Yarn Pr0n!

Today's Yarn Pr0n Friday is brought to you by our friends at Rowan. More specifically, Rowan Tapestry in Color 177 (Lead Mine).

















This is a blend of 70% wool and 30% soybean protein fiber. How is yarn spun from soybean fiber? Beats me. But I was interested in testing it out. I think I'll probably turn these into some fingerless gloves at some point.

A very blueberry T

I'm amazed at how quickly I finished this!

Pattern: Very Berry T from March 2007 MagKnits

Yarn: Crystal Palace Bamboozle Yarn in Blueberries-Grapes colorway

Needles: Size 7 Addi Turbos (16") for body and size 7 bamboo dpns for sleeves

This FO is definitely not perfect. I made a very visible error in one row of the lace pattern but didn't really notice it until I was way past it and too lazy to go back and try to correct it. I also had some trial and error going on when I was attaching the sleeves to the body, which resulted in some gaps. But luckily, they are at the underarm and I was able to kinda fudge them closed.

I'm concerned that this is going to be way to small for my daughter. I made the 4 year old size (my daughter is a petite 3 year old, but I figured I'd still err on the side of being too big), but I'm not sure it will fit her. I have yet to block it, so maybe I can get some size out of it that way. I probably won't get a chance to block until this weekend, so if all goes well, I can post a picture of the kid wearing it! Otherwise, I'll have to find some other lucky little girl to be the recipient of this.

This edition of YPF is brought to you by...

...my most awesome Secret Pal! I know, I know, it's only Thursday, but I was so excited to get this that I had to get a jump start. I went as normal to check the mail today to find my usual bills, junk mail, etc. And a package. Hmmm....let's see what was inside, shall we?

Just this!

OK, see that on the left? Those are Knitpicks color cards! Oh, SP, you know me and my addiction to Knitpicks so well. I mean, come on, I love that! And it will be ever so useful to me. Then there's also some Tofutsies yarn:

It's sock yarn made of 50% superwash wool, 25% soysilk, 22.5% cotton, and 2.5% chitin. That's chitin, as in fiber made from shrimp and crab shells, which is naturally antibacterial. I love that she sent me this! In addition to really liking the colors (you know how I loves me some purple), I love that it's such an unusual yarn. Then, there's this:

That would be 2 balls of Berroco Gem in Sphalerite. So sparkly and pretty - I'm thinking a little wrap perhaps?

Do you think I'm finished yet? Oh, no, not by a long shot. Sit back and relax, my friends. Let me show you some more:

That would be a knitted cupcake. With beads for sprinkles. This might possibly be one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Then there are these:

Some oh-so-pretty stitch markers. I've never had pretty stitch markers before, just the boring blue and pink rings. So me likey.

And last, but in no way least, are 2 bars of the yummiest milk chocolate (yes, I already tore into one to try :). Ahh, how could I not love a woman who sends me chocolate in the mail?

Well, I feel sufficiently spoiled! And to my wonderful Secret Pal, my sincerest thank you! You definitely made my day!

Warm feet

After what seems like many, many months, I finally have these to show off:

Pattern: Baby Cable Rib socks from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss in Woodland Sage (less than 1 skein for each sock)

Needles: Size 2 Knitpicks dpns

While it did take me a long time to finish these (I finished the first one way back in January), it is only because I was knitting many other things in the meantime. But I kept occasionally plugging away at these, and I'm so happy that they are finished! And I'm already trying to decide which pattern to go with for my next pair of socks. I love knitting socks!

I'm also really rocking on the Very Berry T for the kid. I didn't take a progress picture, but I'll try to post one soon. I love how it's turning out and how quickly the knitting is going. I'm feeling quite productive lately!

In other knitting news, I'm happy to report that I've finally visited the acclaimed Arcadia Knitting! I just loved walking in to the skeins and skeins of yarn, all organized by color. I went with Knit Mongrel and Karen from Yarn is My Metier, whom I met for the first time yesterday. We met, along with KnitDDS and her mom, at an Indian restaurant for some authentic South Indian cuisine (mmmm....masala dosais). I've been reading Karen's blog for a while, so it was really nice to finally meet her! And she made KnitDDS the most amazing baby blanket (and even gave her more yarn to continue knitting it herself). I totally envy this woman's skills with needle and yarn! Anyway, afterwards, I had some time to kill (since my in-laws are in town and had the kid for the afternoon), so I convinced Karen and Knit Mongrel to join me in my virgin visit to Arcadia. We had a lovely time, and I left with some yarn to make my sister an Odessa (she saw the one I made for my mom and requested one for herself) and some fabulous yarn for my secret pal. What a day!

