I just picked up my camera to take some blog pictures, and discovered it is well and truly broken. The view screen looks like it’s on LSD. We have another, better, camera, but it’s off with Nate on a trip. So, out comes the camera phone and some low-fi snaps. Sorry ’bout that. Some of the pics are before the crap-out (BCO), so they are better. Looks like I’m in the market for a digital camera. But enough about that…you came here for yarn tales.
There’s been some stash enhancement and big knitting.
Last Sunday I restarted Something Desert. I was holding my breath before blogging about it to see if it would turn out OK. I started off at a normal pace, but over the last two days, I was on fire people.
To wit:
I’m on sleeve island, and it’s going pretty fast. I cast on for the smallest size on size 8 needles. I kept trying it on for fit, more than reading the pattern. My stitch gauge is larger, but oddly my row gauge is nearly right. I made some mods as I went along, mainly adding some shaping in the torso and changing the ribbing design. I am going to do long sleeves, with a slight bell at the ends.
In stash enhancement news, I went a little crazy at JoAnn’s on Friday. I was so inspired by the dishclothes in Mason Dixon Knitting, I wanted a stash of my own rainbow of kitchen cotton. It happened to be the middle of a big sale, and they had the “super size” of Sugar n’ Cream for $1.49 each!!! They were picked over, but there was plenty of good stuff left, mostly in the bright colors I suppose most people don’t want. I picked up a couple balls of Lion kitchen cotton in ecru, on the bottom right there, too.
Yesterday, N and I were near a Michael’s and I wanted to see what colors they had. Not a great selection, but I did get some of the pink that I wanted to go with the orange:
A few days back I got my order from WEBS anniversary sale in (click these for big):
Enough Lopi to make 2 cabled xmas stockings from Handknit Holidays (yup, I’m already thinking about gifts) and 2 pounds of weavers wool. This is the Valley Yarns 2/6 Donegal Tweed in dark brown. There’s 1,488 yards in a pound, so this equals ALOT of yarn. WEBS says it knits up DK weight and will bloom with washing. My plan is to wind off 2 one-pounds balls (hopefully) and pre-wash it in hanks so I know what gauge I’m really dealing with. Ultimately, I thought of using it double-stranded, but you never know.
You’d think that was all the news I could possibly have, but nope.
Yet another surprise came in the mail this week. My backordered Rowan #31 – just in time for warm weather.
For those of you that have this edition, I thought it ironic that they bothered to list any other designers but Kim Hargreaves on the front. I haven’t done the numbers, but it seemed as though 95% of the mag is her stuff. Fortunately, I’m a fan of her aesthetic, so this isn’t a problem. Just an observation.
OK, back to sleeve island with me! I hope the next time I come up for breath I’ll have an FO!
I went on a dish cloth kick last year. Still have all of them in a plastic container because 1. I don’t want to give them away; 2. I don’t want to ruin them, they’re so pretty. Silly I know.
I saw the sale at JoAnn’s (went to the super store in Porter Ranch/Northridge) and saw all the Sugar N Cream too. But considering I can’t close the hall closet due to the “stash”, I had to resist. :-< At least for a couple of weeks that is!
Tootles~
Love the new sweater! I too am inspired by the washcloths. Our houses must have handknits in every room!
I have that Rowan mag! I forgot all about it.
Your sweater is coming along great, you’re so close to being finished!
I love the Sugar n’ Cream and the Peaches n’ Cream cotton too. The colors are so bright and funky, perfect for washcloths.
Looks like you’ve got yourself some more good yarns. Lucky!
I have that Rowan mag too! I love Kim’s designs. I plan on pulling it out to start some summer tops. Which of the patterns do you think you’ll make first?
You are on fire! I can’t wait to see the finished cardi. I have to say that I’ve been haunted by the Warshrags in spite of my tepid reaction to MDK on the first round. Time to revist? As well as pay a visit to my local Sugar/Peaches’n’Cream stockist?
Hey, the bright colors will be great for adding a splash of color to someone’s kitchen. And on fire is right! You did all that in one week?
Did you see that the new IK preview for the summer issue is up? I came over to see if you had anything to say about it yet since you usually see these previews before I do.
whoa…you sure went to town with all that yarn. but at that price, i’d probably go nuts, too 🙂 and look at that! you’re almost done with your cardi! woot! how awesome it will be when it’s all done!?!!?!
must be the knitting cockpit. looked real comfy…i’d probably fall asleep there instead of knit. hehehe…
You were on fire! Something Desert looks great. The soft focus pictures make the pictures look artsy and beautiful, especially with the spring colors.
SO glad to see you got your mojo back, wahooo!! great progress on Something Desert, you have rebounded most excellently!!
Getting an order from Webs is always fun, b/c you know you saved $$$. I love your Something Desert! Great color for spring.