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The first person to leave a comment on that post was Jenny Raymond, so, Jenny, you win a free copy of the pattern!  I’ll send it to you via Ravelry.  Enjoy, and thanks to everyone who tweeted/blogged/ etc about the pattern!!

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I’ve released my first pattern! I’m very happy to start seeing my things made from my designs in the wild. In an effort to encourage that, I’m having a CONTEST!

But first, a bit more about the pattern. Lemniscates cowl comes in 2 sizes, a snug fit and a loose fit that looks great with a shawl pin. It features a tubular cast on and bind off, plus tips to make these techniques easier. It pattern is written for 2 different yarns, MadelineTosh DK and Malabrigo Silky. The lace pattern in the cowl looks like a sideways infinity symbol, which is how it earned the name Lemniscates.

Are you interested in winning a copy of the pattern?? Here’s what you need to do: Put a link to either this blog post or the ravelry entry for the pattern (found here) on either your blog, twitter, or facebook.  Then, leave a comment here linking me to where you posted the pattern (if it’s twitter, just say that- I know not everyone knows how to link to a specific tweet, just be sure to tell me your twitter name).    Next Thursday (a week from today) I will randomly select a winner using a random number generator. If your comment is selected, I’ll send you a *free* copy of the pattern via ravelry (or email if you do not have a ravelry account, though if you don’t, you really should. It’s free and purely awesome). Be sure you leave some way for me to contact you in your comment- either a ravelry name, twitter name, your email- just make sure I can find you! Good luck everyone!

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I’ve started knitting a hat from a pattern I am working on in it. It’s for the 4 oz. challenge that HY, SE, and SC fibers are putting up on ravelry. This one will just be my prototype since it’s from Funky Carolina, and not one of the sponsoring dyers. When I finished it, I knew it had to be a hat- how could I resist that awesome green next to my hair??

Speaking of hats… I recently did a test knit for Duncks, Hallenore. I really like it. It features two lace leaves and can be modified to be extra slouchy, if you wish. It even has a matching scarf! Check it out, you can find the pattern here.

I’ve got several designs in the works right now. I’m hoping my very first cowl design will be released by the end of the month. It’s currently with my awesome test knitters, and they all seem to like it! I might post a sneak preview pic here sometime in the next week or so… keep an eye out!

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To The Virgins, to Make Much of Time

Robert Herrick

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying :
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he’s a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer ;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may go marry :
For having lost but once your prime
You may for ever tarry.

And that, my friends, is what I have been doing.  The past month has been filled with amazing experiences for me.   In non knitting world news, Jared came home for a visit.   It was a tough visit, for a lot of reasons, but a good one in the end.   I am again reminded just how lucky I am to be truly loved but such an amazing man.   I ate my first “real” sushi while he was home- it was absolutely delicious- I’m not sure I can go back to the stuff I can get at the market now!  We spent a few days at the lake, watched some fireworks, roamed the bookstore, watched a lot of movies, and played with the dogs.   He approved of Chunk (yay!), and I’m fairly sure the feeling was mutual.    Jared even got me gorgeous lilies that are still blooming (and he left on the 9th!!).

In yarn related news, I’ve got some spinning to share!  The first is some BFL / silk that was dyed for me by Carrie of Funky Carolina.  It’s one of my Pure Inspiration club fibers.  I am completely in love with it!

The second isn’t done yet, but you can see the first half of it.   The fiber is merino / bamboo / silk.  It was dyed by PRS- her colors are just so incredibly gorgeous and full of depth.

I also finished some crochet- it’s a handspun version of the Queen Anne’s Lace scarf.  Please excuse the crappy photo, I’ve not blocked it yet, so it hasn’t had a real photo taken yet.

The biggest news of all is that I am now working for Buffalo Gold Premium Fibers.  A lot of what I am doing is behind the scenes, but it’s a ton of fun and I can honestly say that I love my job.  Part of what I am doing is leading knit alongs on raverly.  Please stop by the group and consider knitting along!  The first pattern is a design of a friend of mine, and it’s absolutely awesome in every way.  Details are all in the ravelry group, and will be on the BG site soon, as well.

Things seem to be moving in a positive direction around here.  So, friends, what have you been up to?

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Shawls by mcatherineblack

I finally finished my Forest Canopy Shawl!  It really didn’t take all that long if you don’t count the time that I wasn’t working on it.      I’m super proud of it- it’s so soft and cozy.    I also started (and finished!) daybreak (in 48 hours!  That has to be a record for me).    I’m totally in love with it, too.    It’s not very big- I wish I had knit the medium size, but then again this size doesn’t overwhelm my frame, which is nice.

I have a few more FOs and handspuns to show you guys, I just need to get good images of them.    Also, this post is serving a secondary purpose… we are playing with the flickr widget on the blog so I don’t want to take the time to post a while bunch of photos then have to do it again, and again…

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Chunk got here last Friday.  He flew in from Washington, where he was bred by a friend of mine, Chris.  I’ve been watching videos and staring at pictures of him literally since the day he was born.   I’m really lucky that Chris was so sweet about flying him to me- she had to keep him longer and deal with the airlines which I know was a hassle (the airline, not the puppy).  Even though he’s been here less than a week I’m already irrevocably in love with the little guy.  There’s a ton of pictures on flickr but here’s a few:

Chris- thank you again for taking such wonderful care of him and for letting him be my boy.   He seems so happy here and I am certainly thrilled to have him.  :D

I’ve not done much knitting / spinning / sewing since he got here, but it’s on the docket tomorrow, so hopefully the little guy will let me get some blog-able things done and I will have more crafty stuff to share with you guys.

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The second yarn was an experiment in core spinning. I’d never done it before, so it’s not terribly even, but I was predictable enough with the fluffier bits that it looks purposeful.  I really love core spinning-  I certainly think it’s a technique that I can improve on, but it’s fun!   This was a funky carolina batt- merino, sw merino, and bamboo.   I got 275 yards from 3 0z.  I’m not really sure what weight to call this- I guess I would knit it up at about a worsted gauge, but since it’s thick / thin it really could be knit at a lot of gauges.

As you can see, that bobbin is extremely full!  As I got close to the end of the batt, I had to wind on by hand b/c it was so full.  I just didn’t want to end up with two skeins since I knew one would be tiny if I changed bobbins at that point…

These may or may not go in the shop.  Haven’t made up my mind yet..  They are currently soaking to set the twist, I guess I will decide after they are dry again.  :)

Boo had his surgery yesterday- it went really well, and other than being incredibly loopy last night, he seems ok.   We will get the pathology reports back in about a week and will know more about the tumors then. Cross your fingers they were benign!

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