Do you feel lucky? Do ya?

I'm currently involved in a staring contest with my projects. I stare at them and will them to be farther along than they are... and they stare back at me and occasionally roll their eyes.

The thing about working solely on two large projects is that it feels like it takes forever to make any progress on them. It also doesn't help when you have a very large clock ticking in the back of your mind constantly reminding you exactly how long you have until these projects need to be finished. Thankfully, only one of those projects has a real deadline so the pressure hasn't started effecting me yet. *twitch*

Heather's second pillowcase is at the halfway point and I'm confident that if I really put my mind to it I'll have it finished on Saturday and can spend the rest of my holiday weekend working on the In Full Bloom sweater. I know that the sweater won't be done in time to go to California with me and realistically, wearing it in the 85 degrees with 65% humidity weater that we have here in SW Missouri just isn't realistic so it's not going to happen until about October. But still. I want this sweater done! I at least want the option of wearing it!

Bryan and Owen's Mother's Day gift to me was a hardbound copy of Big Girl Knits, which I absolutely love! I've already tagged a few projects I'd like to do and I'm trying to figure out if I have any stash yarn that will work with them. Bryan has even pointed out a few that he wouldn't mind me making. So kind of him!

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I realized that I just missed my 1 Year Bloggiversary! I'm currently thinking up a few fun things that involve prizes, so keep your eyes open for some announcements about that once we're back home after June 6th.

Picture heavy post, ahead!

As soon as Owen wakes up from his nap we'll be going to Nixa's Sucker Days fair. Apparently this is a big deal here and we're missing out on the town's one big event if we don't go.

In the meantime, an update!!!

Pillowcase number 2 is underway and though not finished yet as planned, it will be done by the time we leave for California on the 30th.

This is the first one. Obviously it'll need a washing and ironing session before being gifted, but I'm really loving these. I have a few dishcloths that I'll be giving them as well. One is already done and another one is halfway finished. These dishcloths have been great projects to have at my desk at work.

Mom's socks are officially a finished project and they will be part of her birthday presents.

Yarn: Sockotta Needles: Addi Turbo 40" circ #1US Pattern: One I have memorized Stats: Started April 13 and finished May 10

My In Full Bloom sweater is on a roll! I bound off for the back and am working on the left front. It's going by really quickly since the bottom half was done in one piece, so the left front is already more than halfway done! I'm really enjoying working on this sweater. The pattern is easy to follow and the yarn (Cotton Fleece) has been surprisingly nice to work with! I'll certainly be making other garments from this yarn if it wears as nicely as it knits.

Mom may be stealing this pattern from me to make one for herself. Every time I see her she must see the sweater to see how it is making up. She's made two sweaters for herself and I think that she's ready for something done on smaller needles.

I made a little promise to myself that I wouldn't start anything new until Heather's pillowcases were done, but I totally broke that quite unreasonable promise. This is the yarn that Lana is using to make her Clapotis and when I saw it on her blog I fell in love with it! It is Sinfonia yarn and is 100% cotton. I'm making some 3x1 rib socks on size 3 birch needles and oh my gosh, I love it.

These socks were started on Thursday night and look at how far I am on them. The gusset decreases are done. I love how quickly these socks are working up! And the yarn has been great to work with. The yarn doesn't split at all and these will be some sturdy socks. Oh, and I love how the colors change! They're so bright and cheerful!!!

One last thing in this picture-laden post! Sarah and I met up on Thursday after work at Panera for a little knitting and chatting. Bryan was kind enough to pick up Owen and take care of their dinners so that I could do that. (Yay, Bryan!!!)

We had a great time and Sarah brought her latest treasure, a signed copy of the Mason-Dixon book. She even let me look through it! There are some great projects in there and I may have to put that one on a wishlist. Sarah finished the Ball Band dishcloth and is now working on the Baby Kimono. Isn't that a great color?

I'm hoping that after we get back from California I'll be able to get back to her Sunday afternoon knitting group. One cannot underestimate the value of being with other women who won't look at you crazy if you ask if anyone has a tape measure handy!

An inquiry

I've been looking for charities to knit for and have found a few that I like. I sent out an email to a few of them and have received very warm welcomes.

Warm the World has emailed me back saying that they're always looking for people to help, but since I'm out of their area I'll need to have 2 more people near me who want to join me so that they can ship out the yarn to us.

