different cables on her site. Wow, you don't even need your own stitch dictionary!!!!

I would love to swatch the cables as a project. Just to do all of them, wow that would be so cool! Unfortunately I have a job, and other knitting goals to interfere with this idea. Oh well, maybe when I'm semi-retired....(yeh.)

Resources list.....

More resources I found: (the list goes on and on....!)

1. The Great American Aran Afghan



2. Yarns to Dye For



3. McCall's Big Book of Dolls and Toys to Knit and Crochet



4. No Need to Knead: Handmade Italian Breads in 9o Minutes



5. Lace Style


6. Fancy Hawaiian Lei



7. 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns



8. Viking Patterns for Knitting



9. Dazzling Knits



10. Oh, I know there are more.....hmmmm. :)

These are all things I am dreaming about purchasing...But since I am such a bibliophile, and I have so many books already, I'm holding off! But I might go for the bread book....

Here's a neat yo-yo blanket I "made": A couple years ago, I found this as a fabric by-the-yard at Hobby Lobby! I bought a yard and a half, and trimmed the cut edges to be an instant yo-yo throw. (Do you know how many hours it would take to make one of these yourself?!)

I had made a smaller project of yo-yo's when my kids were little; while I would wait at the school to pick them up, I would sew yo-yo's by hand, and eventually had enough to make this mat:
And this one:

The yo-yo's to make these took so much time, you would not believe! I then used my sewing machine bar-tack to sew the yo-yo's together quickly :p

One of the first things newlywed Aim made 24 years ago (!) was this placemat:
It matched curtains I had made for the kitchen of our mobile home. I was so proud of my first make for my new home, I even got labels to sew on:
Look at the mess of stitches on the back! LOL

Here is an afghan I crocheted about 17-20 years ago, when I was really into mauve. I still think it's cute, but why would you make an afghan full of holes--is that going to keep you warm?!!!

As far as knitting goes, I will post another pic of Sharfik when I'm not going to bore you with incremental progress! Maybe when it's half done.

Puppy update: Jellybean is home, we take her for an MRI of her brain tomorrow, she is mostly okay, but still slightly weak and off-balance due to her back right leg weakness. :)

Recipe for the week is this simple no-cook item, because it is 90 degrees and muggy as all get-out around here:

Sweet Sun Tea

This is very simple. You need 9 teabags, 1 gallon of water, a close-able container to sit outside, and 2/3 cup of sugar(or equivalent amount of sweetener--I use 16 pkts of Sweet & Low, or 18 pkts of Splenda.)

1. Unwrap teabags--you can use all decaf, half decalf-half regular, or all regular. Any kind of tea works, I've even used herbal teas.


2. Fill gallon container with fresh cold water.


3. Put the teabags in, close the lid, and place in the sun for variable number of hours (1-8).


4. When ready, remove teabags, stir in 2/3 cup of sugar, and refrigerate.


5. Serve over ice, with lemon. Keeps for a "couple of 5 days" in the fridge :)

start after 1 hour
after 4 hours.

I sometimes take this jug to work with me and keep it in the fridge there, with a baggie of lemon wedges. I can chug this stuff in the summertime. And no cooking involved! Another great recipe given to me years ago by Sherry.

Puppy troubles....

Knitting night was great! Except when I got home around 10 pm.....and saw my older puppy laying on the floor in puddles of saliva, unable to get up. She was wagging, and looking at me, and trying to get up, but she couldn't. We took her to the emergency vet, and it looks like she had a seizure. They don't know yet if it's b/c of a tumor, or a stroke, but it is something in her brain because she is still paralyzed on her right side. We have to take her to a different facility for brain imaging.

I think she's between 8 and 10 years old, I can't even remember when we got her. She has had both knees operated on in her youth, and has really bad arthritis, but she's still such a sweetie pie. This is hard to deal with.

Life at 45 YO is not what I imagined it would be--is this when everybody else starts having so much to deal with? Am I just spoiled that I've had minimal tragedies sprinkled throughout my life, and am getting whalloped with all of them this year? Everyone around me is getting ill it seems. (I'm sure at least part of it is hormones changing my outlook!)

Well, I did double the length of my Sharfik scarf--I'll post a pic later :|

Update: Jellybean may come home later today. She recovered 98% of her function overnight, so is doing rather well. She is on anti-seizure medication now.

Here's an updated pic of my Sharfik:


Modeled by my friend, who wedges himself onto the sofa between blanket and my knitting bag!

Knitting Night

Yay, tonight is knitting group at my LYS. Very pleased to be able to attend for the first time in about 6-8 weeks! (Get this: they haven't seen my ripple blanket--that's how long it's been!!! Won't they be surprised;O)



Work was tough yesterday. I was just mentally exhausted when I got home. Went for a walk with puppers and then went to bed about 6:30. Thought I would just lie down for a short nap, and puppers woke me up at 2:30 AM to go outside! That was some 8 hour nap! Now I've been up since then, doing bills >:| Oh well, at least that's done for now! I could still catch 2 hours sleep before going to work this morning...I'm sure messed up now!

Tried to sit down and knit last night on the Sharfik, because I was so excited to have gotten so far on it the first day. But was really too tired....Gosh, I didn't even have dinner!

I may stay at work for lunch today to knit--not sure. It has been very beautiful out, and I have made some killer salads for lunch when I go home :)

Back tomorrow with hopefully some knitting photos! Happy Friday!