I was supposed to make it to knit night at the coffee shop yesterday, but it didn't happen. Next week, without fail. Have I mentioned that I'm ready for Spring?? Heresy for someone with a wool obsession I know, but that's what commuting on a scooter will do to a person.

I did, however, make it into three yarn shops yesterday looking for lantern moon ebony dpns for my noro sweater sleeves. I had every size dpn from 0 through 11 execpt for 8, which is what I needed. I figured I might as well spend a few extra bucks and get some ebony needles because I love my ebony sock needles to distraction.

First stop was Amanda's in Poulsbo. Of the two poulsbo yarn shops I much prefer hers. It's a little attic stuffed to the brim with yarn, and everyone I've ever seen working there has been super nice and helpful. Alas she didn't have what I was looking for, although she did have a couple sets of the new shorter LM dpns in size 3 and 4, hopefully she'll have some 1's in soon. We chatted for a bit and I sang the praises of the Knit Pick Options set.

Next was Wild and Wooley. This shop is okay, but it just has a vibe that doesn't agree with me. It's not very friendly. It's big and polished and everything is arranged by color which I just hate. I've been to a few stores like this and it just makes no sense. I was told by the woman who I *think* is the owner that they don't carry "that brand." sigh.

I briefly considered driving all the way into Silverdale to Lindas (my favorite lys) who I know carries Lantern Moon, but couldn't really talk myself into a long drive during the start of rush hour.

Last stop was Churchmouse on Bainbridge. I justified driving out there because I could multi task by picking the boy up from the Ferry and having dinner at our favorite thai place. (yum!) Now churchmouse really is kind of snooty, but they're friendly snooty :P (Does that even make sense?) Their yarn is arranged in an orderly (to me) fashion and they have really nice stuff. They didn't have the LM needles I wanted, but they had ebony needles in another brand. They looked really nice so I picked them up along with a semi impulse purchase of Socks that Rock. I mean, is it really impulse if I resisted the urge the last 2 times I was in the store, right?? That's the picture of restraint. :P

So I knit my first noro cuff last night. Progress pictures this weekend.

Jaywalkers!

Yes, I think I'm the only knitter on the internet who hasn't already made a pair of these. I can already see why people love this pattern so much. They're super easy and the pattern is soooo  pretty in a stripey yarn.

I'm using my souvenir yarn from our trip to Oregon last month.  

It's Bearfoot by Mountain Colors Hand Painted Yarns.  The color is Firestorm, and I couldn't really do it justice in the picture.  I was knitting in the car coming home yesterday (parked and waiting for the ferry) and the colors seem to glow in natural light.  This is not the softest yarn I have ever used, but it's definitely not scratchy and the mohair gives it a lovely halo.  It seems like it will be a really hard wearing yarn too, perfect for socks.  We shall see.

This yarn was wound into a ball in the car yesterday morning (Thanks honey!) because I realized in a panic that I had no knitting to bring to work yesterday.  I started a cash iroha sweater last week but I'm up to the sleeves and need size 8 dpns. (I'm pretty sure this is the only size between 0 and 11 that I don't have, of course)  So anyway, Gordon was nice enough to be my swift in the car and I cast these on during my afternoon break and knit on them coming home and last night.

As promised, the nearly finished Evan Cardigan. It's done and blocking. Now I just need a zipper. I can't wait to see it on the little monster.
He'll look all respectable and ready for Mr. Rogers's reruns.

Here are some belated holiday knitting pics.  I didn't manage to get
pics of everything before it went out, but did better than average.
Here's mom's Cece sweater, from the chicknits pattern.
Made with Knitpicks Andean Silk. Yummy. I can't wait to use this yarn for me.

Next up is the teddy bear I made for my new nephew.  The pattern was from the holiday issue of Interweave Knits. 
Yarn here is also from knitpicks, Andean treasure. This bear is sooo soft.
 




Also out of Andean Treasure was my sister's fair aisle hat. This was my first project knitting two color two handed. It worked out pretty well. I just changed the pattern randomly as I felt like.



And some gloves in superwash merino for my honorary neice



And of course more socks for Dad. These are in Elann's Espirit, worked on size 0 needles, hands down the densest socks I have ever knit. Unfortunately for my hands they were much much loved so they probably won't be my last pair ;) It seems my only picture is an in progress shot, but I did finish the second sock :P



Speaking of not finished pictures. Here's the only shot I have of my Grandma's embossed leaves socks from interweave knits (I changed the top to a picot edge and sized these up a bit by adding extra purls between the pattern repeats. They looked awesome once they were blocked so I'm bummed I forgot to take a picture. Yarn is knit picks essential in burgandy, size 0's again.