Here we are, off and sailing under the Dames Point Bridge.  That’s a lifeboat in the upper right corner.

Proof of life aboard ship!  God bless the inventor of SPF 70 in a spray can.

Knitwits in Key West.  Great shop…wish we could have stayed longer.  I scored some orange yarn (and you have no idea how strange it is to say that – and how fun!).

Here was my yarn inspiration.

Our parking spot at Key West was alongside this beautiful 180′ sailboat.  It was telling of how small a community Key West is that about three people said “did you see it?” to our tour guide, Sheila, as our train passed.

But our boat was still bigger!

Where we just were.  Isn’t that water pretty?  The tour was great – I wish I could remember all the names of the flowers.  Key West was hot in the sun, but mostly windy and comfortable.

The second magic towel animal – we got a different one each night - and my favorite.

Sailing towards Nassau.

Nassau Harbor.

Sooooo pretty.

Quick, there’s only one spot left!  (All the Carnival ships were diverted per Carnival from Mexico that week so the habor was packed.)

From our spot in Nassau harbor.  Ahead in the distance you can just see Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.  Note the blue/white yacht to the left – more on that later.

I really liked Nassau.  Yes, we got asked for hair braiding.  No, I didn’t do it.  Too much to see to sit!  The straw market was a lot of fun.  The women were very friendly – directed us to conch fritters! - and we got a few souveniers.  I didn’t get any photos of the market, though.  It’s not very large, is narrow and *tall*.  Each booth stretched up about 10 feet.  The buildings are in pastels and the voices are equally lively.  I’d definitely visit Nassau again.

Here is the back side of Atlantis.  Talking to some people on the ship the next day, evidently this is a resort that is worth the cost.  I just want to go down the water slide that goes under the shark tank!

Notice the driving on the left.

You do need a daypass to go through most parts of Atlantis.  But we got close enough to brush by all these gorgeous boats.

One of my better flower shots.  The flowers on both Key West and Nassau were beautiful.

Yes, that is indeed a Mini Cooper on the back.  No, I have no idea how they’d get it off.  I concluded that if you can afford a boat that size, and the accessorizing car to go with it… getting the car off isn’t really an issue!

Nicolas Cage’s house.  Okay, you can’t see very much, but I was still impressed.

The Fascination.

And here is that 370′ megayacht again.  Just under the satellite domes on top you can see a speedboat.  That’s a full size speedboat.  Just behind it is the unsinkable “lifeboat” – but it looked more like a miniature tugboat.  Towards the back is a 67-foot yacht.  Yes, a yacht on a yacht.  And if that’s not enough for you… you can see the mast of the 76-foot sailboat that sits alongside the yacht-on-a-yacht.  You can’t see it in this photo, but there’s also a helicopter and some jetskis back there.  This photo really doesn’t do its’ size justice… it’s one of the largest yachts in the world and was received as a gift.  According to its’ Wikipedia page, it was refitted in 2008 with a green wastewater treatment system… right here in Jacksonville!

Sunset toward the entrance to Nassau harbor – the clouds didn’t let us see the famed green spark.  But it’s still a pretty sight.  It was so windy – and cold up on deck!

And another one…just because.

The ship at night.

And back home.  So much more on this trip than I could show in this post with these few pictures.  I hope you’ll ask me about it next time you’re in KnitWitz!

It’s a big shawl, rectangular - is probably a good seven ounces of silk/wool Zephyr.  It is my original pattern (no consultation of stitchionaries, thank you!), taken from knots I’ve drawn on graph paper since I was in grade school.

I’m really happy with how my first lace desigining went – lots of support from lots of folks – and hope our sailors like it, too.  It was fun to imagine, draw, translate my pencil sketches into the movement of a lace fabric (thank you, Randi!), and see it come to life.  Testing your own pattern has to be a little like attempting Everest.  But it is exactly how I imagined it – how often does THAT happen?  (Not too, in case you’re wondering.)  If you’re interested in learning more about this pattern, or knitting lace, be sure to contact us at KnitWitz.  I’ll be scheduling a class for everyone who expressed interest!

