Good Girl/Bad Girl

Good Girl

I've been a good girl this week. I finished the back of butterfly on Monday! Don't mind my bright background, I'm too lazy to dig anything else out at the moment (maybe my old blue carpet background wasn't so bad afterall). I've already started the front frill and hope to be finished the front very soon. Well, finished very soon if I had been totally a good girl this week........

Bad Girl

So I went to the yarn store yesterday - to shop for my Secret Pal - I SWEAR!! Well, it didn't quite go the way that I planned. I walked out of there with two balls of Kidsilk in Trance- destined to be the shorter version of Butterfly (I just can't help myself!) I also couldn't resist buying 6 balls of Big Wool for Blackberry. The store had just received a new shipment of Big Wool and I just couldn't help myself.

Then, to make matters worse, when I came home I spent several hours working on Blackberry instead of poor Butterfly. I checked my gauge and then started knitting like crazy. I had forgotten how nice and quick it is to be using a needle larger than size 2! So I knit for about 2 hours and got all the way up to the armhole shaping when I realized that my gauge was off. That sucked the big one. So I frogged the back and dropped down a needle size. Perfect! That is the beauty of large knits - work 2 hours - wrong gauge - no problem! Blackberry is filling a very big void in my life right now - or at least very soon - A FINISHED PROJECT! I haven't finished a project in I can't even remember how long. In fact, since I have started this blog, I have only finished a scarf and shrug. Shame on me! Lucky is ready to be sewn up and the FairIsle is almost finished and ready to be stitched also, but they don't seem to want to be sewn up any time soon.

Butterfly Progress

And SP6 is on its way! I received an email from my secret pal yesterday and sent an email off to mine today. I am really excited to finally be apart of the swap. Now it gives me an excuse to check out the fall stock in my LYS. I've been trying to stay away due to my large inventory of projects to be knitted.



Butterfly is coming along very well. I'm 3cm away from decreasing for the armholes. I hope to be starting on the front by next week. I guess it all depends on how much IKEA furniture I get put together over the next couple of days. I'll tell ya one thing, It's amazing they can fit an entire love seat in 3 small boxes. They must have an entire team strictly dedicated to getting the furniture to fit in small boxes! Could you imagine getting paid to do that?

I know I say this all the time, but I really need to start knitting faster. I have so much I want to knit, and not enough time! With the new Knitty out, I want to make almost everything! Every issue gets better and better. I think it's wonderful to have an open submission process that brings in fresh ideas. Knitty rocks!

Secret Pal 6 questionnaire

Yay! I didn't miss Secret Pal 6, though I probably would have had it not been for the heads up by Chia!

So here is my (hopefully interesting) questionnaire:

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I prefer natural fibers. Acrylics just pill way too much - after spending all that time knitting something nice, I want it to stay looking nice. As far as Red Heart and Lions Brand - every yarn has it's place, but it hasn't really found it's way into my knitting projects yet.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I want to learn how to spin. I bought my drop spindle about 5 months ago and am yet to get going with it. I know how to crochet, but don't do it very often.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

Sometimes the occasional feline will send me into a sneezing fit.

4. How long have you been knitting?

About 5 1/2 years.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Amazon and Half.com - though I only have a few knitting related things on there at the moment..........

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Vanilla

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

MMM, chocolate...... What was the question again????

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

Bookbinding, beading, restoring old Dodge cars

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Alternative music such as Bad Religion, Pearl Jam, Weezer. Yes, I am MP3 capable.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I tend to lean towards cooler colors: olive, blues, turquoise but I also have a new fondness for magenta and rust oranges. Don't really like purple or pastels. Black is always good too (I've been living in New York for too long!)

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

No pets, but I really want a dog soon.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Life dreams - simple - to own my own yarn store in the near future!

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Anything by Rowan - but I'm looking to break my Rowan addiction. HELP!! Kidsilk mohair rules my life!

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Acrylic and scratchy wool

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Small needles and Rowan kidsilk - I also am itching to learn how to do socks.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Sweaters on small needles. But I really want to knit some socks.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Butterfly from Rowan 37 (mmmm, kidsilk and lace - perfect together)

18. What do you think about ponchos?

Well, considering I work in the fashion industry - I was over them before they ever hit the racks.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Straight

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Bamboo

21. Are you a sock knitter?

I want to be.

