i'm still here!

i've had the yuckiest spring cold, and just managing to go to work and a few shows, and not much else! i came back to find that i won a topic of the week for the spring fling coffee and yarn swap...what fun!

all of this sleepy down time has led to lots of knitting! i'm making an avril shrug from Pretty Knits: 30 Designs from Loop in London, a beautiful book if you haven't seen it. i am using a pretty kid Lincoln/Angora handspun lace from Laine Zin Zin http://www.lainezinzin.com/ called Esperance




i think this cardi/shrug will be sweet and warm, if a bit fluffy from the angora. it's knit in a pretty flower lace, and i haven't made a mistake yet! i'll have about two hours of ferry kntting time tonight too, because i'm going over to the cabin for my little bro's birthday (can we still call them little when they are 26?). can't wait to wear this one!

Spring Fling Coffee and Yarn Swap Topic Of The Week #2

The question: Have you put away the hats, scarfs and mittens, and brought out the cute tank top sweater projects and lacy wraps? Have you change yarn to something more lighter and cooler, not so heavy and bulky?

The sun was out all day today, it is warming up enough for a light jacket. I still wear a scarf, but more because I am stubborn and want to wear knits as long as possible on this warm west coast, than because I really need one.

I am knitting with lighter, spring yarns. I have pastel-colored monkey socks on the needles, a felted Noni purse in fresh spring greens and pinks, and a few other spring yarns on the needles too - like knitpicks shine, a cool cotton/tencel blend.

All that said, I pick yarns for their seasonal color more than their weight. In the spring, I knit spring colors, in the autum my favorites - plums, rich browns, olives.

And, I am still holding on to a few winter-weight projects. I have prairie boots on the needles in brown sheep lamb's pride because my wood floors are still very chilly and I live in an old drafty house.

All this talk makes me want to knit, but I am spinning up some pretty april showers bulky yarn for a ravelry spin-along. I really have to get my camera hooked up to my computer!