What 29 cents will get ya these days

Only the best legwarmers EVER!  My friends from Columbus came down again last weekend and we went eating and thrifting, as we are wont to do.  I picked up these faire aisle legwarmers, got laughed at by them, and plunked down 29 cents to make them mine.  Yeah, 29 cents.  who prices this stuff?  I think they pretty much kick ass, and the BF said I look adorable today, so blleeeaah!

In knitting news, I got my Gabriella pattern in the mail earlier this week and started it (as you'll recall, this is plan B for my mother's day present.)  I feel like I started the darn thing about 3 times!  First of all, you have to cast on 188 stitches - it's easy to doubt yourself when counting that many stitches - so I counted and recounted, then did a couple rows, then decided that I probably should have cast on with a bit bigger needle so that the bottom of the sweater didn't feel tight.  So I ripped it out and cast on again, then forgot to put in the stitch markers, which meant that my ribbing was off, so I had to tink back.  Sheesh - finally I'm on track and have about an inch or so done.  Yeah!  It's going to be beautiful.  The pattern was written for Lorna's Laces Pearl, which is quite pricey (it is silk and bamboo, and hand dyed, so I'd expect as much) and I chose this pattern because it fit the bill for looking good on my mom, and because the Frog Tree cotton/silk blend that I already had for her would easily transfer.  The designer's project is the only one up on Ravelry, so while I'd love to add another in the yarn it was designed for, I just can't.  I never feel bad about subbing yarns, but I think because I've PM'd both the designer and the Lorna's Laces rep when trying to track the pattern down, I feel closer to it - like they're frowning on me!  

I needed a second pair of size 7 dpns for my Amelia cardigan so I went to The Yarn and Needle in Centerville this morning, because I was down that way.  I'm mentioning this, not because I want flack from you Emily for my ever increasing stash problem ;), but because I've heard so many bad reviews about this LYS, and I wanted to put in a positive shout out for them.  I've even talked badly of them in the past because of their not always friendly staff.  But I've got to say that the last two times I've been there, it's been just fantastic!  Today an older, very stylish looking lady with short gray hair was working - I didn't catch her name, but I know it wasn't the owner (who, I believe is the one who people have problems with.)  She was super sweet and so helpful and just all around friendly.  I mean it was really really great.  So don't be all down on the Yarn and Needle! That's my 2 cents.

Goodbye Flutter Sleeve Cardigan

...really, it's not you...it's my mother.  Not that it's my mother's fault that she's so darn petite, or that this sweater just isn't going to be able to be made from the pattern without mods to take her petiteness into account, but I think it's best all around if this sweater and I call it quits.  At least I only got through the whole back before I stopped and took some measurements.  ugh.  only the whole back.  This sweater would look great on my mom if I had some super measurements of her and could start the ribbing right under her bustline, where it should fall (instead of probably down around the top of her jeans, where it would currently fall.)  Yes, I know I could get those measurements, but I'd still totally  have to start over.  and I don't wanna.  I'm just going to rip it.  And I found the perfect replacement - I decided that a nice shell made from this yarn would be fantastic for the Mother's Day season, and would also be something she could wear to work with a little cardigan over it maybe.  Moreover, shells are far less dependant upon precise waist shaping for a proper fit.  and that's key right now.  So the one I totally fell in love with - Gabriella, by the wonderful Ann Weaver, is playing very hard to get!  She designed it for Lorna's Laces and it's only available in stores.  The one that I found (the one she links to on the Rav pattern page) wants to charge me something like $4.80 shipping for a $4.50 piece of paper.  whaaa?  I PM'd the master behind Lorna's Laces and she gave me some leads - but this is going to take some phone calling.  Or, I suppose I could order if from the place that'll charge me out the ass for shipping, but also tuck in some of that Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb or whatever that was that Sam waved in front of me for weeks while making her Meret beret!  then the shipping would sort of be hidden away and the pain would be eased by some lovely silk and wool!  

Add to the Pyrex pile!

New acquisitions in girly colors!  I love 'em!  (sorry Kathleen!  I know these are the Pyrex colors that might push you over the edge!)

Annemor #15 - how did you get in here?

Umm, I totally didn't plan to start this.  but I did.  

I had some leftover Malibrigo sock from the pair Emily and I made for Sam before she left, and it looked like it'd be enough for a pair of lace fingerless mitts.  I thought maybe I'd pick a lace pattern from my Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Then I was looking for a basic glove pattern to follow and because my Handy Book of Knitting Patterns wasn't on my shelf, I picked up my Selbuvotter book and kinda changed my mind and kinda started these.  accidentally.  Here's to hoping I've got enough yarn.  I'm using the rest of the Opal yarn that I used on the Selbu Modern that I'm still not really happy with because of it's slouchiness.  If there's anything better than a red and yellow color combination, I don't know what it is!  I'll do the hand/palm chart then just do some ribbing instead of doing the fingers, and I'll probably carry the pattern from the thumb gusset up into the thumb a bit, then rib there too.  We'll get to the reason I really shouldn't have cast on for anything new at the end of this post.

In stash news, how's this for a box full of beautiful?