We brought in a few new yarns this month – among them Corntastic from Kollage.  This yarn feels like butter!  So soft, in summery colors.  And I have the Kollage SQUARE needles.  The cord on these circulars has to be seen and felt to be believed.  Yesterday in Sock Clinic, our two-at-a-time-Magic-Loopers were very happy with them.  Also new is Blue Ridge Yarns silk and boucle mohair laceweight (shown in the photos below).  C’mon by as soon as you can!  KnitWitz will have regular hours next week, except Wednesday and Friday the shop will be closing at 5 pm.  That means no Knit-Ins next week.  But drop in to say HI! and see these… 

Actually, if you counted bear sweaters, I might be one up on the resolution.  Trudy is a mohair bear with a girly bear attitude and a slowly growling wardrobe.  She’s ready for her close up, Mr. D!

Enough with silly scene-stealing bears!  I’ll get back to the sweater making momentarily.  If I can avoid distractions. Which is really tough to do, given that they are all around.  Here’s a fish:

It’s actually a little purse.  It rescued me from the front of a pullover.  I say “rescue” because… stockinette, size 5 needles… 16 inches… you understand. He is knit from our newest yarn: Mini Mochi (MO-chee) from Crystal Palace Yarns, held double.  It’s a super soft sock yarn, but makes a much better fish purse.  This yarn has been so popular for CPY that we can’t get it in again until MAY!  But we’re already on the waiting list.  We’re featuring this yarn in our upcoming shawl class.  There are still spaces available, but it’s getting close to filling up – so if you’d like a shawl that looks like the Lizard Ridge throw, described as “insanely gorgeous” from Knitty Magazine, then give me a call!

Despite the sweater resolution, I caught the felting bug again.  This is the A Little Bird Told Me pattern from the latest issue of Knitty.  I decorated it with my very own sheep farm.  A girl can dream, no?  I did the pattern exactly the way it was written, *except* for the handle.  I knit it after all the other pieces, and cast on 12 stitches, which I worked in 1×1 rib until the yarn was gone.  It makes a nice flat strap.  I sewed the strap on after felting to the base of each side, after threading it through the drawstrings, also at the sides.  The sheep and tractor buttons are from KnitWitz.

Hey, thanks for making it to the end of this post.  I have great news!  KnitWitz is now on FACEBOOK!  Patrons and guests are invited to join our group (search for KnitWitz in groups) and hear about the latest goings-on, contribute photos of your own knitting.  Get help after hours (because, wow, Facebook is addictive AND 24/7), and share your knitting goals and ways to stay on track with knitting resolutions!

A lot of us were really surprised that KnitWitz was picked to host a visit from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee – I remember getting the email and having to pull over!  We were able to meet someone we really admire, and give to a cause that is also admirable.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to the latter, and had fun at the former!  The customers of KnitWitz contributed to total donations of $1,315 going to Doctors Without Borders.  Because of your thoughtfulness and goodwill, this amazing organization will be able to bring more medical care to those without any hope of it and change lives for the better.

Thank you to all the people who helped to celebrate KnitWitz’s 4 years in November by eating cake.

Thanks to all the people who’ve brought back what they made with KnitWitz yarn.  I don’t usually get to see the end result, so I’m always tickled when I do – and you get to ring the bell!  Okay, as incentives go, the bell’s not that big of one.  But come at the right time, and you’ll get cheered as well.  In fact, please put your hands together for these first socks (we had much bell ringing and cheering for them):

What got done on my knitting front in 2008?  I collected some pictures.  Here they are…most all the projects that I actually completed this year, both knit AND crochet!

The ones that took waaaaay too long, but are for all that my favorites…

Thank you for all the baked goods (I ate it all, except for the pumpkin bread – which I received today!), and the cute sheep (sheep do better in flocks and mine sure is growing!), and the supercool mug and the support.  So on this last day of 2008, I wish for your 2009 to be a year filled with optimism and accomplishment.  May it be one stuffed with fortune and helping hands, and the best this world has to offer.  I hope you are surrounded by positive, kind people.  Let the good you do echo out into the world and come back to you tenfold.  On the first day of the new year, be sure to eat all your blackeyed peas, ham and greens, for peace, health and prosperity to touch your life.  And may you knit, and enjoy it, and see what your hands are capable of creating.  Happy New Year!

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

You listen better whilst knitting!

Knitting in the crowd!

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee!

The Sock in Jacksonville, Take 3

The Sock in Jacksonville, Take 4

Mary’s Foxglove Sock (which is gorgeous!)

Kathleen’s Margarita Sock

Wearing Karen’s Clapotis and Chris’ sock being admired!

(I tried to upsize these, but they got a bit pixelly.)

More to come!