Festival Goodies

The head cold I brought home with me from Maryland has officially become an ugly chest cold, the likes of which I am still struggling against. I'm resting as much as I can, drinking lots of fluids, and using my home nebulizer like a good girl. It's hanging on a little longer than I'd like, so I may find myself in my pulmonologist's office this week sometime. I'm still hoping for a self-medicated recovery. In the meantime I've gotten a bit of knitting done. I actually finished the Simple Things shawlette I'd started as a travel project. It's had a nice warm bath and is now blocking. I'll be sure to get some pictures of it tomorrow after it's dry.

I also thought I'd include a photo of some of the yarn I've been spinning with my new WooLee Winder. Please forgive the quality of the picture; it was taken with the camera in my BlackBerry. I'm so happy with the yarn I'm producing! This was spun from some undyed merino roving I received in a swap with another Raveler not too long ago. It took me a little while to get used to the slipperiness of the merino, but before long I was able to fall into a nice, natural rhythm. I haven't decided yet if I'll ply it as a two or three ply. I just love how tweedy it is spinning up. I can't wait to knit with it - my very own handspun!

I felt well enough this afternoon to snap a few pictures of some of the neat things I scored at the Festival (and wrote about in my last post). Pictured to the left are the Della Q cases I mentioned. The purple one is for circular needles. The mauve/champagne one is for an interchangeable set. I have my Knit Picks nickel-plated Options in it now. I got so tired of having to unzip and zip those plastic pouches that came in the Options case, especially when I was knitting projects that frequently call for a change in needle size. This is much better, much more accessible. And I absolutely love how the cases come pre-labeled with the needle sizes. I would highly recommend the Della Q cases to any knitter. The quality is outstanding, and they come in such beautiful colors of silk. I'm tempted to get another for my Addi Clicks, even though I have a perfectly suitable plastic case for them. The Della Q's are just so gorgeous!

In spite of my lingering illness, I kept my appointment on Friday to visit Scout at Puppy College. I've missed him terribly, and he's only been gone a week now! My friend, Patti, accompanied me, as did Scout's two best friends - her two Bouviers (like these), Amos and Bailey. Scout was thrilled to see all of us, but he stayed closest to me. Maybe he sensed my worry that he would forget about me while he's gone! He seemed so happy, and the trainers tell me that he is picking on up things very well. I almost took the coat I bought for him at the festival, just to try it on him, but with the temperatures being as high as they've been I just couldn't bear the thought of putting it on him. The coats are actually for lambs, but the lady who makes them told me that they are wonderful for small dogs as well. I loved the solid construction of them, and if it works for Scout as I think it will, I'll be ordering him some more for the winter. With no overcoat fur, he gets so cold playing outside with his friends in the snow! Head over the the Good Shepherd Lamb Coats website to see more about these sweet coats for lambs - and for dogs!

Now that my Simple Things shawlette is off the needles, I'm experiencing acute startitis. The gorgeous alpaca yarn I bought at the festival is certainly calling to me, though I know I should jump in and finish the Tea Leaves cardigan I've already got on the needles. Or I could finish the two Fuzzy Mitten Lambs I have all done except for the sewing up and embellishing. But who could resist that charcoal gray alpaca?!

But seriously, I've been thinking about projects that will use up my stashed yarn. I've long been wanting a pretty wrap cardigan for myself, and I have some heathery green Cascade 220 in my stash that might just work. I recently got a copy of Vintage Knits, and I absolutely love the Elise pattern. So classic, so feminine. I'll have to do a little math to account for the difference in gauge, but nothing that intimidates me. I've been playing around with the schematic to see if I can knit the garment in the round with steeks, but it looks like the ruffly edging will prevent that from being the most efficient way to knit it. And I really think that edging makes the garment. Oh, all that purling!

Maybe I should spin a while before I decide what to knit next.