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

For today's pr0nny goodness, I give you:

This is Bamboozle from Crystal Palace Yarns in the Blueberries-Grapes colorway. It is 55% bamboo, 24% cotton, and 21% elastic nylon. I've never worked with a bamboo yarn before, but I read about them in the latest IK and was intrigued.

My main criticism of this yarn is that it comes un-plied (is that a word?) relatively easily. It unravelled pretty much immediately when I started casting on, making knitting that first row with my Addi Turbos (aka Blunty Stumpos) a little tricky. But I haven't really had a problem since then. It's otherwise a pretty nice yarn to knit with. And it's really stretchy.

I've already started the project I have lined up for this yarn - the Very Berry T from Magknits. See my progress:

I know, it isn't much. But it didn't take me too long to get to this point, so I'm optimistic that I may be able to get this finished in time for my daughter to be able to wear it this summer!

FO for a very good friend

My friend Susie very kindly stayed at our house during our 2 recent trips to watch our dog, Homer, and keep him company. Homer was a very happy and contented boy when we returned, so we know she did her job well. Some time ago, on this blog, when she saw my first attempt at a Calorimetry, she expressed her desire to have one. Well, if that isn't a call to a knitter! I love it when people actually request my talents! So I took her to an LYS and she chose some lovely yarn. I had way more than necessary for a Calorimetry, so I also made her a scarf. Following Jessica's suggestion, I made a Short Row Rib Scarf. Check it out:









I was pretty pleased at how everything turned out. I was a little worried that I wasn't going to have enough yarn in the skein left over to make a decent sized scarf, but through the miracle of blocking, it all worked out fine. And the yarn ended up being really soft, especially after a washing. I liked how it all turned out, and I think Susie did, too (or, at least, that's what she told me :)

The Return of Yarn Pr0n Friday!

Hi, folks!

It's been a long time since I've posted any pr0n. But this is such lovely pr0n, that I think it was well worth the wait!

This is the much-praised HandMaiden Sea Silk. And from what I see so far, this deserves all the praise it has received!

This is some wonderfully soft yarn, and if Grumperina is to be believed (which I think is a good bet), it knits up very nicely. I don't know what color this is, since I can't find a color on the label. But judging by the colors (or should I say colours) on the HandMaiden site, I'd guess it is Sangria. Or perhaps Origin. The colors are so incredibly beautiful, and my pictures definitely don't do it justice! This is a lace weight yarn, so I'll have to find a worthy lace project for it (that my skills are up to, of course). If anyone has any ideas, throw them my way!

In other news, I don't have the very special FO that I had promised. I'm lame. And I'm not going to drag out the suspense - I decided that I was not going to be undone by the sweater, and started seaming it. But it looks terrible, so I'm going to have to rip it out and try again. This time with the help of Knit Mongrel, I hope (to whom I have promised a dinner in exchange for a seaming lesson - hopefully, she's still up for it!). ARGGHHHHH!!!!!

But let's get back to happy thoughts - mmmm, Sea Silk. I think I need to go fondle the yarn. That'll cheer me up!

And.....we're back!

We returned late, late Saturday night from our Colorado ski trip, which was a lot of fun. The snow was only so-so this year, and I'm not sure my skiing improved all that much, but it was a good time. And the kid seemed to really love being on skis (at least by the end of the week :)

I don't know if it was just the post-skiing exhaustion each day, but I didn't do nearly the amount of knitting I thought I would. I fully intended to finish the other baby cable rib sock, and while I made some progress, I didn't finish it. But the trip was not a complete knitting bust - I found a lovely LYS in Steamboat (The Fiber Exchange) and splurged on a completely luxurious, completely unnecessary, and completely beautiful skein. I'll save pictures and more details for Friday.

And I'm still working on the WIP I teased about in my last post. It's coming along slowly but surely. Hopefully I'll have pics for you by the end of the week!