There's always a first

This week has been quite productive so far. The house is still a mess and I still haven't made a dent in the To-Do list, but I've been having fun. That counts, doesn't it?

I hand dyed my first hank of wool. It's light worsted 100% merino. I used Wilton icing colors and did it in the microwave. I think it came up quite pretty, if I do say so myself. Wonder if the recepient will like it? ETA: Pics on Monday!

I felted my first knit object. It's a circular coaster made from the pink handspun. I did it in the washing machine and it took forever. Seriously, forever. And it didn't shrink much. But at the end, I still think it turned out pretty neat. I'm now making the remaining 4 smaller ones - 1 done, 3 to go.


I made a blocking board. Picked up a large display board and covered it with gingham fabric.

I also made a couple stitch markers, then put the tools and beads away in preparation for Packing (note the caps). We're moving next month and I want to get my organizing done early this time. Gotta start somewhere so I started with the beads :)

For some unidentifiable reason, I'm balking at casting on for Soleil. I did a couple of times then ripped it out because it was so uneven. I think I can safely blame it on Moving anxieties?

Generosity...

... when it touches your life, there's nothing quite like it. I got the most filled up box I could have imagined from my yarn swap partner today. Check out all the good stuff.




In other news, I finished the body of Mesilla. It's a perfect fit! I subbed the lower section of the body with a mesh pattern and will do the same with the sleeves. I'm yet to do the sleeves and neck line. So no pics until then.


Next on the needles is a top for my sis. I can't blog about it here 'cuz I haven't told her yet which pattern I'm using and the sneak is bound the check the blog lol. So y'all will have to wait for the FO. I'll put up a sneak up tomorrow though.


I wanted to take a break from the big knitting today so I picked up the hank of handspun wool I got earlier this year and wound it into a little cake. Then I knit up a quick coaster with it. I'll make a few more then toss it into the washer to felt. Here is the yarn cake. I think this is one of the most beautiful things I saw today. I'm not so crazy about the thick thin part of it but since it's for felting so it works.

The color just makes me go sigh. I simply love dusty, dark deep colors. And sometimes, pastels. Brights are just not my thing.

Oops!

I seem to have forgotten a pic in the last post.. how could I?

2 balls of Jaeger Baby Merino DK - color 234 to make that cute elephant you see above it (from the book Knitted Toys by Zoe Mellor)

Huge stash enhancement

A few days ago I promised lots of yarn pr0n. Well, my word is good.
This haul is 2 months and $400 worth. I think I'm done buying yarn for another 3 months. So y'all will have to contend with WIPs and FOs :)
But. The good news is there will be some swap yarn showing up here in the near future.

Enjoy!

From DBNY I got these 2 -

100% bamboo in Navy (said to be SWTC) - a whole bag! I'm thinking Green gable, and maybe a tank for the sista.


Plymouth Sockotta in Spotted Fawn - cotton wool blend, baby. And nice light colors too.


From Micheal's craft store -
Patons SWS in Natural Earth - this is gonna become an entrelac cushion cover. Maybe 2 if I have enough.


And from Elann.com -
Filatura Di Crosa Millefili Fine in Summer Harvest - I think a stiff brim cap will be cute in this for summer, no?


The following bunch came from Morethanyarn - a very nice shop.
Malabrigo in colorway Dark Earth - to make a hat that matches my ribbed scarf in the same color.


Malabrigo in Polar Mon - bought for a scarf/hat for Mr.P but it has pink in it! pink! Gotta find another use.


Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in black - to try out this yarn in the form of Fetching


The next 3 are from Knithappens - the big sale, most of these were a steal!

Cascade 220 in brown and blue heather - to make a felted tote/bag


Artyarns Royal silk in color 104 - for a scarf with secret intentions


Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino in Peach - 5 balls of it, to make a tank/shell


And the final piece of eye candy, from Sarah's yarns at VERY good prices -

Artyarns Regal Silk in color 119 - 6 hanks, for a gorgeous short sleeved top



Artyarns Supermerino in color 214 - 8 hanks, for a short sleeved Wicked



Phew! Somehow I think cooking will take a back seat to knitting the next couple of months.
Happy Wednesday!

KH Yarn Swap

Late last month I signed up for this yarn swap hosted on the KnittingHelp.com message boards. It is a secret swap; meaning, you have no idea who will be sending you stuff, and the person you're sending yarn to (your yarnee) has no clue who you are.

My pal is awesome. We've been exchanging mails all this time and she sounds like a fun person. I figured out who she was a little while back, let's just say she loves snow :)

For my yarnee I got some cool stuff. I do wish she has responded to my initial email 'cuz that would have made it easier to get something she'd like. And not to mention, more fun. But anyway, I made some choices and here they are!

The box that will be going out Monday: some yarn and some goodies.

Blue yarn: this is Queensland Uruguay DK which is 70% merino, 20% baby alpaca and 10% silk. It's very soft and I bought it in a lovely shade of blue (she said blue is her favorite color).

This is SWTC Karaoke in a colorway called Mermaid mix, which has shades of blue, green and purples. I got it so she could make the Dragonscale Wristwarmers. The story is while I was spying on her old posts and such trying to figure out what to get, I saw somewhere she liked and wanted this pattern. So I searched, found it and am sending it along with the Karaoke.

The weekend is looking pretty lazy so far. I wish I could knit faster than I can. Adios!

Interweave Knits

It is only now, about 8 months since I began knitting, that I'm venturing into knitting books and magazines. As a teenager I used to wait every season for the Needle and Thread magazine my mom subscribed to and spent an inordinate amount of time pouring over the glossy photos and planning grand projects. I still love those old Needle and Thread copies, but over the years I've rarely pursued any other.

But more and more I heard about Interweave Knits. All the hype surrounding it and my own memories of summers spent over craft magazines, and I succumbed. I received my first copy (Spring 2007) a few days ago and... well, I'm not impressed.

Out of 21 projects, I liked two. Just two. And not even all that much.
And then the ads. OMG the ads. There are so frickin' many. Sure, ads have their place in these publications but in such numbers? I'd prefer to have a few more informative articles instead. And finally, it is so frustrating to thumb between the picture and the pattern. Back and forth, back and forth trying to visualize *dizzy*

I'll keep this subscription, because for $21 I'm willing to wait and see if it improves. But I sure wish I could find a magazine I'll wait for every season!

Mesilla Progress

Here's what The Noble First Top looks like right now :


I've knit 26 rounds of the body and am ready to begin decreasing for the waist. I put it on waste yarn so I could try it out, and so far it fits! A tad loose I think, we'll see as I go along whether it really is. The neck is humongous right now, Mr. P's eyes almost popped out when he saw it :)
But, ye of little faith, know that it will be picked up and knit further to make it er... more modest.
That particular shade of yellow just turns me off everytime I see it so I'm getting ready to order some fiber reactive dye from dharma trading co. I'm thinking a greenish brown with beige/gold embroidery? Or maybe eggplant with light purple work. Hmm. Any suggestions??

I've also been scouring the net for hand embroidery designs. Its for a special project I have in mind.. 'nuff said for now.

I borrowed a bunch of knitting books from the library last week and I think I finally see why knitters like to pretend they can't live without 'em. All those glossy pictures and yummy colors entice the gullible mind. I want to put up a review of sorts of those books so I don't forget them when they trot back to their home. Maybe next post.

I have a huge yarn feast for the eyes comin' up soon. I've been hoarding and not blogging 'cuz I want them all together looking pretty. So stay tuned for some COLOR!

Sweet Ride

Lookie what we bought! Mr.P's coveted wheels. Isn't she a beauty?