Knitting is such a small world

I am always amazed at how small our little knitting world can be. Last Saturday I am at one of our local LYSs and while browsing and chatting with the owner, she mentions that another customer asked her to carry some natural wool for a dyeing party that she wants to have. Wow, what a great idea. I go into work the following week, and a colleague of mine invites me to her place for a kool-aid dyeing party - BYOW (Bring Your Own Wool). We start talking and decide to become yarn-enablers for each other and go yarn shopping. I meet her at the LYS, and the shop owner says "You guys know each other?" It turns out that my colleague was the customer who asked her to carry some natural wool and she had told her about another customer who is always looking for handpainted yarns, who was, guess who - Me. Small world.

I know I was supposed to finish my mittens and socks, but Odessa is calling my name (yet again). It was really cold and windy here this morning waiting for the bus and when I put on my beautiful hat, I realized pretty quickly that it was just a tad to short. I guess that's what you get when you're in a rush to cast off. I ended up gifting my friend with the hat (perfect fit for her) and will cast on for another tonight.

Something old, something new

I decided to frog the Oriel sock - the pattern wasn't the right fix for the yarn. I re-started it, using the same pattern as Oriel minus the actual stitch pattern.

I also started (and finished) Grumperina's Odessa hat. What a really quick knit. Will definately be knitting another - maybe in green. Not sure yet. I used the recommended yarn in a coral colour and clear glass beads. Started yesterday afternoon and finished in this morning.

Next on my knitting to-do list is finish the mittens and socks (before the rest of the Vesper sock yarn I ordered comes in.) I gor the Crew, Strange Little Mama, and Neopolitan colourways. I have stashed most of Julia's colourways, including a Neopolitan prototyle. Jaywalker's here we come.

So much yarn, so little...

Time or attention span? Good question. I have been knitting socks for over a year and I only have two complete pairs. The rest are single socks. The allure of a new project is what does me in - new colours, a different stitch pattern, a new technique. Here's some of my sock yarn stash - there's some Vesper sock yarn, some Lorna's Laces, some Koigu, Opal.

I cast on today for a new pair of socks. I am using some yarn from Knit-n-Purl Zen in the Black Licorice colourway - I love it, so soft and the colour is beautiful. I am using the Oriel stitch pattern from the Sensational Knitted Socks book, but I'm not sure about the stitch pattern with this lovely variegated yarn - I think I will probably frog it and try again with my standard sock pattern in plain old stockinette.