So, I joined a yarn club...

I just received my first yarn club shipment from MadelineTosh, and it is beyond gorgeous. There were three color families to choose from: Jewel, Natural, and Neutral. I chose Jewel because I am in love with the bright/intense colors that she does. So, without further adieu....meet "Lolita":

There is enough to make a sweater of some sort (around 1300 yards). It is superwash, single ply merino in fingering weight. I have some in a couple of other colors, but I think this is my favorite, so far! I'll be getting 2 more shipments of yarn through the yarn club. In April I'll receive 3 skeins of Pashmina (superwash wool, silk, and cashmere...YUMM!), and in May a skein of Eyre Light (no link because it's not a yarn they sell wholesale....but it is merino, silk, and baby alpaca....double YUMM!). 

Are you madelinetosh-ed out yet? I'll move on, in case you are! 

Next up....Ravelympics medals! I was able to complete 3 projects, which was pretty gosh darn exciting! French Press Slippers were for the Felting Freestyle, the Heirloom Baby Blanket was for the Giant Slalom-ghan, and.....

A Sock Hockey Medal for my Crazy Cabled Slipper Socks:

I made these out of the "Jazzercise" yarn from my spinning class. The pattern is Cabled Footies from the book "One Skein". It calls for worsted weight yarn so they knit up REALLY quickly. I want to wear them every day, seriously. They are so cozy.

I also just started a pair of Sweet Fern Mitts, from "The Knitter's Book of Wool". It is a fabulous book by Clara Parkes of "The Knitter's Review".  I joined a ravelry group that she has and we are doing a woolalong! Every month is a different kind of wool and last month was Cormo. I spun up some Cormo fiber and started these:

The yarn is really soft and cushy. Wool for the month of March is Blue Faced Leicester and I'm in the middle of spinning some up...then I'll just need to find another pattern.

I've also been doing a little sewing on a secret project. I just finished all the components today and it's ready to ship to the recipient, so just a sneak peek for now:

Phew. Are you sick of looking at yarn and crafts yet? I'm going to be casting on for another Knit-a-long with Purl Diva, but I'll wait until I have something to show before I delve into the details.

Weirdo is coming this weekend on his way to Hawaii! Hopefully the rain will hold off so we can go do something fun. Speaking of weather....I think I could easily be a meteorologist here in Oregon. Seth and I were laughing the other day while watching the weather. Every single day we hear, "Well, today it might rain, but it might be sunny" or "It looks like the clouds will lift this weekend, or they might stay". It's really pretty amusing.

Well, I'm off to eat lunch and take the pup for a walk before the rain (or no rain!) starts!

Love,
Liz