Springfield, MO knitters... who would like to joing me in knitting for Warm the World? I can have the yarn shipped to me and take care of distributing it and sending back the finished items.

Rare sighting: The Little Man Vest in action!

It was a sunny day, the first we had seen in almost a week here in the land of flash-flood and tornado warnings. I had just stepped outside to admire the warm sun and say "hello, I missed you!" when out of the corner of my eye I saw it.

I didn't move a muscle for fear of scaring it away. Sudden moves are the enemy of stealth observation. When I felt that it was comfortable with my close proximity I slowly turned my head in order to get a better look.

Oh, it was beautiful.

I calmy brought my camera up to my eye and snapped a picture before the moment was over. As soon as the digital camera did it's fake shutter-click sound the object of my admiration ran away. At least I have proof that it wasn't just a figment of my imagination.

Yaaaaarn

I bought this yarn over the summer with good intentions of making something really fabulous with it. It moved halfway across the country with me and during a recent stash perusal I found it again. Loyal yarn that hasn't gotten upset with me for not using it. Smart yarn that didn't get lost during the long voyage from Southern California to Southern Missouri. Brave yarn that has sat in the dark closet for months without complaining.

Here's the problem, I don't know that I really want to make anything with this yarn.

Here's my solution, I'd be interested in making a trade or a sale. This yarn lists at $7.25/skein and I'd be willing to part with it at $5/skein. Or, perhaps you love this yarn and have some yarn in your own stash that has also been loyal and brave but needs a new home. Tell me about it and we might just have a deal!

A very BIG thank you!

I received a package in the mail on Friday from the wonderful Beverly, of the recently renamed PoMo Golightly, who hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico. We met during SP7 when she was matched to me as the lucky person I had the opportunity to spoil. In actuality, I believe that I was the lucky one because Bev is not only incredibly easy to spoil and kind beyond imagine, but she also has the unique ability to make everyone she comes in contact with feel like you are the most interesting person she's met recently.

So back to the package that was sitting in my mailbox on Friday afternoon, I saw her name and address and must admit that I was more than a little excited. However, I did refrain from tearing open the padded envelope until after I had given my child a snack and settled him down with an Elmo's World video. (Let me tell you, that took some self-control!)
Once the package was open I was greeted with a sweet card and some yarn that instantly put a smile on my face. Can you blame me? This is the PoMo colorway of Mama-e's C*EYE*BER Fiber and I'm absolutely thrilled with it!!! How much do I love the fact that now I'll have some socks to remind me of Bev? A lot. And these socks are soooo going to be made for me.

Now that I've mentioned socks, thank you to those nice comments about Mom's socks! For those curious ones of you out there, the yarn is Sockotta and it is colorway #26. Today at work I finished the heel flap of the second sock and tomorrow I shall be turning the heel!

I've really enjoyed using the Magic Loop method on the last 2 pairs of socks, but I'm ready for some DPNs again. There's inner turmoil about this. See, I really like working with DPNs but I also like the slick metal of the Addi Turbos I've been using and all of my DPNs are bamboo. If I could find some metal size 1 or 2 DPNs I'd be in heaven.

Works In Progress status:

Heather & Spencer's embroidered pillowcases: Finally brought those back out tonight! Tomorrow night I'll have the first pillowcase completed and I'd like to have these done by the end of next week. I'm so pleased with how they're looking. Perhaps I'll post a picture tomorrow after I've finished the first one.

In Full Bloom Sweater: I'm still working on this! In fact, I've divided for the front and back and am working up the back while doing armhole shaping. I was working on it at my LYS on Saturday and got a TON of compliments on it! The compliments were encouraging and make me want to finish this even more. This is one project that will definitely be coming with me to CA in a couple of weeks.

Crocheted Baby Blanket: I actually finished this last night. It's not something that I've ever blogged about, but one of those projects that you work on for thirty minutes and then don't pick up again for another two weeks. Last night I finished up the body of it and then did all the edging. I'll tuck this one away for a gift.

Cozy: It's currently feeling cozy in the craft closet since I won't have time to work on it for a while. I have other projects that need my attention and it'll have to wait at least until the pillowcases are done.

What I see...

I've just created a project that photographically records what I see on my way to and from work. There are certain things that make me say, "I love it that I get to see this every day!" Old barns and two-laned tree-lined roads are high up on that list.

If you'd like to see my project, I have it on my Live Journal. Follow the link, or I have a button on my sidebar.

