First, I think I need to start with the stash enhancements. A trip to NYC and two unique yarn stores combined with a little E-Bay splurge and you get this picture:
Holy yarn, Batman!
Good thing this picture has numbers for easy identification.
1. Rowan Cork in Bug - I'm thinking about making Bless or something else in the Cork collection, but now I need to get the book!
2. Rowan Denim - a couple of balls to play with
3. Rowan Calmer to make Audrey - I bought the pattern right after last MD S&W after seeing Sarah's fabulous sweater and I figured it was time to buy the yarn.
4. Trekking XXL - variegated gray to make Dan a pair of socks
5. 100% bamboo - over 2000 yds of laceweight soft and fluffy bamboo yarn from Habu. Not sure what this will become.
6. Silk and stainless steel - I know the picture is worthless for this yarn but I have three small remnants of it to play with - laceweight (threadweight) in a deep burgundy with sparkles that must be the steel.
7. Silk/linen blend - two cones from School Products. I've swatched some stripes with it already. Not quite sure what it will become but I've got some ideas.
8. 50% Cashmere/50% Silk blend - probably enough for a neckwarmer or something, and oh so soft!
I wouldn't exactly say that I'm on a yarn diet now, but I definitely have enough to tide me over until Maryland Sheep & Wool at least (probably MDS&W 2009 actually). With the permanent personal exemption of Artfibers if I happen to be in San Francisco.
In other news, I've taken the plunge and signed myself up for the Knitting Olympics.
I'm not exactly sure yet what I'll be knitting but I'm pretty sure that I'll be on the US Sweater Knitting team.
Button thanks to Jen and La - you can get your buttons here.
The decision right now is between Audrey (using the Calmer from the stash enhancement above) and Tubey from the alpaca I bought at Rhinebeck. I swatched last night for both and got some approximation of gauge, so now it's just the decision. I visited my favorite thrift store yesterday and tried on a sweater with the exact neckline of Tubey (made by Ann Taylor Loft if you're curious) and I really like how it looked on me. And then there's Cathy in hers - that's one tight sweater, yo. But there's Audrey, too, and Sarah's rocking it... Well, I have a few weeks to make up my mind! By February 10th I should have come to a decision, right?
And my mom is an Olympian, too! On the participant page she's "Snargle's Mom" and she's got plans for a knitted wrap. She's already stressing about the swatch, just like a real knitter! Go Mom!
Next, Jaywalker progress. (To refresh, these are in Socks That Rock Blarney Stone on Addi 1's) The socks were in retrograde for a while... because at first they looked like this:
Nasty pooling, plus it was just way too big. I tried it on and could grab a fold of fabric around the ankle. I compared it to another sock (the finished stripey sock) and it was about an inch bigger. Yuck. So I ripped it all out, cast back on (immediately) and came up with this:
Much better - me likey. I'm most of the way down the foot now almost ready for the toes. Only one more to go!
The ribbed cabled cardi is still in progress, too - one front done, working on the ribbing for the other one. My giant travel trip begins tomorrow - two weeks of plane flights and hotels. I'm taking the Jaywalkers and the Ribby Cardi and hope to have lots of progress to share!
Posted by Sarah at January 22, 2006 08:26 PM | in: Works in Progress | PermalinkI am having the hardest time deciding what I'm going to do for the olympics, too! I am trying to avoid the Helga temptation because I don't have the yarn for it. I swatched for Alice from Magknits, so we'll see about that...decisions, decisions. :-) Congrats on the stash enhancements, they all look fabulous!
Posted by: sarah b. on January 22, 2006 08:50 PMthe sock looks great now! amazing how a small change in stitch number can have such a big impact
(oh, and i'm drooling over all of that stash enhancement yarn!!)
Posted by: kim on January 22, 2006 09:38 PMman, i saw carrie's tubey and now i kinda want to make that, too, but there is SO much on my to-knit list right now and i haven't finished anything in ages ... ack! i vote for tubey so i can live vicariously through you. ;)
Posted by: anne on January 22, 2006 11:24 PMNice Stash you got going on there! And I love the progress on the Jaywalker! It looks lovely.
Have a good time on your trip! Bring us back some sunshine from Hawaii.
Posted by: Amy on January 22, 2006 11:37 PMI vote for Tubey!!!!! Tubey is HOT! I like the way your Jaywalker is turning out!!! Aren't you glad you ripped? I'm almost done with sock 1 too!!!!!!
Posted by: Lara on January 24, 2006 11:51 AMTubey! Tubey! Tubey!
I'm making my second one right now. Because I love. that. pattern.
That yarn haul is badass!!
Posted by: Carrie on January 25, 2006 09:19 AMLove the second sock.
Won't say a word about stash, you know my fabrics.
Keep safe on the trip and let us hear from you!
Love ya.
Mom
I actually liked the sock with the pooling colors but it looks super sharp now. It's awesome that your mom's doing the olympics, too - way to get the parents into the tech world.
Safe travels!
Posted by: Jenna on January 25, 2006 05:37 PMSarah, you must tell Jenna that I was teching it a LONG time ago. It's the KNITTING that's new! LOL
Mom