Making Progress

I finally got the green yarn. I've been working on Nordic Lights ever since.



I am a mere ten rows from the shoulders. That's when I stop working the capelet in the round and start working it flat. That should be interesting. It'll certainly slow down since I'll have to purl. I can't wait to be able to wear this capelet!!

Secret Pal & Yarn News

First the most important news! Look what I got in the mail today…



It’s the first package from my Secret Pal! It got a knitting magazine from England (Simply Knitting), Knit It! and Knit Lit the Third! I also got a postcard of a moose. The Simply Knitting mag came with tags to put on my finished projects. One says “Knit with Love”.

I'm really looking forward to looking through the magazines. I love patterns!

I’m still waiting on the green yarn for my Nordic Lights capelet.

In the meantime, I casted on Lady Eleanor. I've seen some many beautiful pictures of her that I had to try. I'm using Noro Silk Garden (of course) #205. The colorway is described as fuschia, purple and black. I'd say that's pretty accurate.

Stash Sunday - Traveling

This week's theme was stash bought while traveling or online, site unseen. I have a lot of yarn that I've bought online so decided to stick to the yarn bought while traveling. I have two.

There's the Lang Yarns that I got in Amsterdam. I've already used this yarn to knit L.A.'s clapotis so it's technically not stash anymore.



And the Recycled Sari Silk yarn that I got at Art Fibers in San Fran. I'm thinking of making the unbiased pusre from knitty with this yarn. I think I'll keep it out as a reminder.



I heard from my Secret Pal. She (I think) said that she'd shipped my first package and it should be here early next week!! Yippee! Also, the Secret Pal that I'm spoiling got her package and really liked it. Double Yippee!

I cast on another project to while away the time till I get my green yarn. I'll have pictures tomorrow.

Got Yarn?

I do! No. It's not the yarn for my capelet. It's even better. It's yarn from Germany. Well, okay. The yarn is Italian but it was sent to me from Germany. I got my flickr yarn trade yarn!

Here's what I pulled out of the envelope.



Look at this great packaging! I love the yarn and needles stamp! The postcard is so bright and colorful! It's of the Sony Center in Berlin.



And of course, the yarn!



Both balls are greener then they appear in the photo. On the left is Lana Grossa Caldo Print and on the right is Lana Grossa Basics.

I think Sheba is jealous of the yarn. :)

Secret Pal Update

I sent my first Secret Pal package today. I took pictures but, of course, I can't show them. I'll post them in a couple month once Secret Pal 7 is over. Now I get to watch her blog to see what she thinks of the presents!

Stopping Point

Well, I was afraid it would happen and it has. I've gotten to the green section before my yarn has come in. The green I originally got for the capelet is too dark so I ordered the recommended shade. Now I have to wait for it to come in.



The yarn shop swore it would only take a week for them to get the yarn. That means the yarn should have gotten in yesterday. How long should I wait. I know of at least 5 shops that won't have it. There is a new shop on the other side of the river that I could check out.

In the meantime, I'll just have to work on something else.

Stash Sunday - Stripes

This week's theme is stripes. I have lots of yarn that is striping. I picked three as to not flood the group. Here they are:



Lorna's Laces Shepard's Sock in Flames.



Rowan All Seasons Cotton in Glad.



Sundshine Yarn in Meadow.

I'm still working away at Nordic Lights. I'll have an update soon.

Yarn Trade

I have participated in my first internet swap. The Crazy for Knitting Group on flickr had a yarn trade. The trade is for 100 grams of yarn, a pattern and a postcard from the area you're from. Here's a picture of what I sent to Portugal today.



Now I just have to sit back and wait to see what I get in the mail and where it's from.

In Secret Pal news, I heard from my SP. They said they were looking forward to spoiling me! Well, I'm looking forward to being spoiled. :)

Fair Isle Rocks!

I'm really enjoying my Northern Lights poncho! So far so good. Who knew Fair Isle was so easy? Well, so far it's been easy. The pattern isn't that complicated yet. I may change my mind when I get a little further into the pattern.



Only about ten more rows till I get to start working with blue!

Secret Pal 7

I finally signed up for a Secret Pal. I missed Secret Pal 6 because what I thought was the due date for signing up was actually the day they sent out your pal's info.

Here are my answers to the questionnaire:

1. Am I a yarn snob? Yes, I guiltily admit I am a yarn snob. I don’t like Red Heart or Lion Brand but I do like Knit Picks.

2. I do spin and I want to learn to crochet but don’t have the time right now.

3. I try to keep my needles in a Tupperware container in their original packaging.

4. As of New Year’s Eve I’ve been knitting for two years. I consider myself an intermediate knitter. I like to try new techniques.

