WendyKnits?

Did I miss an announcement: re getting a password for WendyKnits.net? Or is this a drastic error of some sort? Does anyone know?

More yarn, more gadgets, more projects on the needles

So, there I was, minding my own business, and I discovered a Horrible Needle error.

Okay, okay, fine, I was bored, so I started playing with yarn candy again. This happens. Today's ball-o-yarn is cotton of some sort; it's got great drape, but it's a bit splitty. I tried it on size 1 needles - too tight. I tried it on size 9s - too loose. It looked like size 4s were going to be right on target.

I actually know where a pair of size 4 needles lives. In my Hello Kitty camera bag (hey, it was $6, and it's the right size with a long enough strap for convenient small project toting).

Sadly, these needles are already knitting my LabCat Lace Scarf. Do I let that stop me? Heck No! We've all heard of knitting two socks on circular needles, right? And these are two small flat projects: the LabCat Lace Scarf, and another yarn candy headband. Same basic principles of "don't tangle your balls" and "knit all the way across both items before turning back to avoid confusion/lopsided projects" should apply. Ergo, Two Projects on One Circular Needle:


And look, I actually finished one of them!

Turns out this was a good thing because I finally got out to Nature's Yarns on Saturday. It was dead, dead, dead in the store because of Sheep and Wool, which left me lots of time to rummage around the 50% off bin (can you say deep pumpkin merino laceweight in vast enough quantities to make the Peacock Feathers Shawl (which is henceforth renamed the Phoenix Feathers Shawl)?), discover the stash of Tofutsies, and delight in the notion that DPN Tubes come in two-packs. Photos of the haul from the GOOD camera tomorrow. And the already half-finished pair of socks. Not, please note, a half finished sock. A half finished PAIR of socks. WoOt!!

And how was your weekend?

Yarn with George, Yarn from Socks, Yarn in Video Games

Okay, so, I am knitting, and since yesterday was beautiful and sunny, here's a picture of my Lace Scarf with George. I've been working on it long enough now that I've got the pattern down without looking, and I'm about six pattern repeats on the diamond in. May have to get another skein of KPPPM, in some colors that go with this one (since it was a single), or it'll just be a little short hair-cover thingy or neckwarmer. But man, I like the colorway, and the Koigu is really nice to work with. (Unlike the tiny ball of cotton and/or linen yarn candy I'm working up as a headband right now. It tends to split if I breathe on it funny.) Anyway, here's Knitting With George, May 1 (and yes, next time, I put the knitting on the shady side, where it will actually show up):


I went ahead and signed up for the Summer of Socks! It's low-key, and I'll have fun with the Vacation Photo Contest - since I'm traveling all over creation this summer, I may have multiple entries (I'll have to see if that's allowed). I should manage to get at least two pairs done over the summer, right? Hopefully, one of them *won't* be the Sekrit Projikt socks, because I'd really like them done SOON. I'll be taking them with me as my ride-along and ONLY project on the upcoming road-trip to see the Nepieces - so I should have lots of little sock-parts, and a better understanding of Getting Socks to Work The Way I Want. Still debating toe-up vs. toe-down. Anyway, if you wanna join the Summer of Socks 2008, just clicky!


And while we're on the subject of Things to Do With Free Time (like knitting socks), I'm a Peggle addict. I downloaded the "free download", and discovered I liked the on-line version better - but at least I got a screenshot of Cat Tut holding forth on a subject near and dear to us all - YARN! See?

There will be Floss in the Future!

Oh, thank heavens! There will still be floss in the morning!

DMC PRESS RELEASE
APRIL 30, 2008

In recent days, there has been a significant amount of information in the form of press releases, media reports, etc. regarding financial difficulties and operational restructuring plans at the DMC corporate offices in France. Those activities and court filings within the legal system in France are directed towards seeking a formal resolution for two divisions within the DMC Corporation (Sportswear fabric and a small chain of retail stores found only in France) that are not related to the embroidery thread and craft activities, which remain the core business of the corporation.

In addition, the U.S. division of DMC operates as a separate legal and financial entity with its own financing, receivables, payables, etc, and as such, is not included in any legal filing or petitions to the courts that may occur in France.

We are financially secure and fully prepared to conduct business as usual here in the U.S. DMC has been manufacturing needlework threads for 262 years and we remain committed to providing stitchers with the highest quality embroidery floss, specialty threads, needlework fabrics and other supplies they need to continue to enjoy the wonderful art of needlework. We look forward to continuing to serve all of our customers and loyal users of DMC products into the future.

Joseph D. McCabe
President/CEO
DMC, Inc

In celebration, I almost let myself start a new cross-stitch project, which would bring my UFO count up to 64. (Hopefully, I'll still manage "under 50" for the year, but it's not looking too good just this second.)

I managed to keep working on my new Lace Scarf (LabCat's design, very slightly modified). After casting on at least six different times before I got it the way I wanted, I managed to get about 5" of scarf done:


Yay!

More Yarn in the Wild

Had a few backup shots, in case I couldn't find one or two items in the Scavenger Hunt over the weekend. First, a garden Winnie-the-Pooh, in case no gnomes were spotted:


...and then the Temple of the Oracle at Delphi, which, while old and historic, didn't actually have any corners, so wouldn't have actually worked for "cornerstone of old, historic building". Plus, as you can probably tell, it's just a travel poster in our local Greek restaurant.


I really did have fun with it, and, hey, I got a headband out of the deal!