Goodies

I'm way behind on my blogging, so I'm going to try and catch up before I leave again.

To my credit, I've resisted a lot of yarn purchases in the past week or two, including the clearance isle at Joann, a sale at The Sweet Sheep (which will end before i get my bonus), sale items at Sandra Singh, several good deals on eBay and the opening of Gauge. (More on Gauge later.)

But I could not resist the first Thursday sale at Hill Country Weavers

(From the top, clockwise: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky, Misti Alpaca Chunky (actually not on sale, but needed for an upcoming Knitty submission), Araucania Ranco and Dream in Color Smooshy.

Yes, I'm into blue right now.

I'm not even counting the Misti Alpaca and Debbie Bliss as stash, because I'm using them right away (I cast on Debbie Bliss this afternoon.)

The sale was sock yarn and other selections. I had my Knitty yarns, and was about to reach for the Koigu, when Suzanne came up to me and asked if I had seen the Araucania sock yarn next door. (They have a separate house next door that they use for storage most of the time.) I said no, and the next thing I know, I'm next door, trying to pick a color of Araucania (I guess Koigu will have to wait until next time.)

There was so much temptation, and so much on sale. I ended up talking with another knitting, and wander into another (non-sale) room. Suzanne came in and said we had to see what was in the box next to us.

"Close your eyes." I did, and the next thing I felt was so incredibly soft. I opened to find a skein of handspun 100% Cashmere, probably worth more than my entire purchase combined.

"It's like sex in a box," Suzanne said.

They also had some silk cashmere blends that were awesome. I can't remember the brand right now. Maybe someday I'll splurge on a single skein. Someday. Like after I get a raise.

The other goodies I've gotten were free.

Last Sunday at knitting, Lynn handed me a little vile of knitting-themed marble magnets from Amy. I knew Amy was moving, but I didn't realize so soon. She had given these out as gifts at the Saturday morning group, but I slept in. If I had known it was her last day, I would have made an effort to get out of bed.

Thanks, Amy!

I also found out this week that I had won one of the many blog contests out there. I'll be getting one of Schrodinger's sock knitting cubes. She has more for sale on Etsy.

Finally, I have to mention that Jules (the boyfriend) saw the Rubber Vomit Moebius and said I looked "sexy in an aristocratic kind of way." So now I have to keep it, of course.

He also said that in the last picture in the post (the one where I think I look possessed) I look reminiscent of Elizabeth Taylor. I don't know about that one. But I'm not complaining. :)

FO: Rubber Vomit Moebius

When life, gives you lemons, make a moebius.

I was going to turn a lone skein of Bernat Galaxy into a skinny scarf for the Stash and Burn One Skein Contest. However, if I really wanted a scarf of a decent length, I should have cast on 12 stitches, not 15. It still may have not been long enough anyway.

So Wednesday night when I was at Bluebonnet, I ran out of yarn. I wasn't about to frog this thing. There is just enough mohair to make that nearly impossible. I figured I had two options, either find another yarn to add onto one or both ends, or make a moebius. After consulting some other knitters, decided to go with moebius.

The lumpy yarn made sewing it pretty difficult. I didn't have my Chibis, so I decided to wait until I got home. Of course, tonight when I wanted to sew it up, I couldn't find them, so I grabbed a large plastic tapestry needle from my Knifty Knitter. And then, not long after my finished, I was rummaging around on my end table and found the Chibis.

Like I said, sewing it up was a bit hard, but I managed to get the lumps of fiber through.

I consulted with Jules about the whole "snot scarf" thing, and he said he thinks it looks more like rubber vomit. I think that is more accurate and less disturbing (after all, it is fake vomit.) So I renamed it.

The last time I took my picture in the mirror, I don't recall it being so I hard. I took several creepy looking pictures. I think this one is the most disturbing.

I used one skein of Bernat Galaxy in "Neptune" and size nine needles. The whole thing is garter stitch. It's not the cool Cat Bordhi moebius like this one or this one. It's just the traditional strip, twisted and sewn.

I haven't decided what to do with it yet. It will either be a Christmas gift or sold on Etsy. Despite the rubber vomit jokes, it is a nice yarn.