Low Tide Cardigan...

Love the pointy ends here, they flow in the breeze...

I'm in love!!!

I loved this pattern (by Tin Can Knits) from the first time I layed my eyes on it and oh boy, it did not disappoint!

The yarn I used was Madeline Tosh Merino Light in the 'El Greco' colorway. (100% merino wool)

My gauge was 24 stitches x 34 rows in 4 x 4 inches, using a size US 5 needle. (for those of you who would like to know these kind of details...)

It still does need some small buttons for the top lace part, but I haven't decided on those yet...

I liked it when it came off the needles yesterday, but I Loved it after I washed and blocked to a better fitting size. It is so soft and 'flowy', just perfect! {smile}

Back detail and short row sleeve caps...

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Of course there is already a new project in the works. I haven't  started the actual knitting yet, but that will happen in the next hour or so. May I present to you the Estuary Shawl, also designed by Tin Can Knits. (another pattern that I immediately fell in love with...)

This pattern is completely made up out of quite a few Lace charts and so rather daunting! I'm using the same Madeline Tosh Merino wool again, only this time in the same teal colorway as the original pattern...

I'm not planning on finishing this anytime soon, this will be a slow-knitting project. Perfect for the extreme heat temperatures that we will be experiencing for the next two weeks! (high 90's, close to 38 Celsius for the foreseeable future: waaaaaay too hot for our liking!)

Trying To Catch Up...

Click! to enlarge...

So in the past several weeks we had both my mom, and then my dad staying with us. (they are divorced) When my mom was here the weather was very overcast, but we managed to get a walk in to the Snoqualmie River through the Tolt McDonald park, always a favorite. We also visited the Tolt Yarn & Wool shop of course and Pacific Fabrics, where I bought some lovely grey Chambray to sew with... My mom embraced the graduation cap and insisted on a picture with the graduate! <wink>

One of Miss M.'s graduation presents was this awesome orange hammock to take with her to college: it is soooo comfy! In the week my dad was here the weather turned very warm and we had to take early morning walks. The rest of the day we would spend in the shadow on our patio, each with an e-book en something cool to drink. We also attended a pig-roast at our boss's house, where Mr. G. was in charge of several micro-brews (= beers) from the region. A very fun evening indeed!  {smile}

Click! to enlarge...

We sort of invited ourselves to our friends' house on Lake Washington when things were getting very hot. A lovely boat ride and a pick-nick style lunch happened after. We walked along the Snoqualmie River, but at a new spot for me, Chinook Bend. Beautiful views of the Cascades and Mount Rainier. (three middle pictures above)

And then last week, when everybody had left, Miss M. and myself decided to hike up to Rattlesnake Ledge near North Bend. She had done the climb several times, but it was a first for me. I truly do not enjoy inclines, but now that I am in better shape, I really wanted to try it. The climb itself took an hour and I was soaked by the time we reached the Ledge, but boy, was it worth it!!! (middle picture, bottom row) I was totally exhausted after we came home however and had a long nap that very afternoon...

In the last picture you see Master C. posing in front of Mount Rainier in his grandparents' backyard in Tacoma. We were there to celebrate both Father's Day and Mr. G.'s birthday. Again stunning views...

Click! to enlarge...

So, I think we're all caught up now???  <wink> I have two more rows to go on my last short row sleeve of my Low Tide Cardigan (by Tin Can Knits) and then it is blocking time, plus time to start a new project, always fun!

And Exhale....

So this is what happened a couple of weeks ago...  {smile}

This last month we've been busy driving (early in the morning), entertaining first my mother and then my father from The Netherlands, Senior Project presentations, pre-graduation parties, post-graduation parties and very warm weather. Today is my first day with nothing on the schedule: bliss!

I'll be back when I've recovered from it all... ('twas all good, believe me!)

The Family!

Shaking hands with her dad,
who also happens to be the Head of our High School....

Class of 2015!!!