Monday, March 2, 2009

Sun Breaks, Gauge, Packages to Post and Sparkly Things

The most amazing thing happened… I actually had my knitting, my camera and a perfect patch of sun all in the same place at the same time!

This is one of my Gas Flame socks, with the short-row toe and the straight part of the foot completed.

BlueFire01
Ready to increase

This pattern has been challenging on a few levels, but once I wrapped my head around a few things and remembered how to count, it’s been a lot of fun. I’m starting the gusset increases and having a blast watching everything take shape.

I lovelovelove this Socks that Rock. Really love, really a lot. I’ve called the socks Gas Flame because that’s what it makes me think of. All kinds of blue and occasional flashes of red, just like the fire on my stove. A perfect fit for Yarnissima’s Firestarter pattern, if I do say so myself!

I decided that I need a cardigan, and after much dithering I settled on the ubiquitous February Lady Sweater (4469 projects in Ravelry at last count). Not only is it a lovely sweater, but I can actually knit it out of stash yarn! I have two enormous skeins of Brooks Farm Mas Acero which I bought on impulse when I ventured to the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair in the summer of 2007.

BrooksFarmMascero
Two skeins = 1100 yards

It’s a beautiful mix of silvery blues and greens, which put me in mind of blue spruce… naturally the cardigan is called Blue Spruce Cardi in my Ravelry notebook. And will you just look at the way it knits up!

Gauge
4.5 stitches per inch... perfect

Not only is it pretty, but I hit gauge spot on my very first try. Surely it’s a good omen. I’m going to shop for buttons on Wednesday, hoping to find some pewter ones… or maybe cobalt blue… or perhaps a nice green… Oh dear, this may be harder that I thought.

I took a trip to the post office on Saturday, and there’s sock yarn on its way to my contest winners as we speak (as you read?). The Random List Generator came through in a very big way, picking yarns I hope you three will like.

Prizes
Off to a new home!

And last but not least: who can resist the lure of the sparkly? I tried to resist, I really did. Lizardtoes has been advertising on Ravelry for quite a while. She makes these tiny stitch markers for small needles, just the prettiest things you’ve ever seen. I’d see her ads, click through to her etsy store, and just sigh and dream and pine after them.

Last Tuesday I gave in. I placed an order. For eight sets of four in different colors. Yeah, I bought 32 stitch markers in one fell swoop. Don’t look at me like that, I defy you to visit her shop and not want to do the same thing!

And let me tell you, her service is lightning fast. I ordered on Tuesday and received them on Saturday. Believe it or not, they’re even prettier in person

Sparkly
So tiny, so lovely!

I’m going to have the best-dressed needles in town!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you like them, and thanks for the plug :)

I'm convinced you can never have too many st markers as my knitting gadget bag obviously demonstrates :)

m1k1 said...

I think it is wonderful, the way the garter stitch highlights & blends the gorgeous colours in your Brooks Farm yarn.
Pretty shiny tiny markers. Excellent choice.

Caffeine Faerie said...

Sparky is good. And that yarn of yours is beautiful. I look forward to seeing your Blue Spruce cardi - I'm sure it will be magnificent.

Very squee over the yarn. I'm surveying sock patterns with anticipation.

Rose Red said...

Squeeeee! yarn!

I'm the same with stitch markers - I have so many but I'm always "but they're so pretty!"

I think Gas Fire is a superb name for the socks, and Blue Spruce - yum!!! That looks fantastic knitted up - it will be on lovely FLS.

Bells said...

ARRGHH! i wrote a whole lovely reply and it vanished. OK, in dot form.

1. Gas flame - perfect name!
2. Brooks Farm - I love. Yay FLS
3. Tiny stitch markers - I WANT!

Anonymous said...

The socks are looking great, the cables and the colour work so well together. The February Lady Sweater is really fast and easy and the yarn looks great in garter.

Donna Lee said...

Gas flame is a great name for that color. You're the second person I've seen lately try that pattern. I took a look and put it away, too much thinking for right now. But maybe after things slow down somewhat....
And the FLS will be gorgeous in those colors!

Anonymous said...

Great name for your socks. Suits the colour perfectly. And your Feb Lady Sweater is going to be beautiful in that blue/green colour. Just gorgeous. Ooooh, can't wait for that package to arrive. I know I'll love it. Haven't had yarn arrive here for ages, so it will be a thrill. Most of the packets the posty brings these days contain text books from the library. No where near as much fun as yarn!!

TinkerTots said...

That really is a great color and who can resist STR?

Looking forward to seeing them again next Monday. I'm finishing off a mini-pair of socks myself.

TinkingBell said...

Lovely lovely lovely! and I so want that yarn - it is awesome! The FLS is one of my most worn cardis and that yarn will be too tooo toooooooo gorgeous (brooks farm acero eh? what's the yardage?)

nothing like a bit of sparkly shiny stuff to really make your day!