Lace Leaf Sweater

When I get back, I want to start the Lace Leaf Sweater from Teva Durham's book "Loop-d-Loop".
I need to ask the knitters if Andean Silk will work instead of what the pattern calls for (Summer Ik 2005?).

Two Alert Cats

Started "Two Alert Cats" from Cat Bordhi's book. I'm using Brown Sheep Company's 'Cotton Fine'. 80% Cotton, 20% Merino Wool. Net Weight 1.75 oz. Approx. 222 yards/skein. Gauge=6.5sts/inch on Needle size 2.
I'm using almost size 3 needles and it works out well for the gauge for the pattern (7.5sts/in).
Main Color= CF-520 Caribbean Sea (Dyelot 002)
Contrasting Color= CF-620 Banana (Dyelot 030)
I really like this yarn. It's much easier to knit with than the mohair and it's really soft. I like the two colors together, too. I'll wear them when we go pick up Kaleidoscope and the kitten :).

One down.

I finished my first Jo Sharp sock in the color I didn't ask for of "Iced Tea". I thought I had knitted the foot too long when, in fact, it now seems to be too short. I suck. I'll start the second one real soon, but I've been longing to start something with the Nebraska yarn, so it's time to get a move on. I'm using the turquoise (and probably "banana") to knit "Two Alert Cats" from Cat Bordhi's book. I want to use the 2 circular needles this time, though I loved knitting with the dpn's last time. It really doesn't bother me and I like it better than translating the pattern. I just don't trust myself yet to confidently switch the pattern around.
I'm getting pretty good at Kitchener stitch, much to my surprise. I don't even need to refer to Stoller's book (hardly at all) anymore. So glad I wrapped up the plethora of projects I had pending. I'm super tired of looking at them.

The Hexed Sox

It's all a misunderstanding...it doesn't have anything to do with baseball, it's all about the Jo Sharp Mohair socks I've been fantasizing about since last summer. Well, I fantasized about them last summer but, as with so many fantasies, it was much better before realized. First, that Elizabeth from The Knitting Garden said the yarn would be "here" by the first of August, then she kept pushing the date back, so I had to return to Japan and pay extra to have it shipped even further...the "back-order" kept being backed up. I finally got the yarn around Christmas time (5 months later???). Now, I just realised that one of the colors she sent is different from what I asked for. I wanted "iced tea" and she gave me "russian". I do like the color, but that's not the point. Anyway, I appreciate that she threw in a copy of the pattern for the socks that I wanted since there were problems with selling the book. But, I didn't like having to hunt her down every time the next back-order date had come and gone. I don't think it's enough to cause a boycott, but it certainly makes me leary of ordering there, especially if it were a matter of timeliness. Anyway, since I was knitting so tightly before (and didn't make a gauge swatch before starting the socks), I've run out of Camomile and had to order another ball. I considered frogging both socks and starting over, but I spent SO MUCH time doing them and the only (obvious) problem is the lack of yarn to complete them. What's $12.45 in the grand scheme of things? Since we don't get back until August, she should have ample time to get one singular ball of yarn out the door. To be fair, I think a lot of the problem was on the other end of the yarn chain, but I was disappointed that she had to be contacted every time the new date had come and (long) gone. I can't wait to put these socks behind me.

Clutch and Clutchette

Yesteryday, I knitted and felted the green clutchette. I CO 20 sts and worked in stockinette then felted it. I need to find handles that work for it. It was super easy and fun to knit.
Today, I knitted the khaki clutch. I wored it using cables. First time. They're a lot easier than they look and I think it looks pretty nice. This one needs handles, too, and I think I need to sew a lining into it. I just blocked it. I hate blocking. I don't understand what it does. I never feel like anything looks any differently after I block it. Oh well. I got the inspiration for these bags from these outrageously overpriced ones. I'd like to meet the sea urchin who pays $150 American for one of these jobbies.
I think I'll put a flower or something on the green one to jazz it up. I love the color.