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I think that I may have been incredibly delusional to think that I'd actually be able to get the Cozy shawl done in time for my sister's June 3rd wedding. Why do I think this? Because I still have her embroidered pillowcases to finish and I'm only halfway through one. And I also want to throw in some cute knitted dishtowels. Plus, I also have socks to finish in time for Mother's Day and Mom's June 5th birthday.

So as much as I adore the thought of being able to wear a handknit shawl at my sister's wedding, I just don't think it's going to happen. After all, it's her big day and I want to actually give her their gifts on that day and not ship them back three weeks after the bouquets have withered.

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Speaking of socks..

Up top is the sock that I'll be giving to Mom for her birthday. I've finished the first one (see in the picture) and have started on the second sock. No second sock syndrome for me!

The perfect pair

Dad's 50th birthday is tomorrow, but we did some early celebrating on Saturday since he'll be out of town. We had a great time seeing the new developments at the land (paved roads, signs out front and uplighting on some HUGE trees in the entrance), having bbq for lunch and seeing an afternoon show in Branson. The evening was relaxing and refreshing with soft music in the background and a yummy birthday dinner at home. Dad and Bryan read books while Mom and I knit on some projects.

Mom is working on a couple of felted bags to give as Christmas gifts and I brought out Cozy to plug away on. (I'd really love to have it finished in time for my sister's June wedding. The bridesmaids dresses are all strapless and well... Brianne needs a shawl for the reception!) We were talking about projects we're loving and projects we're not so in love in when we made a very startling discovery.

Mom does not like making socks but loves making felted bags. I don't really like making felted bags but I love making socks.

This was when we realized just how perfect we are for eachother. But the wonderfulness doesn't end there.

The sock that I'm currently working on are actually for Mom, so while I was there I had her try it on to gauge the fit. That was when we discovered that our feet are EXACTLY the same size. Length and width.

So I'll be handing Mom some yarn to make me a bag and Mom has already handed me a skein of Trekking (my favorite!) that she had started some socks with that I'll be redoing for her. I do believe that we are the perfect knitting pair.

I'm a bad secret pal!

Last Friday I received my last package from my SP7 pal, and I never even blogged about it!

Um... oops!

My wonderful secret pal was Meg and she did a wonderful job of spoiling me! Throughout the exchange we realized that we had quite a few things in common... which always makes things more fun.
In this last package I found a great basic sock pattern that included several variations to build on. I'm so excited about this pattern, especially since it came with a ball of Trekking XXL yarn! (The girl knows my love for the Trekking!) It has the most beautiful shades of blue and I can't wait to put it on my needles. There was also some lovely bath stuff in a white jasmine scent. Even hubby dearest thought this stuff smelled great. Score!

Not pictured here are two little gifts for Owen, which I thought was the sweetest and most thoughtful thing for Meg to do. She gave him a dinosaur that lights up and a bouncy ball with a dinosaur inside. The reason they're not shown here is because they were immediately confiscated by the child and played with. The ultimate sign of a good gift. *grin*

Go over and check out Meg's blog! She has such an upbeat personality that really shines through. I've enjoyed perusing her past entries and have added her to my blog reads.
This is what is currently on my needles. The background is my In Full Bloom sweater that is going really well. I'm about 13 inches in and only have 2 more inches until I separate for the arm holes. The other project there is a sock using Sockotta yarn that Mom bought for me to make her some socks. She bought a skein of it for herself and a skein for me, payment I guess? I just finished the gusset decreases on it and I'm pleased with the sock so far. I did a seed stitch rib on the cuff... I think that's what it's called, at least.

This is the sock that is going with me everywhere. I have a new job (long story) and my lunches are only 30 minutes, but I usually have 10 minutes to devote to my sock at lunch and when the phones aren't busy and there aren't issues to resolve I'm allowed to surf the net, read a book, or KNIT! (I asked.)

I'm looking outside our little home office window at the pasture across the street and I remember what drew me to this house. The sky is grey from all the storms we've had today and I fall in love with this 8 foot window and the view that comes with it every time I pass it by.

