Final SP Package

WOOOOO Just look at these goodies:

I got a gorgous purse (which is just another stylish project carrier...let's be honest here lol) The fall 2006 issue of Interweave crochet, Night of the living mad libs, some dark chocolate (YUUUM), a little yarn wish list, some pencils, and I know she packed the balloons and band-aids for my son.....but who says I can't enjoy them too :-) And the complete kicker KOIGU, MMMMMMM PRECIOUS KOIGU. Which is my FAVORITE yarn ever. I love the stuff. The colors are very gorgous and I am already turning the ol' mind wheels trying to figure out what in the world I am going to make with them. Something cabled maybe since I am on a cable kick. So thank you Christy. You have been an awesome sp. Now I can't wait for the next one.

New needles and a sweater on the needles

I got my order from Knitpicks today. In it was my first knitpick needles. I bought the 32" circulars in sizes to make socks the Magic Loop style. I love these needles. Before this the only circulars I had was the Boye Needlemaster set. Which is fine but a bugger to do magic loop. The cords are just too big and stiff. Now I am hoping a special someone gets me the interchangeable set from Knitpicks for Christmas. *hint hint*I also got some of the Harmony needles. I haven't used them yet so I don't have an opinion so far except to say the colors are very nice, they are lightweight, and seem to be put together very well. I have also picked up some yarn for a new sweater for my son. I got the Knitpicks Wool of the Andes bulky. It's knitting up awesome, the only gripe is that the color selection wasn't that great. Although give them time. When I first started ordering from them they had about half of the yarn selection they do now. I am a big fan of their yarns and prices. Anyway I am making him the Down Under sweater from The Yarn Girl's Guide to Knits for Older Kids. So far it is a very easy, fast knit. I think it's going to look super cute on him. Here is a picture of what I have done so far. Which is about half of the back:

Sorry the pic is a little blurry, I smudges the camera lens with my greasy finger....yum. I can't believe how fast this is knitting up. Of course I am used to fingering weight yarn mostly and this is a bulky....Only 6 more inches till I start the front. As fast as this is going I can probably be done by next weekend.

Scarf is fiiiiiinished.

I am so proud of myself. This is the first thing I have completed from the ground up. The fiber was 100% merino gifted to me by my Knittyboard SP. it was gorgous just as roving and I knew what I had to do. In the summer 2007 issue of Spin-off there was an article on spinning your own self striping yarn. Which is what I have tried to do in different ways a few times and failed each time. This time after I was done spinning I wished a little wish and cast on for a hopefully self striping scarf (just bought a black pea coat I knew the colors in the roving would be perfect for). Anywa, I started on the good ol' basketweave pattern, and this is how it turned out:

I looooooove this technique. I have always prefered the gradual shading type of stripes and thats exactly what I got. Here's a closeup:

Now I am off to try to spin enough to make some sock yarn. I really am happy with this technique.