No, that isn’t the project name, but I’m sure Sissy would like to think she’s ubiquitous… and she’s almost always a cooperative model. Granted, she was sight-hunting (no, I’m not at all sure she realizes she’s a SCENT hound) at the time, but nevertheless, she stood still for the photo shoot.
Project: Solidarity Knitting Why yes, I guess that is a crazy name, but I cast on for this project because several of us on Facebook rather pressured Kathy into knitting a “Kate Shawl” for the bride to be in her house. So, it seemed only fair that at least a couple of us cast on… as a show of solidarity.
Pattern: Well, since Kathy’s daughter made her request precious close to her bridal shower, Kathy got to choose the pattern. We went with Ubiquitous Kate. (Get it? Kate shawl knock-offs have been everywhere this summer.) It was fine for a free pattern, which is to say I had to email gMarie for clarification. If you’re on Ravelry, gMarie’s notes are spot-on, and I copied them into my own comments there as well.
To be clear, I used Chart A, which is to say I did the pattern on the knit side and then purled on my resting rows. I also did the full ruffle, not to be confused with the extreme ruffle. That just means I did the ruffle all the way around, as written.
Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss in Guava. I wanted pink… not necessarily PANK, not coral, not… guava. Still, I like the color, and the yarn was okay. It was a bit splitty at times and the silk in it definitely wasn’t the silky-smooth kind of silk, but considering what it cost me, I have no complaints. I also had almost no yarn left after six skeins.
Needles: I did the body on my Addi Clicks, #4 tips with the longest cable in the standard pack. I then used two Knitpicks Options #4s to pick up each side’s stitches for the ruffles. I don’t understand why my KPO wood tips had one side that just wouldn’t stay tightened. I like the KPO interchangeables just fine, but sometimes you get what you pay for; they do seem to have a quality control problem (and in full disclosure, Knitpicks is AWESOME about sending replacements, even out of warranty… which to me implies they know they have a problem but it’s cheaper to send parts than to FIX it).
Verdict: It wasn’t as painful as I feared it would be. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve done a 1300 yd. project, and I’m not sure I’ve ever done one that size in fingering yarn. I never once considered poking my eyes out instead of finishing the ruffle, so I never had to regret doing the full ruffle, but no, I don’t think I’ll knit this precise one again.
You’d best grab a cuppa’ (or if you’re in the already hot and humid Southeast, a tumbler with ice and…) and a snack, because this is going to take a while. There’s just too much here that I don’t want you to miss! This box was packed FULL of goodies, just for me, the Knight and the world’s two most rotten pooches. Good thing Holly treated the pups, because I must confess that I got carried away with opening my package, and I left them outside and their supper was more than 30 minutes late, because it took me that long to open everything! 
The pupster sticky buns. Don’t they look good enough to plate up and serve with tea? Tsk, tsk… No, I’m not going to let the Knight bite into one before I tell him they’re for the dogs. Besides, the dogs have already earned them by waiting patiently for their kibbles. (We’re going to ration them out though. One, per dog, per night. Mugsy’s watching his figure, and we’re trying to teach Sissy the concept of moderation.)
Then, there’s this incredible roving from 
Then, there’s the 
Holly had some help with several items in this package. 
Then, there was a pair of Anita’s special needle toppers. She’d also told me that she wasn’t doing these anymore, except for swap pals or personal gifts. I’d hoped that I might one day get a pair just the same, again, never sensing that the pair she just struggled through was indeed for me! I had difficulty photographing these beauties, but you get the idea. 
There was even a pair of tip protectors too, which conveniently enough match a lone stitch marker Anita sent me with the last order I placed. Ha! The joke’s on me, evidently. 
Anita was a busy bee, filling Holly’s special order for me. Aren’t these guys cute?! In case you’re wondering, there was a bee theme to this package. Holly had sent me the Lantern Moon bee tape measure in a Valentine package too. I don’t remember when I shared with Holly that I like bumblebees. It’s kind of weird to like a creature that my father was deathly allergic to, and Mugsy has his own allergies, which thankfully, he hasn’t tested in many years. However, there’s story about the bees that inspires me. I heard it not long after coming to grips with my own, new and permanent physical limitations, about ten years ago. Evidently, 
We had an overnight guest at our house last night. This 
So, here’s a shot of Sissy’s damage to the one Bryspun. The one on the top/left is unharmed, and I used it for the knit/lace row, while using a wooden #6 for the purl rows. That got me through the weekend, and yesterday, I was able to pick up some bamboo needles. They’re working fine. 
Then, fortuitously, my spinning bag arrived from 
Friday night (seems like a lifetime ago!), I ditched my scrappin’ group to play with my new sock software. It’s great! There are similar, free versions online, but with this one, you can also plug in the actual pattern too, so that will be nice. Of course, I had to get some yarn too, and I loved the Felici in MJ’s Jays, so Coney Island (left) and Martinique (right) had to make the trip with the CD.
Two socks, cast on and off at the same time, on the same needle. Wee! 
I had another package yesterday. While chatting about Magic Loop and socks, 
Rosanne
I carried my socks and Clappy (got to see a finished Clapotis up close and in person – yay!), but poor Clappy stayed in my tote. The good news is my socks will be done before bedtime tonight, ready to be gifted on Monday. Phew! For once, I’m ahead of my deadline with room to spare. I’ll talk more about this whole two at once via Magic Loop when it is a FO, however I did do each heel separately, and then had trouble getting everything synchronized again, but I figured it out! A couple more inches, another inch of ribbing, and I’ll bind off.
I couldn’t resist “Drama Queen” by the afternoon speaker, Colleen Davis, mother of the president of our guild. By the time we learned of the session, it was full, but luckily, she shared several pieces during “show and tell” at the end of the meeting. Maybe this will inspire me to actually knit a sweater… 
(Please note that while the Princess cared not to pose pretty for the camera during her own shoot, she couldn’t let the Prince have a moment alone.) Neither dog minds wearing bandannas at all, and while Mugsy only has to wear them to humor me on holidays, Sissy is going to wear a bandanna regularly to help with that very wet basset mouth she’s developing. Sigh…
Chan Knits 