FO Frenzy

There have been a rush of finished projects lately and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write about them!
First, the infamous Obot for Owen. This was completed the day before Easter and was presented to my boy in lieu of a huge basket of sugar candy. I love this robot and the great thing is that it wasn't nearly as scary to seam as I thought it was going to be!
The pink socks you may recognize as a Project Spectrum project from last month. They were actually finished a few weeks ago, but they've been busy being on my feet and so therefore not in top modeling condition. The orange socks were my first socks using the Magic Loop method and they did work up quickly. I used #2 US Addi Naturas and though I like the needles, I don't know that I'd use them again for socks. The join isn't very smooth and I found myself wrestling with them with every row.
The orange socks came with me and Owen to the park last week. It was so nice outside and the sock just begged to spend some time in the swings. Plus, we found a fellow Project Spectrum April friend there.
Orange sock, meet yellow flowered tree!

Obot, interrupted

Owen's Obot is almost completely done. All that's left is stuffing and seaming, and that's the part that I'm feeling the most nervous about.

I realize that Owen really doesn't care if his Obot is perfect, in fact it'd be cuter if it's not, but the Mom in me wants a perfect Obot for her kiddo. Nevermind the fact that this is based only very loosely on the pattern in the New Knits on the Block book and that a hundred small things have already been changed. I still want the best Obot ever.

And that's why the Obot has been sitting in this condition since Sunday night. I purchased the stuffing for him on Monday morning but haven't brought myself to actually begin the stuffing and seaming. I may need an intervention at this point, but I'm not entirely sure. I should see if Sarah would come over to be of some moral support, or maybe I could just drive to the yarn store and be guilted into finishing it, or maybe I should just shut up and do it. Any way it goes, this will definitely require homemade rice crispy treats.

Knitting it up!

Laura at Affiknitty wanted to know who makes the Baby Alpaca Grande. It is made by Plymouth Yarns and it runs around $10 - $13 per skein. I used two skeins for the scarf I made but I like my scarfs extra long. (This one reaches to my knees, perhaps a tad long but almost perfect!)

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Mom called me yesterday and told me that she was in the process of putting together her sweater made from Big Baby. It's a very exciting thing to be putting together a project... and things get even more exciting when you start counting pieces and realize that things don't add up! Front, back, sleeve, sleeve, sleeve. Yep, Mom made three sleeves! We decided that this was a great way of making sure you have enough yarn for a project! She's since unravelled the third sleeve but she toyed with the idea of tacking it onto the back of the sweater before showing it off at the yarn store!

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In knitting news, I decided to hide Owen's seed band sweater in the craft closet for a while. The majority of people said that they would put it away and though I feel a bit guilty, I had to agree! I've never really put away a project like that, but it felt really good to pick up something I actually wanted to work on.

Owen's robot is coming along! It has a head, back and half of a front. He's getting excited about his "obot!" and I love that. I show it to him whenever I work on it.

I started working on my first April project spectrum item. It's a pair of orange socks that I'm working in magic loop style. This is the yarn and needles from my needle exchange pal and also my first time using the magic loop method. I just kind of figured it out on my own since I didn't want to spend $10 on the book. I'm already on the gusset decreases and it seems to be moving along rather quickly. The process is still a bit clumsy and odd for me, but it's becoming more familiar.

I think I'll be casting on for my sweater today! I've been procrastinating because it's worked in the round so I have to cast on an overwhelming amount of stitches, but I just need to do it and get it over with. Oh, and did I mention that the first 6" is ribbing? Oh well. It's so stinking cute that it'll be worth it!

March's Pink Items

Pink Scarf: 2x2 rib, size 13US needles, Baby Alpaca Grande (color 2567)
Burgandy Mini Scarf: 1x1 rib, size 8US needles, Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk (color 12)
Pink Socks: Come to Silver sock pattern, size 4US dpns, Debblie Bliss Cotton Angora (color 24)

I've never been much of a pink girl. Anyone who knew me as a kid could tell you that I avoided pink like nobody's business. I was a tom boy who preferred comfort over frills and tree climbing more than tea parties. My sister had those things covered, thanks.

I loved blue and green, and I think that I always will choose those colors over others. But lately a disturbing trend has been noticed. Pink has snuck into my wardrobe. I have a few pink shirts and even a pink sweater! Heck, I even have a pink earring/necklace set that is way too cute. But I'm still a little hesitant about pink and I think that's part of the reason why I chose to do March's Project Spectrum in all pink. It was going to be a challenge!