I bought a kit for one of the alternative colorways of the Blooming Cotton Scarf.  I've never bought a kit before, but I got it from Webs which means I got a 20% discount, and it all just seemed to make sense.  you know, for the minute and a  half that I spent debating it.  I'm sure I would have never bought it if I had to click "add to cart" 10 times, but because it was just one click, it didn't feel as painful to the pocketbook!  Yes, I'm aware that's ridiculous.  I can't wait to start it!  

But, I cannot start it, because what I really need to be working on right now is this Flutter Sleeve Cardigan for my mother - for mother's day!  

This is also the reason I totally should not have cast on for those Annemores!  Aside from the fact that I've also got sock #2 of my pair of pink Taylored Socks (Emily's pattern - soon to be released on Ravelry - I highly recommend it!) on the needles, and my Amelia cardigan which has been languishing in my knitting bag, and that orange cardigan vest that's been untouched for so long it's almost impossible to even remember that it's there!  That vest might get ripped back because I'm kinda wishing I'd started it differently (this is the one I'm designing and I wanted a big asymmetrical ribbed collar, but just started with the neckline, then figured I'd go back and pick it up later.  I dunno, I guess that's ok.  I think I just want to pretend like that vest isn't really a WIP.  Perhaps it'll go into hibernation for a while.)  Sooo, I really need to put everything else down and get this cardigan finished for my mum.  I didn't consult with her on this pattern, but when we talked about her Christmas sweater, she said she wanted either 100% cotton, or 100% wool - I talked her out of the cotton because I said it'd be too heavy.  But DK weight cotton seemed perfect for spring - this is Frog Tree Pima silk - it's cotton and silk, which I'm sure she'll be ok with.  What I'm not sure she'll be ok with is the length of the sweater - she's short and likes things that hit her at the waist.  I think this will look just smashing on her - and I realize I'm doing that thing where you give someone what you think they ought to have, instead of getting them what they want.  Like my grandma used to do.  and what my mother told me I ought not do.   She didn't get me pink sweaters in high school when I would have refused to wear such a thing, and I suppose I shouldn't be doing this now, but really, isn't it a bit different?  Maybe not.  I don't know - but regardless, I'm going to make it even if it just hangs in her closet and she loves it only for the giver, but not to actually wear.  

Oh, and by the way, only 28 days until the Upper Valley Fiber Festival!!!

love. this. scarf

I kind of love this scarf like crazy.

It's the Reclamation Scarf from Stephanie Japel.  The point of this pattern is to use up some luxurious single skein of yarn, an at last year's Woolgathering I bought a skein of 100% Royal Platinum Alpaca hand dyed by Royal Fiber Spinnery - 250 yards of DK weight in the Ponderosa colorway.  At the time I was justifying buying single skeins of just about anything because I knew I could make a cowl out of them.  I think this scarf is going to be my new single skein justification!  I can't imagine much that wouldn't look fantastic in this pattern.  And honestly, I wear triangular scarves more than just about any others I have.  Oh, and how close did I come to actually using up the whole skein?

Pretty damn close!  

I haven't even blocked it yet.  I'm not sure I will.  Well maybe so because this yarn is pretty rustic and I think it might soften up some with a good soak.  Am I the only one who finds alpaca just a little itchy?  I don't care.  I really don't want to take it off.

The stupidest looking thing I've ever knit!

After a request for a pair of socks from the BF, and some hemming and hawing on my part (mostly debating whether I can take the abuse he'll give them!) I finally gave in - probably because he's been sick half the week and I always get sappy when he's sick!  Well, you know how handknit socks always look insanely long because they aren't half made of elastic like store bought socks?  Imagine knitting a sock for a size 12 foot.  It's ridiculous looking!  I just turned the heel last night and I just keep thinking "this can't possibly be right!"  Add to that the fact that I ribbed the top of the foot - which makes it very drawn in and skinny - and very un-foot-like looking!  I'm not even sure this picture fully conveys the hilarity! I should have put a quarter next to it for reference.  He had his legs propped up on my lap last night, and I talked him into letting me take his sock off to try this one on so I could know when to start the heel - he was screaming "aaa! cold! cold! cold!  you're trying to kill me!" until I put the handknit one on, then he said "aaaaah! luxurious!"  It was so cute.  And luxurious it is not - just Woolease - because it'll be thick and warm (or as warm as something mostly acrylic can be) and can be easily washed - and fast to make (but he doesn't need to know any of that!)  

Buttony Goodness

Over the past couple trips to the Treasure Barn, I picked up some mighty swell buttons that I haven't raved about yet.  why?  who knows!  Because they're rave worthy - and on top of that they were super cheap - I think $2 was the highest price per bag.  Here's the collection:

Some pearly ones with shank backs:

 Some really cool ones that look like metal sprinkles to me:

Another bag of metal ones - smaller and slightly more brassy or something:

And some fun yellow ones! :

Seems like I'd best be gettin' to sewing or knitting up something with button holes, eh?  I do have the Amelia cardigan on the needles, and my vest that I was designing for Vestuary (but clearly isn't going to be finished in February since I haven't really picked it up since the beginning of the month!)