Saturday, January 06, 2007

What I did on my vacation, by Rachel

I meant to post this stuff ages ago, I'm sure showing off my Christmas presents on Jan. 6 is way behind the times. But I was way too lazy at home over vacation to figure out how to blog from my parents' computers, and this week back has been craptacular in ways I can only begin to describe. I won't bore you with the details, nothing to do with knitting, just another chapter in the horrific adventure that is my PhD.
Anyway, show and tell time! Lookie what I got!

xmas books

Knitting books! Victorian Lace Today and the Ann Budd from my folks, and the Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road from J.'s sis. How did they all know exactly what I wanted? Ah, the wonder of Amazon wishlists.

pile o knitpicks

A big ol' mess o' Knitpicks sock yarn, from my dearest Sienna, who has clearly been paying attention to all my ranting about sock yarn adulation. There are 4 skeins each of KP Palette in green, which I'm thinking might be fun for some colorwork (one of my New Year's resolutions - learn Fair Isle) which obviously means I'll have to find another color to pair with it, and KP Gloss in Burgandy, mmmm. 3 skeins of KP Essential Tweed in plum, uber soft and lovely, and 2 skeins KP dancing (I'm not sure what this colorway is called) which has the neatest looking round ropey structure. The Essential Tweed feels so much softer than the plain old Essential I used for my Dad's socks, I don't know if it's just the tweediness somehow imparts softitude, or if they really have changed their formula somewhat.

More more more!

handspun alpaca/merino/silk - from J.'s mom

2 skeins of gorgeous alpaca-merino-silk blend, handspun and gifted by J.'s mom.
Look at the lovely subtle color variations:

alpaca closeup

I have several skeins of her handspun in various shades of cream and fawn sitting around the house, and I have been afraid to do anything with them because I want to think of something really special to use them for. But I think I have so many now (at least 5 or 6 big skeins) that I need to just dive in with something.

And finally, last but the bestest:

Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed - from J.

12 skeins of Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed in Dove from J. Mmmmmmmm. I had been admiring Ashley's progress on her Demi in this yarn and really wanted to make one myself. Then I saw that the yarn was on sale somewhere and I really really really wanted it, and thought just maybe I would break my yarn diet to get it as a Christmas present to myself, but J. convinced me to stay strong, and then he went and bought it for me himself. He is the best one.

silkroad closeup

Mmmmmm tweedy. This colorway sort of reminds me of balled up wet newspaper. But in a good way.
And now, I really am really serious about only knitting out of my stash for the next thousand years, my stash boxes overfloweth.

Oh yeah, I also did some knitting on the vacay.

LL sock

1 sock completed in Lorna's Laces shepherd sock in Forest. Boring stockinette with a ribbed cuff, but it fits so nicely.
I was so scared about pooling the whole way down, but seem to have gotten away with minimal damage. Now I can only hope the second skein will treat me so well.

LL socky

Remember all that complaining I did about Christmas knitting, what with the deadlines and the stuff not being for me and all? Well, now I have jumped right into the wedding knitting:

Baltic sea stole in progress

I started the Baltic Sea Stole in Zephyr laceweight wool/silk in Sage. Of course, this project is for me (to wear at the wedding), but there's still the whole deadline issue. There are also 2 or 3 sweaters that I really wanted to make for myself this winter (and already have the yarn for), but I'm afraid to start them because of this other stupid deadline I've imposed on myself. Wah wah. Well, maybe I can make them in time for the foggy San Francisco summer.

But the good news is, here's what it will look like against a white dress (that's not my wedding dress, just a white comforter):

baltic sea stole closeup

The pattern is not nearly so obvious, so I can make as many mistakes as I want. Which is good, because I've already made several.

8 comments:

schrodinger said...

Oh man, there is so much stuff there I don't even know where to begin! First of all, the shawl is looking gorgeous, with that and your sock, looks like you managed to get some good knitting time in. Nice stash enhancement too!! Hope things improve with the PhD situation.

Ashley said...

Oh my gosh--so much yumminess! You are going to love knitting with that Silkroad!

yarnophiliac said...

That stole is lover-ly! What a gorgeous color -- it will look so fab with your wedding dress! Don't you just love forgiving lace? (Hope this is a better week for you...)

Anonymous said...

Man, you got some lovely stuff. The stole will be beautiful. Good luck on deadlines. I have some of the same books and yarn. Maybe that's why I am such a good SP. We have the same great taste. :) Enjoy knitting all that loot!
SP9

Knittypants said...

What great Christmas presents. Isn't Knitting On the Road great, I love the patterns inside. And the Aran Tweed is gorgeous, what a lovely color. Looking forward to seeing more of the Baltic Sea Stole, it looks very elegant against the white.

gilraen said...

The stole is fantastic, you will be the exquisite bride if that's anything to go by. :)

Isn't Victorian Lace Today georgeous? I bought it intending to use some SeaSilk after seeing Grumperina's blog.

Nice Stash Enhancement there too :)

Stacey said...

Great gifts! Both the Nancy Bush and Ann Budd books I have used many times!

All that yarn....love the aran tweed that will be so pretty ...

tejiendo said...

I love the stole's stitch pattern! What a great shot of your closeup.