Too Hot!

No, that's not a reference to my person or any project I'm currently plugging away on today, but the actual weather around here. You just never know which Memorial Holiday Weekend weather you'll experience around here. We've either got your "shades of things to come for this summer" with above-normal temps, high humidity, and the attendant bugs or you've got "fooled ya, it's not summer yet" with below-normal temps, continual drizzle or steady rain. This year, it's the "shades of summer."

Now, to knitting content. I'm almost done with the right hand of Sharky the Mittens. I have a thumb to knit, then it will be on to the fins and mouth.

Meanwhile, I wanted to knit a hat for a good friend while she and the husband hit the slopes for their annual ski vacation. She's a huge Steelers fan, and luckily enough I found that Berroco has colorway to match the team colors:





I'm going to knit her the adult size of the Top Knot Hat.


Finally, y'all know I'm not that big into spinning wheels. However, if I were so inclined to get myself one, I think this would be it:







It's compact, easy to use, and very portable. I may have to think about possibly adding this to the graduation present wish list...

Gorging on Yarns

I had gift certificates smoldering in my wallet, so off to Knit and Knot I went with the Child O' Mine.

This is the first yarns I pulled to make this hat pattern:






Then I decided a wee man of the family need one in da Bears' colors:





Finally, I had the CoM pick out some yarn for a fall scarf, and we ended up with this pile because I'm a glutton for silky gorgeous teal blue yarns (no, I don't know what it wants to be yet for me other than snoozing in my stash):





It's Berroco Lustra, colorway is Montmartre and even more beautiful in person than in any photo!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... I've finished the basic mitten for Sharky the Mittens:

Lace

There's very few persons I would ever knit lace for... I'm happy to say this project, the Lacey Beret turned out as it was supposed to, for the person it's intended is a hell of lace knitter:









* * *
Down and Dirty Details:

Needle
US 4 - 3.5 mm

Yarn
Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Worsted Solids

How much?
1.5 skeins = 153.0 yards (139.9m)

Colorway
green

Purchased at
Knit & Knot in Bettendorf, Iowa
* * *

Hello, Lover...

It's finally arrived! The bag which I purchased with the generous early birthday funds from a friend and my making up the balance.




It's so beautiful! And so large! It was worth waiting six years to get one of these bad boys...















Now I have to figure out what I'm going to put into it!

In case you're looking for a custom, handmade project bag, you can go to Offhand Designs. I bought the Scottie version in the "Eleanor."

Being 45 Years Old And On The Right Side Of The Big Ol' Dirt Nap

Yes, I am! From here on out, it's going to be rocking the middle age gig for me. I can't wait to see what the next few decades bring forth. In the meantime, there was a shopping road trip to Galena this weekend to celebrate the kick ass 45 year old birthday...

A good friend and I motored up to Galena to visit FiberWild! and see what they might have to tempt us. Personally, after the last yarn purge, I'm set for projects for the next few years. Although, I had been eyeballing the Tulips baby sweater kit from Dreams In Color before going, this may have primed the pump of lust. (So to speak.)

I walked in the front door and immediately my eyes fell to the shawl that had been in the shop back in early fall 2011. I resisted temptation at that point, but I took it as a sign from wooly destiny I was meant to take it home now. I'm so glad I did! It's hand spun and hand woven by a local artist in Galena, it's called a "butterfly" shawl:






I'm just charmed to pieces by the whole shawl, but especially so by the cabled pockets on the front.

Then, it was as if resistance to two other project kits (which I had been sighing after in late spring 2011 and early fall 2011) had just evaporated. I fell hard:














I was lugging around another armful of colored yarns for that kit debating on the expense and perhaps foolishness of purchasing it after getting the shawl, but then I saw these blues/greens/teals. I immediately chucked the other aside along with my doubts.

And perhaps common sense was the baby that was tossed out with the bath water (to mix metaphors) as I also ended up with this kit:








Finally, I'm not sure how I ended up with these size 9 sheep finial needles, but there we have them: