Dinky Dyes scarf HD

So while pawing through Jo's yarn at CATS, I picked some interesting rusty/orangey stuff. I decided to make it into a scarf using the same pattern that Ann was doing for her daughter's scarf from the Crochet for Dummies book (shut up, I love Dummies books).

And lo' I have a beautimous scarf...

Come on, go ahead and comment about my awesome natural photo taking abilities. You know you want to feed my ego. It's draped over a big mesquite branch in the backyard, it's doubled and doubled again. It's a really long scarf, but it's groovy that way. It's not quite as bright as the picture, but hey, the light wasn't the best, and I decided to let the Rebel have its way with the flash. Oh, and right - I haven't washed and shaped it yet, so yeah, it's still a little funky warped.

Here's a close up of the pattern (give yourself a cookie if you find the Mona hair)

I really love the way the colors play - I really, really do.

And then there's the issue of the actual yarn. I freakin' love it and I could roll and roll in yarn like this forever. But, I have two problems when I want to play with yarn:

1) I must touch it and see it in person. I really need to, before I'll buy anything. I cannot order over the internet (if you don't count frantic emails to Jo for more), there's just a short there that makes me not believe what I"m seeing. I think too many bad internet hand-dyed fabric purchases broke me when I was making my babysteps into the wide world of internet craft purchasing. It's great that everyone loves various knitting/yarn sites (feel free to email me with info, I might be tempted into yarn bravery), but I haven't felt I could do it yet

2) I live in a horrible horrible land at the ass end of the universe, which means no LYS. I get Michaels and HobbyLobby in all of their mass-manufactured acrylic glory (not that I hate acrylic or acrylic blends or anything

So this is my first real foray into nice yarn. It's 100% superwash merino (whatever that means, except that I know Merino is sheep, therefore I assume this is wool), and it was SO soft and happy to work with. I did not want to put my project down because it just felt so good in my hands. It's kinda like going from using a Dimensions kit to using lugana with silk threads and Piecemaker needles. You can't even begin to explain the difference by using tired terms like "night and day"

Dear "more advanced (or whatever)" knitters/crocheters: I believe I have seen the light. Now someone hand me some good yarn and fly me to a good LYS. I've pulled the wool I got in SLC last year off of the shelf, and I'm so looking for another project.

Idle hands do the FSM's work...

You know, I've never understood the "idle hands do the devil's work/are the devil's workshop thing" I mean, if you are so busy trying to keep your hands not-idle, then wouldn't you run the risk of doing the devil's work inadvertently? Ok, it's just me. And clearly, I'm not doing the devil's work, I'm doing FSM's.

Here's the hat created by me ( copied from this website that Melanie sent me).
I made some changes - Mainly because I absolutely suck at following instructions. I did the meatballs blind and I changed the meatball color to "Indian Red" by caron. I attempted to follow the instructions of the hat from Lion Brand that were posted, but I'm not so hot with instructions, so I just winged it, and I"m pleased with the result. Now since I don't like to take pictures of me (why so few exist) and because taking pictures of yourself is no fun, I've enlisted my favorite model, Mona. She was thrilled, let me tell you.

I love the "what next." look on Mona's face.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Lots and lots of stitching. And I finished a couple of things.
A house warming gift from Margaret. I finished it a while ago, but I didn't post it, because I wanted to show it off to her at Vegas CATS first. It's called "When Life Gives you Lemons" by Ruby Slipper designs. Stitched on 28 ct Blush (by the blended needle).  Anyway, the saying goes "When life gives you lemons... get the salt and tequila!"

Then there is the Plum fruit cloissonne ornament I did for Stasha's RR.

{Image Missing}

And I did a band from Gabriel for Nicole's RR

{Image Missing}

And today I finished Shiraz Sampler by Dinky Dyes. I used 32 ct Legacy linen from Picture this Plus and I used Dinky Dyes's Warratah silk instead of the Shiraz it calls for because I'm a sucker for a pretty red.

And finally - here is a baby blanket I knitted for a friend. Yes, it's for a girl. Yes that's camoflage yarn, and no, I'll never knit another baby blanket again. I'm pretty sure this took the better part of 9 months. While you're at it, check out that new stitching chair. Yeah baby. The blanket is from the "Stitch' n Bitch" book. It's hard to see in the little picture, but the different quadrants were knitted/purled different so they show up in person. Just trust me.