ISE4 Package!

My package from the International Scarf Exchange arrived today, and it held a treasure trove of surprises. My English swap pal, Saffy, was, in a word, amazing.


She sent some yummy looking British treats, including tea, biscuits, chocolate, and candies.


And the yarn! My goodness.


Some Twilley's of Stamford wool. Gorgeous stuff, and very soft. My pal initially wanted to use this yarn for a scarf, but she sent it along to me instead!


Sock Yarn!

From The Natural Dye Studio.

And what you've all been waiting for....the scarf!

Knitted with wool from The Natural Dye Studio, it's truly a thing of beauty, and in colors I love.

Thanks so much for everything. Now to wait for cool weather.

The One Bright Spot

Wow, this has been an unbelivably crappy day. Have you ever been in a situation where someone is attacking you for no legitimate reason? Where the things they are complaining about have been festering for them for months? Where every problem they have could have easily been solved with a little bit of communication?

Well, that's what happened to me today. Remember when I blogged about the great office-sharing opportunity we had "lucked" into? Turns out--ain't so great. I mean, if you don't mind completely bat-shit crazy, it's probably fine. As for me and Eric, we're outta there. Reasonable, rational, grownup-type people can't function in an insane person's world, and we're not going to try anymore. It's not worth it.

My Tulsa readers: know of any office space? We're so going to need it. Email me!

On to the good stuff. This scarf--my God. So gorgeous.



After blocking, it laid so flat and nice. It's delicate, airy, very ethereal.



It's going to be hard to give up and send off to my Scarf Exchange Pal. The good news is my scarf pal is awesome, so I am going to be very happy to let her have it.


It will still be hard though.


Specs:

Pattern: Heart strings' Beaded Lace Scarf II (don't pay $5 for shipping though--I have heard you can find it cheaper elsewhere.)

Yarn: Hand-dyed 100% Merino laceweight from Etsy seller WhiteWillow

Beads: size 8/10 seed beads, approximately 1,175 of them--seriously

Needles: US size 4 KnitPicks Options

Length: 68 inches (53 prior to blocking!!!)

Width: 11 inches

It's been a long time since I have knit a scarf and I forgot how much stamina it requires. I loved this pattern the first few days, but the closer I got to the end, the more I couldn't wait to be done. I have enough yarn and beards left to make myself one, but I just don't know if I cold manage it. At least not for a looong time.

Thanks for all the great comments about this scarf. I can honestly say it's the most beautiful thing I have made thus far, and that's with all the credit to the pattern, and the yarn. All I did was knit it.

Scarfing It Up

Much progress--with seemingly little effort--has been made on my International Scarf Exchange Pal's scarf.





I'm loving this pattern!

A Good Yarn Day

When I got home yesterday, after a very dull meeting in Oklahoma City, I found a stack of packages waiting for me. Ok, two packages, but the contents were so great, it felt like more.

First up, I got the yarn I ordered from etsy seller WhiteWillow.

Merino laceweight for my International Scarf Swap pal:

I was a little afraid of winding 880 yards of laceweight, even with my ball winder and swift, but it wound into the most perfectly delicious little yarn cake with no snags, no tangles, nothing but smooth, gorgeous Neopolitan yarn.

And it is now being turned into this:

I also got the sock yarn I ordered, in "Sweet Tart". This stuff is beautiful!


And as if that wasn't enough, my package from my Lime and Violet Swap Pal arrived. It was stuffed full of treats--chocolate and exotic little goodies. And this funny ostrich pen that I took to my office before I took a photo.

But, best of all, it also contained yarn! And not just any yarn, but Piece of Beauty yarn. Thanks, LnV Pal! You are the best. This yarn is so pretty, I love the colors, and everything else in the package was perfect too.



Definitely a red-letter day for me!

Scarf Review

***If you haven't entered my Blogiversary contest (see previous post), please be sure to do so. The prize is a gift certificate to The Loopy Ewe!***

I joined the International Scarf Exchange, and started my scarf last night.

I looked at lots of different patterns, but I just couldn't get past the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. And since I was too anxious to start to wait for Blue Moon to restock the mediumweight STR or for my LYS to reopen so they could sell me some Koigu, I started with the lightweight STR I had on hand--Lemongrass and Farmhouse.

So, tell me. How's it looking?

Also--FO Alert! I finished this pair of baby cable ribbed socks for my sister-in-law Cheryl. Just for no reason. Well, that's not true. She was COMPLAINING that I hadn't made her a pair yet...

The yarn is STR in Marbles.