It's been all about birthdays lately

And today's birthday people are DH and monkey1. That's right, monkey1 was my gift to DH one year. And monkey1 never lets daddy forget it either. :)

pattern: Modello Giuditta from Magknits
yarn: Inspired by this version, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in birthday girl's choices of:
Pink Diamond
Carribean Sea
Wolverine Blue
Hunter Green
Wisteria
needle size: KP size 7 interchangeables
pattern size: 8
mods:
- back length ended up longer than the 20" called for in the pattern simply because I wasn't paying attention.
- crocheted edging consisted of 2 rows of sc, then the floret st row (sl st, dc, sl st).

I don't know why pattern directions in general call out for only 1 row of single crochet to stop the St st from rolling 'cause I keep finding your really need 2 rows.

And before tapmouse heads off to sock camp, I figure I better swatch up my STR Seduction before I ask her to custom buy another one for me.

Left: Yarn Botanika merino tencel in Forest from One Planet
Right: STR Seduction in Lagoon from Purlescence Yarns.

Clearly I need to expand my green spectrum a wee bit more.

And my first Yarn4Socks sock club package came in. I'm debating if I've joined one sock club too many now. I love the pattern, but am very undecided on the yarn. It's Y4S's house yarn, I assume, a wool/camel down blend in the color Hunter's Glen. Not sure about the color and the heavily fragranced softener that was used is rather potent. I'm debating if I should wash the yarn before I use it to get the fragrance out.

A birthday of sorts

I think I've come a long way since my very first post a year ago, yet I still have so much more to learn and do. For instance, the first segment of Project Spectrum will end tomorrow and my BFF socks are still not done. It's been slow going for me, but then this is the WIP that always gets bumped for other things. But I love this Fleece Artist merino, so I will plug on and finish at least before the next Rockin' Sock Club installment comes in.

And what's currently distracting me from mys BFF socks? To the left, it's Louet Gems Pearl in Willow I bought from a lys closing sale. I'm knitting/swatching Cookie A's Twisted Flower pattern in the large size with the pattern stated size 2 (2.75 mm) needles. I'm not sure how the yarn on this size will turn out 'til I get more into the pattern as I only just finished the cuff. On the right it's Knitpicks (KP) Essentials Tweed in Marin a on KP size 1 (2.50 mm) 32" circulars that I'm practicing the Magic Loop method on.

But the biggest distraction has been monkey1's Modello Giuditta capelet. Her birthday is coming up and I would like to finish it by then. I still haven't decided how to finish the bottom edge so I'll see if she has any preferences. Right now it's a debate between a few rows of garter which'll "match" the vertical edges & collar or a crocheted shell or floret border.


Apparently I lied about having scratched my yarn buying itch at Stitches West, but it is sock yarn. ;) Below is my first Loopy Ewe purchase of Zen String's sport merino (wonders if its Louet Gem sport base) in Opal. Very cute and Easter-y colors. Besides, I'll just consider it my blogiversary gift.