One of my two sisters works at Michael's and she shares my love of all things crafty. She's an excellent artist and creates the most beautiful cards and scrapbooks -- as you can imagine, she's much admired at her store and has a great time working there. Esther is generous beyond belief and while the kids were opening their gifts on Christmas, she surprised me with a huge bag of Patons Classic Wool in three colorways: dark grey mix, oatmeal, and plum heather. I love Classic Wool as it's a great workhorse yarn with good yardage, sturdy texture, and a great price.
As you can see from the photo above, Esther gifted me enough for three sweaters (size small, of course), and I'm starting to plan which patterns I'll cast on. Before she gave me this stash, I had asked her to pick me up some basic black and cream, and yesterday I casted on my first of many sweaters that I hope to knit in 2013. While I took advantage of yarn sales before the holidays, I also jumped on a great deal from Interweave Press and bought a digital copy of New England Knits which I had been coveting for months. Both Erin and Renee have knit beautiful items from this book.
I'm knitting the Derry Raglan and Cowl pullover in black, and while I already had to frog it once, I'm excited about this pattern and am now enjoying its rhythm. I made a few minor mistakes when starting the set-up row and then fudged it but as Gigi of the Knitmore Girls always says, if you don't like it now, you won't like it ten rows from now. My goal is 2013 is to be a more mindful knitter and as this sweater will count towards my 2013 collection, I best start being mindful now.
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Nice gifts....yeah I'm waiting on some yarn deliveries...
ReplyDeleteWonderful new stash. I look forward to seeing all the lovelies you create.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you indeed!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely gift - yarn is always the best gift of all to a kntiter :)
I love that book and that sweater! I made it in Manos Maxima, but I don't wear it outside, I hate how it pooled. I should frog it and do a KAL with you! I got some great knitting gifts, Clara Parkes Book of Yarn, two skeins of Jojoland fingering weight, and a $50.00 gift certificate to Windsor Button. I love that there pressure is off now that all of my knitted gifts have been given.. I am working on a Gaptastic Cowl for my niece, an Interesctions Break hat for SingleHandedKnits KAL, and a Stephen West Windschief Hat for my brother.
ReplyDeleteWhat a very sweet and talented sister you have! Happy New Year knitting to you.
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure getting the yarn for you knowing you'll work your magic and create something wonderful!I love the way you made the pyramid with the yarn, the colors look great together - so if you combine them, you could make a medium or large, right?? lol :-)
ReplyDeleteOh that pullover is gorgeous! I find that all great knits have a moment where you have to rip back, I'm glad to hear it's smooth sailing from here! Lovely yarn too, your sister certainly knows you well.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing what patterns catch your eye. This one is so simply elegant and wearable - black will be perfect for a wardrobe staple. So sweet of your sister to give you such a big haul of yarn!
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome to get hooked up at Michael's! It has such a great selection of items, especially scrapbooking materials.
ReplyDeleteI love how you're a big garment knitter. I think in the new year you may inspire me to try those projects.
Such a wonderful generous gift! You'll have lots of fun with that yarn. I've been doing similar things with my November Knits book. So many pretty patterns!!
ReplyDeleteYou really scored in the gift department this year!
ReplyDeleteClassic Wool is one of my fav wools to knit with. You are so lucky to get enough for 3 sweaters. Happy knitting!
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays! And happy yarn! I love Patons Classic Wool, too. My current project is using up quite a bit of my stash of it. The pattern that you are knitting is one of my faves from that book. It is going to look great in black.
ReplyDeleteOooh lovely! I adore Patons Classic wool, and I can't wait to see what you decide to make with it as I actually have some of those very colorways ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely about Classic Wool. I've got a stash of an excellent red waiting to turn into a sweater in 2013.
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