22. How did you learn to knit?

My grandma taught me when I was about 7, then I picked it up again during college.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

5 1/2 years young.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

I have several: Grommet and Shawn the sheep, The Powerpuff girls, Hello Kitty

25. What is your favorite holiday?

My Birthday - it should be a holiday!

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Besides yarn..........can't think of anything

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Rowan International - though I should really get Interweave too, I buy it every season, it just took me like 2 years to notice I did!

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

I've been searching for a good sock book.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??

Blue Sky Alpacas: Knit Boots, Glampyre: Tubular Camisole, Mac and Me: Yoga Socks

So there you have it. I can't wait for my Secret Pal to be assigned! This is going to be so fun!

Moving Aftermath

So I've been in my new place for about a week and a half now and I absolutely love it! I only moved a couple of blocks away from where I used to live, but the new neighborhood is so much busier.

Here we have a perfect picture example of what moving can do to an otherwise healthy dana:


I moved into a 4th floor walkup without an elevator. We all felt like the above after going up and down those stairs 50 trillion times. So I am pretty much unpacked - NOT! As you can see, I have the computer up and running and then tons of boxes all over the place. I venture forth to IKEA this weekend to pick up some cheap furniture. I love IKEA! Then maybe I can get all my knitting books out of boxes and my yarn stashed away in it's proper place. I'm going to have a little designated knitting corner with a comfy chair, basket for work in progress, and a nice bright light so I can see what I am doing for a change.





And here is my progress on Butterfly from Rowan 37. I'm finally up to the waist after neglecting it during the move. I am very surprised by how quickly it is knitting up and I should have the back done in no time. The wood floors aren't exactly the best backdrop for the picture, but I really don't miss my old blue carpet! Next time I'll stop being lazy and get out a pillowcase or sheet or something!

And finally, thanks to all who have left me nice comments about my Magknits pattern. It keeps me motivated to keep turning them out. Knitty is next on my agenda, wish me luck!

Magknits is up!

Yay! Magknits is finally up and my new pattern is posted! It's so exciting. You can view my new pattern here: http://www.magknits.com/Aug05/sesame.htm.

I applogize for my lack of knitting posts lately, but I moved last week and it took up most of my time for the past couple of weeks. I only moved a couple of blocks away from my last apartment, but this one was a 4th floor walkup. Let's just say that my calves were screaming a little after the move. My legs are finally starting to feel better - 4 days after!

Butterfly has been coming along and I will post pictures once my computer at home is unpacked and back online.

I've been tagged

So this is my very first tag from Dana:

id·i·o·syn·cra·sy
n. pl. id·i·o·syn·cra·sies
A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.

Write down five of your own idiosyncrasies. Then, if you wish, tag five people to do the same.

1. I absolutely hate the word "bubbles".

2. In any store I walk around feeling and touching every fabric that I possibly can

3. I'm constantly making lists to get organized and then constantly loosing them in my papers.

4. I want to live in Hazzard County

5. I work on cars and I knit (I've confused alot of men on this one)

And in knitting news:



Coming along on Butterfly. I've knit about 2 1/2" of the body already. It's moving along a bit more quickly then I thought. I guess because I usually use very small needles with the kidsilk haze and this project uses size 8's. I originally thought I might wear this for my cousin's wedding on August 26th, but there is no way it will be finished by then. Plus I still need to shop for an affordable vintage slip. I did a little bit of looking around for one this weekend, but I only came across a couple of dresses that begged me to purchase them. I'm sure that I could find something in NYC easy enough - but I don't really feel like paying $100-150 for a slip that someone wore 30 years ago! So all the searching must wait for the weekends when I am in reasonibly priced New Jersey.

Summer cleaning

So I decided to do a little bit of cleaning and organizing this weekend after a trip to IKEA. I bought some magazine holders to tame my growing collection and some nice stripy boxes for my stash.

Thing is, I really didn't think I even had much of a stash. When I first started knitting, I was very, very disciplined and would only move on to the next project when the last was finished - well, about 90% of the time. Well, it seems that over the past 5 years, I have actually collected enough yarn to safely call it a stash.


