Can you tell I am happy? No--I didn't
finish every last row and bind off my Shell –that's what I am doing
today. 4 more rounds are needed—or at least that is what I
decided last night. But by then, I was tired, and just couldn't face
another round. The shell is is another inch and then some longer
than when last seen—a hardly visible difference. I am not going to
bother with another image. You can see it tomorrow when it's done.
I had hoped to finish, but no matter
how many round I knit, it never seemed to get longer. (It still
hasn't reached the magic measurement of 24 inches!) The light was
low—though adequate—but I like strong light—especially with
dark work. I found it tiring to knit. But as always the food was
good—and so was the talk.
Liz—one of the new members didn't
make it—but Monica—a member from long ago did. And bonus (for
us, but not so much for her) she's moved nearby and will be coming more often.
Tracy came by, too, another treat. It was a small group—but made
better by Monica and Tracy's presence.
But wait there is more! Last week I
won a blog contest sponsored by Laura Toomey Smoot—So yesterday I
checked my mail box hoping my skein of home spun would be there
waiting for me. It wasn't—You--and me--both will have to wait a
few more days. Sure, you can run over to her blog, and see her
photo... but I will feature a photo too.
What I found in my mailbox instead was a souvenir
package—My sister in Japan took a holiday trip to warmer
weather—South to New Zealand. She got a tan and rest, I got Wool.
Lovely wool! (OK so some of it is actually Australian wool, and not
New Zealand wool—but let's not focus on that)
First 4 skeins of this 100% merino—What
a beautiful turquoise—Yet another shade of this color that I love.
It's only 200g and 300 meters—so it's not a lot.. But enough to make
a scarf—especially if I pair it something else--or make it a lacy one.
Next is this 80% merino and 20% possum
wool—New Zealand possum is nothing like the scraggly water logged
marsupial of North America, and it's fur added to wool is lovely.
Soft merino yarn made softer. I think yarn is so special it's going
to stand on its own.
But this second multi-color wool? It is
a good match for the solid turquoise—maybe stripes? Or something
double knit? Or something on its own? A hat maybe? It has a lovely
hand—so it will become some wonderful.
Multi color yarns like this last 2 are
not usually a favorite—but the possum wool is predominantly blues—and
I am sure I can find something I want to knit with it. It is a small skein but there is enough for a pair of fingerless gloves—I don't
NEED another pair of fingerless gloves but I enjoy knitting them, and they might just
be the perfect thing to do with yarn. Warm and soft and colorful. The other brighter more colorful yarn? I don't know just yet.
Finally, when I got home, I could have
picked up my Shell and finished it (or at least knit another round or two).
But I didn't. On the way to knit night, I worked on my socks--the
shell is just too big and awkward to work on when on the
subway—especially when the trip is broken up. It's six stops on the
R train, another half dozen on the 7. And the transfer point has several flights of stairs--Plus an escalator ride. The trip is too broken up to do
much except for some rounds on a small project.
So a few more round got done on the
socks going to knit night. And another half dozen got done once I
got home. Look! See how pretty they are already? The dark navy and
white make a crisp design. As always, I like high contrast—and
navy is nicer than black to knit with, though black (and white) is more traditional--
Who knows, maybe there are pair of black and white Sanquhar socks in
my future too? Generally speaking, plain black is not fun to knit
with. But if half the sock is pattern work—maybe a pair of black
footed socks are possible.
Smiley's is having a sale this week,
and I had planned to get there and maybe buy some yarn. But with
yesterday's treat, and another one to come—I think I have enough
new wool!
