handspun goodness - pt.2

When I was a young'n, my mother used to say about me, "Si fuera muda, explota," meaning that if I were mute, I'd explode because I cannot keep anything to myself. I am terrible like that. When I like something, I sing its praises from every mountain. I cannot shut up about it. Well, not until someone kindly asks me to stop it, then I realize I've been blathering on, and finally I. shut. up. As I was casting on for the first time with handspun yarn and falling head over heels in love with it, I noticed that the date was soon approaching when Crown Mountain Farms would be having a sale of its much-coveted Sock Hop yarn. Don't you love serendipity? I always try to get some, but I'm always too late. That's me - always tardy to the party. It's the story of my life! No biggie. Well, the stars must have aligned on this particular day (or maybe I just happened to show up on time for once) because I was able to snag some. Woohoo! More handspun goodness! And boy is this stuff ever so lovely. Oh the colors! The squishiness! I can't stop fondling it. Uhhhhhh, okay, it's not like that.... Anyhoo, I think I know what my next project will be. SOCKS! Yeah, I'll bet that came as a real surprise. Based on this friend's review of the yarn, I can't wait to get started.

P.S. - I am seriously telling myself that I do not need another hobby/ interest/ whathaveyou because I am soooooooooooooo curious about taking a spin class now, and I don't mean the kind that involves stationary bikes. (Although I have tried that and liked it, strangely enough.) If I start spinning, things could get all sorts of scary. Really scary. Someone, please, keep me away from the wheel....

handspun goodness - pt.1

Oh how lucky I am! Thank you again, Julia! Knitting with handspun is heavenly. Knitting with this specific handspun (that was custom-dyed and all) is even more so. It's like heaven squared. Not only am I enjoying the medley of colors running through my fingers and commingling in a harmonious field of blues, greens, and purples, but I adore the body of the knit - its weight or its density. I'm sure there's a neater and more concise way of saying that, but you get the idea, I hope. Depending on my schedule next week, I may have a finished pair of socks to share with you all very soon. And there's more handspun lovin' to share as well. Happy weekend folks!

the purl bee made me do it

pattern: Cashmere Cowl No. 2 - Lace Rib
pattern by: Joelle at the purl bee
yarn: Lobster Pot 2 - ply cashmere

Do you know for how long this has been a WIP? Let's see, I have this progress shot here that was taken on January 26th. Of 2007. Which as we all know was last year. Ouch! I've been slacking here. This project quite literally slipped through the cracks. I found it hiding in a plastic bag in between by desk and a box o' yarn. Since one of my personal resolutions is to finish off the many WIPs I have hiding out in various parts of our apartment, to dig 'em up and get 'em done, I picked this up again and surprised myself with how quickly it knit up - once I actually started knitting again. The pattern is super-easy, and this yarn is heavenly to work with. The cowl is so squishy and fabulous that I've already been wearing it around.