Different Verse, Same As The First

Yeah, yeah, yeah....I've been knitting. But it's not very exciting at this stage, as the front looks alot like the back, given where I am on the progress front


That's just two rows above the armhole cuts, so it's not very exciting for you to see. It still feels amazing in knitted fabric, and one concern I had at the onset of this project was that the yarn looked a little "splitty", as it is many fine plies of yarn. Let me just state for the record--I cannot STAND splitty yarns, so I had major concerns about this project. I'm completely confident in stating that this yarn does NOT split while you're knitting with it!

More progress pictures, you say? Well...ok. Here's the Castagna sock in progress


I've finished the heel flap and turned the heel, so I have to pick up the gussets and get busy on the foot. Completion is within sight!

On the "new goods at the shop" front, we received four of the five new designs from Noni a couple weeks ago. Here they are


I love the Prism bag (the two-color design is lovely), and the other two are structurally interesting to me. The Peony looks quite pretty, too! There is one more design that just arrived on Tuesday of this week


That's the Adventure Bag, which has three different size options. If you're curious about how it looks in use, here's an over-the-shoulder shot


It's stylish and functional, all in one, and you know we have a shop model in progress already.

Each bag design is $8 and the flower is $5.50, and we have ample stock if you're interested in making some of your own. Just contact the shop (866-939-BEAR, toll free) or slip me an e-mail and we can get the ball rolling.

Off to knit more, so I can show some exciting sleeve progress!

Surprise! We did actually take the day off!

Yup, it's true. Matt and I actually took the day off, so to speak. We slept in late, we bummed around the house in comfy clothes all day, and we never even once went near the shop for any reason. I made a great dinner of baked ham, asparagus, broccoli, cucumbers and sour cream (a tradition on my mom's side of the family), and cheesy scalloped potatoes (totally from scratch, complete with Matt's help on this one). The potatoes were AMAZINGLY delicious, and the rest of the meal was awesome. Best of all, we have leftovers galore. Then I made a cheesecake to bring into the shop today for employee snacking (which I promptly forgot, so I'll bring it in on Wednesday). Num num!

With all of that time off, I made progress on my knitting projects (between naps and cooking, of course). Here's how the Banyan sweater looks as of today


Yup, all finished, with the neck stitches on hold for later use. I did get started on the back late last night, too


Not much progress to show, but at least I got it cast on and finished the tiny-needle part that rolls up on the edge, plus a couple rows of the body. Tonight will be more knitting on the front. Of course, I'm on deadline for this one, as it's due in Philly by January 5th (so it can be taken to the big trade show in San Diego.

Also in progress, a sock in Jitterbug in Castagna


Not much progress, but socks are typically my "waiting in line" project, and I haven't been waiting in lines over the weekend. I did get a little bit more done today, at two banks and the post office. It, too, needs to be in Philly by the 5th.

We did get two big shipments today--the first was nearly 100 pounds of yarn from Cascade Yarns, most of it being Cascade 220. The second....well, mere words cannot express my joy


Yup, reinforcements in Colinette Jitterbug (including the last stock in the US in the Marble colourway). This delivery has some beautiful batches, including the Popsicle, the Copperbeech, and the Mardi Gras. Granted, I think almost every colourway of this yarn is delicious, but those three are just incredible batches--the Popsicle is electric and like highlighters, the Copperbeech is a beautiful ruddy brown with blue shots, and the Mardi Gras is just too freakin' beautiful and vibrant (I may have to snag two of them for socks for myself, as it tends to FLY out the door).

Need anything you see? Just slip me an e-mail or call the shop toll free at 866-939-BEAR and anyone can hook you up! Me, I'm off to go knit some more on the front of the Banyan sweater. Yee-haw!