Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Ssshhhh...It's a Secret


Today I began a new knitting project...but it is a secret at least for a while. However, it does involve this gorgeous Trekking XXL yarn color 78 that I purchased at Knitters Underground in Centre Hall. Don't you just love the rich colors and hues of purple? I do. Stay tuned for updates.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Weekend Yarn Shopping

My husband and I traveled to NJ to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with family member we had not seen in almost a year. It was a wonderful trip, great weather most of the time and really good food. We truly enjoyed ourselves.

Of course on my "to do" list was yarn shopping. Keith and I went to a shop in downtown Millburn. I had high expectations...their new website made their shop really temping. I was there two years ago and although she had no sock yarn then the site claims a "lot" of sock yarn. Well, I do not consider 10 skeins of sock yarn (2 of each color) "a lot" of sock yarn. A huge disappointment. Her shop moved last year and is long and narrow, making it even more cramped than in the past. I also did not like her other yarn choices. I said a nice thank you and off we went to lunch.

On Saturday my SIL and I hit the road for Princeton. We love shopping in all of the small stores, the hustle and bustle atmosphere and the gorgeous weather made the day even nicer. The town...which is always lovely...was beautifully decorated, there were groups of carolers singing in various parts of the community and of course, Santa Claus was greeting visitors in front of the Ralph Lauren shop.

One of our first stops was a yarn shop I visited two years ago. Again, high expectations. Their yarn is lovely, they have Koigu sock yarn (very disappointed there was no other brand), and a lot of patterns. They also have built in shelves that go from floor to ceiling...a very high ceiling. Oh, there is a sliding ladder that customers can climb to get to yarn. Ya, right...I'm going to climb a ladder to look at yarn. NOT! It is my opinion they need to rethink their display method. I found a yarn I really liked for a scarf (as if I need another one!) but alas only one ball in the colorway I wanted. Another nice thank you and off we went to do more shopping other places.

I bought no yarn this weekend. In fact, the only thing I bought was a toy for the Goldens. Hence...no new yarn...no photos in this posting. At Christmas there is one more shop to visit and am hoping for a more successful trip.

Hope all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful day/weekend.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Weekend Knitting


This weekend was made for knitting...rainy and cool. I even took a pair of socks along to the Penn State game. I knew I would be sitting inside in the club house and didn't want to be bored. It was pouring outside and Penn State was stomping on Temple...so I was happy with my hot chocolate and knitting sitting comfy and dry inside watching the game on TV.

I finished the Noro scarf. Lovely colors from 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden that were a gift from a yarn swap last year. The scarf is simple...20 stitches on a 101/2 needle and a three row pattern: Row 1: K1P1; Rows 2 and 3: Knit. That's it.

Am making headway on the Trekking Socks on size 2 needles but was itching to make myself another pair of heavier socks and really wanted to knit the Opal "ragg wool" colored yarn on size 3 needles. So, I have both started. I think tonight will be devoted to the Opal socks.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Finished Socks -- Finally.........



I got up an extra hour early this morning to finish this pair of Fortissima socks...and I did! Finally....work has taken up a lot of knitting time so I feel good to get these done. Too warm toda to wear them but the weatherman says colder air is heading to Central PA this weekend. They will get broken in as I do door-to-door lit drops for my candidate, Bob Casey who is running for the U.S. Senate.

Am going to cast on this Trekking XXL for a pair of socks for my campaign intern, Elena. She knits a little but as a very, very busy college student she doesn't have time to pursue it now. She loved the socks I was knitting earlier this summer so I am going to make her a pair. Her 21st birthday is the end of November. Oh, that nice fluffy scarf in a recent post is also for Elena. She has a long walk from her dorm to classes and all of her meetings at Penn State so hopefully it will help keep her warm.