5. I have an amazon wish list. I better go check what’s on it.

6. I love citrus but I’m really sensitive to smells and perfumes.

7. I do have a sweet tooth. I like chocolate and jelly belly jelly beans.

8. I love to dye yarn! I haven't had much time lately but I love making color. I also just got a sewing machine for Christmas. I’d like to use it to make skirts and handbags. Although, right now the do-it-yourself craft that I’m into the most is making my wedding invitations (don’t ask how it’s going). We are also currently remodeling our house and doing all of the finish work ourselves.

9. I think the music I like would be considered pop but I don’t like the current top 40 stuff (i.e. Britney Spears). I love all things Neil Finn. I also like the Cowboy Junkies, Annie Lennox, and Angela McCloskey. I don’t think my stereo plays MP3s but my computer does.

10. I like greens, blues and purple the most. I’m trying to branch out into other colors. I’m actually starting to like red. I’m not a big fan of pastels.

11. I just got engaged in December and we have two cats. I have a 17 years young Siamese named Sheba who is sitting on my lap as I type this.

12. I wear scarves, mittens and ponchos. And shawls and sweaters and wraps.

13. I don't really have a favorite yarn. I've liked most of the yarns I've worked with except Rowan's Summertweed.

14. There aren’t any fibers that I don’t like. Even acrylic has its place.

15. My current knitting obessions are ponchos, capellettes and wraps. Right now I love Wrap Style.

16. I don’t have a favorite item to knit. Although I’m not a big fan of seaming but I’m learning to like it.

17. I just started the Nordic Lights poncho from Wrap Style.

18. Yes, I like to receive handmade gifts.

19. I like both straight and circular needles.

20. Bamboo needles are my favorite but I also like wood and metal.

21. I now own both a yarn winder and a swift.

22. My grandma taught me years ago. When I decided I wanted to learn again I got Knitting for Dummies and relearned.

23. My oldest UFO is at least a year old but I’m not sure which one it is.

24. My favorite animated character is the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland.

25. My favorite holiday is St. Patrick’s Day because it’s a non-commercial holiday and I get to wear green.

26. I’m sure there are but all my collectables have been in storage so long I’ve forgotten about them.

27. I have subscriptions to Interweaves Knit, Vogue and Rowan.

28. I’m really curious about Rowan’s new Classic line of patterns. Oh! And the Tahki Patterns Fall 2005 Collection has some great looking patterns.

29. I just started my first Fair Isle project. I want to try intarsia next.

30. I’m not a sock knitter, although I’ve been working on my first pair for my fiancée.

31. My birthday is 11/14.

New Toys!

Yesterday one of my Christmas presents was delivered. My first sewing machine!



Once the upstairs windows are framed, I'm going to make curtains.

Today I finally bought a yarn swift. I've been wanting to get one since I got my ball winder. I'm hoping it'll make using the winder easier.



I have 6 skeins of Cascade 220 to ball up and I didn't want to have to fight with the winder. This swift is just a plastic one. I'll use it until it breaks and then I'll buy a good wooden one.

New Yarn

It’s a beautiful thing.



Six skeins of Cascade 220 (#2429, #4137, #4147, #9459, #2404, & #9404) for my first fair isle project. Any guesses as to what I’m going to make?

Here’s a little hint...



Okay, so the photo on the cover is the project. I’m going to attempt the Nordic Lights poncho.

I just need to finish Greg’s socks and then I can start the gauge swatch for the poncho.

Finished Objects

I spent most this New Year’s weekend tying up some loose ends and finishing some projects. First I finally seamed my Boogie Vest. I had actually finished the knitting ages ago but since I hate sewing I put off finishing it. Not only did I finish it but I wore it to work today.



I used just under four ball of Noro Big Kureyon and added a little shaping. I should have made it one size smaller and shorter. But I think it goes well with my red hair and I love the colors!

I also finished LA’s hat to go with her Clapotis. I hope to get it in the mail to her this week.



I also worked on Greg’s socks but didn’t finish them. I should be able to finish them this week. I also frogged Charlotte this weekend. She just wasn’t big enough and I didn’t really like how the yarn looked with this pattern. I may try again in the larger size later on. I really love the yarn and want to make something out of it!

Stash Sunday – A Day Late

First and foremost… Happy New Year!

2006 is finally here! You know what means? The new yarn diet is over! The thousand years is over! I was relatively successful. I bought 2 skeins of Lamb’s Pride Bulky for Greg’s X-mas socks. I decided that was okay since the finished project wasn’t for me.

This week I’m going to buy some new yarn. I’ll post about my next project once I have the yarn in my hands.

In the meantime, I’ll share my photos for this week’s Sunday Stash. The theme was red. I think I’ve posted these before but I’m putting them up again. This is the yarn for future my red shawl.