Welcome Home

Tonight I was welcomed home not only by outside kitty waiting for her dinner, but also a package. Inside this package was the best welcome home surprise... ...a wonderful loot of four, balled skeins of Cascade 220 in Plum. MMMM! When the BF and I were in Lawrence at the Yarn Barn two weeks ago I found this, but they didn't have enough, so they offered to mail me some, with no shipping (!), when it arrived at the store. I'd been waiting patiently, and finally, today was the day.

I am a complete yarn nerd. I know this because all I want to do is sit with it in my lap this evening, lookat the fabulous color, and every so often give it a squeeze. Yarn fondler...that's me.

I already know I'm going to make the February Lady Sweater with it. I've promised myself I won't start it yet though because I've got so many other projects going on.

I finally finished my Spring Ruffle Top, and I'm pretty happy with the results.

It took me about 5 days total, working on it after I got home from work. I'm not a super experienced seamstress, and this really didn't give me any problems to speak of. I really liked that there was no paper pattern to cut out (although sometimes those are nice too), and that it was totally customizable. Is that even a word? Anyway, the formulas in the tutorial worked perfectly. I did add the shaping on the sides and I brought the bottom in a bit too, just So it wasn't quite sooo flowy.

My fabrics are from Sarah's in Lawrence, and even though they aren't from the same designer, I think they went together really well.

The polka dots fabric is a little more greenish-brown than is showing up in the photo, and the pattern has a great mix of springy green and a greenish gold. Now I'm just waiting for warmer weather so I can wear it. Do you think anyone will ask if I made it? If they do, umm, is that a good thing or no? :)

I'm also STILL working on my Owls Sweater. I've got the body and two arms mostly done but it feels like it's going so slooow.

I also resolved to knit one pair of socks per month. Easier and less painful than diet and excercise in the new year, no? I started my "January Socks" which are actually the ever popular Jaywalker Socks. I'm using a crazy Paton's Kroy Sock Yarn in Fern Rose Jacquard, and it's been really fun seeing the stripes develop.

At this rate they may be March socks :). Actually, I'm flying to St. Louis and back for work tomorrow, and plane time = knitting time, so maybe they will actually be done within this month.

On that note, anyone else think it's weird that nail clippers are considered possible weapons on planes by the TSA but knitting needles aren't? Not arguing, and I'd obviously never even have to think about that if it weren't for all the crazy regulations...just sayin'. Come fly the fiber-friendly skies :).