Yes, there is a second layer under there!

I guess my downfall was the net. When I first started knitting, I didn't really connect the two. Now I'm checking out what everyone else is doing - get jealous - and need to go buy more yarn for that particular project. Plus there are all of those lovely online yarns stores that occasionally have some pretty good sales - how could anyone resist! And as I am writing this, I remembered that I have about 25 more balls of yarn hidden in three different corners of my room.........

So now some more organizing - a little recap of WIP and projects in queue:

1. Lucky - still need to block and stitch
2. Fairisle - finishing up front
3. Butterfly - first frill done! Yay!
4. Hot Lava - the Manos is calling my name
5. First Aid - (Rowan 32) Polar was being discontinued and was onsale. Yes, I waited long enough!
6. Petit Chou - bought the yarn when Knitty Summer 04 came out, just a little behind

Patterns I've bought recently:

1. Orangina
2. One skein wonder
3. Silk ribbed corset

Then there are all these wonderful things that I want to knit from the new fall collections. Too many to mention!!!!!

Guess I should close this entry and get knittn', cause I sure have plenty of it to do!

Two of a Kind

Finished my second fairisle sleeve last week. Finally getting around to posting again. Knitting has taken a back seat to life lately. Busy all around and too tired to knit! Can you believe it, too tired to knit! What is this world coming to?!



I did however have some time to start swatching for Butterfly from the Rowan Spring mag. This has been on my list for some time and since I didn't feel like carting around 8 balls of yarn last week to finish up the front of my fairisle, Butterfly finally got a chance.



Not only did I get a chance to swatch and practice knitting with beads (I have to thread on 500 of the little suckers!) But I started on the inner ruffle at the bottom. At first I wasn't so sure that I was happy with the result. Then I kept knitting along and it started to look a little nicer.



Some of the girls at SnB think that I was crazy for doing this project with all the beads and lace and little tiny mohair yarn - but I really live for this stuff. In fact, after I make the dress version, I think I might also do the tunic version in a nice teal blue color. Basically I just have an obsession with kidsilk haze. Is there anything wrong with that?

Finally gave up on waiting to receive my Yorkshire tweed chunky from England for the boyfriend's sweater. Had to call the credit card company last week and get the charge refunded after trying numerous times to contact the store by email. Sad thing is that I was getting it for about $9 a ball and I can't find anyone here in the states that can even come close to that great price. I need 11 balls of the stuff and don't really want to pay $15-$17 for it. Guess I'll just have to wait for another Handworks Gallery sale, sigh.............

Out of Hiding

So the other night, I get the brilliant idea to finally knit a yoga mat bag so I don't have to carry my mat in hand several blocks to my new class. I've been wanting to knit the nice mesh version from SNB 2, but everytime I start, I get very distracted, end up messing up and rip, rip, rip. Since I'm probably going to another class on monday, I didn't exactly have much time (or sanity) to devote to knitting a rectangle that bores me to death.

So I had an epiphany. "Hey I can knit one up so fast on my knitting machine!"

Yes, my knitting machine. The knitting machine that has sat underneath a sunflower bedsheet for the past 4 years. I decided to dust it off and have a go.


The long neglected machine.


Setting up the needles.


Jersey fabric moving along.


20 inches in 2 minutes. I'd like to see a handknitter do that!


Yes, I actually blocked my rectangle!


The ribber at work on my 1x1 rib, 23" long strap.


Even gave a quick touch of the iron to my strap.


Finished!

I sat down at the machine at 9:00 p.m. Fumbled around trying to remember how to cast on. Read some notes from college knitting class. Talked on the phone, knit a little, ironed some, and then stitched it up. By 10 p.m. I had a wonderful functional yoga bag that didn't bore me to knit. My knitting machine is my new friend for boring jersey projects.

I actually wanted to knit my bag in a pointelle stitch, but the lace carriage wasn't co-operating, and I just wanted the thing finished. Function over fashion for this project. Maybe one day, I'll sit down for another hour and make a nice lacy one, but for now, this will do. For now, the poor neglected knitting machine goes back under the sheet and I move on to more interesting things, such as finishing up my 2nd sleeve on my fairisle sweater.

Ships Ahoy!

Found this cool little quiz today:

My pirate name is:

Black Bess Rackham

Like anyone confronted with the harshness of robbery on the high seas, you can be pessimistic at times. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Hmm, have been thinking about some other words to put on Hardcore from Knitty instead of "cool boys knit". I think my pirate name could be fun. I think I'll rewrite the pattern a little, but a big cardigan w/ a skull yarn ball on it is just the coolest thing ever! BTW, for those that don't know me, I love anything with skulls on it. I was very impressed by the Knitty men's issue. Now I just need to get my boyfriend to read some of the articles about men who knit and try to teach him! We'll see....

In other knitting news, finished the 1st sleeve on my fairisle pullover. Then last night I finished the fairisle part on the second sleeve. So sad actually. Now I am in one color jersey world and I'm not having too much fun. At least I did take part of my front apart to fix the neck drop, so I havent' seen the last of my fairisle yet. Maybe later on tonight I'll have some time to post some pictures so you can share in my fairisle high.

10:55 p.m.

As promised, here is a pic of the finished sleeve with it's less finished sister on the right. Hopefully I can make a dent in the jersey section this weekend when traveling back to New Jersey. Hooray for weekends!

Before and After

So this was my front yesterday.....


And this is my front today.....


Somehow it doesn't even hurt. Frogging really isn't too bad, then again, I didn't exactly have much to frog. The fairisle actually knits up very quickly and having half your stitches bound off for the next make it even quicker. I've already started my sleeve though, so finishing the front will have to wait til the needles are free -- though I'm sure I probably have another set of 6's around somewhere.

Still haven't even thought about blocking or sewing Lucky together. I guess that's the nice thing about not having a deadline this time around -- there is no need to stay up til 4 in the morning to sew on 62 1/2" of neckband!

So I was just browsing around the net, looking at other knitter's blogs that I have been backed up on for weeks and I wondered onto Glampyre's blog. She has two very cute patterns for sale that are very tempting: Orangina and One Skein Wonder Orangina is knit in Rowan 4ply -- one of my favorites (and knit on size 3's too -- how perfect)! Hmm, could this be one more thing to add onto my wish list.....just what I need!

Back in the saddle again

And here is the fruit of my labor over the past couple weeks. I finished up the front last night and started the sleeve when I came home from work. Then I was just checking the original picture, and I realized that I started the neck drop for the front way too low - even though it measured OK according to the directions. It seemed low to me when I was separating my neck stitches on the holder, but I trusted the directions and didn't have the picture in front of me. Well, if I decide to rip back, it's not that many rows and it should only set me back about an hour or hour and a half worth of work. I also noticed that the sleeve I started tonight should have been started w/ burgundy. I somehow assumed it was supposed to be olive. Why I assumed that, I have no idea. Guess it's the mental burn I've been feeling lately! At least that only means ripping back 10 rows of garter stitch.

And in hockey news -- THE PHANTOMS WON THE CALDER CUP!! 1998 and 2005 - How sweet it is! Who cares about NHL when all the excitement is right here in the AHL. I don't need a bunch of whining, overpaid players. All I need is some young guys with heart!

Missing in action

So, yes it seems I have been missing in action for almost a month. I have been severely lacking in knitting motivation lately. I haven't even been checking in on my bloglines feeds.

So tonight at LIC SnB, Chia tells me that Secret Pal 5 has been closed??? Closed! But I just checked the blog on May 30th and it hadn't been updated since like February! So tonight I fired up the computer for what seems like the first time in weeks and go to the site. No updates. So I get the great idea to check the comments - UGH!!! She posted the new SP5 site in the comments!!! So I miss out again. Seems I wasn't the only one to miss out though - there were a couple of other knitters that didn't notice the post in the comments about the new site either. Does anyone out there know of any other knitter exchange lists out there? Or is SP5 the only one?

