I LOVE swaps

This one was particularly nice because it was between teachers who are knitters. So, my sender gave me bookmarks and notecards which are great in the classroom. However, she also sent me neat things just for me such as coffee, chocolate covered hazelnuts, marionberry jam, a new mystery novel and of course great yarn. She also sent lots of booklets about Oregon - I loved Portland when I visited in June, and now I really want to go back.

Isn't the yarn pretty? I used Homespun to make a prayer shawl for a colleague and had many compliments.

I hope my swappee is as happy as I am!

Mice in the House!!

Can you tell I'm an ADD knitter? With two baby sweaters to finish, and at least 5 socks on needles, I make mice!

These were such fun to make though. I got to use up some leftovers, and these were amazingly quick to knit. I timed one; it took me approximately 45 minutes to finish the knitting. Of course then I had to felt them, stuff them (including catnip) and sew them up. That was easy except for fighting off my cats while I stuffed them.

The pattern is in a book, Kitty Knits. I found at least 3 other projects in there to put on my list.

It helps to have appreciative recepients. This is Kate who appears somewhat wasted after half an hour of rolling, rubbing and biting her mouse.

This may look like a lot of mice, but my extended family are all cat lovers. In fact, four mice have already been delivered to other homes, and most of the ones left will be going to my daughter's home - she has eight indoor cats!

Now back to the baby sweaters and socks. I have to get some of these finished because I go back to school in three weeks!

Socks and yet more sock yarn

I have gotten some knitting done. These are my trip socks from Chameleon Colorworks Lichen colorway. The pattern is something I found in a stitch dictionary - no name.





















I also started another pair in a twilled rib. I can't remember this yarn, and I can't find the label anymore. I messed up and made this a little tight for me, so if my daughter doesn't want them, I'll frog them and try something else.


















I have always loved color, but somehow the colors in sock yarns can just knock me over. Here are the latest ones that I just had to have.


From left to right: Fresh Yarns Adirondack Memories (etsy shop) - Fall is my favorite season and this makes me long for football and the fair and soup and the smell of fallen leaves.


Tanis Fiber Arts Shadow colorway. I found this at Beehive Wools in Victoria, B.C. I love finding local (more or less) yarn when I travel. You can't see the shades of greens and blues in the gray in the picture.


Tempted Glam Grrl in Roxanne colorway - I have been trying to get this at Loopy Ewe for several weeks and finally got one. You can't see the sparkle of the silver fibers, but they are there.


Arucania in Ranco colorway. I found this at Beehive also. I seldom buy any yarn in blue, but this has such a beautiful play from different shades of blue to purples.


J Knits in AC 142 colorway. This seemed so preppy somehow with the pinks and grays. These will be great spring socks.

And so, despite three boxes of sock yarn already in the closet, I yield to the call of color. Maybe I'll just leave it all in baskets around the house and enjoy the view!