Taking FOREVER!

Well, since the last post at the beginning of July, I've finished a wonderful shawl and still not finished those socks.  Even with two overseas flights!  I also finshed a top, because I didn't want to work on the socks.  Something about the socks is not enjoyable for me.  Alas.

So... the finished shawl.  This is the Sunwalker Shawl that I put in time out for over a year?  I took it with me to my work meeting in Munich.  I worked on it during the meeting (it helps me pay attention, and I am not the primary audience for the talks anyhow) and finished on the second day.  I did run out of yarn, but it was in the perfect spot, and I had the back-up yarn with me and it looks totally intentional.  It might be even better than if it were all one color?  I was really surprised how much it grew when I blocked it, and I am delighted that it grew.  Smallest says it is the most beautiful thing I've made.  Probably true.  Below are pre and post blocked pictures.

We had a good time noodling around Germany, and seeing Catherine was really great.  We tested out their fold out couch and determined the most comfortable way to sleep on it.

Since I am trying to reduce the amount of yarn I have waiting around to become stuff, I started on Flow once I finished the shawl.  I got through one side at the meeting/vacation, and then had to be a little more deliberate about working on it when we got home.  I finished it on our drive to Colorado to see my family in August.  I made the arm hole a little larger, and once I tried it on, I think there are other modifications that I would like to make to change the fit a bit.  It is definitely too long for me, so I'm going to see if Catherine of the Long Waist would like the sweater.  She will be in Houston sooooon!  So there's a picture of my Flow below also.

I'm still working on the Hue Shift afghan as my TV project.  I've just finished the 5th (6th?) square on the second strip.  I'm working them all in one block, not the four blocks that get seamed together.  I am a rebel.

I have made progress on the sock.  Something about the heel is really wonky.  Perhaps the second one will make more sense to me, but I'm not so sure.  At least I will get them done, and then they will go off to Middle.  She has gone off to college and is having a wonderful time.  I did notice that she didn't take her other mom-knit socks, so perhaps they are too high maintenance for school?  We will see.  She is sneaking home in October to see Smallest in the school musical (and also celebrate The Boy's 21st birthday).  It will be very nice to see her.
Here is sock status:

The bonus about toe-up socks is that you get that nice smooth toe seam.  Perhaps I need to do more to figure out the best way to do the heel.  I really like the heel on top-down socks.

I owe some sweater pictures, so I'll see if I can find them for another post.

Margie