I guess I should be thanking my lucky (or unlucky) stars that I did miss the sign up for SP5. I have been very busy at work trying to get my line together for Spring 2006. Then my acid reflux started to act up again (stress anyone???) and I missed 3 days of work putting me behind by about a week. My Spring line was supposed to be in by Monday - I only have 20 styles done! I'm missing about 30-40 styles, and that's just for August market! I'm going to need to do at least another 80-100 styles to fill up September - November market. I feel like I am perpetually behind in my new job. Just when I think I've caught up - BAM! something else comes along and messes me all up. In two weeks, I'm supposed to be starting my collection for Fall 06. Ugh! I don't even want to think about it!

Hopefully check back in tomorrow and I should have some knitting related work up. Lucky is done, but not sewn together. My fairisle is looking pretty good and should have the front done very shortly. I am itching to start on the Hot Lava Cardigan and need to get the fairisle done ASAP! Still haven't received my yarn from England that I ordered on the 31st of March for my boyfriend's sweater - even though my card was charged! This is getting ridiculous..........

Sweaters and Hockey

Got to see a very exciting playoff hockey game on Sunday. It was between the AHL Philadelphia Phantoms and the Providence Bruins. The Phantoms won game 6 and the Eastern Conference to move onto the playoffs this week. GO PHANTOMS! So glad that even with the current NHL strike, I still get to see some hockey so I don't go into total withdrawal! And for those who say "What does hockey have to do with knitting?" Well, the player's jerseys are actually called sweaters, though they really aren't quite sweaters like they were in the old days........


2005 Eastern Conference Champs!! Woo! Hoo!

Group Hug

Handshake line

And in knitting news:

Finished my second sleeve on Lucky and have about 44" done on the neckband "snake". Figure that I should have this one in the bag in the next week or two. Just depends on if I'm in a sewing mood or not. It's not like I can wear the sweater now anyway, little warm for cashmere this time of year. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!



Also received my batch of Rowan Polar in the mail from Jimmy Bean's this week. Polar has been discontinued and there is this Rowan cable sweater from a couple issues back that I have wanted to knit for over two years. Figured it was now or never.....plus it was a really great deal on the yarn. Good things come to those who wait two years!!!

Gettn' things done

Not too much in the way of knitting news.....finished my 1st lucky sleeve last Tuesday. About 1/2 way finished the second. Would have posted a picture if I wasn't so lazy.

But see, I'm really not all that lazy tonight. I was a good girl and sent off my finished pattern to MagKnits for the Chilly 05 issue and I corrected the sleeve pattern on the Lucky Clover wrap. The tech editor had graded the muscle a little bit too small (12" on an XL - don't think so). But it's all over now and the corrections should be posted on Debbie's site soon. I've also posted the sleeve corrections on the Lucky KAL. If you're in a hurry and the corrections haven't been posted yet, you can find them here.

NO NOT MY PICTURES!!!!

So Kerrie from MagKnits emails me the other day for an update on my pattern for the Chilly 05 issue. I write back happilily that pattern is finished, sweater is knit, and the pictures are taken. Just needed to proof the pattern.

So, I had some free time last night to proof the pattern. Sat down at the computer and magically - Windows will not load. Now I'm just frightened that I will loose all my photos taken for the MagKnits project + everything else I've ever taken on the back 1 1/2 years. I was devistated!

Learn from my mistakes people! Always back up all your pictures! Always!

So now my task becomes trying to unlock the secret of my computer's sudden demise. A new Apple computer is looking very tempting right about now........stupid PCs.

Update 9:32pm: Computer is now fixed. All photos are safe. Still thinking about that Mac though..........

Alpaca inspiration

Spent the day at home. Had a bit of a cold and felt too ache and miserable to go to work. So I slept and I knit. I put Lucky aside for the day and picked up my Alpaca Fair Isle project from Vogue magazine. After all, seeing those cute little animals on Saturday just put me in the mood. And here is my progress for the day:



Yes, those are all nasty, nasty ends that need to be woven in when finished. I have the feeling these ends will scare me away from fair isle for the rest of my knitting days. Seaming together Lucky is nothing compared to this bad boy!

