I Already Gave In!

Wow, my yarn fast didn't last very long, to say the least, but I DO have a very good reason for caving in on my New Year's resolution. As I mentioned in my previous post, my wonderful local yarn shop closed it's doors on Wednesday, January 27 and I made it a point to stop in on Tuesday, the 26th, to say my goodbyes. Jackie was having a 50 % off sale and there were 2 yarns I just couldn't resist at that price. One was Cascade 220 superwash and the other Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I do have many projects lined up for my little grandchildren, all of whom deserve the best, so between that justification and wanting to give Jackie just one more sale, I caved in, but I promised myself and now I'm promising my readers, that was it....NO MORE.

I completed Anna's socks but I'm amazed by the color flow of this yarn. I attempted to begin the second sock around the same place in the color as the first sock, but it turned out completely different (and I do mean completely, as you can readily see) from the first one. The good news is that my sweet Anna won't give a hoot whether or not they match as long as they fit her and keep her tootsies warm and toasty. I can't wait to see her smiles as she flashes one adorable dimple and that makes any knitting I do worth every moment I spend doing it.

I've also begun a Christmas stocking using Jamieson & Smith jumperweight wool for the very first time. I'm used to knitting stockings with acrylics or wool blends in worsted weight. This is a sport weight, I think, at least that's what it feels like to me, but one thing I've noticed after only 5 rows is that using a thinner yarn makes it much easier to do the color stranding necessary. I think I'm going to rip it out and begin again though because the top is rolling under with a vengeance so I think maybe I do an inch or so of stockinette stitch and end with a purl row and then tack it under and then begin my colorwork. When there is enough progress to show you, I will take a picture and post it here. I'm using Meg Swansen's pattern, Eli's Stocking, from Schoolhouse Press .

I think I'll be starting another ripple baby blanket for my youngest's baby due in early July. I already crocheted one using multi-colored yarn but it's more suited to a girl, so to be on the safe side, I'm crocheting this one using baby blue and white Encore yarn which is 75% acrylic and 25% wool and can be thrown in the washer, etc. which I know the new parents to be will like.