Monday morning yarn porn

It’s been said that I am very easily pleased, and that’s probably true, but even so the last couple of weeks have been awesome. First my pattern release, which went amazingly well and sold significantly more than the zero copies I assumed it would sell. Then my birthday mystery surprise, which ended up being a two-day trip to Alton Towers and LOTS of no-handers on rollercoasters, plus staying overnight in the posh hotel there that I’ve never had chance to stay at before. I also got the best present ever, a specially-ordered-in-from-America Green Bay Packers jersey which is now officially my most prized possession.

Best. Rollercoaster. Ever.

Thank you to everyone who bought my pattern, wished me a happy birthday, or both 🙂

Sarah of Continuum Mama gifted me a gorgeous Ravelry pattern as a birthday present, and a couple of nights this week were spent very slowly rolling a ball of DROPS Lace by hand without a swift in an effort to cast on. It went well at first . . .

Who needs a swift, right?

Then it went bad.

Hrmm.

Then it got worse.Watch Full Movie Online Streaming Online and Download

This is when I started to panic slightly.

After starting this on Thursday night it was finally all untangled on Saturday morning, so that’s not too bad, but it was just lucky there was no real hurry to cast on! After finishing we immediately had to leave for a night away camping (despite forecast storms and flood warnings, we’re smart) and so I didn’t get chance to cast on until yesterday afternoon. Currently only a few rows in and it doesn’t look like much yet, I have to say lace weight yarn is terrifying to use for the first time!

It’ll get more impressive soon, I promise.

Today the awesome things continued, with a parcel arriving full of pretty things!

Bursting with awesomeness!

A friend gave me a Wool Warehouse gift voucher for my birthday, and there was no way it was going to last long without being used up.

Sidenote: if you’re in the UK and don’t use Wool Warehouse you’re missing out, they’re amazing.

Basically I ordered a ton of Cascade 220 Fingering, which was perhaps a little bit unwise given that I’ve never used Cascade anything and had no idea if I’d like it, but Ravelry reviews were favourable and it seems to have worked out ok. The squish-your-face-into-yarn test suggests that it will not be too rough and scratchy for my delicate skin, and the colours are gorgeous. We’ll see how it knits up.

The obligatory face squish test.

These two are set aside for one of my own designs, which as you can see will be slightly garish (hopefully in a good way).

Yes the green really is almost that bright.

The rest is earmarked for my next big practical “me knit”, Urban Houndstooth Cardigan. I was a bit unsure about which colours to go for, a part of me rebels against just choosing the colours shown in the pattern page, and after seeing the yarn in person I’m definitely happy with the grey for the main colour. Not so sure about the purple as contrast, maybe a brighter colour would’ve been better, but frankly at £2.99 a skein if it’s turning out too dark I’ll just buy a new colour and use the lovely purple for something else.

Too dark? Not dark enough? Gah. I just don’t know.

I’m also working on another pattern, this is a scarf/cowl that will eventually be part of a set with matching hat and gloves. I’m a bit addicted to garter stitch at the minute, it turns out.

Mysterious, eh?

That’s about it, that is all of my news! Now to catch up on all of yours.