Still Loading...

My poor regular computer is having some trouble, so I'm using the irregular one. I'm not sure if I can get my camera to load up here. If you see pictures in this post, rejoice! It means I've succeeded, but at this moment the little spinny wheel is still going next to the words "Loading photos..."
I guess I can tell you about my progress, though. I've finished three helmet liners and started on a fourth!
And after much hard work and concentration, my Traveling Heroine shawl has been completed. It's beautiful and 10% cashmere, so you can imagine how it feels on my shoulders. It's the first standard sized triangular shawl I've made and it's so much nicer than a "shawlette." Update: I just realized I haven't said word one here about this project. Details:

1. Started it during Comic Con (late July) for line-standing, because the beginning is a plain triangle.
2. Yarn was a Christmas gift from Teens. I figure gift yarn should be used for personal projects. It's a variety of deep greens and yummy as can be.
3. The pattern is called Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante and can be found here. Mine looks kinda like the sample.
   
4. I had to restart it twice and used a lot of lifelines. (Used up a whole container of dental floss!)
5. Repeated chart A four times.
6. Learned (much too late--like the next-to-last row) that you're not supposed to slip the first stitch on a triangular shawl. Just knit it like normal. But I like it anyway.
   

In a Garden has even had some progress. The watering can and birds are completely done, backstitched and everything. The stepping stones and birdbath are stitched but not outlined. I'd have to say it's 90% done. That's a good feeling.
Oh! And Slayer Sox are unofficially done. Tiny doesn't know and I want to block 'em before I hand 'em off. Since she's back at school and taking all honors courses (Eep!), she's a little distracted. Mwah-ha-ha! I wonder what mischief I can get up to... I could sneak into her room and--uh, make the bed! Take out the trash! Open the windows and air it out!

Talent

No, I'm not bragging. I just wanted to show you what's possible.

Amazing, no? And now that you've seen the impossible, now it's time for helping me choose the beauty shot for this lovely shawl. Please tell me which shot is best. If your choice is "none of the above" please give me a better idea. This is Palm Tree Straight On and this is Palm Tree Angled and this is Door.
Whatcha think?

Coasters for Toasters

I have to preface this by saying that in Battlestar Galactica (yeah, I know, it's getting a bit thick with sci-fi references) the Cylons (robots) are referred to as "toasters". So this space battle fabrics kinda lends itself to the whole theme, if you know what I mean. But I'll give you a little photo tutorial to make up for the extreme geeky start.You'll need six 5" squares of fabric and one 5" square of batting. Fold and press four of the squares in half, right sides out. Make a sandwich by stacking one full square face down, batting, one full square face up.Layer the folded squares with raw edges lining up against the sides of the full squares. Do this with all four folded squares. Interlock them so you have four patches of fabric showing and pin. I pin like a madwoman because I can't be trusted. Follow your own star.Sew a quarter-inch seam around the edges. Trim the corners and flip inside out. I'd have a pic of that but it just looks like a big wad o' fabric. Lather, rinse, repeat until you have as many coasters as a toaster could want.

Evil Twin Fired

First off, my evil twin totally sucks. She said she'd take over the blog for a couple of weeks, but when I check in, nothing! She's really untrustworthy. Could be because she's evil.

So I guess I'll have to catch you up myself. I've been a busy little beaver! I've made even more--frankly surprising!--progress on In the Garden. Can you see the bird bath? I think it looks pretty great even without backstitching.I made another zipper pouch from fabric that CC passed on to me. (I love receiving fabric scraps! Even though it means my stash is overflowing.) This voluptuous floral just rocks my world.
And Operation Headcover continues. I've made two helmet liners so far and have another one on the needles. I have yarn enough for a total of five. (We'll see how that works out.)Tiny's Slayer Sox near the finish line. I'm loath to complete them, though. They are so good for bad times. We went to see a very good play, Song of Extinction, last night. It's about a heavy subject, so I needed knitting. I got about an inch of the foot done just sitting in the dark, trying not to cry. When I got 'em into the light, there was a whole new stripe of color!And then we come to Marine Comfort Quilt blocks. Well, Battlestar Galactica Fleet Power Battle group on Ravelry posted new missions this month. One was "Colonial Day": I was to make something patriotic. Some people are patriotic in the Battlestar Galactica universe or to a particular team or state. This is one of those charities that I occasionally help out in. I had three done and put away to ship off when I had more. So I dug 'em out and made ten more. I'll send 'em on Tuesday. Yay! I totally recommend this group if you're a quilter. If you have odd blocks sitting around, all you have to do is get 'em up to 12 1/2" square, sign 'em, and send 'em! When I have five, I send 'em. (Or thirteen, in this case.)