Booga J

Yesterday I received this gorgeous Cascade 220 from ThreadBear Fiber Arts. I can't say enough about these guys -- friendly, fast and very helpful! Go visit their online store and drool over the Koigu! This yarn is destined to become a Constant Companion. I'm going to use the basic pattern from the Knitter's Stash book, but I'm going to make my own design -- stripes or something like that. I cast on last night, but it's not much to look at yet. I'll take pictures when I get further.

Pattern: My own pattern which I will post as I go.
Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa Ultralight in color 60 (dye lot 1740) purchased at Knitting Workshop in Chicago.
Needles: US 6 Clover circular (24")

80% complete
I thought I would never find yarn for a hat to go with the Cozy scarf, but the helpful woman at Knitter's Workshop suggested this yarn and I really like it! The hat has knit up very quickly, but now I am at a standstill because I don't have any US 6 dp's for the top. sigh.

I didn't have a pattern, so I just cast on 100 stitches and started knitting in the round. I decided that it might be a little big at 100 stitches, so after about 6 rows I decreased 10 stitches evenly across 2 row, so the body of the hat is 90 stitches. Once the hat got to about the right height (5-6") I started decreasing. Since I had 90 stitches here's what I did:
Round 1: K13 K2Tog
Even rounds knit even
Round 3: K12 K2Tog
You get the idea. When I go down to 60 stitches, I started decreasing every row. And now it's too small for the circular and I don't have the dp's. I tried "magic-looping" it, but that didn't really work. Michael's doesn't carry dp's, so it looks like a trip to the yarn store is in my future.

I made this picture larger than necessary so that you could see our antique dining room table. It is quarter-sawn oak which looks very cool. It is also a refractory table -- the leaves are part of the table. You just pull out the end and it swings up and into place. No storing leaves! And I also have to point out my Longaberger basket. I have a basket for almost every project -- I'm addicted. I even sell Longaberger now (although just about the only person who buys baskets from me is me!) I told my husband that I wouldn't buy anymore yarn, but I would have to buy some more baskets. Poor guy. I'm not sure how he puts up with me!

I have lots to report, but no pics so I'll just wait to post updates. Let's just say that someone's birthday is fast approaching, and I have been working on a special project for her. I have also started a hat, worked on Pete's sock and "enhanced" my stash. More later. . .