WIPs and Praying Mantis
I’m a day late with the WIPs, but a headache kept me off the computer yesterday evening. So, it’s WIPs on Thursday this week. In August when I started planning my autumn knitting, I wanted to get four things knitted by October: the spaced check socks (done and gifted!), the Delicato mitts, the Clarence Border Scarf from Victorian Lace Today, and the pieces of the Minimalist Cardi. When my hands started hurting, I gave myself until mid-October to finish the cardi. So let’s look at the progress:
I started the second Delicato Mitt, so it shouldn’t be too hard to finish by October. Does anyone else find Schaefer Anne kind of splitty?
I took this photo of the Clarence Border Scarf on Tuesday morning while I was part way through the second border, but now it is actually off the needles ready to block.
As for the Minimalist Cardi, I’m on the right front. I’m a bit very concerned at how much the stockinette panel is rolling. However, this seems to be a universal occurrence based on what I’ve seen on Ravelry and other blogs, and for most knitters it tends to block out. I plan to finish this first front, block it and see.
In closing, I have to show you the praying mantis that has been living on our hummingbird feeder, keeping the little bugs out of the sugar syrup. It does startle the hummingbirds a bit, but they still eat up. I am always a fan of creatures that eat nasty, little insects, even if it’s a great big insect.
Brenda- Not to worry- it is inherent in stocking stitch that it will roll like that- it does block out.
I’m glad I’m only looking at a picture of the mantis- bugs scare the crap out of me.
All of your projects look lovely! And I can’t wait to see the blocked scarf. I just bought my first Anne, so I’ll have to be on the lookout for splits when I get started with it.
How long is the praying mantis? It looks huge!
That praying mantis (or is it preying?) is really cool. I find the Anne slightly splitty, but nothing compared to really splitty yarns.
LOVE that lace scarf! And praying manti are such fascinating creatures…
(((hugs)))
Wow, Brenda! Even when you give your hands a break, you still manage to stick to your knitting guns. Everything (including the rolling cardi) looks mighty impressive.
That mantis is something else! His wings (?) look EXACTLY like leaves. I love natural selection, don’t you? 😉
Is he missing a front leg, or is that just the angle?
How I love the preying manti! Those mitts are very pretty!
I too find Anne splitty. And I hated frogging it too, it doesn’t like it much and tends to get fuzzy ,anyway, I think it does.
All the WIPs look fantastic, can’t wait to see the scarf blocked.
We love Praying Mantis too, in fact I think all three of my kids have written reports on them at some time or another.
Your knitting projects are all coming along beautifully. And that praying mantis is totally cool. Love those guys. Like you said, anything that eats nasty bugs is a good guy, even if it is another bug. LOL 🙂
Really cool mantis picture! I don’t remember Anne being splitty – but I’ve always knitted it with Addi Turbos, which are blunt.
Wow…what a beautiful mantis. I would love to capture something like that with my camera.
Good for you for adjusting your deadlines realistically 🙂
That praying mantis pic is great! I would stay away from the bird feeder if I were a bug 🙂
Wow, cool bug! Your photo of it is wonderful! You are making fantastic progress on your list of projects. Hmm, maybe if I make a list I’ll get more done too? I especially love the delicato mitts. The colors are so cheerful.
Great bug pic! Not to mention WIPs! They all look lovely.
On the one hand, I want to say – ewww, creepy, but at the same time, it’s fascinating. The mantis, of course!
You’re so efficient with your knitting! And I still haven’t blocked Kiri…
Such good WIPs!!
In my experience, stockinette roll will block out, but never entirely, unless it’s got a fat border. Most of the photos I’ve seen of the Minimalist have a bit of roll on the front.
Can’t wait to see the VLT scarf. Oh, and YES, Anne is splitty for me too.
Brenda, those are all great pictures, including the mantis! If I tried to get that close to our feeders, I think the hummers would dive bomb me.
You’ve got to go look at this… http://www.dm.net/~bahwolf/spider.htm
Great praying mantis shot. I found one in our garage the other day and “rescued” it. Admittedly, I did have to put on a gardening glove, but I put him in my flower bed. I love them and ladybugs.
Wonderful WIPS!
I just found your blog–what riches! Your wips are all stunning, and what could be better than a praying mantis?
I always have to get DH to deal with insects. We don’t have any praying manitses (sp?) here; but some of the spiders are pretty big. this time of year they’re all trying to get into the house, too. I can deal with dead birds (never should have washed my windows) and live rodents, but insects? Not so much.
The Clarence Border scarf is on my to-do list for this winter. Yours looks awful nice!
Lovely WIP’s — I’m intrigued by the Clarence Border Scarf — love the color too!
BTW . . . I popped by because I hadn’t seen an update in a while and wanted to make sure all is okay!
You are flying through your WIPS, woman! I continue to struggle on with the never-ending ribbing for my wide collar deal. In doing so, I vow never to knit a scarf again. Ever.
Do you realize the praying mantis are know to watch the humming birds, learn their pattern, and then strike and kill the birds? If you love your birds…get rid of the insect….do the research…
a praying mantis will kill a hummingbird by piercing its chest and ripping it apart.