So Much for the Yarn Diet!

I should have known better.....I tried....I really did...lol! Of course, one of my additions to the stash was totally justified....I mean, really, it was!

I have been having a dickens of a time trying to decide on what I'm using for the MS4. I have swatched and swatched the options I had in the stash.....and bought at least 6 different bead options to go with said stash items. Haven't liked any of them except one. It was the grey JKnits with the black beads. Only problem is I'm terrified of running out of yarn as I mentioned in my earlier post. Just don't want to go there and risk a repeat of last year! Even with all that....I was trying to resist buying something new and use something that I already have! That's the reason I kept buying beads in every color of the rainbow! I mean beads are cheap, you know!

Anyway....long story short.....I ran into Gourmet Yarn Company yesterday to inquire about supplies for the fall retreat. I'm working the retreat and wanted to get a leg up on the project...make sure I know how to do the tecnique in case I need to help someone, etc. I'm so excited and pumped about the retreat....but more about that later!

I checked out the yummy Zephyr they got in but was able to resist. I know I wouldn't do several stoles/shawls out of the same color and the cones have over 5,000 yds....tempting but I managed to pass on it.

Well.....resistance died....right there....lol! I ended up convincing myself that everyone NEEDS a black stole and came home with this for the MS4! Cascade Heritage Sock Yarn.

Black with shiny crystal beads....which I already have, by the way! Decision made!!! All I have to do now is swatch to see what size needle I want to use. I used 4's on the zephyr I used on the MS3. Even though this is sock yarn it does appear to be lighter in weight than the JKnits. I was swatching that with 6's on it so we will see.

Well.....I didn't manage to end it there. I also came home with this:

The new solids in the Fiesta Boomerang are just awesome! The bigger dilemma was deciding which color I HAD to have! Everyone around here has been doing the February Lady and I have perused the stash several times to see what might work.....well......I'm thinking this will work just fine! So much for the yarn diet!

Rain

Rain!! We are finally getting some much needed rain. I have loved the past few days....with the overcast skies it almost feels like fall!

Of course, now I'm wishing I had gotten out yesterday to run my list of errands. It's raining much harder today....guess I'll be getting a little wet. We are out of coffee so there is no putting it off until tomorrow...lol!

We had a busy week with out of town company from Wednesday through Saturday. My great-niece from Texas is going to OU this year so she, her Mom, Sister and Grandmother came in to get her settled and all stayed with me. I loved it. I haven't gotten to spend much time with that part of the family in a very long time and it was wonderful! We got her all settled into her dorm on Thursday and she started rush on Friday. Man, are those dorm rooms small!!! I never got to have that experience and it made me kind of sad. I went to a community college my first year and lived at home then got married and went from parent's house to having a husband. In retrospect I think every girl should have the opportunity to live on her own and not be responsible for anyone but herself.....at least for a little while!

I have managed to get a little knitting done. Other than swatching for the MS4 I've been disciplined enough to work on wips!

I'm having a devil of a time with the MS4 thing.....can't seem to come up with a combo of yarn and beads that I like. I took all my yarn options with me to get beads....bought several choices that looked (I thought) great with the yarns......but when I swatched them I didn't like any of them!!! Still not sure what I'm going to end up using. The only option that I even remotely like is some JKnits sock that I picked up thinking I would use for the MS3 then didn't. It is a soft grey and looks ok with black beads. Only thing about that one is I'm paranoid about running out of yarn again this year......and I think I would just DIE if that happened again! Supply list calls for 1100 yds of lace weight, but 1200 of fingering. I have 1100 of the JKnits! They did say that the listed amounts allow for a LOT of insurance and wiggle room.....but after last year.....running out 19 rows from finishing......it just makes me one nervous Nelly to even think about starting if there is a remote possibility of running short.....what to do, what to do?

I did finish one of the projects I had going. It is the Little Miss Strawberry sweater for Savy from Creative Knitting magazine. It was a fast, fun little project and I can't wait to see it on her!

I used the Jeannee I bought to do the Cable Lace Tee that I decided I didn't like after all! I have now picked up the Split Shoulder summer top I'm doing out of Rowan Bamboo Tape and focusing on it. I have the back up to about 14" and almost ready to start arm hole decreases. One down...how many to go? LOL. A variable to be sure if something else starts calling my name and harrassing me to cast it on.....like the Tilted duster from last year.....the handsome devil socks for dh.....the slippery socks from Knitty.....the Blackberry Ridge shawl....and the list goes on!

On the OH NO side of things.....another reason for "weathering the storm" and getting out today.....I was sitting in my chair....minding my own business.....knitting away on Savy's sweater night before last......and killed.......6 MOTHS flitting about the den!!!!! The den.....the room open to and adjacent to my WALL OF YARN! Needless to say part of the agenda today is to bag anything up there that has wool in it.....get it into the freezer.....and go buy deterents to the little buggers to tuck up in the shelves!!! Talk about freaking out....dh said he hasn't seen me that hyper in a long, long time! I'm even considering tubbing my stash again just to be on the safe side. It makes me mad, though....I love having it all out where I can see it, touch it and play with it! I really hate having it all tucked away where I have to dig through it to find things!!! But I guess that's better than having it destroyed by flying little a#@holes!

Some Progress

Well, I finally feel like I'm making a little progress......on a few things at least! I finished one of the wip's that was lying around.....the Child's French Sock from "Knitting Vintage Socks". It was one of those projects that I literally had to force myself to do. I don't really like the way they turned out. They remind me of reptile skin!.....but they do, at least, feel good on the foot......and I enjoyed working with the Cherry Tree Hill. I'm sure they will see their share of wear this winter.

Of course, I turned right around and started two other projects...and have signed up for the Mystery Stole 4...lol....so much for paring down the wip's! I don't know yet what I'm going to use for the MS4. Have done a little stash diving but only have 3 lace weights with enough yardage for this one....hmmmm...I sure did like working with the Jaggerspun Zephyr on the last one.....and I don't happen to have any of that....

One of the projects I started is the Ladder Stitch Scarf from Schaefer Miss Priss. I like working with this yarn too. I have always heard other people say they loved using it and I can see why!

The other thing I cast on was the Little Miss Strawberry Sweater from Creative Knitting for Miss Savy. It is out of the Plymouth Jeannee that I was doing the Cable Lace Tee out of. I decided the tee was going to be too short and that I probably wouldn't ever wear it. It's working up pretty fast so hopefully it won't be a wip for long!

On the house projects, the new windows are in and the siding is done! It's amazing the difference it made! And I'm sooo glad it's over! What a mess for a few days! I have to say that the crew did an excellent job of cleaning up after themselves though. I have had work done in the past where that definately was NOT the case. These guys were great! No more shabby looking siding....and no more painting....ever!

I have also made a good bit of progress on the window painting project. I think it is turning out ok....considering I haven't oil painted for 20 plus years! I wish I had taken a picture of the blank hole before I started...I'm bad about the before and after picture taking thing. Anyway.....keep in mind it is definately a "work in progress" and I have a lot more to do....but here it is so far.

Those dark blobs in the foreground are just based in.....they will look better when it's done....honest! DH found an old vintage window in a salvage yard for me and the plan is to mount it so it looks like you are looking outside at the scene. Hopefully I will like the way that looks....if not, I'll just frame it in with some nice trim.