I'm knitting ...

I finished gran's BFF (Ms. Shirley's) shawl before Thanksgiving, but didn't block Rose Garden ...

not bad.  And I made a few scarves for the holiday, a few necklaces ... check it out at  http://cemesdesigns.blogspot.com/.

Happy knitting!

To start anew or finish up ...

I have a few unfinished projects on the needles; ok, more than a few, but I don't love them anymore.  I saw this something wicked by Karen Miller and OMG, OMG, OMG ...

Can't I start it ...

Teaching at Loop

My favorite knit shop is Loop at 19th & South in Philly.  I love the people, the yarn, and the shop itself.  Craig's the owner and my neighbor and his shop is so bright and friendly.  The ladies make you feel welcome.  Come on in, can I help you, sit, knit, chat. 

Recently Craig put a call out for knitters/crocheters to teach.  I jumped on it.  I love lace and want to share with everyone.  I also love knitting cowls, entrelac and fair isle.  Craig asked for samples, so I went home and started working on an entrelac cowl.  I took two skeins of Noro Silk Garden (a dream to work with) a pair of size US 8 needles and a pot of tea - sat down with Craig's own Herringbone Neckwarmer pattern and Laura Spaldin's Entrelac Scarf pattern and set about to create the Buttoned Down Entrelac Cowl.  I took the cowl to Loop buttonless because I tend to stick to earthy, comfortable tones and I love wood buttons on cream, and since I didn't want to part with my favorite buttons (and Craig might've wanted something more colorful) I kept my buttons for me, but here's what I cam up with:

11 button holes if you love buttons like I do, but you can use as many buttons as you want.

This cowl may be placed on the Fall schedule, check with Loop.  For a copy of pattern contact Loop directly.  Maybe I'll see you in class.

Happy Knitting!

Ceme

Ida's Gail ...

Its been ages since I've blogged, but I was knitting the entire time, I swear.  As a matter of fact, I finished maybe 10 projects since Dawn, and the one that's worth blogging about ... Ida's birthday shawl ...

Gran won't let me take a picture of her (she hates pictures), but she almost teared up when she saw her birthday shawl and the best thing of it all - I was able to surprise her!  Yup, I got together her best girlfriends (Ms. Ellen - who happened to bring her own tea bags oh mi - they went to elementry school together; Ms. Shirley (they travel the globe together); Ms. Irene (they're churchmates and go back decades); Ms. Mamie (they share grandchildren); Ms. Gertrude; my bff Mary; and my brother - who chauffeured them in his great big ole Lincoln Towncar), a table at the Rittenhouse Hotel (her favorite tea spot), and a Tiffany's birthday cake for Gran's birthday tea.  After everyone arrived and because I can't stand to see a box unopened, I sprung this soft lacy shawl on her - and when she saw it she said "its beige my favorite color" - I knew I had got her. 

Gail wasn't an easy pattern to knit up, Raveler's can read all about it on my Ravelry page Ceme. 

Happy Knitting!!!