Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder

My home computer is giving me trouble otherwise I would be posting more. I've been knitting a lot but on several different projects. I am 3/4 up the back of the Cherry Bomb shell I'm making from Rowan DK Handknit Cotton and 1/4 up the back of the Norah Gaughan tank.

I've also started the Charlotte's Web shawl--unfortunately I can't get more than 2 rows at a time done--I swear I've ripped 40X more stitches than are currently on the needles! I'm doing mine in shades of blue Koigu. I had a fantasy of giving the shawl to my mother for Mother's Day--perhaps next year's celebration at the rate I'm going.

I've picked up materials for a navy blue tank--it's ruffled around the hem and the neckline. I was more excited by sample than I am by knitting it--it's using Venezia--a rayon-ish ribbon and it is not sliding smoothly off the Addis. I am using lace needles because they are pointier but of course they are not as slippery as the regular ones.

I also picked up some cotton silk for a tank top--I saw a design in an ad in the knitting magazines and have a modified pattern to try.

I also (I know, can you believe me?) picked up some Berrocco Comfort for a short sleeve raglan cardigan. It's knit top down and it is going fairly quickly. I messed up a row and had to take it back to the LYS for help because after all the frogging on Charlotte's Web, I was not going to the frog pond with this one. It's a plain beige but I think I'll get a lot of use out of it.

Finally, I had picked up some Baby Ull and my mother has knit a baby sweater for someone dear to me at work. He and his wife are expecting their first child in November and I'm planning all sorts of Aunt Judy knitted items like said sweater and a blanket. The Baby Ull items are white and will be well done because my mom is doing them. I am playing around with other ideas. I started a blanket patterned with hearts but I bought Zara which is handwashable or dry clean only so I've scrapped that (a cardigan for my sister's very generous mother-in-law, perhaps?) and am now playing around with the idea of a Log Cabin baby blanket using Rowan Wool Cotton--I have a bunch of random balls that I've picked up because I like the colors. I was going to use it for a variation on the wildly colorful baby blanket featured on Knitty.com but think the Log Cabin will be easier for me to keep track of and they both need to be lined so there's little difference to me (again, I hate the way the pick ups look in garter! I'm sure I've mentioned this).

Anyway, I had also bought Pure Merino in navy blue to match the red blanket so I'm going to have to think about what else can be made. I don't really go for patchwork colorwork.

And I'm patiently waiting for some Zarella (I think this is what it is called). The local LYS had an adorable baby blanket knit on the diagonal with alternating stripes of basic ombre and then novelty yarn in the same colorway. Must try this some day. The diagonal knitting will be good prep for the Sandy Cardigan from BGK.

Speaking of which, I joined the BGK Yahoo group. I'm unclear what our next KAL will be. Must investigate further. Not that I've ever finished a KAL project.