Vickyd’s Knitty Thing

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to visit Only Ewe and Cotton Too, a LYS near my new job, and as I was wandering around their lovely shop I stumbled across this…

This sock yarn is 100% Superwash Merino and is a generous 420 yards.

I just love the combination of brown and raspberry!  The dyer is a woman who works and teaches classes at the store.  You can find her on Ravelry as kateyj.

On the knitting front, I finished the left side of the Painted Silk Cardigan and have cast on for the right side.  Hopefully, I will finish the right side and have take some pictures over the weekend.   I also need to hunt for some buttons…maybe today at lunch.

Have a great weekend!

First of all, let me say that the flu SUCKS!!!  Every person in my family has come down with it over the past two weeks – I got the lightest case which was good for me but since I was the “least sick” person in the house I had to take care of everyone else!  For the most part, we are all over it…my husband is still very tired  (which is SO unlike him) but I think it will just take a few more days before he is back to normal.

On the work front, things are going great.  In spite of my long commute, I do enjoy my job.  Right now, it is still a contract position but I really don’t mind it because I get paid by the hour which makes me eligible for overtime.  My boss has already talked to me about applying for the job (there are two open positions in the department) and I have put in my application but like anything at a large company, things move at the slowest pace possible…not that I mind since I am making good money with the overtime!

On the knitting front, I have been busy.  I am going to be teaching a toe-up sock class at my LYS next month and I knit up a sample sock for her to display in the store.

This is a basic garter rib pattern with a gusset heel – very easy for teaching.  You might recognize the yarn from The Great Jitterbug Caper.  Karen, at my LYS decided that I should just use one of the dye lots from the original skein to make this sample sock since it won’t ever have a mate and I will use the other for my “teaching” sock…a smart way to deal with a mis-matched skein.

I had also been feeling the need to knit a sweater for myself when I got the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits.  There are a lot of great sweaters in it (and many in my size) and after much thought I decided to cast on for Printed Silk Cardigan.  Instead of the La Luz yarn recommended in the pattern, I am using Rowan Calmer in the Blush colorway.

I had originally bought it to make Morrigan, but I know that it will be a long time before I tackle that one so I put it to another use.  So far, I have finished the back and am almost finished with the left front – I will try to take some pictures tonight so I can show you tomorrow.

I know that I have been a bad blogger, but I have a good excuse.  I finally got a job a couple of weeks ago with a “major cellular carrier” and the work (along with my 1 1/2 hour one way commute) is kicking my butt!!  I haven’t been knitting anywhere near as much as I would like but I hope to do some catching up this weekend. 

 In the meantime, I scored some Yarntini…

This is Yarntini Variegated Sock Yarn in the Gimlet colorway…

I originally bought this to make some socks for a friend’s Christmas gift since this particular friend LOVES to drink gimlets but plans changed and I am left with this lovely yarn sitting in my stash.  I can’t wait to knit with this and see what all the fuss is about!

This past weekend, hubby and I did something we have been wanting to do for a long time…we dyed some yarn.  This was our first attempt at it and I am thrilled with the results!

This is Cupid…

The base yarn is a 2-Ply Superwash Merino.

I love the various shades of pink…we chose these colors to match some yarn I am going to use for a cardigan (hopefully, I will have time to cast on this weekend).

The next colorway is called The Patriot…

No, we didn’t name this colorway after the football team…I originally had another idea for the colors but I got a little dye-happy and the result is something that looks like the 4th of July so hubby felt that we needed a “patriotic” name. 

This base yarn is the same as the first and I think I will probably order some more of this base because it has a nice twist and took the dye very easily.  I also have some fingering weight BFL and some sport weight merino to play with but I ran out of time last weekend…maybe I will play with it some more on Saturday.

I think I found a new hobby (and hubby, the science geek, likes it too)!!!

This is the first in the past nine years that I have not been in New Orleans for Mardi Gras so, to celebrate in my own way, I present to you…

Colinette Jitterbug in the Mardi Gras colorway.

I know the colors aren’t the traditional purple, green and yellow but these colors just scream fun and parties and all things Mardi Gras.

I know I have been posting a lot of Jitterbug lately, but I have been on a bit of a Jitterbug buying streak lately

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler – Let the good times roll!!