So Much To Say

I have so much to tell! First, you must check out The Plucky Knitter, Sarah. She and I "met" on EBay. Remember the Chevron Scarf from LMKG I've been wanting to knit? Well, Sarah just happened to be selling both Farmhouse and Watermelon Tourmaline Socks That Rock - the exact 2 skeins dogged used, and the exact two skeins I wanted! (How beautiful!)

Apparently, Sarah herself had also thought about knitting the Chevron Scarf. I emailed her and asked if I could buy both in a "Buy It Now" situation. She agreed, and was fantastic to work with. We ended up reading each other's blogs and realizing we had quite a bit in common! I have become an avid reader of her blog; she knits some fantastic things and takes great pics. Sarah also hosted a contest this past week; whomever was her 100th comment would win a prize. Ironically, I turned out to be her 100th comment! How cool is that? Sarah says she's mailing me my prize - a skein of Vesper sock yarn. I'm so thrilled, I've never used Vesper before and have really been wanting to try it. Sarah and I are turning out to be great knitting blogger buddies, aren't we? She's mentioned she might be in St. Louis sometime soon - we will definitely have to meet up at one of the LYSs in town!

On to other great yarn news. I received my Mama Llama Sock Club package today. It has pretty sock yarn, a beautiful bag, a pattern, and a cute sheep stitch marker. Isn't it neat how it all coordinates together? I love getting goodies in the mail!

I finished the One Skein Baby Bolero, but am withholding a picture. I seamed one of the sleeves on a little wrong, and it's puckering a little. I plan to redo the seaming soon. Maybe I'll post a pic then.

I also finished the Wendy Knits Kitty Pi. What a fun knit! I was worried that Muffin and Sam might not be interested in checking it out, but check out Muffin!

Pattern: Kitty Pi by Wendy Knits

Yarn: 2 skeins Noro Big Kuyeron & 2 skeins Fun Fur (I only used a little bit of the Fun Fur, but used 2 skeins double stranded)

Needles: Size 11 Crystal Palace Bamboo DPNs & Size 11 24 inch Addi Turbo Circular

Started: 3/21/07

Finished: 3/30/07

A Little Bit of Everything

So, I'm a little addicted to knitting podcasts. Ok, so a lot addicted. I have definitely gone over the edge. I'm not sure how I lived prior to owning an IPod really. It's practically embarrassing. Here's a few I listen to: Lime & Violet, It's a Purl Man, Sticks & String, Knitting Psychos, Math for Knitters, BritKnit Cast, Lixie Knits It, Stash & Burn, CraftBorg, Pixie Purls, Pointy Sticks, Unwound, Trueyarns, Cast On, and Ready Set Knit. I also frequent a few general craft podcasts, like CraftyPod and CraftSanity.

I have been slowly downloading and listening to a lot of the past podcasts for all these people. I downloaded all of Lime & Violet's this weekend. I wish I never had to go to work, and I could just stay home all day and knit and listen to these two gals. They are hilarious!

I bought some gorgeous Hill Country Yarn in a very Lime & Violet colorway Saturday at the Kirkwood Knittery. I have to say, their shop is fantastic. I had so much fun talking with everyone and checking out their awesome selection of yarns. Oh, here's the obligatory yarn pic:

I am so lucky to have so many LYSs close by, you know? I bought some great things for my secret pal too. I have her packages all planned out already, because you know how perfectionistic and crazy I am with all that stuff!

As for actual knitting, I made 2 of these:

Pattern: Umbilical Cord Hat from Stitch 'N Bitch

Yarn: 1 skein Blue Sky Organic Cotton in Sand (made 2 with yarn left over)

Needles: Size 7 16" Denise Interchangeables & Size 7 DPNs

Started: 1st one: 3/9/07, 2nd one: 3/10/07

Finished: 1st one: 3/10/07, 2nd one: 3/11/07

This yarn is awesome to knit with, and the pattern is adorable! I plan to gift one with a baby bolero from One Skein, and the other with a baby kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting. The baby bolero is actually done, but needs to be blocked, so the pic is forthcoming.

Scarf Lust

Ok, I've really been lusting after the Last Minute Knitted Gifts Chevron Scarves everyone has been knitting. Have you checked them out on Flickr? I am dying to make one out of Socks that Rock. My favorite is doggedknits version - I am stunned with how fantastic her two colors (Farmhouse and Watermelon Tourmaline) knitted up. I am dying to buy them! Unfortunately, I am on a very limited budget right now, and I really don't need to start knitting a scarf in the middle of March, right? Although, here in St. Louis, we had snow today. That's right - snow. So do you think that maybe justifies starting a scarf?

Another Cozy

Pattern: None really; I just cast on 42 stitches

and knit in Knit 1 Purl 1 ribbing for about 17 rows.

Yarn: Malabrigo

Needles: I used the 2 circs method of knitting in the round, using a Size 7 Addi 24 inch needle and a Size 7 24 inch Knit Picks Option needle.

I have no clue when I knit this - it was last week sometime; it was obviously a super quick knit!

I plan to gift this particular one to my friend Ericka, since she and I frequent Starbucks together quite often. I think I will have to make a few more, including one for myself!

No One Mourns the Wicked

Pattern: Wicked from Zephyr Style, Size 32-35"

Yarn: 9 skeins Knit Picks Shine Worsted

Needles: Knit Picks Options US Size 7

Started: 2/20/07

Finished: 3/2/07

This yarn was way too drapey for this project. The sweater was a little big when I finished knitting it. But after I tried to block it, it became absolutely HUGE. So, I threw it in the dryer with a couple pairs of old jeans, and shrunk it up a bit. I still don't think the yarn was the right choice; it just doesn't cling like I would like it to. I really wish it was more fitted, especially in the waistband. Maybe I should have made a size smaller even, who knows. But, it's not too bad for my first adult size sweater, right?