Sock Yarn Fever

I made a mistake.

I logged into my Etsy account today to leave some feedback on some incredible thick and thin yarn that was delivered to me.

Isn't it gorgeous? The color is called "Shabby Chic" and I bought it from ilashdesigns, and after I left glowing praise in her feedback I did a bad thing.

I went shopping for sock yarn.

I spent all of my break and a little extra just clicking through pictures of sock yarn. Handspun, hand-dyed, superwash, variegated, you name it, it's out there waiting to be purchased. Did you know there is such a thing as a Sock of the Month Club? I could have sock yarn sent to my home once a month for the next year for a mere $325! (Ahem...I believe my husband might stroke out if he watched me plunk down that much money for yarn all at one time.) I tried not to, but I think I drooled on my keyboard a little. And as I found out on the first day of a new job once, liquid in your keyboard is a bad, bad thing. I must be more careful.

But here is the important thing: I did not purchase anything! Even though I could hardly stand it, I believe I showed nerves of steel. So all I did was waste a little time. (Shhh...don't tell my boss.)

Book Reviews
I checked out three knitting books last week that are new to the library. And each one of them I want to own. Is that too much? Probably. Will I buy them all? Eventually. Will I tell you about them? Absolutely.

More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book 
(September 1, 2010)


I want that hat on the cover. Screw being a grown-up if I can't have that hat.I want a pointy elf hat to wear when I'm feeling mischievous.  I even just received the perfect thick and thin yarn for it!

Besides the hat on the cover, this book is packed with adorable, cute, and fun gifts to make spanning from the 2-hour to more than 8-hour gifts. Some of the projects include fashionable hot coffee cup sleeves, soft baskets, a big lace scarf done on US 17 needles with chunky yarn, and a gorgeous cabled cowl. Wish I could wear cowls, but I was blessed with having very little neck - turtlenecks, cowls and such make me look like a potato head.

Oh yes, the hat will be mine.

Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi by Anna Hrachovec
Watson-Guptill (June 29, 2010)

Can you stand the cuteness? Look at the cover! This books is full of patterns to create your very own amigurumi. An amigurumi is a Japanese stuffed toy that is either knitted or crocheted. They can either be animals or inanimate object with anthropomorphic features (Think a couch with eyes.)

I was very impressed with this book. It was right up my alley with colors, shapes, and ideas. The weirdness was just a bonus. Someone (Anna Hrachovec, bless her odd little heart) actually came up with a pattern to knit a pig in a wig, and a squirrel on wheels. Count me in!

The pictures of the finished products are cute as the dickens, but the photos with demonstration techniques are extremely well done as well. My absolute favorite was the confused moose:


Is he not the cutest thing? Look at all those little tiny birds! If I ever wanted to make something so cute I could rot my teeth while knitting I may have found it. I give it five squees on the shriek-o-meter.

I also loved the Feet Eaters slippers that are featured in the middle of the cover. How awesome would those be for a kid? I wish I was the slipper wearing type, but sadly, they make my feet all sweaty. Ever since I was a kid and had Mickey Mouse slippers, I couldn't abide them.


Knits Men Want: The 10 Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man Plus the Only 10 Patterns She'll Ever Need by Bruce Weinstein.
STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (April 1, 2010)

A book on knitting for men by a man! And Bruce Weinstein tells it to you straight in this book full of classic patterns for the man in your life, whether husband, brother, dad, or boyfriend. His rules head each chapter and are basic common sense (I'm a big fan). For instance, the chapter for the basic pullover sweater (featured on the cover) is titled, "Men Resist Change." Others include, "Men Are Babies," "Men are Oblivious," and my personal favorite, "Not All Men Are Worth Cashmere."

I have heard the urban legends. I know that if you knit something for your boyfriend and give it to him the relationship is doomed. I've had friends who have had this happen. It doesn't always happen immediately, but somewhere down the road the other shoe (or knitted slipper) will drop. And women, with all of their good intentions, will often knit something that is what she wants to see him wear, and not actually what he would want to wear. That's why I like this book. It pokes fun at men and their simplistic ways but also delivers the message that when knitting for men, simple and basic are the best bet. Weinstein also points out that simple and basic don't have to be boring either.

I've already knit socks for my husband. I hope we make our two year anniversary!

On the Needles
My Robin's Egg sock is coming along. I have turned the heel and am now knitting the gussets. I love this yarn. The colors are so subtle and lovely. I'm going to Knit Night at Gabriella's this evening and am bringing it with me in the hopes that it will soon be done.

I don't actually have a real camera at the moment, so I am taking all of my pictures on my phone. I have a Droid X and I love it. It takes pretty good pictures too. The above was taken using this app I downloaded called Retro Camera. The pictures get a vintage flair, and there are several "cameras" to choose from.