I had started on the lace edging to my shawl this past weekend and was making good progress toward the finish line, but decided to rip back to add on at least one more repeat. I think I might be knitting it a little bit tighter than I should be and don’t want the shawl to end up on the skimpy side. Otherwise, it’s looking really pretty, if I don’t say so myself

Ripping back really stressed me out. At this point in the shawl, there are a lot of stitches to keep track of. To diffuse my tension, I cast on for another project! I’m knitting the Freida pullover from Debbie Bliss’ Alpaca Silk collection. I don’t yet have any photos of it, but it’s working up quickly. Since I stayed home yesterday with a sick child (she’s doing better today), I was able to knit half the back piece. I’ll post a photo when I start in on one of the parts with the cables. I’m looking forward to that!

I took this photo yesterday for Project Spectrum. I actually intended to knit something blue or grey for this project…but I can’t put down the (red) Leaf Lace shawl. I’m infatuated with it. Row 80 puts me at 30.4% completed, according to the Shawl Progress calculator. It looks a lot bigger than just 30.4% of its full size, but I accept that appearances are deceiving with these triangular shawls. I’ve still got to cast on an additional 100 stitches. And you know what? I’m looking forward to every one of those stitches. This is such a pleasurable project!

I still have March to work on knitting something for the color project though. I’m contemplating something easy/smallish, such as a felted tote or a nice scarf. It all depends on how fast it takes me to knit the remaining 69.6% of my leafy shawl

It’s hard to be in the mood for love when you’re coughing like a tuberculosis victim and gulping down Dayquil as if it were the elixr of life. At least that’s my excuse for the way I reacted when Robert exclaimed “oh shoot,” after I wished him a happy Valentine’s day and told him I wasn’t going into the office yet again. I have to confess to certain uncharitable thoughts of him forgetting the holiday. Luckily, I didn’t actually say anything. I just gave him a goodbye kiss and rolled over in bed to indulge in self-pity.

Then, the receptionist at work called and squealed something about a dozen beautiful red roses. I felt like a Grade A jerk.

My man’s a keeper

I got him a nice gift certificate to his favorite bicycle shop, Gregg’s Greenlake Cycle. He bought a new bike there this past December and has been riding it into the ground. His trip to and from work is about 24 miles a day. To say he’s in incredible shape would be an understatement. He, himself says he has the legs of a superhero (LOL!) and he’s lost quite a bit of weight since he started this. The one thing he’s unsatisfied with, though, is his tummy. He came to me the other day for some exercising advice. I took great delight in this, because there used to be a time when I was the last person anyone would think of consulting about getting in shape. I’ve made it a mission to learn all I can about Iyengar Yoga, Pilates and lifting weights. It’s paid off in spades. Not only am I stronger and trimmer than I was even four months ago, I DON’T HURT every waking moment. That’s something to be proud of.

Anyway, Robert asked me to help him develop an excercise program that would target his mid-section. He said, in complete seriousness, that he wanted something that was easy, infrequent and really effective. I laughed my head off and exclaimed, “that’s what everyone wants, but I’m afraid you can’t get something for nothing.” Poor Robert

So, today’s Valentine’s Day. As I mentioned, I’m not in the most festive frame of mind, but I did make a pair of earrings for the occasion. Aren’t they pretty? I made an identical pair earlier, but didn’t use the lever-back earring findings and one fell out. I learned my lesson with these long dangly types of earrings. You really need something to make them stay put in your ears

I guess this bit of knitting also fits in with this holiday, since it’s red and luscious, and I’m totally in love with it. I cast on for Evelyn Clark’s Leaf Lace Shawl on Sunday:

It has grown significantly since then:

(The poor houseplant that’s supporting it could definitely use some TLC.)

I’m using Elsbeth Lavold’s Silky Wool. It’s not something I would have imagined being good for lace, but I saw a sample knit up at So Much Yarn and was enchanted by it. The yarn has a rustic look (perfect for something leafy) and is wonderfully soft and drapey.

I’ve got to credit Becky, who assured me that I could knit lace and to just cast on for a shawl and start knitting, rather than hemming and hawing about it. This has to be one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever knit. I keep looking at it and marveling at how clever my fingers are to create such a thing. And that Evelyn Clark, she’s a genius! I want to knit all of her shawl patterns.