when friends help friends shop...

this happens...

top: alpaca sox in dusty morning
bottom: noro sox #180, #40, #150

pretty, huh? barbara went to webs and i needed to help her so she could get the biggest discount. that's what friends are for, right? so she helped me get noro #40 and the alpaca sox. and debi helped me get the other two noro sox. i think i am going to use the #40 for the annetrelac socks and will probably use the other two for a scarf or shawl. thank you, friends!!

it seems the jojoland yarn is relabeled as house brand yarns and so i managed to find what looks like jojoland "harmony" at yarntreehouse labeled as "bloom" for only $4.99 a skein. they look to be the same colorways. i thought i had ordered c01 but received c04 (almost the same as co1 but a little darker) and c09. i didn't save a copy of my original order so can't really complain. it looks like the prices just got raised to $5.99. i think i may use the purple one for the goddess knits anniversary mystery shawl kal (deadline for sign-ups is may 30th and the first clue is released june 14th) and the lighter pastel for a sampler stole over at badcatdesigns. i enabled debi to buy some of this yarn too because "friends help friends shop!"

yarn treehouse "bloom" c04 (upper) & c09 (lower)

i started to tell you about my visit to article pract in my last post. well, hubby was home for the day and i told him that one of my new knitting friends had talked about this place in oakland that had a really good fried chicken sandwiches. he loves trying new places so off we go to bakesale betty for lunch. guess who was in line as we were leaving the restaurant?! tapmouse and nartian!! the two peoples who talked this place up in the first place. tapmouse gave me this cute little sheep bag because i played along on her blog contest a few months ago.

thank you, tapmouse!

the sandwich was absolutely yummy! we will be going back again! we also bought their strawberry shortcake and some pecan stickybuns. all yummy, yummy, yummy! but the real reason i wanted to go was because article pract is almost next door to bakesale betty. it is a nice little store with lots of stuff in a small space but everything is well organized and they do have a very good selection. i was good and only came out with this....

malabrigo lace in tortuga
(it's a purplish/black and so soft)

and it was on sale!!!!!!!!!

i also won a copy of "knit kimono" from socks and more. laura is hosting a contest (featuring crystal palace yarns) every month for the next few months. the color for may is lilac and june is white (i think). so if you have anything knit up using any of crystal palace yarn in this month' featured color, let laura know and she will enter you in the drawing.

i am still enjoying the entrelac scarf (why does noro have soooo many knots? 3 in the first skein, 1 -so far in the 2nd). i am easily entertained by the color changes. i am slowly working on the swallowtail shawl. and i have finally decided on a pattern for theknitter's july sotm club yarn.

what's going on in your little corner of cyberspace?!

lots going on!

i finished my "mystic lights in foggy san francisco" last week and have it all blocked out. i love lace just because i love seeing a scrunchy ball of mess turn into something beautiful. the yarn did soften up some after a bath and vinegar soak. it's still a little on the scratchy side but the colorway makes up for it. love the yarn as a shawl!

unblocked
size: 60"x25"

blocking


"posing"

yarn: kauni - ec
needles: us 6 (knitpicks options)
finished size: 64"x30"

had empty needles (socks don't count) so decided to try entrelac. i found 4 skeins of noro #93 that i had purchased a few years ago. i wasn't really thrilled with the colors but the yarn was half-off so who' s going to complain. i figured that it would be nice as a felted bag if nothing else. well, let me tell you, entrelac makes this yarn gorgeous!!!! i didn't realize that the colors were like a muted rainbow! i love the scarf and i am enjoying entrelac. i even figured out how to knit backwards. still haven't mastered k2tog from the opposite side yet but hey!

entrelac scarf

after knitting one ball of noro
needles: us 8 (knitpicks options)

backside (for debi. don't ask me why.)

and after much nagging, i also started this:

"everybody's knittin' it, knittin' it!"
swallowtail shawl

yarn: newton country cashmere/merino (fingering wt)
needles: us 6 (denise interchangeables)

pattern is currently free as a download over here; but you all probably knew that already.

i got to go the article pract in oakland last week too. tell you about my visit next post.