Thursday, September 9, 2010

In the meantime...

Sorry for the delay in the 'announcement', it appears that technical difficulties beyond my control have pushed it back. I was really hoping to have given you all the details on September 5th, but....while you're waiting, I'll bring you up to date on my needles, etc...
The "IU /Perfect" scarf has been finished. Yes, with the Plymouth Encore yarn, I really do like the (US)9 (5.5mm) circular needles with it. So, I would recommend that you play with your yarn and needles and see which size you want for your scarves. The purple and yellow one I knit for my niece last year was knit with Lion Brand's Wool-ease yarn. I like the (US)8 (5.0mm) needles for that yarn, it's skinnier. With the 9/5.5mm's on this one, I ended up with 16sts/21 rows gauge with the white, and 17sts/21 rows with the red. See? The dyes can make a real difference on the same brand/type of yarn. It helps to check your gauge all the time! Flaunt your Colors Scarf pattern can be found here. I'll update that at a later time. 
Meanwhile, I'm working on a pair of socks for daughter's fiance. He's been asking for some slipper socks for around the house type of wearing. I'm using one of the A.C.Moore bags of mill ends, which feel a lot like Bernat's Berella 4 worsted acrylic. He tried on the pair of socks that I'd knit for A4A, and liked the way they fit, so that's the same pattern that I'm using for him, too. That is a 'Sock class' that can be found here.
For the last bit today, while I'm 'patiently' waiting for the other news, I bought the yarn for this scarf ohhhhh, probably 2 1/2 - 3 years ago. I spent the better part of last week searching all over the house for it. I had saved it so well that I had to clean out two closets and it still wasn't there, nor in the bin with the rest of my Plymouth Encore yarn bin. [OK choir, do I hear an 'amen' from the peanut gallery? I know you've done this many times, just like me. We're all in good company here.] Why? Because I had intended to knit it for the oldest daughter WHILE she was still a Master's student at Syracuse University. However, since I had it in the planning stage for so long, I couldn't remember where I had it on 'hold' in the 'on deck' circle. Once I finally found it in a totally different location than where I would have bet the farm it was hiding it hit the needles as quick as I could get it to prevent me from 'saving' it so well again. Again I'm using (US) 9 (5.5mm) 16" circular Addi turbos to try and get this finished and off to her before the first snow flakes fly while she's still in the area where the colors would be appreciated. What a shame that Plymouth discontinued that color shade of orange #1383! I think it's the perfect color of orange for all things team/school colors and Halloween/pumpkin! Why oh why yarn companies, do you NOT keep the crayola 8 and pastel colors in your line up so we Moms and sport fans can find the correct team colors and baby colors year after year when we're knitting up sweaters, hats, scarves, and mittens? Add the seasonal colors from time to time, but please, keep the basic 'bread and butter' colors with your 'bread and butter' yarns! It would make this knitting one happy camper to be able to find what I want, when I want, as the inspiration hits to make things for people without adding to the 'someday I'm going to do such and such pile' in my house.

Just sayin'....