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

Cute Alpaca

Went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival on Saturday. Had such a great time and it turned out to be such a beautiful warm day. All the sheep and alpaca were so cute! I want an alpaca so bad, they look like big teddy bears. My boyfriend was also into the alpaca - maybe they could help out keeping the grass down with all the rain we've been having lately! Interestingly enough, Alpaca are mainly raised for breeding in the U.S. The U.S. market has not begun to widely utilize the animals for their fiber. Seems a bit strange to me, but when I saw the prices the animals bring in, I understood completely.



Here's a little sheep getting a haircut just before the sheep judging competition.


A cute little ram.

It was very interesting to see the sheep getting sheared and how they actually behaved while being buzzed by a scary razor. Also saw some people spinning roving into yarn. I think my next adventure will be just that. I think I'll start doing some research into spinning wheels - b-day and Christmas are just around the corner! It would just be such an accomplishment to not only say that I knit and designed my sweater, but also spun the yarn. Maybe a little farther down the road, I'll actually start from the fleece, but starting w/ roving is adventurous enough for now. Now, if I could just manage to find some free time.......

Speaking of roving, that was my only purchase all day. I was so proud of myself! All that yarn was soooooooo tempting, but I held back. I purchased 4 oz of Icelandic wool roving from a sheep named Moonwink. I think that I am going to use it unspun as some sort of funky collar for a cardigan. Then if I have any left, maybe I'll play around and try to spin some of the roving on a drop spindle.


My only purchase

And finally in knitting news:
#1 Finished the left front of lucky tonight. Sleeves are on the way!
#2 Yarn for boyfriend's sweater still hasn't arrived from England. That leaves me at least one more week before I have one more project on my plate.
#3 Rowan Polar is on backorder, should be in this week. One less project to worry about for now!


3 out of 5

Lucky Front Part Deux

About 3/4 way finished left front of Lucky. I spent about 4 hours knitting tonight. Now it's 1 a.m. and I still have to pack for my trip home to Jersey. I really need to stop doing this - I need my sleep!

Have more new yarn on it's way. Heard that Rowan Polar was being discontinued, so I had to buy some. There is a pattern from 3 or 4 fall issues back that I never got around to making. I just could not figure out the cable pattern. Then one day, traveling home on Amtrak - it hit me! Nothing is better than knitting enlightenment! So now this means that I have enough yarn for 6 planned projects. I think I should start knitting a bit faster. Either that or I'm not going to be able to pick up any new magazines, or look at any new books, or blogs - nothing that can inspire new yarn purchases. Hmm, guess that new Rebecca on the way will just have to wait.

Saturday I am making the trek down to Maryland to the Sheep and Wool festival. This will be my first - and hopefully not the last. Kind of a last minute decision on my part. I asked the boyfriend on Monday if he'd be interesting in getting out of town Saturday and I was met with a very enthusiastic response. In fact, he's been telling people all week about it! Now my only problem is keeping myself away from all the beautiful yarn. I have the feeling that I'll be on my first yarn diet soon......

Progress and Presents

lucky front
Originally uploaded by neoknits.

Yay! Finished right front of Lucky tonight. Moving along quickly, though I'm going to be sad when I'm no longer knitting with my cashmere. Hopefully I don't get too attached, I really don't have enough time to get a 2nd job to support my cashmere dependence!

And speaking of dependence, I really need to stop checking out what other people are doing in blogland. It's really bad for the wallet! So here's another project to add to the ever growing list: Hot Lava Cardigan. Found out about this pattern while checking out Winnie's blog (fellow knitter from Lucky KAL). Bought this lovely shade of deep purple/plum Manos for the project at Woolgathering in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. My boyfriend and I have been traveling a bit on the weekends so wherever we are headed, I always make sure to check if there are any stores in the area. I knew the store in PA carried Manos - and it was all over from there.





And in other news, finally should be receiving 11 balls of Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky to knit my boyfriend his cable sweater soon. Apparently it has been sent from England about the 1st of April. Didn't think shipping took that long, but since I have plenty of other projects on my plate, I don't mind waiting (Plus the yarn was pretty cheap - always a patience maker). I'm especially patient since he is going to be begging me to start as soon as the yarn comes in. Nevermind that summer is coming - he wants his sweater now! I made a deal that it will be done before the first sign of Fall - promise!