I can hardly believe that this post is actually happening! It's a finished Hemlock Ring Blanket, people!!!!

I started the HRB in November, when I took a workshop at The Point. It was just the sort of class that I needed to push me to try something new. Until now, I had never knit lace from a chart. Or really knit any kind of lace at all! I used a massive credit to purchase two (two!) bags of Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran, which may be the most luxurious purchase I've ever made! It was so worth it, though. The blanket is so soft and just the loveliest shade of grey.

And now it's done. And I accomplished something I never thought I would. I am feeling pretty good about this one. Yep, I sure am.

In other news, there have been some changes in my esty shop and over on ravelry. All of the patterns that I designed for The Point over the years are now for sale by me. Check it out.

Aw, man. You guys have been great! I mean, just wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your kind words and encouragement. I never thought, two years ago, when I started this blog, that I would make so many friends through it. I think that's what everyone says at one point or another on their blog, but it's true! How is it possible that there are so many amazing people out there doing this? This, being blogging or knitting or whatever. How have you all found me?

Well, thank you. I'm blushing. I cannot believe that there are so many people out there that are so kind to me. I'm still feeling kind of sad and alone and lost, but I have you all to hoist me up and remind me that I have a very full and wonderful life that is very much my own.

So, here is the knitting I promised you.

The Fiona Wrap Jacket, a.k.a The Point's August Pattern of the Month.

I could hardly believe, during the oppressive heat of July, that I was knitting such a garment. But the last couple of days, with the hint of a chill in the air during the late evenings, Fall doesn't seem so far away, and the thought of getting started on some cooler weather knits isn't so ludicrous.

You can get all of the details for this on Ravelry. I will tell you, however, that this is ridiulously easy to knit. It's one piece, starting from the back edge and separating for the two fronts to be worked, well, separately. I held two strands of Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette together to get a very pleasing tweed effect and a knitted gauge of about 4 stitches to one inch.

I was really sad to send this one off to The Point, but I'm considering knitting another one for myself out of some mohair that I've been holding onto for some time. That would be really warm and super lightweight. It would be equally lovely knit out of a single strand of some bulky Malabrigo or Manos, so that the stockinette can show off the lovely hand-dyed yarn. But I do go on....

P.S. The 5K is this weekend!!! Wish me luck!!! And a super big THANK YOU to those of you who donated (you know who you are) and everyone who offerred words of encourgament! Thanks again. (Can I say thank you enough? Nope.)

P.P.S. I even signed up for another run in two weeks. The Livestrong Challenge in Philly which I'll be running with my cousin.

The dress that I so triumphantly finished this weekend does. not. fit. I should have tried it on as I went. I should have known that I might have this problem. My top half is pretty much a full size smaller than my bottom half (which causes much confusion when buying patterns), so of course the bodice is all loose and gap-py and the bottom is perfect.

So while I'm working out a way to take in the darts some more, I'll leave you with this:

I'm done with the back portion of the August pattern of the month for The Point. I'm really surprised how fast this went. I'm holding two different color strands of yarn together and I *love* the tweed effect that I'm getting.

I may have a photo shoot this weekend of the disastrous dress. Adjusted or otherwise.