The pink sock yarn was a Jimmy Beans Wool purchase from last summer and it is making up into some really luscious socks. The big pink scarf yarn was a Christmas gift from Mom & Dad who knew how much I had been drooling over that yarn when my sister used it to make her first scarf. It was a dream to work with and the most touchy feely yarn ever. And the burgandy yarn was a gift from my Secret Pal and Mom really wants to steal this from me.

I don't know that I'll ever be that pink-loving girly girl... but I'm a little step closer!

I'm in a knitting slump!

Last week and this week I've felt no desire to pick up Owen's sweater at night while we're hanging out relaxing. I've made myself do it, but it was more out of obligation, guilt and the desire to finish it so I could start something else than for any other reason.

Tonight as I was looking at it I've realized why. I have the sneaking suspicion that I am not going to have enough yarn for this project. Yes, I have the number of skeins listed for the size, but I don't have that spare skein that I always have "just in case". See, the yarn was purchased because it was so darn nice and nicely reduced in price... not because I had the perfect pattern for it. I just happened to find a pattern that worked and ran with it. And now my running is more of a slow cautious tiptoe.

So here's the golden question:

Do I keep going with the sweater that only has 3/4 of the sleeves and one front side left to do... and just see if I make it by the skin of my teeth?

Or

Do I put the project down and step away! Put it back in the yarn closet maybe in a dark corner and see if it somehow finishes itself? Or maybe just put it back in the yarn closet to be frogged later? I'm not so much in love with this sweater that I wouldn't consider this. And frankly, it really was more of a stashbuster and time-passer than anything.

Cast your vote!

I think that tomorrow night I'll pick up a new project (just until the final word from all of you come in!) and start a robot for Owen's birthday present. The pattern is coming from Vickie Howell's book, "New Knits on the Block" and I'll be changing it around a bit. Owen has just discovered "obots" and loves it when we watch Alias on DVD because at the very end you hear a kid say, "Bad Robot!" He runs around and with a big grin tells us, "OBOT!" How can I resist that? Must! Make! The Child! A Robot!

Thank you!

I received my package of goodies from my Needle Exchange Pal! As you can see, Samantha was very generous. She gifted me with a beautiful box that I think will be perfect for knitting notions. Perhaps my new Addi Turbos will go in there!
Oh, and do you see that beautiful sock yarn? That screams of Project Spectrum.... and I'm thinking cables. Thanks, Samantha!!!
There was also another package waiting for me, but this one was no present. I've earned the reputation at work as being the new girl with the cool knitted socks. I think these Lorna's Laces will make some great socks.
The skeins on the left are Black Watch and the colors are even more wonderful in person. The skeins on the left are Aslan and I bought them specifically because I don't have any socks that go with brown! Problem solved.

For those of you who commented, Owen is doing much better! We had one more trip to Urgent Care on Saturday morning and the antibiotics hadn't done anything for his ears so we were prescribed a new one. That new stuff did the trick and Sunday morning his fever broke! He was a sick little guy for 5 days and even though he's not completely fine, it's better than feeling bad and having a 102.6 fever.

I've had a string of finished items that I haven't shown off, including that I finished and lined my cabled purse. I love this purse and it's come to work with me for the past week. I also finished a scarf that is going in the Christmas present box, and a soft gift pouch that is finding it's home with my SP7 pal.

One FO that I'm really excited about is a Pretty Princess Cape that I made for a friend's little girl. She's 2 1/2 and her mommy is one of my good friends in CA. I crocheted her a cape that velcros in front with sparkly ribbon. And of course, there is a matching cape for her favorite teddy bear. I'll be sending that out tomorrow and I can't wait to hear how she likes it!

Tornado socks

Project Details:

Yarn: Regia 4-Ply Needles: Size 2US bamboo dpns Pattern: Same as the last pair Notes: I think that the size 2 needles for this sock yarn was perfect. It wasn't too loose, nor was it too tight of a fabric. I wouldn't have gone down to a 1 or up to a 3, even if I could magically wave a wand and change it without having to knit them over. I loved the self-striping stuff going on. So fun! These are identical twins, even though they may not look like it in the picture. I'd like to find a pattern with a different heel, since these are coming out a little loose (even with the smaller needles).


Just like my last socks, these socks have significance for me. I knitted on them last week while doing several interviews for my current employer and also on Sunday night while sitting in the middle of the boys locker room in the junior high school while waiting for the tornado to pass our city. Thankfully, I got the job and got home safely from our first tornado evacuation to find our home still intact. There were fifty homes in our town that were either severely damaged or destroyed.

