April Showers Grow Into Flowers

Hello knitters!  I am so sorry for the delay!  As it stands my internet is still not cooperating, but I believe we've diagnosed the problem as a dead modem.  Now we just have to wait for the new gizmo to come in the mail and I can get back to wasting time important things.  I tell you what, I remember the days we didn't have this glorious invention, and now I can't imagine living without it (actually I can imagine it, but it would be a bleak and sad existence- haha)!

This month's square reminds me of planted rows in the garden.  Just as the rich soil starts to break apart and the little plants peak their heads out of the dirt to reach skyward.  Seems rather romantic, but that is the nature of spring.  As soon as the weather warms I spend hours pouring over gardening catalogs, comparing packets of seeds, and checking my wintered bulbs in the garage.  Once the seeds are planted, I get twitterpated waiting for the things to start growing.  I eagerly check the dirt (sometimes multiple times a day) to see if anything new has popped up.  So in the spirit of spring, I've decided to let this inspiration carry over into our knitting.  Enjoy!

Notes on the pattern:  There's a bit of simple cabling in this pattern.  If you need a refresher on how to cable, look here.
C2F: Slip one stitch to cable needle and hold to front of work.  Knit next stitch then knit stitch from cable needle.
C2B: Slip one stitch to cable needle and hold to back of work.  Knit next stitch then knit stitch from cable needle.

FURROWED ROWS

Cast on 44 stitches.
Rows 1, 3, 5: K1, P1
Rows 2, 4: P1, K1

Pattern Rows (Pattern repeats over 3+1 stitches):
Row 1 and 3: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K1 *P2, K1 repeat from * across row (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P1, *C2F, P1 repeat from * across row (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 4: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P1 *C2B, P1 repeat from * across row (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Repeat these 4 rows until piece measures approx 9 inches

Close up- you can almost see the green shoots
peeking through!

If all goes well on the internet front, you'll be hearing from me again soon.  I'm aiming to get the patterns back up during the first half of the month.  Happy knitting and happy spring!

Oops!

Well, I'm sorry to say that my internet and computer are having a lover's quarrel at the moment.
As it stands, I can't stay connected long enough to get the pictures for this month's block onto the blog.  Hopefully, they will kiss and make up soon so I can get you the pattern for the month!
Until then, please forgive the delay. 

In the mean time our book for April is: Dragon Bones by Lisa See
Here's a bit about the book straight from the author's website:

Liu Hulan, an agent for China’s Ministry of Public Security, and her American husband, attorney David Stark, return to investigate murder and archaeological theft at the Three Gorges Dam, one of the most beautiful and unique places on earth. And also one of the most controversial. When completed, the Three Gorges Dam will be the most powerful dam ever built and the biggest project China has undertaken since the building of the Great Wall. Yet, the reservoir formed by the dam will inundate over 2,000 archaeological sites and displace over 2 million people.

Sounds like a good one!

My fingers are crossed that our internet issues will be resolved in the next day or two (I am writing this from my phone... what a drag but thank goodness for smart phones!).  If not, I will schedule some time at the local wi-fi spot to get the pictures up and the patterns onto Ravelry (hopefully by the end of the week).  Please check back!