The Final Stretch

Phew!  The school year is finally winding down and I have somehow found myself relatively unscathed.

I have one final exam to go, but so far everything has gone down surprisingly well.  My qualifying exam was especially surprising as I was still scrambling to learn my music the day before, let alone memorize it.  My eight hours of practice paid off and I performed better than I think I would have ever imagined.  Now, that's not to say that I didn't make mistakes, but if you had asked the previous day how I thought things would go, I probably would have just made a sarcastic comment and walked away.

Now for some knitting.  As I said in my last post, I have somehow been infected with the clap.  I have heard of some cases progressing at an alarming rate, but I seem to have contracted a very slow growing form.  In fact, at times it appears to be dormant, waiting to start up again with the slightest bit of agitation.  For the time being I am safe and well, but only time can tell...

Here is the damage so far...

I'm using South West Trading Company Bamboo yarn in colorway, um... the only one that's blue and stripey.  This yarn was another generous gift from my knitty sister clumsyknitter.  I have two balls of this yarn, so when it's done, it's done.  I think it will end up making a very nice little-sister-sized shawl.  This picture is nearing the end of my first ball, so just imagine the finished thing being twice as long and we're good to go.

Also, here are some long awaited pictures of my adorable nephew Xander in his wool sweater.  I had packed it up to ship off to him over a month ago, but didn't get around to it until last week.  Here I was worried that it was going to be much too small for him by the time I sent it, but it turns out that it is very spacious.  Maybe by the time he actually needs it (as in, this fall) it may be the perfect size.  I have heard that this yarn (KP Swish DK) shrinks a bit when it is washed, so that may help.  We'll see.

Enjoy!

Oh wait!  I just remembered why I titled this post as I did.  I have successfully finished and blocked my Hemlock Ring Blanket.  It has been much too weathery here lately to take any decent pictures, so you will have to wait, but I am so happy to have that thing off my needles.  I think I lost all interest in it months ago.  It looks good though.

Also, remember that shawl I posted about a while back?  Well, I only have 15 rows left until it's complete!  I could totally (and probably will) finish with it today.  I'm very excited because I have been itching to cast on for a new lace shawl using Malabrigo lace, but I told myself I couldn't until I finished this one.  I have been working on it (or not) for almost exactly a year now and my mom is getting very antsy.  Hopefully my blocking wires will be arriving early this week and I can get some pictures up very shortly.

Ok, bye!