I wore these socks today and felt blessed. Blessed that I have a job, even if there are times during this very comprehensive training when I really want to throw my training binder across the room. Blessed that I have a home that is still standing and not damaged at all. Blessed that I have a beautiful home with family to fill it with love and laughter.

I finished these socks last night after taking Owen to Urgent Care with a temperature over 102 degrees and with a rattling cough. I'm blessed that my sick child can have good health care and that with a few days of antibiotics his bronchitis and double ear infection will soon be clearing up. I'm blessed that I have motrin to bring his fever below the 103 that it was today. And I'm very blessed that I have a Mom who came to take care of my boy so that I didn't have to miss work.

I'm also blessed that I have plenty of yarn in my closet and was able to start a wonderful pink scarf for Project Spectrum. (Guess who has people at her new job asking her to teach them to knit?) My feet are warm now and my neck will be warm this next winter!

Here's to you and all of your blessings!

In which I fall off the wagon

It is official. I've fallen off the Stashalong Bandwagon!

I was temped by these beauties. 2 skeins of Trekking XXL and 2 skeins of some really great sock yarn that Lana is using to make a Clapotis that will be some very cheerful socks.

I do still intend to limit my yarn purchases to a minimum since I do have plenty of yarn with which to knit. Kind of my own modified stashalong, I suppose.

Monday is my first day being back at work and I'm currently trying to figure out what kind of project to bring with me to knit at lunch. Before the knitting bug bit me I always brought a book with me to work, and I suppose I could still do that.

Currently on my needles are Owen's sweater (which is so not going to be finished by Saturday night, so don't ask), a pair of socks in the Regia I got for "Christmas" and the scarf from my Secret Pal. Since I plan on finishing the scarf tonight my work knitting projects could either be the socks, the sweater or something else altogether. Any ideas?

They really are lucky socks!

I had no clue that my socks had so much power, but not only do I officially have a job... but they have also decided to pay me $1.50 more an hour than originally discussed. Holy cow, these socks are potent!!!

And not only are they lucky and have some amazing magical capabilities to make people want to throw money at you, but they're very comfortable! My feet have been warm and cozy all day long.

So my new job starts on Monday morning, which gives me plenty of time to get the house way clean and the family (and myself) ready for Brianne Back At Work mode. And who am I kidding? I'll be knitting, too! I really want to finish Owen's sweater before Saturday.

It's a GREAT day!!!

Sock Happy

Details:
Yarn: Trekking XXL
Needles: Clover DPNs size 2US
Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple's Beginner Lightweight Sock

I think I'm going to remember these socks as the ones I worked on while looking for work. They came with me on Bryan's one day job search, and have been my companion and source of calm while I have been out on the town filling out applications and doing interviews.

These may just be my lucky socks as I now have a few job offers on the table and have the luxury of being able to choose which job I want. (A very nice problem to have!) I plan on wearing these on Monday to two more interviews and that happens to be the day that I'll decide which position to take. Lucky socks, don't fail me now!

Secret Pal bragging here

I must admit, I received my second SP7 package on Friday and haven't blogged about it until now. That makes me a very bad SP and for that I heartily apologize!

So go back in time with me to Friday. (Feel free to make the Wayne & Garth fade in/out motions and sounds. I won't laugh, I promise!) Carrie, my postal worker who is terribly sweet, came to the door with a box in hand. I knew that it was from my Secret Pal because of the cute flowery tape that she used on the last package!

I thought that I could show some self-restraint and use the unopened package as a reward for folding a mountain of laundry that was residing on our bed. I was so wrong.

Upon opening the box I found...

all this great stuff! A beautiful card with a Monet print on the front, the Oregon Tote pattern, the Vertical Stripes pattern and a ball of Debbie Bliss Alpaca & Silk in the most delicious shade of burgandy.

The yarn came with a cute flower brooch and a tiny pattern for a scarf that is held together at the neck with the included brooch. I'm so excited about making this scarf! Who cares if it was 67 degrees outside today... darnit! I need a scarf!



When Mom came over on Saturday to pick me up for our sock class I had to show her the loot and she almost died when she saw that yarn. Mom is now on the prowl for the exact color of Alpaca & Silk, except that Mom wants to make a whole sweater out of it and possibly have a love affair with it. (Okay, that might be going a bit too far, but you didn't hear her going on about this yarn!)

Secret Pal, thank you so much!