New sweater!

Last night I swatched for a new Hourglass Sweater with some Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk in Blue. I started out with US8s (Bryspuns, natch) and quickly decided that they would make for a slightly too revealing fabric. Next swatch was with US6s, and I think we're good to go, since I got very close to the gauge called for. Which is kind of wacky, considering BSA calls this a sport weight yarn, and Last-Minute Knitted Gifts calls for a worsted with 19st/28r over 4". Whatever.

Now, I'm trying to decide whether to incorporate any decorative stitches into the mix, perhaps a baby cable somewhere (running up the top-of-the-sleeve line and as princess seams on the front and back?).

I don't want to do the turned hems again, since they just don't float my boat. There's a sample Hourglass at Yarns in the Farms with seed stitch borders, so that's a possibility. Or I could just barrel along with straight stockinette and go for the rolled edges look. 'Nother idea is to do some lacey something at the hem and sleeve edges like the silk tank from LMKG.

This yarn is so yummy! The gleam of the silk is divine.

I know her!

Check out the Crochet winner in this year's Excellence in Needle Arts Awards from PieceWork Magazine (an Interweave Press publication). Elena is a high school student in Beverly and a Knit Night regular. Can you believe she designed and crocheted this? Amazing. She's very talented.

I cast on and bound off a pair of Fetchings over the weekend, which was fun, though I ran out of yarn (#201, a flinty blue, for those interested). Glad I didn't do the thumb on the first one before starting the second. I ended up just picking up the thumb on each and then binding off, rather than doing four rounds. I have some more DB Cashmerino Aran in other colors, so if I make more of these, I think I might go down a needle size to see if that makes a difference. They're very nice. And I did the picot bindoff, which not everyone likes, but I like the little points mirroring the cable bumps. Looking at the pattern again on Knitty, I guess I should steam them to straighten out the roll at the top a little. They're very helpful since it's frigid here in Massachusetts.

Yarns In the Farms had a Super Bowl Weekend sale, and I scored some Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca & Silk (eight skeins in the dark blue colorway) to make a variation on an Hourglass Sweater. And I grabbed a skein of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in the Blues colorway (I think - it's at home). I could have gone much crazier, but it's probably best that I didn't buy out the store :)

On a less exciting note, I've got some personal stuff going on right now, so I may not be blogging regularly.

FOUND!

I got him! A day and a half looping around the woods back to where he'd been spotted finally paid off! He's home, laying next to me on the couch, and we'll take him to the vet later this afternoon. He is subdued, and was very scared, but with no other dogs around to scare him off, he finally recognized "Mommy" and came to me. Thank you for your wishes/prayers/thoughts/positive energy. Love, Kathleen, Peter, Isobel, Riley (who's not sure it's such a good thing the dog is back, but he'll get over it), and Spenser

I'm going to get my dog back

I spent all day calling for him in the woods and saw him, but he ran away (there was another dog in the vicinity). He's clearly very spooked. I'm going back out there with more food and a lot of patience. Keep praying for him. Thank goodness he's made it this far. He's there; I just have to lure him back.

Some adorableness to distract us

I'm joining some KALs (Kidsilk and A Sweater a Month, so far) and found this pattern when exploring what various members have been up to.

Ruby Slippers for the wee set - how adorable! The first pic in the entry is hysterical.

I'm thinking about a cowl/hood/smoke ring thing for my new skein of KSH. I'm on the hunt for a good lace pattern that will work in the round, stretch my abilities a little, but not make me crazy. Any ideas?

Spenser's still missing

That's our pup, Spenser. If you've seen him, please get in touch with us or contact Gloucester Animal Control. Thanks.

P.S. Knitting content: I drove by Woolcott & Co. yesterday on my way to pick up Isobel, and there was a parking space RIGHT in front. Since I had a few minutes, I bought a skein of Kidsilk Haze in Candy Girl. No idea what I'll do with it, but it was just too luscious and cheery to pass up.

DELAY: IMOnday: Yarns in the Farms, Beverly Farms, Massachusetts

I'm sorry to have to delay my review of my (tipping my hand, here) favorite yarn store, but Spenser, our sweet, gorgeous, but not terribly bright English Setter, ran off from the dogwalker yesterday during an off-leash stroll at the Goose Cove Reservoir, and we're still looking for him. Please keep him in your thoughts, as it was 13º last night in Gloucester.

I'll try to do the review later this week, since I even have pictures of the shop.