Details of SP9 care package

Last week, I received my second package from my secret pal, One Skein Wonder.

When it arrived, I'm not sure who was more excited to see what was inside: the kids or me.
When I first opened the box, there was the secret pal requisite cloud of tissue paper-- a brilliant addition that increases the anticipation...

There was the beautiful notecard and a lovely lavender sachet (that is currently living in my basket o' wool),

and a trio of lovely Filatura de Crosa mohair blend yarn in the prettiest sky blue.



Then came the patterns... oh, the patterns: The famous Rogue, which I've been salivating over for at least a year but never felt accomplished or cool enough to even buy, let alone knit*; the cabled cap that matches Rogue, and a fun fingerless mit/glove pattern from Rosie knits.
Finally, there was this darling German "Smoker". My pal celebrates a German heritage, and introduced me to one of their Christmas traditions. The kiddos and I had to immediately light his little incense cone and let him smoke away for the better part of the afternoon.

What a fun package... what a wonderful secret pal!



*After reading the 12+ pages of instructions and charts, I still don't feel accomplished enough to attempt this beautiful work of art. I think I'm going to get another sweater or two under my belt before I tackle this one. Maybe later this winter... after the Christmas craziness is done.

Secret Pal Prizes!

WooHoo! I got a box, I got a box. I got a box, hey hey hey hey!

My dear, sweet, wonderful Secret Pal "OneSkeinWonder" has gifted me with the Telemark pattern from knitpicks, along with all of the yummy yarn to make it. I'd have taken a picture of all the wonderful swag, but I started swatching with it immediately. Thank you so much! I love this colorway... I even happen to have a pewter clasp I harvested from a shirt that I used to wear in college and have since outgrown.

Thank you thank you thankyou!

*hugs*

In other news, I finished this: It's a sweet little facecloth for my Secret Pal who shall remain nameless at the moment. It's Knitpicks Crayon yarn, held double. My own pattern.
Takes exactly one skein of yarn, measures about the size of a standard washcloth.

(now I wish I had measured this before I packed it up and sent it away)
Cast on 36 sts.
*Knit garter stitch for 6 rows
Knit seed stitch for 6 rows*
repeat * to * 6 times
finish with 6 rows of garter stitch
Bind off
If there's any yarn left, make a 3-stitch I-cord loop
weave in ends
wash yo' face!

Aah, Icarus, we hardly knew ye...

I couldn't take it anymore. It's been done frogged, but like a phoenix, that beautiful Knitpicks Shadow yarn in Redwood forest is going to become this:


Pretty, no?

I'm all about the brown this year. Color theory says that brown is a "grounded" color. What with all the changes on the domestic front: new baby, quit the day job, stay-at-home Mom-ing-- it makes sense.

That and, I look fabulous in brown. It's a French trick. Dress to your (true) hair color.


For lace on size US3 needles, it's really coming along. I'm almost halfway up the back and I started three days ago and only knit at night before I pass out and narrowly avoid skewering my eye.

NaNoWriMo

Why haven't I heard of this before?

I wish I had the time to devote to this wonderful, scary, cool project.
Maybe after the pre-Christmas giftknitting maelstrom has calmed down I'll declare my own NaNoWriMo.