FO!

I finished the Child's Guernsey and Hat, from the Paton's website, with the intention of reducing the amount of yarn in stash. Except that I bought 2 skeins of Paton's Classic Wool Merino to make the sweater (not pulled it from the stash), thinking if I made a size 3T, I could finish the sweater in 2 skeins, then ran out of yarn just before the end (10 rows left in sleeve 2, and collar), so I had to buy a third skein. So while I did make a nice sweater and hat for charity, the net effect on my stash was 1 mostly full skein ADDED, none subtracted.

It's my first project with Paton's Classic Wool Merino, and probably my last. Just not loving it. And it bled a lot when I washed it.



Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool Merino
Needles: US 5 and 7

I'm cranking along on the child's fair isle sweater, until I got to the sleeves. I discovered I don't own US9 dpn's. Can you believe it? I can't. But, if I own them, I can't find them. Another charity project that ADDS to stash (new needles) instead of reducing. On the other hand, I have enough Lambs Pride to make two of these, so that should do some good towards making more room in my yarn box.

Getting ready to go out of town for a few days, need to pick a good plane project. Hmmm. I just bought Cookie A.'s "Sock Innovation", but I don't think I've got appropriate sock yarn. I could start Eastlake, but I'll need to swatch before I leave, so I bring the right needles. Not sure. I've got til Sunday morning to decide.

Almost done with the Dovetail Sweater! If I can finish the second sleeve before Sunday (and I think I can), that would free up my favorite size 8 needles.
Got to go!

Crafts = crack

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I’m quickly coming to the conclusion that almost all crafts have the potential to addict me like heroin. Or cashmere. Are there any crafts out there with a significant startup fee? One that would prevent the casual user from dipping one’s toes in, then finding themselves sucked into the abyss, never to be seen again? Cause it’s so easy to just pick up one little strand of beads (it’s only $2.99, you know), and a little spool of beading wire (practically free!), okay, and a couple of pliers (cheap ones, but you know you’re going to want to upgrade soon). $36 later, I’m leaving Pat Catan’s crafts and wondering why I thought I could make stitch markers cheaper than I can buy them. Well, okay, if I convert all those beads and all that wire into stitch markers, it will be cheaper/piece than buying them on Etsy. But really, do I need 50 stitch markers? Do I even know 10 people I could give 5 each to? But the beads – so pretty. Must.Buy.More.Pretty.Beads..

And don’t get me started on “making my own greeting cards”. The ones my friend Eva sends look so nice, shouldn’t I try too? Maybe buy a couple of ink stamps to add a little interest? It’s madness I tell you, just madness.

In knitting news, I ran out of yarn just 10 rows before the end of the second sleeve on the Child’s Guersney (also had to do the neckline). Luckily, they still had the dye lot in stock, so I finished the sweater, and made the matching hat. The steeks for the armholes went smoothly, but left a bit thicker ridge of fabric at the armhole seam than I really like. I suppose its because its worsted weight wool. I’ve still got enough wool left over to make another matching hat, and probably mittens too. Hmm. This project was supposed to decrease the yarn in stash, not add to it. I’ve set aside the rest of the skein because I’m tired of the color for now, and picked up the Roasted Coffee Lamb’s Pride to make a basic child’s two-color pullover. Started on US8, frogged and re-made on US9. 5sts/inch is too dense for this yarn.

And a big thank you! to my KnittyMama swap partner for the bag of homemade toffee waiting in my mailbox last night. Yummmm.

Ooooh - black capped chickadee and Carolina Goldfinch at the feeder. Got to go!

I did not eat the green jelly bean

See? I can learn. (scroll down to the May 5, 2007 entry). I actually think there is too much candy in the house right now. I can't believe I am saying that.

I spent last month working on Early Spring socks; my knitting group picked a Spring KAL for "any socks with "spring" in the pattern name.

Pattern: Early Spring
Designer: Janice Kang, for Crystal Palace Yarn
Yarn: Collinette Jitterbug, "Elephant's Daydream"
Needles: US 1
Mods: none

I spun:

and


The brown is some wonderful natural color fine wool top from Nistock Farms in color "Maple Walnut". The second is merino roving from Iheartfelt.com, a gift from highlanddancemom03 (Sarah R), who sent me this lovely pink fluffyness during the Knitty '07 summer SP round. I've been saving it until I felt I could spin a little finer than I have in the past. Not quite laceweight - more like a light fingering weight. A little underplied, but not too bad. I'm pretty happy with it - 147 yds from the ounce!

Spring knitting? I decided to take a serious stab at my stash. I'm going to convert as much of my "charity" stash to actual FO's for charity as possible. This would be all the 400 - 800 yd lots of worsted wool I've picked up over the years. First: the knitted guernsey pullover from Better Homes and Gardens in Paton's Classic Merino Wool (burgundy). I altered the pattern to work completely in the round, to the shoulders (steeked sleeves), and I am cranking! Entire body finished in one week, and sleeves should be finished by week 2. Next up: a fair isle pullover with Lamb's Pride.

DH is out of town again this week - what will break now? Anyone want to guess?